“Broadway With Heart” A New Musical Celebration

Did you ever dream of reliving your favorite moments from every Broadway show you’ve ever seen? Did you ever imagine holding your beloved in your arms & swirling around the stage, or staring into your darling’s eyes while singing passionate love songs by Broadway’s legendary composers? Well, that’s what happens in “Broadway With Heart” at South Florida’s unique gem, the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Saturday, March 26th, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.

In this new musical celebration of the best of Broadway, M&M sing and dance their way through a history of classic numbers from hit Broadway shows like KISS ME KATE, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CHICAGO, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, HAIR and many more, while revealing personal, backstage stories of their work and experiences with some of the giants of musical theater like famed directors: Bob Fosse and Joe Layton. Actor, Writer And Lyricist: Jim Rado.

Native New Yorkers, Jackson and Kessler, affectionately known as M&M, share more than 30 years of producing, directing, writing, composing, choreographing and performing internationally from ballet to Broadway, Radio City Music Hall, the Las Vegas Strip, to theaters and opera houses worldwide.

In addition to decades of international tours of their original shows, the couple have performed in Tommy Tune’s Broadway show, “Grand Hotel,’ choreographed the Winter Olympics, the U.S. Pro Gymnastics tour, directed and choreographed the 30th Anniversary tour of the hit rock musical “Hair” and many more.

Their career is a show business fairy tale that began in a professional ballet class in New York City. Melinda remembers, “Michael showed up in ballet class in boxing trunks, wristbands and basketball socks, walking on his hands with a bevy of females around him. We were so enchanted with one another, that Maggie Black, our teacher, would separate us at the ballet barre. Once we began working together, singing, dancing and acting, we realized what a perfect fit we were and decided that was what we wanted to do exclusively.” Michael adds, “We just clicked from the first moment we started to dance together. Everything flowed. The hardest part of choreographing for Melinda was that everything she did looked so beautiful, it was hard to choose what to keep in and what to discard. It’s a happy problem I’ve gotten used to over time. As legendary director Joe Layton told us at Radio City Music Hall, “This girl! Even when it’s wrong it’s right!” In 35 years of highs and lows, successes and failures, injuries, triumphs and heartaches, we’ve spent 5 nights apart and eaten about 10 meals apart,” says Kessler. “It may not be for everyone, but we love being together pretty much all the time. We’ve traveled the world together doing what we love. It’s the most fun we can have, so let’s have it!” says Jackson.

Melinda is proud to be the great-granddaughter of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Bully! Michael is proud to be the great-grandson of Russian Cantor Yacov Sanzofsky. Shalom!

Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit M&M’s nonprofit M&M American Dance Theatre Works dedicated to promoting artistic collaboration, educational, cultural enrichment through exposure, mentorship and involvement in musical dance theater.

We are offering a fabulous promotion in association with Aventura favorite, 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen, 2956 Northwest 199th Street, Aventura, Florida 33180. The restaurant, owned by local heroes, Miami Heat Stars Dwayne Wade and Udonis Haslem, is offering 20% off your entire bill for pre or post theater dinner with your ticket stub.

Tickets are $40, $50 and $60. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Buy tickets online at: aventuracenter.org. By phone at: (877) 311-7469. Or: (954) 462-0222. Or in person at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center box office Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5:00 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance. For Group Sales, please call: (954) 660-6307.
 
The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is located at 3385 Northeast 188th Street, Aventura, Florida 33180.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts manages the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, a 14,864-square-foot, 330-seat waterfront complex that hosts performing arts, cultural and educational programming for all ages.

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