The Pompano Players': The Word Goes 'Round - A Musical Retrospective

“ …an unexpected delight: a handsome, tasteful, snazzily staged outpouring of song and dance that celebrates all the virtues of the Kander-Ebb catalogue” Frank Rich, The New York Times

Kander and Ebb created some of Broadway’s most iconic musicals including Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Fosse. The World Goes ‘Round is a cleverly curated collection of love songs, torch songs and wonderfully acerbic comedic numbers from those classics, as well as from many of their other lesser-known shows. The World Goes ‘Round’s title is based on a song Kander and Ebb wrote for Liza Minelli to sing in the film “New York, New York” (that song is entitled “But the World Goes ‘Round.)”

“The World Goes ‘Round is, in many ways, a meditation on perseverance,” says the Production’s Director, Jeremy Quinn. “Through the lens of Kander and Ebb’s rich and emotionally complex songbook, this revue becomes a theatrical tapestry – one that captures the breadth of the human condition with wit, poignancy and unflinching honesty. These songs, culled from a remarkable canon of musicals, transcend their original contexts to speak to something more universal: the ability to endure, to dream, to lose and to begin again.

“What fascinates me most about this piece is its non-linear, mosaic structure,” Quinn says. “There is no conventional plot—no singular protagonist or conflict – but instead a series of emotional snapshots that, when placed side by side, illuminate the resilience and absurdity of simply being alive. That structure invites the audience to find themselves in the material, to make their own connections and to interpret each moment through a personal lens.

“In approaching this production, our team embraced that openness. We explored how each song exists in conversation with the others – how humor is often a mask for heartache, how bravado can give way to vulnerability and how joy and sorrow are never far apart. By rooting our staging in the present, we sought to underscore the timelessness of these themes: ambition, regret, longing, reinvention. These are not relics of the past – they are ever-present, ever-relevant.

“I am deeply grateful to the extraordinary artists who brought their insight and generosity to this process,” Quinn continues. “Their interpretations breathe new life into these songs, revealing fresh layers of meaning while honoring the legacy of Kander and Ebb’s iconic work. My hope is that audiences leave the theatre not only entertained, but also reminded of the quiet, miraculous act of moving forward – of continuing on, even when the path is unclear. Because, as the title insists, no matter what happens, ‘the world goes ’round.’”

Quinn’s talented cast consists of Amanda Lopez (who served as the Choreographer for the Pompano Players recent productions of Respect: A Musical Journey of Women and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), Amber Arevalo, Eve Dillingham, Ron DeStefano and Kevin Hincapie.

The World Goes ‘Round’s creative team includes: Music Director Elijah Gee; Keren Lydia is the show’s Choreographer, Claudia Smith is the Scenic Designer and Penny Williams is the Costume Designer. Director Jeremy Quinn will also serve as the production’s Stage Manager.

The World Goes ‘Round will run Friday, April 25th, 2025 – Sunday, May 4th, 2025 at Pompano Beach Cultural Center. The theatre is located at 50 West Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach, Florida 33060.

Tickets for The World Goes ‘Round range in price from $45 to $65. Tickets may be purchased online at https://pompanobeachculturalcenter.com - Or by calling: (954) 501-1910.

For more information about The World Goes ‘Round, to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at: carol@carolkassie.com. Or call: (561) 445-9244.