The Coolest Month: April At The Broward Center For The Performing Arts

Jake Shimabukuro, the Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele, returns to the Broward Center for a concert in the Amaturo Theater on Sunday, April 16th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. With performances on TV and chart-topping albums, Shimabukuro explores Jazz, Rock, Blues, Bluegrass, Folk and even Classical on perhaps the unlikeliest of instruments, the ukulele. The Hawaii-born virtuoso’s incredible journey has taken him from playing small clubs to YouTube sensation and headlining the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center and the Sydney Opera House. Just recently, he was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as a member for the National Council on the Arts. Tickets are $29.50-$49.50.

With the release of their new acclaimed album Long Look, Grammy Award-winners The Indigo Girls are back on the road and come to the Au-Rene Theater on Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. After launching their career more than 35 years ago in clubs around their native Atlanta, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray have recorded 16 studio albums (seven gold, four platinum, one double platinum), sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following. Released in 1989, Indigo Girls' eponymous major label debut included singles “Closer to Fine” and “Kid Fears” and turned the two into one of the most successful Folk duos in history. Jubilant crowd singalongs that often overpower the band itself are a trademark of Indigo Girls concerts. Tickets are $36.50 - $76.50 with $126.50 Spirit Club Level seats. Indigo Girls have partnered with PLUS1 to donate $1 for each ticket sold to supporting Honor The Earth. Their work to create awareness and support for Native environmental issues and financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native communities.

America’s Got Talent finalist Daniel Emmet and Pia Toscano, an American Idol finalist, perform their “Simply the Best” Show delivering simply the best music from across generations in the Au-Rene Theater on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. With elegance, beauty and show-stopping vocals, the duo takes audiences on a musical journey from breathtaking ballads to upbeat Rock Classics spanning across the genres to celebrate The Beatles, Elvis, Broadway, The Righteous Brothers, Celine Dion, Puccini, Tina Turner and so much more. The two will present stunning solo performances and dazzling duets all intertwined with personal memories and humor. This event is generously underwritten by Future Tech in partnership with Dell. Tickets are $35-$65 with $135 Spirit Club Level Seats.

The Broward Center presents an All Abilities Broadway Blast in the JM Family Studio Theater on Sunday, April 23nd, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. No experience is necessary to enjoy this interactive and engaging arts experience for those age 16 and older on the Autism Spectrum as well as individuals with other developmental disabilities. Teaching Artists TJ Tekurio and Tammy Holder will lead an engaging and educational Broadway experience where participants will get to sing, dance and act even if participants have never done so before. All Abilities classes are made possible through the generous support of the Taft Foundation with special thanks to UM-NSU CARD for their in-kind support. Tickets for class participants are $10 and those accompanying them are welcome to network with others over refreshments during the class.

Students from the Performance Project and the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center present the Youth Spring Musical: Music Man Jr. in the Amaturo Theater on Tuesday, April 25th, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Based on Meredith Willson's Musical Comedy that won Six Tony Awards®, The Music Man Jr. features some of musical theater’s most iconic songs and a story filled with wit, warmth and good old-fashioned romance. The story follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys band he vows to organize. The catch? He doesn't know a treble clef from “seventy-six trombones.” His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for uptight Marian, the town librarian, whose belief in Harold’s power just might help him succeed in the end in spite of himself. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the performances.

Natalie Merchant with South Florida Symphony Orchestra presents the “Keep Your Courage Tour” in the Au-Rene Theater on Thursday, April 27th, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. After leading 10,000 Maniacs for its first seven albums, Merchant went solo and has since released nine studio albums with The Natalie Merchant Collection 10-CD Box Set featuring all eight of her solo studio albums from the past three decades. A ninth disc, Butterfly, is a new studio set featuring four new songs and six reinterpreted selections from her catalog, all arranged for string quartet. The final disc is Rarities, a collection of 15 rare and previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1998 and 2017. Tickets are $45-$125 with $145 Spirit Club Level seats.

Vance Gilbert continues to refine his unlikely union of humor, virtuosity and the unexpected as he performs in the Abdo New River Room on Thursday, April 27th, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. Whether with original songwriting or ageless interpretations of covers, Gilbert’s performances are steeped in deep humanism and bravery, stunning artistry and soul and contagious, unbridled joy. Before releasing eight albums, Gilbert burst onto the singer-songwriter scene in the early 1990's when the buzz started spreading in the Folk clubs of Boston about an ex-multicultural arts teacher who was knocking ‘em dead at open mics. Word of the Philadelphia-area bred performer quickly spread to New York City leading Shawn Colvin to invite him to be a special guest on her Fat City National Tour. Tickets are $30-$40.

Stone Soup comes to the Amaturo Theater this April in two exciting audience experiences. In this heartwarming musical adaptation of the classic European folktale of trickery and friendship, Peter, a hungry sailor, has no luck getting a free meal from the stingy citizens of a tiny village so he decides to turn the table. He invites the villagers to enjoy his famous delicious Stone Soup whose recipe is known only to seafarers and legendary adventurers. He promises to provide the main ingredient if the villagers provide all the other ingredients. Join Peter and his trusty parrot, Admiral, as they teach the villagers a lesson in friendship and sharing. JM Family Enterprises Smart Stage Matinee performances are Friday, April 28th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. with tickets at $10 and $3 lap tickets for children 12 months of age and younger. Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital presents the Family Fun Series performances of Stone Soup on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. with tickets that include pre-show activities at $16 in advance and $18 the day of the performance with $3 lap tickets for children 12 months of age and younger.

With comedy appropriate for all ages, Ryan Hamilton comes to the Amaturo Theater on Friday, April 28th, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of its "Five Comics to Watch," Hamilton has built a fan base with appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan, The Late Late Show, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central and Showtime. His recent Netflix comedy special, Happy Face, has established him as one of the current stars of standup. Tickets are $38 and up.

Also in April, dance enthusiasts will thrill to South Florida Ballet Theater on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023, Miami City Ballet presents West Side Story on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 and on Sunday, April 30th, 2023 and Ukrainian Dancers of Miami present Ukrainian Montage on Sunday, April 30th, 2023. It’s the best of both worlds with the music, dance and theater production Heroes of Hip Hop: Down the Rabbit Hole (April 15).

Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and Parker Playhouse. Buy tickets online at: www.BrowardCenter.org Or: www.Ticketmaster.com - By phone at: (954) 462-0222 or in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 Southwest Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316. For more information visit: www.BrowardCenter.org