Future Stars Performing Arts Competition Saturday at Lynn University
By: Skip Sheffield
The Rotary Club of Boca Raton presents the ninth annual Future Stars Performing Arts Competition at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at Wold Performing Arts Theater of Lynn University. This is the first time the competition has been staged in the beautiful new Wold Theater. The previous three shows were outdoors at Mizner Park Amphitheater.
“We think this is one of the strongest lineups ever,” said Rotary President Doug Mummaw. “Every one will be very comfortable in the new theater.”
The Rotary Club is a strong believer in encouraging and supporting the youth of the community.
“We are proud to have South Florida’s best young talent performing at the new world-class Wold Theater at Lynn University,” stated Rotary President-elect Bill Riddick.
Performers are divided into four categories. Performing are six Dance Soloists, several Dance Studios; six Middle School Vocalists and 15 High School Vocalists. Pictured is Pine Crest School’s Lizzie Sider, 13, who will be performing for the third time with Future Stars.
Tickets are $35 and $45, to benefit the Rotary Club’s scholarship programs. Call 561-237-9000 or go to www.lynn.edu/tickets.
Stereotypes Abound in Funny “Think Like a Man”
“Think Like a Man” is a shortened title of the self-help book “Act Like a Lady, Think like a Man” by Steve Harvey.
Harvey started out as a stand-up comedian, after stints as a boxer, insurance salesman and mail carrier.
Now he is an accomplished author, actor and radio and television personality. While Harvey is an African-American, his insights into human nature are universal, and thereby lies the appeal of “Think Like a Man,” brought to the screen by director Tim Story (“Barbershop”).
Harvey’s unapologetically sexist book (written with Denene Miller) basically says that men are interested in just one thing: sex, which is referred to as “The Cookie”.
Any rational adult knows that there is a lot more in male-female relationships than just that, but when it is played for laughs, it can be funny. With a skilled ensemble of agile comic actors, shallow as it is, “Think Like a Man” is quite funny.
Each of the male and female characters is a stereotype. Dominic (Michael Ealy) is a Dreamer in love with Lauren (Taraji P. Henson), a high-powered business executive. Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara) is a Non-Committer, in a long-term relationship with Kristen (Gabrielle Union). Michael (Terrence Jenkins) is a Mama’s Boy who falls for Candace (Regina Hall), a single mom with a young son. Zeke (Romany Malco) is a Player who is out to snare Mya (Meagan Good), a woman who is unsuccessfully trying to hold out for a 90-Day Rule. Bennett (Gary Owen) is a Happily Married Man and Cedric (Kevin Hart), an angry little man with a big chip on his should, is a Happily Divorced Man.
The best dialogue is when the guys are together, drinking beer, playing basketball and talking guy stuff. The women do not have a similar opportunity to show much depth to their characters.
Nevertheless, “Think Like a Man” is funny in a never-ending battle of the sexes kind of way. In other words, it is not to be taken seriously for a minute.
Two and a half stars
Houdini Lives Again in Miami
The acclaimed production of “Death and Harry Houdini” opens Thursday, April 26 and continues through May 20 in an exclusive South Florida run at Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
Playwright Nathan Allen has fine-tuned his script for this production, which premiered at the House Theatre of Chicago. The death-defying illusionist Houdini is played by Dennis Watkins, an actor who is also an award-winning magician. The highlight of the show is Houdini’s infamous Water Torture Cell, in which the magician is locked upside down in a glass tank of water with only as much time to escape as he has air in his lungs.
Tickets start at $40. Call 305-949-6722 or go to www.arshtcenter.org.
