Redland Tropical Gardens Champions Homestead Centennial Celebration
Posted on 18. Jan, 2013 by Howard Salus in Education, Environment, featured, Florida News, Green Events
Homestead, FL-On Saturday, February 2, 2013, from 2:00 pm-7:00 pm, at Harris Field, 1034 Ne 8th St, Homestead, FL, Redland Tropical Gardens (RTG), will partner with the State of Florida, Viva Florida 500, Miami-Dade County, Homestead Centennial Committee, The Greater Miami Host Committee, Dade County Farm Bureau, Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, the National Parks Service, the Miami-Dade College, and Homestead Job Corps to participate in the Homestead Centennial Celebration, and present Tropical Cornucopia, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, 100 years of Agriculture & Natural Resource History of Homestead, an integral part of the multi-billion dollar vegetable, fruit and tropical foliage market in Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida, and the only city in the United States with two national parks.
This event celebrates a century milestone of rural Homestead that promotes civic engagement, and brands this area as a sustainable tourism destination dubbed the “Bridge between Man and Nature”, where people “Love the Land”… an American Heritage.
Highlights include: a Historic Farm Family interactive living history presentation from the Historic Homestead Townhall Museum, and an exhibit of local tropical exotic fruits, spices, herbs, and vegetables, natural and organic products, native plants and flowering trees, as well as the National Parks Service, promoting the ancient and archaeological natural heritage of the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks.
The exhibit area is adjacent to the Centennial Kids Zone, which will include the “ Dean of Green” a “Greenwise” 45 minute interactive musical that promotes Homestead’s cultural, agricultural, and natural history, environmental stewardship, and healthy living for children and families with music, dance, and storytelling, a Pirate’s History Treasure Hunt, Environmental Face Painting- flowers, plants, butterflies, animals, bugs, rainbows, and clouds, Multicultural Historic Games, arcade, bounce houses, rock climbing, refreshments, history contests, and more!
Also on February 2nd, 2013, RTG will launch Tropical Cornucopia Pioneer, Agro and Eco-Farm and Garden Tours, as an ancillary component of the celebration, to include a one hour “Homestead Then and Now Bus Tour” with Miami-Dade College and RTG certified cultural and nature-based Tour Guides, beginning at 9:00 am-1:00pm, starting at the Historic Homestead Townhall Museum, 41 North Krome Ave. This tour will promote Homestead’s Historic Downtown District, the home to three nationally designated and four locally designated structures, as well as the Main Street District listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
“Through this event, RTG Board of Directors look forward to building relationships that will serve to provide the network to help us produce, host, and promote RTG’s upcoming smart growth, sustainable world-class, family, signature event “TROPICALCORNUCOPIA™”, INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL FARM, GARDEN AND FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL, to national and international markets, scheduled to take place November 2nd and 3rd, 2013, from 10:00am-6:00pm in Homestead. All our initiatives provide our community the opportunity to Learn, Live, Work, Play and Grow Together, in an agrarian, sustainable farm and garden lifestyle that supports agriculture, the first historic industry of the State of Florida. We also seek to promote, connect, maintain, protect, preserve, and enhance the historic, natural, cultivated, recreational, and diverse cultural resources of this area for sustainable tourism, economic and workforce development, community education, life-long learning, inclusion, social justice, equality, well-being, and a better quality of life for all; planting the seeds to grow a clean, safe, healthy, and green economy, and leaving a green legacy for future generations”- Margie Buster, President RTG.
ABOUT RTG
MISSION
RTG is now celebration its 17th year! Redland Tropical Gardens and Botanical Foundation, Inc., d.b.a. Redland Tropical Gardens is a not for profit foundation dedicated to providing the resources for the development, preservation, education and promotion of sustainable nature-based, historic and cultural heritage products, services and industries of the Redland and South Florida.
RTG is the first nonprofit community-based sustainable and rural tourism destination management nonprofit organization founded by women in South Florida. It established the first co-operative with other organizations furthering the interests of horticulture, conservation, environmental protection and beautification, as well as new economic generators, diversification of the agricultural industry in South Dade, and the connection of Tropical South Florida’s Green and Blue Corridors.
VISION
To encourage the establishment and maintenance of botanical gardens, arboreta and horticultural centers for the advancement of science, enjoyment and education of the public
To advance the study of gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design and horticulture and assist deserving students through college scholarships in these fields of endeavor established the first co-operative with other organizations furthering the interests of horticulture, conservation, environmental protection and beautification.
To aid in the protection and conservation of natural resources, to promote civic beautification and encourage the improvement of roadsides and parks
To empower women in travel/tourism and hospitality as well as allied fields through education, information, promotions and professional development.
Zev Buffman is Back – WELCOME!
Posted on 17. Jan, 2013 by Howard Salus in featured, Florida News
FOUR PLAYLETS ADD UP TO BRITISH FUN IN AGATHA CHRISTIE’S BBC MURDERS
Ron Levitt, ENV Magazine, Florida Media News
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – — Who knew a murder mystery could be so much fun? Who would have thought a play starting with a serious audience rendition of God Save The Queen could turn into a spree of comic proportions? Who would have thought a murder mystery would even contain memorable music? Well, if it carries the name of Agatha Christie, one can be sure that anything can happen – and does!
That’s what is taking place these days at the Parker Playhouse where impresario Zev Buffman has produced what many writers would call an “historic” re-awakening of hidden stories and putting them all together as the Agatha Christie BBC Murders.
Zev Buffman (Photo by Tracy May)
Just how this play evolved is almost as intriguing as the play itself. Buffman – whose name was linked historically with the venerable Coconut Grove Playhouse during the 1950s and with Parker in succeeding years, actually rescued four of mystery writer Christie’s radio plays from oblivion in a London archives. He put four of these playlets together under the name Agatha Christie BBC Murders. Except for a brief tryout period in Clearwater, this version is the Broadway Across America premiere of this solid mystery, ready to lure fans of the world-famous and long-running Mousetrap, Christie’s most famous theatrical offering. The playlets which make up this most enjoyable mystery are Butter is a Lordly Dish, Three Blind Mice (from whence Mousetrap evolved), Personal Call and Yellow Iris. Although they all could stand on their own, the mixture is pure delight for the wide range of mystery/theatre fans
BBC Murders is adapted for the stage and ably directed by Judith Walcutt and David Ossman. The copyrights for all four mysteries are held by Agatha Christie Limited, in London, England
Alex Jorth, David Ossman and Amy Walker (Photo by Julie Hirsch)
The cast of this play is vintage perfection. Special nods deservedly goes to the entire cast – TV-super-actor Gary Sandy, Lauren Allison, Alex Jorth, Phil Proctor, Tony Brewer, Orson Ossman, Christopher Swan, Amy Walker, Richard Fish, Cassie Post, Lesley Staples, as well as Melinda Peterson as Agatha Christie and two South Florida favorites – Angie Radosh and Elizabeth Dimon – all of whom compose this talented ensemble.
We won’t go into the details of these four murder mysteries. That would only spoil the fun and the intrigue of these playlets covering 140 minutes. However, it is only fitting that we recall the four playlets which, except for the BBC radio broadcasts a generation or so ago, are generally unknown to audiences today.
The BBC Murders historic origin was initially at BBC radio Mystery Series, just before & after World War II. The manuscripts were lost for more than 50 years due to the London Blitz & post war reconstruction.
Mathew Prichard, Grandson of Dame Agatha & the President of the vast Agatha Christie Estate, when contacted by Buffman about staging the lost Murders in the US, received the following response: “I am delighted that Zev’s team is putting together my grandmother’s wonderful BBC Plays which number some of her best works. I am sure that the USA live audience will enjoy them enormously.” –He was right!
Here is how the descriptions are aired on the Internet. And, we quote:
Butter in a Lordly Dish was first performed on the BBC on Tuesday, January 13, 1948 in a strand entitled Mystery Playhouse Presents, The Detection Club. The play title comes from the Bible: Judges, 5:25: “He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish”. “He” refers to Sisera and “she” is Jael. In the Bible Jael kills Sisera by hammering a nail through his head (This work was never published before).
Three Blind Mice was part of a May 30, 1947 evening program in honor of Queen Mary’s Eightieth birthday The BBC approached the queens some months prior and asked for her special favorites. Among a selection of music and variety, she requested a new mystery by Agatha Christie, a writer the queen deeply admired. The world’s longest running play The Mousetrap was based on Three Blind Mice.
Personal Call mixes a strong drink of delicious deception into a haunting story of lies and betrayal. Superstition will take you on a murderous adventure through London train stations and give you a ghostly encounter. Presented on the BBC, Monday, May 31, 1954, the play reuses the character of Inspector Narracott from the 1931 novel The Sittaford Mystery.
Yellow Iris was first presented on the BBC National Program in 1937. The main part of the story takes place in a London Cabaret. The play is unusual in that the production intersperses the action with the live musicians and performances of the cabaret artists who were on the bill at the restaurant where the murder is committed. It introduced the character Belgian Inspector Hercule Poirot,(laughably portrayed by Phil Proctor) later to become one of Christie fans’ favorite detectives. Composer, singer-songwriter Tony & Grammy winning Rupert Holmes wrote several original songs specifically for this play and they are topnotch chords.
The technical aspects of this production are outstanding. Special note should go to Steven B. Weise for sound design as well as Miles Hanson, Randy Thom and Dennis Leonard for carrying out the sound moments which add so much to the fun.
The show runs through Feb. 3. Call 954 764 1441 for tickets.
Arts Ballet Theatre Participates in Great Opera Moments
Posted on 17. Jan, 2013 by Howard Salus in featured, Florida News
Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida is proud to be part of this production
Miami City Ballet presents George Balanchine’s THE NUTCRACKER
Posted on 14. Nov, 2012 by Howard Salus in featured, Florida News, The Arts Advances
Rock of Ages Rocks at Arsht
Posted on 14. Oct, 2012 by Howard Salus in Entertainment, featured, Florida News, The Arts Reviews
ROCK FOR SOME AGES
Phyllis Greene, Theatre Critic, ENV Magazine
Young Sobees, Rockin’ Middle Agers and Hip Seniors alike, were all pumped up at the elegant Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on Opening Night of the hit Broadway musical “Rock of Ages”; and Boy, did it Rock!! The pulsating beat of that fab 80’s music filled the room and filled the soul.
Set in the heart of what’s happening on the Sunset Strip, “Rock of Ages” visits the music scene era with a thin story line woven in between the dynamics. Book by Chris D’Arienzo tells the simple love story of the small town girl Sherrie (Shannon Mullen) who comes to where-it’s-at to follow her dream of becoming a star. Meets the guy, Drew (Miami’s own Dominique Scott), and after a few bumps (and grinds) in the road, namely Stacee Jaxx played by Universo Pereira, settle in to the happily-ever-after of Musical Comedy. Drew and Sherrie delivered what was expected of their roles, but Jaxx left a little more to be desired, particularly when his counter-part in the movie, Tom Cruise was so fabulous. Ditto for Alec Baldwin as the Bourbon Room nightclub owner, played on the stage by Matt Ban. The orchestrations by Ethan Popp were playful enough through repetitive tunes of Journey, REO Speedwagon, Poison as long as all that percussion didn’t get too steely.
It’s most pleasurable when everyone is into the action and the music enjoying the Costumes on stage by Gregory Gale and the Set Design by Bedwulf Boritt. Everyone was dressed for the occasion, sporting silver tinsel wigs, headbands, fishnet stockings, leather, tattoos, short, short tulle skirts…and that was the Audience !!!!
Rock of Ages plays until Sunday at theAdrienneArshtCenterfor the Performing Arts. For tickets: Call 305-949-6722 or www.arshtcenter.org
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