Experience The Magic Of Broadway In The Botanical: Through The Decades South Florida Sun Times Aug 20, 2025 Back By Popular Demand, Area Stage Is Excited To Announce Their Return Back To Miami Beach With Broadway In The Botanical: Through The Decades, Now Featuring An All-New Setlist That Will Take Audiences On A Musical Journey Through Time. Scheduled for Saturday, September 13th, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., this edition of Broadway in the Botanical: Through The Decades will showcase beloved family favorites and timeless theatre hits, performed by a talented mix of local aspiring and professional artists. Designed to highlight the intersection of nature and live performance, the event provides audiences with a unique opportunity to experience musical theater in a scenic and immersive environment. Guests are welcome to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs for seating in designated areas, while additional seating will also be available for those who prefer a traditional arrangement. A selection of food and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the evening. This event is made possible in part by the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council. Event Date: Saturday, September 13th @ 6:00 p.m. Tickets: $25 - General Admission Location: Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 About Area Stage: Founded in 1989 by John and Maria Rodaz, Area Stage began as one of the pioneers of the Miami Beach arts community on Lincoln Road. Now celebrating 36 years of artistic excellence, this non-profit theater company has become one of South Florida’s most influential cultural institutions, dedicated to artistic innovation, education, and accessibility to the arts. In addition to its acclaimed Mainstage productions, Area Stage houses a world-class Conservatory, providing professional training to hundreds of young aspiring artists each year. The company is also home to the Inspire Theatre Project, which offers meaningful performance opportunities to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Recently, Area Stage was honored with the 2024 Miami Dade Favorites Silver Award, a testament to its lasting impact on the community. Committed to pushing artistic boundaries and fostering the next generation of performers, Area Stage continues to provide extraordinary theatrical experiences to the Miami community and beyond. Tickets for Broadway in the Botanical: Through The Decades are now available for purchase. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit: www.areastage.org . Previous Next

1st Priority Restoration: Never Fool Around With Mold & Mildew June 24, 2021 Share If you are concerned you might have a mold or mildew problem it is best to call professionals for a complete evaluation of your home. Your health is your most important asset, so just like you go see a doctor for a test, your home health needs testing as well. If your home has been damaged by water from a leaking pipe, intruding water from all the current rains or mold damage from moisture over time. How are you going to address these problems in your home? A Restoration Company such as 1st Priority Restoration is usually the first company to call following significant damage to a home from floods, water damage, sewage backup and other major water events. The job of a restoration company is to clean up the mess and to preserve the home, protect the home and its contents so that further damage will not occur. Flood damage can be found in any geographical area, regardless of elevation. The causes of flooding can range from natural disasters, burst pipes, leaking pipes, rain storms or sewer lines that are backing up. Even in a condo, you could have a water leak in your wall, under a toilet or behind a kitchen cabinet creating mold that can cause damage to your property and your health. 1st Priority Restoration can find the source of the leak, fix it, restore your property and work directly with your insurance. Regardless of the cause, restoration professionals are called upon to repair water damage, mold damage and restore flooded properties. The water damage restoration process is highly regulated in order to ensure that properties damaged by flood or sewer events, can be effectively restored to a safe space for a homeowner to remain safe during the cleanup. You need a company such as 1st Priority Restoration who you can trust to do the job correctly. The process is simple, when 1st Priority Restoration arrives, they will thoroughly walk through your home and discuss the areas that need to be cleaned & restored to their original condition. Your insurance company adjuster or claim representative may recommend what and how your home should be cleaned, but in the end, it is your decision to make. In the past year, we have all heard the word “Mitigation” more times than we can count, but with water damage, that is exactly what needs to be done. Water damage restoration does not stop at restoring your real estate back to proper functioning. The professionals at 1st Priority will inspect the underlying causes that have caused the water damage in the first place and make sure there won’t be a reoccurrence. They will repair all of the damaged structures and replace the materials to make your property safe, for years to come. If your property has been exposed to water damage, you may have to do water mitigation. Strict actions are required in water mitigation, such as: removal of damaged materials such as drywall and flooring. Molds and mildew that have accumulated in areas in your property will be disinfected and deodorized to restore a healthy environment. Further cleaning and deodorizing should be done to make sure that your real estate is back in tip-top shape. Water damage mitigation should happen immediately after flooding or water buildup. Take action immediately, because letting your property sit in water can cause further damages and expenses. Materials soaking in water collect microbes and spread water-borne diseases. Furniture, wood flooring and walls will crack, sag and collect fungi after prolonged exposure to moisture. If your property is particularly old, it may be time to replace materials such as pipes to prevent a reoccurrence of water damage. If pipes are behind walls, it may require more extensive repairs. The water mitigation process will depend on how long your property has been exposed to water. Air humidifiers and drying equipment must be turned on around the clock in areas with severe water damage. Mold spores are especially dangerous to health and thorough cleaning and disinfecting should be done as part of the water damage mitigation. It is advisable to get the temperature, humidity and moisture of your property tested to see if it has been restored to normal standards, 1st Priority professionals can handle the entire process. After 1st Priority Restoration evaluates the work and equipment needed to clean your home, they will provide you with an estimate or contract for their services. LEAK DETECTION: One tiny water leak can create huge problems in a home or business. An undetected water pipe leak will not only dramatically increase your utility bills, but it can also lead to even more expensive water damage and mold. If you’ve had higher than average water bills, constantly have to refill your pool or hear running water, it’s time to call the leak detection specialists at 1st Priority Restoration! Is water pipe leak detection possible if the pipes are behind a wall? Yes, using the newest state-of-the-art detection tools, highly trained technicians are able to locate water pipe leaks that are hidden behind walls. They can even provide water plumbing leak detection within concrete slab foundations. Will insurance cover the cost of plumbing leak detection services? That all depends on your home's insurance plan. In many situations, when there is a need for water damage restoration, many insurance companies will cover the related costs. 1st Priority Restoration representatives can work directly with your home insurance company to verify the need for the plumbing leak detection service, cause of the problem and the repairs that will be required to remedy the situation. MOLD AND YOUR HOME: Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the outside air can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags and pets, which can be carried indoors. Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, pipes or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric and upholstery. With all of the rain and storms we have been having these past months, you can see a pattern of mold growth that will last. From leaks, flooding and driving rain, mold growth is a certainty in South Florida. If you are concerned that you might have a mold or mildew problem, it is best to call the professionals for a complete evaluation of your home. Your health is your most important asset, so just like you go see a doctor for a test, your home needs testing as well. NEVER FOOL AROUND WITH MOLD & MILDEW: When it comes to mold and mildew, we cannot take those potential hazards lightly. A mold problem can cause you to experience dizziness, anxiety, depression and even hallucinations. If you have been experiencing a diminished attention span or problems with your memory, it might be a good idea to have your home inspected for black mold by a mold remediation crew. For people sensitive to mold, inhaling or touching mold spores can cause allergic reactions, including sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rashes. People with serious mold allergies may have more severe reactions, including shortness of breath. At 1st Priority Restoration, this is what they do 365 days a year, nobody knows how to prevent potential dangers like they do. By dialing: 1 (800) 617-1112 – you can save financially and your health as well! VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION: There are some important ways that we can prevent the spread of mold and what you can do to get rid of it. Keep an eye out for hidden leaks: Wet spots on your ceiling, the baseboards or on the floor are a telltale sign of a leaky pipe or roof. Your home's pipes are behind drywall, which can leave a small leak unnoticed. Mold can grow behind those walls and filter into the air through ducts or pipes. At 1st Priority, they can come in and assess the situation before it gets worse. Did you know that many air conditioner systems/ducts are susceptible to mold growth? They often trap moisture, creating a breeding ground for spores. Bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms create a lot of excess heat and humidity, especially here in south Florida – whether it is from a shower, stove or even a dryer, all of these areas should be well ventilated. Education is key to anything – when our health is at stake – knowing that mold spores can lay dormant for years after they are produced and could begin growing again at any time, it is extremely important to know. Because of this, regular cleanings and having 1st Priority Restoration to depend on, will certainly make our lives much easier. Ever wonder why you or your children wake up coughing and sneezing on a regular basis? The CDC may have the answer. According to the CDC, in 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found that there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing, sneezing and wheezing in otherwise healthy people and in individuals susceptible with compromised immune conditions. Mold or mold spores may cause asthma attacks in people who have asthma and are allergic to mold. Even in some nonallergic individuals, mold can cause symptoms of irritation in the eyes, skin and airways. For example, the "black mold" Stachybotrys, along with some other types of mold, produce toxins known as mycotoxins that can cause irritation of the skin and airways in susceptible individuals. Some-times, people may develop severe reactions to mold exposure, but cleaning and sanitizing by professionals you can trust, can help mitigate the health issues. EXPERIENCE IS EVERYTHING: With decades in the business, 1st Priority Restoration is a reputable company with over 20 employees that are licensed and insured. They have been doing all types of cleaning, sanitizing, leak/mold detection and water damage restoration for more than a decade. "We use the most efficient cleaning and water removal equipment to make sure that our customers are satisfied with the job we do for them. We try to use nontoxic (Green) safe chemicals for all mildew treatments. In all of the years that we have been helping our customers with water damage, they have always been pleased with the work that we do and we have never received a single complaint, that speaks volumes!” YEAR ROUND SERVICE: If you have lived in south Florida for any period of time, you already know that the weather is ever changing, for that reason, the rainy season can happen at any time. It doesn’t have to be a tropical system to cause flooding and everything that goes along with it, a leak or burst pipe can happen at any time of year, 1st Priority Restoration is available to help get your home back to a healthy environment for you and your family. What continues to separate them from anyone else is that they can take care of all of your water damage problems - as well as conducting leak and mold detections, working with your insurance company and your adjuster. By calling 1st Priority Restoration, you are getting a business that understands it all and is ready to spring into action 12 months a year. From ceiling repair, drywall replacement, structural damage, roof leaks, floor repair, furniture cleaning, mold removal and treatments, they have it all covered. CUSTOMERS ARE ALWAYS SATISFIED: "If a customer calls and is not satisfied with any of the work, the crew will return promptly to your property and will meet your expectations. We strive to make our customers 100% satisfied." Proud member of the Better Business Bureau. $25 OFF MOLD TESTING! 1st Priority Restoration 1-800-617-1112 Closed Saturday & Jewish Holidays. < Previous News Next News >

Shop With A Cop: Santa Claus Stopped in Hallandale Beach last Week Thu Dec 16 2021 05:08:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Broward County Classroom Transformed Into Innovative STEM Lab October 16, 2024 Share Excitement filled the air as the doors swung open to reveal a remarkable classroom transformation, made possible through a collaborative partnership between Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and the Broward Education Foundation. Together with Broward County Public Schools, the organizations celebrated the completion of the STEM Classroom Makeover at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale. The $50,000 Grant from FPL, facilitated through the Broward Education Foundation, enabled Dillard High School to incorporate cutting-edge technology including robotics kits, interactive whiteboards and STEM equipment, creating an immersive learning experience. The redesigned classroom now boasts new STEM technology which will help enhance student engagement and foster creativity. "The Broward Education Foundation is proud to collaborate with FPL in creating a space where innovation and inspiration thrive," said James A. Knapp, President & CEO of Broward Education Foundation. "This STEM lab represents more than just new technology—it symbolizes opportunity. It opens doors for students at Dillard High School to engage with cutting-edge tools and pursue their passions in science, technology, engineering, and math, laying the groundwork for a brighter future." This partnership highlights the shared commitment of both FPL and the Broward Education Foundation to advance STEM education in economically disadvantaged schools across FPL’s service territory. The transformation at Dillard High School marks a significant milestone in this ongoing effort to provide students with the resources they need to excel. "We firmly believe in the power of education and the difference it can make in the lives of young individuals," said Pam Rauch, FPL Vice President of External Affairs and Economic Development. "We are thrilled to be able to contribute to creating a dynamic learning atmosphere for the students at Dillard High School. This classroom transformation represents our ongoing commitment to support education and provide students with the tools they need to thrive." To mark this significant milestone, FPL and partners hosted a ceremony at Dillard High School to showcase the transformed classroom and witness the positive impact of education in the lives of local students. FPL’s STEM Classroom Makeover Grants program provides funding up to $50,000 each for five schools in Florida to provide transformational learning opportunities in economically disadvantaged K-12 classrooms. Funds are available to address needs in technology or resources that will advance STEM curricula and careers to students in a classroom setting. For the 2024-25 school year, the FPL STEM Classroom Makeover Grant program is now open. To learn more information on FPL's STEM Classroom Makeover Grant and where to apply, visit: www.FPL.com/ClassroomGrant. < Previous News Next News >

How To Protect Your Pet's Dental Health By Family Features Apr 17, 2025 Like Humans, Pets' Oral Hygiene Plays An Important Role In Their Overall Health And Quality Of Life. Common Conditions Like Plaque Buildup, Tartar And Bad Breath Can Escalate To Serious Health Conditions If Untreated. In fact, by the age of 3, 80% of pets experience some form of dental health issue and the risk only increases as they age. However, for many pet owners, taking care of their four-legged friends' oral health is a more difficult habit to maintain than their own daily brushing and flossing routine. Many veterinarians recommend regular brushing for pets and a wide array of treats and meal additives complement brushing to help support your pet's oral health. Protecting your pet's oral health begins by talking with your veterinarian, who can provide recommendations tailored to your pet's specific needs. With that guidance, you can start comparison shopping and reading labels so you can identify quality products. Remember you're likely to find the greatest success by introducing oral health products as part of your pet's daily routine early on. Certifications for Trust and Quality Products that meet high standards are eligible for certifications that assure consumers about their quality and efficacy. For example, the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) is an independent organization that evaluates pet dental products. Their Seal of Acceptance is awarded to products that meet strict standards for controlling plaque and tartar. You can find the seal on packaging as an easy visual indication of the product's quality standards. Natural, Effective Ingredients Look for products that prioritize safety and health by offering natural, clinically proven ingredients and no artificial additives or chemicals. Seaweed or Kelp is a preferred ingredient because it contains minerals and enzymes that help reduce plaque and prevent bacteria. You can find 100% natural and organic kelp in products like ProDen PlaqueOff(r), which includes A.N ProDen(r), a Kelp ingredient sustainably harvested from specially selected locations in the pristine North Atlantic waters off the Scandinavian coastline. Processed through a specialized method in extreme environmental conditions, it attains peak quality and effectiveness, ensuring safety and health for your pet. Sustainable Practices Another detail you can gather from the product's packaging is whether a product manufacturer adheres to environmentally friendly practices and safe ingredient sourcing, which means the product is not only good for pets but also for the planet. This may be evident in certifications or special icons on the packaging, through information about sustainably harvested ingredients or with packaging that itself is environmentally responsible. Tailoring to Individual Pets Different pets have different needs based on age, size, breed and oral health status. Selecting the right product may also be complicated by your pet's allergies or picky eating habits. You can find a variety of ingestible options, including powders, chews or bones like those offered by ProDen PlaqueOff(r), to use in conjunction with daily brushing. • Powder: Ideal for a seamless addition to your pet's diet, this is the most economical choice, particularly for long-term use. It's especially suitable for younger pets as a preventive measure, given its longevity and cost-effectiveness. • Chews: For those looking for an easy-to-administer option that doubles as a reward, chews are the way to go. Additionally, for older pets or those with missing teeth, soft chews can offer a gentle yet effective way to maintain oral health. They're a convenient choice for pet owners to give as a daily dose without the need for measuring or mixing. • Bones: Designed not only to satisfy your dog's natural chewing instincts but also to aid in dental care, bones are a perfect option for pet parents whose dogs prefer a longer-lasting treat. Bones come in a variety of flavors and sizes, catering to both large and small breeds, making them a versatile way to help keep your dog's teeth clean and their breath fresh. Learn more about protecting your pet's dental health at: https://us.swedencare.com/ Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (veterinarian examining dog) Previous Next

Robo Cop-Car: Largest Tesla Electric Police Fleet Rolled Out By The City of Hallandale Beach Thu Jul 21 2022 04:15:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Fake News Curated By The Deep State: Government Spin Doctors Control The News Cycle By John & Nisha Whitehead April 13, 2023 Share Let’s talk about fake news stories, shall we? There’s the garden variety fake news that is not really “news” so much as it is titillating, tabloid-worthy material peddled by anyone with a Twitter Account, a Facebook Page and an active imagination. These stories run the gamut from the ridiculous and the obviously click-baity to the satirical and politically manipulative. Anyone with an ounce of sense and access to the Internet should be able to ferret out the truth and lies in these stories with some basic research. Then there’s the more devious kind of news stories circulated by one of the biggest propagators of fake news: the U.S. Government. In the midst of the government and corporate media’s carefully curated apoplexy over fake news, you won’t hear much about the government’s own role in producing, planting and peddling propaganda-driven fake news—often with the help of the corporate news media—because that’s not how the game works. Why? Because the powers-that-be don’t want us skeptical of the government’s message or its corporate accomplices in the mainstream media. They don’t want us to be more discerning when it comes to what information we digest online. They just want us to be leery of independent or alternative news sources while trusting them and their corporate colleagues to vet the news for us. Indeed, in recent years, Facebook and Google have conveniently appointed themselves the arbiters of truth on the internet in order to screen out what is blatantly false, spam or click-baity. Not only does this establish a dangerous precedent for all-out censorship by corporate entities known for colluding with the government but it’s also a slick sleight-of-hand maneuver that diverts attention from what we should really be talking about: the fact that the government has grown dangerously out-of-control, all the while the so-called mainstream news media, which is supposed to act as a bulwark against government propaganda, has instead become the mouthpiece of the world’s largest corporation, the U.S. Government. As Veteran Journalist Carl Bernstein, who along with Bob Woodward blew the lid off the Watergate Scandal, reported in his expansive 1977 Rolling Stone piece, “The CIA And The Media:” “More than 400 American journalists … in the past twenty‑five years have secretly carried out assignments for the Central Intelligence Agency... There was cooperation, accommodation and overlap. Journalists provided a full range of clandestine services... Reporters shared their notebooks with the CIA. Editors shared their staff. Some of the journalists were Pulitzer Prize Winners, distinguished reporters... In many instances, CIA documents show, journalists were engaged to perform tasks for the CIA with the consent of the management of America’s leading news organizations.” Bernstein is referring to Operation Mockingbird, a CIA Campaign started in the 1950’s to plant intelligence reports among reporters at more than 25 major newspapers and wire agencies, who would then regurgitate them for a public oblivious to the fact that they were being fed government propaganda. In some instances, as Bernstein shows, members of the media also served as extensions of the surveillance state, with reporters actually carrying out assignments for the CIA. In fact, in August 1964, the nation’s leading newspapers—including The Washington Post and New York Times—echoed Lyndon Johnson’s claim that North Vietnam had launched a second round of attacks against American Destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. No such attacks had taken place and yet the damage was done. As Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon report for Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, “By reporting official claims as absolute truths, American journalism opened the floodgates for the bloody Vietnam War.” Fast forward to the early Post-9/11 years when, despite a lack of any credible data supporting the existence of weapons of mass destruction, the mainstream media jumped on the bandwagon to sound the war drums against Iraq. As Los Angeles Times Columnist Robin Abcarian put it, “our government … used its immense bully pulpit to steamroll the watchdogs… Many were gulled by access to administration insiders or susceptible to the drumbeat of the government’s coordinated rhetoric.” If it was happening then, you can bet it’s still happening today, only it’s been reclassified, renamed and hidden behind layers of government secrecy, obfuscation and spin. In its article, “How the American Government is trying to control what you think,” The Washington Post points out “Government agencies historically have made a habit of crossing the blurry line between informing the public and propagandizing.” Thus, whether you’re talking about the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the government’s invasion of Iraq based upon absolute fabrications, the Russo-Ukrainian War or the government’s ongoing war on terror, privacy and whistleblowers, it’s being driven by propaganda churned out by one corporate machine (the corporate-controlled government) and fed to the American people by way of yet another corporate machine (the corporate-controlled media). “For the first time in human history, there is a concerted strategy to manipulate global perception and the mass media are operating as its compliant assistants, failing both to resist it and to expose it,” writes Investigative Journalist Nick Davies. “The sheer ease with which this machinery has been able to do its work reflects a creeping structural weakness which now afflicts the production of our news.” But wait. If the mass media—aka the mainstream media or the corporate or establishment media—is merely repeating what is being fed to it, who are the masterminds within the government responsible for this propaganda? Davies explains: The Pentagon has now designated “information operations” as its fifth “core competency” alongside land, sea, air and special forces. Since October 2006, every brigade, division and corps in the U.S. Military has had its own "psyop" element producing output for local media. This military activity is linked to the State Department's Campaign of "public diplomacy" which includes funding radio stations and news websites. This use of propaganda disguised as journalism is what Journalist John Pilger refers to as “invisible government… the true ruling power of our country.” We no longer have a Fourth Estate. Not when the “news” we receive is routinely manufactured, manipulated and made-to-order by government agents. Not when six corporations control 90% of the media in America. And not, as I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, when media outlets have become propagandists for the false reality created by the American Government. Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an Attorney and Author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of Constitutional Law, Human Rights and Popular Culture. John Whitehead's Commentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at: johnw@rutherford.org . Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at: www.rutherford.org < Previous News Next News >

“Broadway With Heart" Brings Heart By Phyllis Green, Critic At Large February 16, 2023 Share A night of nostalgia and some nifty song and dance routines recently whirled into Aventura Cultural Center, a jewel box of a theater. Stars, Michael Kessler and Melinda Jackson wowed a full house with their take on some of the most beloved Broadway shows of the times. The beautiful couple known as M&M presented a non-stop parade of their experiences in performing arts including directing, composing, teaching, singing and dancing, through the years. With their creation of The Non-Profit M&M American Dance Theatre Works, they promote educational and cultural enrichment, through exposure, mentorship and involvement in musical dance theater. Blessed with a gorgeous body, with legs that reached to eternity, Melinda, through song, jazz, soft shoe, ballet and breathtaking pointe, delivered a luscious act. Would have loved more of her and her graceful moves. Michael, the man of many talents, sang and danced vignettes of shows gone by such as "Oklahoma," "Kiss Me Kate," "Guys and Dolls," to spots from "Hair," "Jesus Christ Super Star" and even "Hamilton." Certainly, he could have taught the beloved Tevye a step or two or three in his "If I Were A Rich Man" presentation. Just to watch the precision and expressions of hand and body from this duo throughout the show was a treat. Backed by a bevy of five talented dancers, who, through clever choreography by Michael himself, provided on-stage set designs and costume changes with panache. The staging was simple: a huge screen showing M&M handling much of the narrative with the telling backgrounds of the spots being done. From "Two Sleepy People" with moves so synchronized, this couple was affectionately one soul; to morphing into "Phantom Of The Opera" with glitzy flowing fabric furling behind the actors, presented, exquisite! Indeed, a Five Star Show from Two Gifted Stars: Magical and Mighty!! To learn more about M&M: www.americandance.biz < Previous News Next News >

A Doctor’s Odyssey Of Self-Discovery: Genuine Solutions That Combat Unhappiness Wed Dec 20 2023 05:01:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Players' Inaugural Season of Jerry’s Girls - A Musical Revue that Honors the Life and Work of Legendary Broadway Composer Jerry Herman Thu Dec 12 2024 17:45:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

11 Audience-Wowing Films - The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival South Florida Sun Times Jan 21, 2026 The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival (SASIFF), Presented By MorseLife, Returns For Its Fourth Season With Screenings At Three Locations: The Rinker Playhouse At The Kravis Center For The Performing Arts From Sunday, January 25th, 2026 - Saturday, 31st, 2026, Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace Sunday, February 1st - Thursday, February 5th, 2026 And The New Glazer Hall In Palm Beach On Friday, February 6th, 2026. Among the exciting, curated selection of films from all over the world are 11 cinematic offerings directed by women: Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 – Frontier Thursday, January 29th, 2026 – Speak Friday, January 30th, 2026 – Sultana’s Dream Friday, January 30th, 2026 – Calle Malaga Saturday, January 31st, 2026 – Steve Schapiro: Being There Sunday, February 1st, 2026 – Jimpa Sunday, February 1st, 2026 – Natchez Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 – The Little Sister Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 – The Ties That Bind Us Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 – Late Shift Friday, February 6th, 2026 – A Man With Sole: The Impact Of Kenneth Cole “We're proud that more than one-third of our festival films are directed or co-directed by women, reflecting the increasing power of women in the production sphere and the film marketplace,” promises Barbara Scharres, SASIFF Artistic Director. The 11 films with women directors slated for the upcoming Sun & Stars International Film Festival Include: A Man With Sole: The Impact Of Kenneth Cole (Documentary / 2024, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Dori Berinstein. USA, 104-minutes) The Closing Night Screening of The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival©, presented by MorseLife. Fashion Designer, Philanthropist and Footwear Purveyor Kenneth Cole knows his shoes. He also appears to know the Native American directive to walk a mile in the moccasins of others, as proven through his 40 years of attention-grabbing strategies for merging commerce and compassion to raise awareness for causes including AIDS, homelessness and LGBTQIA+ rights. From the glitter of the star-studded AIDS benefits he has mounted at the Cannes Film Festival to the humorous billboards in Times Square, Cole’s unique entrepreneurship sells a humanitarian message. Emmy-winning director Berinstein delves into Cole’s history, his passion for social justice, and the brilliantly engaging promo that makes caring as cool as buying hot designer shoes. Note: Kenneth Cole and Director Dori Berinstein will be present for audience discussion Glazer Hall in Palm Beach Friday, February 6th, 2026 - Cocktail Reception 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; premiere screening at 7:30 p.m. Calle Malaga (Romance, 2025, Florida Premiere. Directed by Maryam Touzani. France/Spain/Morocco, 116-minutes—In Spanish and Arabic with English subtitles) Winner of the Audience Award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, this colorful romantic crowd pleaser is a triumph for luminous 80-year-old Spanish star Carmen Maura, who is playing Maria, a widow enjoying life to the fullest in her home in Tangier, the vibrant city of her birth. When her unhappy divorced daughter arrives from Madrid with a plan to sell the cherished apartment and consign her mother to a nursing home, Maria’s rebellion launches on day one when the adventure of reinventing her independence begins with a speedy exit from the institution. Friendship, ingenuity and creative cookery are at the heart of a delightful plan that incidentally brings her a new love and, quite unexpectedly, hot sex. The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center on Friday, January 30th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Frontier (Frontera) (WWII Thriller, 2025, North Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Judith Colell. Spain/Belgium, 100-minutes—In Catalan, Spanish, French and German with English subtitles) A small community’s psychic wounds from the Spanish Civil War are opened anew when a Pyrenees mountain village is challenged and divided over their proximity to Nazi-occupied France. Based on true events and starring Miki Esparbe and Bruna Cosi, this film is set in Spain in 1943, in a remote border hamlet where in direct defiance of Franco’s official rejection of Jewish refugees, customs agent Manuel Grau, has surreptitiously teamed up with a smuggler to aid and hide Jews crossing over the mountain trails. Effectively evoking the period and the peril with escalating tension between neighbor and neighbor and husband and wife, director Colell creates a shadowy rural milieu dangerously ruffled by the unfamiliar need to make life-or-death moral choices. The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Jimpa (Family Drama, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Sophie Hyde. Australia/Netherlands/Finland, 123-minutes) Two-time Oscar-winner Olivia Colman and Golden Globe-winner John Lithgow bring tender joy and heart-rending pathos to this remarkable drama of inter-generational adjustment when trans non-binary teen Frances decides to move to Amsterdam to live for a year with her flamboyant gay grandfather Jimpa (Lithgow) to explore her still-crystallizing sexual identity. Her indulgent mother Hannah (Colman) struggles with misgivings based on her own unresolved history with Jimpa, the dad who long ago abandoned his family when he came out as gay. Amsterdam’s liberated and very vibrant pan-sexual Queer culture is a fitting background to a story that centers on the power and imperfection of love and the need for forgiveness. According to Deadline, “Colman simply excels [and] Lithgow gets one of his best outings in recent years.” Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Sunday, February 1st, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Late Shift (Heldin) (Drama, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Petra Volpe. Switzerland, 92-minutes—In German, Turkish and French with English subtitles) Switzerland’s Oscar contender for Best Foreign Film follows a powerful emotional trajectory over the course of one harried nurse’s night on the understaffed surgical floor of a high-tech Swiss hospital. Nurse Flora (Leonie Benesch) maintains her mental equilibrium by leaning into routine through a demanding all-night shift that brings her briefly into the lives of unsettled patients for unexpected moments of beauty and profound human connection. Benesch, award-winning star of the 2024 Oscar-nominated The Teacher’s Lounge, conveys an intuitive understanding of the loneliness and life-and-death fears of her charges as the story evolves with wonderful grace against a backdrop of large and small crises. Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. The Little Sister (La Petite Derniere) (Drama, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Hafsia Herzi. France/Germany, 106-minutes—In French and Arabic with English subtitles) Winner of the Queer Palme at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where actress Nadia Melliti was awarded Best Actress, this drama centers on emerging self-acceptance for a daughter who realizes that neither her family nor her faith will recognize her for who she is. The adored youngest of a large and lively Algerian family, Fatima hides a guilty secret—she is unable to deny or quell her growing sexual attraction to women. With one foot in a world ruled by patriarchal tradition and the other in the challenging multicultural milieu of a Parisian college student, she hooks up with a woman on a lesbian dating site and discovers that the way to love and acceptance is blocked by her own doubts and fears. The Hollywood Reporter hails the film as “vibrantly felt yet impressively controlled—and blessed with a stone-cold stunner of a central performance.” Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Natchez (Documentary, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Suzannah Herbert. USA, 86-minutes) Billowing hoop-skirts sway, Southern drawls charm, and opulent antebellum decor draws wows—all trademarks of plantation tourism through which the canny owners of once-crumbling historic properties have revived the economy of Natchez, Mississippi. Under the folksy facade of perfect racial harmony and entrepreneurial community spirit there lurks the remnants of an unsettled history. Director Herbert conducts one of the most fascinating and revealing documentary explorations of the year, venturing into the restored mansions where portraits of Confederate ancestors hang in honor and heirloom silver graces the table, observing way behind the scenes where the thoughts often left unsaid are inadvertently revealed. Hailed by Stephen Saito in The Moveable Fest as “one of the great documentaries of the 21st century,” Natchez has won seven festival awards, including Best Documentary Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival. Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Sunday, February 1st, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Speak (Documentary, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Guy Mossman. USA, 104-minutes) Acclaimed as the opening night film of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Speak is a dynamic high-stakes journey through the lives, challenges and ambitions of five precocious high school students as they prepare for the world’s largest oratory competition. Florida’s own Esther Oyetunji vies for a rare third national win in this veritable Olympics of the spoken word in which past winners have included Oprah, Brad Pitt, Josh Gad, and Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson. Powerful and persuasive personal essays seem ripped from the soul as the five give reasoned unabashed voice to views on subjects including disability rights, LGBTQ+ identity, school shootings and family suicide, exhibiting a passion and maturity clearly rooted in deep emotion and personal experience. The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center on Thursday, January 29th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Steve Schapiro: Being Everywhere (Documentary, 2025, North Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Maura Smith. USA, 90-minutes) The Centerpiece Screening of The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival©, presented by MorseLife. This fascinating film documents the firsthand stories of photographer Steve Schapiro along with his vast archive of iconic images. Over six decades, he bore witness to some of the most significant social and cultural moments in modern American history and his pictures were published in The New York Times, Life, Look, Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone and more. His notable subjects have included Andy Warhol, Mohammad Ali, James Baldwin, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, Rosa, Parks, Ray Charles, etc., and he produced publicity stills and posters for mega-hit films like The Godfather, Taxi Driver, Midnight Cowboy, Chinatown, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Note: Director Maura Smith will be present for audience discussion. The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center on Saturday, January 31st, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Sultana’s Dream (Animation, 2023, Florida Premiere. Directed by Isabel Herguera. Spain/Germany, 70-minutes) The colors and cultures of India are entrancingly on display in this animated neo-folk fable that fantasizes Ladyland, a safe place for women where gender roles are reversed, men are segregated and women are equal and free to order the world in peace and harmony. This was the feminist vision of Bengali activist writer Rokeya Hussain in 1905, brought to life by Spanish filmmaker Herguera utilizing media and techniques including paper cutouts, puppet animation, sumptuous layered watercolor painting, and drawn geometric patterns reminiscent of mehndi henna tattoos. Adventurous heroine Ines travels to India in search of her roots, where she flees an overbearing suitor and sees the world with new eyes through her encounters with other women. Filmuforia hailed the “ravishing animation that packs a potent punch… (a) visually captivating gem.” The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center on Friday, January 30th, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. The Ties That Bind Us (L’Attachement) (Romance, 2024, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Carine Tardieu. France/Belgium, 106-minutes—In French with English subtitles) A revealing comment on the complexities of the modern family, this aptly titled film ricochets between drama and comedy when Sandra (a marvelous turn by Italian star Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), the determinedly single proprietor of a Parisian feminist bookstore, is unexpectedly plunged into family matters through the death of a neighbor. Elliot, a rascally but irresistible child is the catalyst in a melee that has Sandra the bewildered key player in a web of adult relationships that includes the kid’s dad and his new girlfriend, an ex, a sister-in-law, and the kid’s birth father, all seemingly on the make in varying combinations. Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. For more information about SASIFF including a complete list of scheduled screenings or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.sasiff.org . About The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival: The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival©, presented by MorseLife, aims to bring highly anticipated, critically acclaimed, and thought-provoking films to Palm Beach County. As a world-class film festival, it represents a major contribution to the cultural life of Palm Beach County and returns next month for its fourth season with screenings at the Kravis Center’s Rinker Playhouse from Sunday, January 25th, 2026 - Saturday, January 31st, 2026 at Hooky Entertainment Delray from Sunday, February 1st, 2026 - Thursday, February 5th, 2026 with the closing night screening at glamorous new Glazer Hall in Palm Beach on Friday, February 6th, 2026. SASIFF was co-founded by film buffs and cultural philanthropists Donald M. Ephraim and Terri Sriberg. For more information about purchasing tickets or becoming a sponsor, please visit: www.sasiff.org - On Facebook at: www.facebook.com/DME.SASIFF - On Twitter at: www.twitter.com/dmesasiff - On Instagram at: www.instagram.com/dme_sasiff . Email: info@sasiff.org . Or call: (561) 220-6735. About MorseLife: MorseLife serves more than 3,600 seniors every day on its campus in West Palm Beach and through its community outreach programs. Founded in 1983, MorseLife is a provider of health care and residential services for seniors in Palm Beach County. A charitable, not-for-profit organization, its programs also include short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, independent and assisted living, memory care assisted living, hospice, home health care, care management, meals-on-wheels, and PACE. Since its beginnings, MorseLife has built a reputation and tradition of caring for seniors with excellence, dignity, and compassion. For more information, visit: https://morselife.org - On Facebook at: www.facebook.com/MorseLife - On Twitter at: www.twitter.com/MorseLifeHealth - On Instagram at: www.instagram.com/morselifehealth - On LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/company/morselife-inc-/ - Or contact: info@morselife.org . (Photo Credit: Sun & Stars International Film Festival) Previous Next

“Something Rotten!” In Fort Lauderdale “Broadway’s Big, Fat Hit!” By The New York Post And Nominated For 10 Tony Awards South Florida Sun Times Mar 20, 2025 Not Content With Just One Day, Slow Burn Theatre Company Delivers Weeks Of April Foolishness With “Something Rotten!” As Part Of Its 2024/2025 Season Supported By American National Bank And Visit Lauderdale Saturday, March 29th – Sunday, April 13th In The Amaturo Theater At The Broward Center For The Performing Arts, Including An Open Captioned Performance On Sunday, April 6th At 2:00 p.m. Proclaimed “Broadway’s big, fat hit!” by the New York Post and nominated for 10 Tony Awards, this hilarious smash journeys back to 1595 as brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom compete to write a hit play against the popularity of the insufferable superstar Shakespeare. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, they set out to write the world’s first musical. With a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell and music and lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick, “Something Rotten” wears its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul. New York Magazine proclaims this laugh out loud, show-stopping musical comedy “‘The Producers’ + ‘The Book of Mormon’ x ‘The Drowsy Chaperone.’ Squared!” The cast features Jerel T. Brown, Ryan Crout, Woodrow Jackson Helms, Matthew W. Korinko*, Tyler Manemeit, Ralph Meitzler*, Kristi Rose Mills, Michael Dean Morgan* and Leah Sessa*. They are joined by a talented ensemble comprised of Abbey Alder, Aaron Atkinson, Alexander Blanco, Jamal Campbell*, Madeline Dunn, Deborah Katz, Anthony Lobo, Caiti Marlowe, Michael Materdomini, Taylor Hilt Mitchell*, Charles Page, Steven Ross-Dybash, Ashley Valent and Madison Wilcox. Director Patrick Fitzwater leads a creative team with Choreographer Nicolette Quintero, Music Director Ryan Crout, Scenic Design S. Benjamin Farrar, Costume Design Gregg Barnes, Lighting Design Eric Norbury, Costume Coordinator Rick Peña, Sound Design Dan Donato, Wig & Prop Design Patrick Fitzwater, Technical Director Timothy S. Dickey, Assistant Stage Manager Jolie Rubinchik* and Production Stage Manager Jeffry George* (* Member of the Actors' Equity Association (AEA). Major support of Slow Burn Theatre Company is provided by the Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and Funding Arts Broward (FAB). Sponsored in part by American National Bank and Visit Lauderdale. Student and community complimentary tickets are subsidized and underwritten by the Salah Foundation and the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation. Performance times vary with an open captioned performance on Sunday, April 6th at 2:00 p.m., in which spoken dialogue scrolls across a digital screen as the action takes place on stage. “Something Rotten” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and The Parker. 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 33312. For more information visit: www.BrowardCenter.org - Like us on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/BrowardCenter - And: www.Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation - Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @BrowardCenter. Subscribe to our channel at: www.YouTube.com/user/BrowardCenter - And join the conversation with: #BrowardCenter. The Broward Center 2024/2025 Season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Nicklaus Children’s Health System. About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 850 performances each year to more than 600,000 patrons, displaying a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level, the Nicklaus Children’s Health System Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 100,000 students annually. The Broward Center also manages The Parker, an iconic Fort Lauderdale venue, the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University, and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center in Miami-Dade County. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. For more information, visit: www.BrowardCenter.org . About Slow Burn Theatre Company Founded in 2009 by Patrick Fitzwater and Matthew Korinko, Slow Burn Theatre Company is one of South Florida’s leading professional musical theater organizations, celebrated for its bold productions and fearless creativity. With a mission to bring high-quality, thought-provoking, and entertaining performances to life, Slow Burn has earned a reputation for pushing boundaries and delivering dynamic interpretations of beloved musicals alongside lesser-known gems. Based at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Slow Burn Theatre Company offers an extraordinary theatrical experience that combines impeccable artistry, live music, and an unparalleled commitment to storytelling. The company has grown exponentially over its history, evolving from an ambitious grassroots effort to a cornerstone of South Florida’s cultural scene, thanks to the dedication of its founders, talented artists and loyal supporters. Now in its 15th anniversary season, Slow Burn Theatre Company celebrates a legacy of innovation, resilience and community connection. From intimate stages to grand productions, Slow Burn continues to inspire audiences with its passion for the arts and commitment to making theater accessible to all. For more information, visit Slow Burn Theatre Company’s website at: http://slowburntheatre.org/ Previous Next