Seeing Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton seems especially appropriate in this year of our nation’s 250th birthday. The musical is a celebration of the United States that acknowledges the contradictions between glorious ideals and less-glorious reality. Aug. 6 is the 10th anniversary of the musical’s Broadway premiere. Hamilton returns to Morsani Hall Oct. 21 - Nov. 8... Continue Reading →
When hip-hop began crashing pop culture’s party in the 1980s, Broadway didn’t seem like one of its potential destinations. Hip-hop’s South Bronx birthplace was 11 miles and a cultural world away from the theater district. https://youtu.be/10C-Q3NIlzU?si=_qkxFl8rrFT9cffY However, as hip-hop began infiltrating the mainstream, and eventually becoming the mainstream, it was perhaps inevitable that beats and rhymes would reach the Broadway stage. By the time Hamilton blew... Continue Reading →
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POrnc_tFPo Deejay Young, a Tampa native and touring cast member of Hamilton at The Straz this past season, sent three chairs turning on NBC’s The Voice Monday night with his falsetto rendition of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work.” Judges John Legend and Gwen Stefani hit their red buttons less than 20 seconds into Deejay’s performance,... Continue Reading →
AN EXCLUSIVE FROM INSIDE, THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE STRAZ CENTER Yana Perrault’s career is soaring. Yana may be soaring herself, soon. She’s been picked to play the coolest Powerpuff Girl, Buttercup, in Powerpuff, a live action reboot of the ‘90s animated favorite. She’ll be at The Straz Dec. 28 through Jan. 22, holding down... Continue Reading →
It’s not unusual to see favorite songs from Broadway productions on the pop charts. Beloved compositions have made the transition from the stage to mainstream culture’s consciousness since The Great White Way’s ‘40s and ‘50s heyday. Those looking for distinctive or quirky reinterpretations of musical-theater classics sometimes have to look a little deeper, though —... Continue Reading →
May and June are the months we celebrate parents, honoring them with holidays where we express gratitude for their sage advice and life lessons that put us on the right life track. As art imitates life, the Broadway stage offers many moms and dads, or otherwise parental types, offering life lessons, encouragement and guidance. We’re... Continue Reading →
As if the job they have didn’t draw enough attention, presidents of the United States have been in the spotlight on Broadway in both plays and musicals. And yes, more than a few of the actors-in-chief have broken into song or tripped the light fantastic on Broadway boards. There have been a few fictional presidents... Continue Reading →
By now, Hamilton’s meteoric rise from Broadway musical to cultural phenomenon fills many-a-page from magazine articles to blog posts to Instagram accounts. Its singular effect was solidified last year as the Kennedy Center decided to award the musical an unheard-of special Honors for being such a groundbreaking work of art. What remains unfathomable – even... Continue Reading →
Here we go, Strazzers. The public on-sale for HAMILTON starts Friday morning at 9 a.m. This handy FAQ guide tells you what to do to get ready and what to expect the day-of. Whether you’re planning to buy online, in-person or on the phone, this official information will help you be as prepared as possible... Continue Reading →
Conventional wisdom holds that if you say something three times you’ll remember it. The safest, most affordable tickets to Straz Center shows come from only one place: “Strazcenter.org” “Strazcenter.org” “Strazcenter.org” With sold-out season ticket packages for the huge Broadway season ahead featuring a four-week run of Hamilton, we’re trying to get you the best information... Continue Reading →
The first words are “wait for it …” as in “we still have no idea when single tickets will go on sale.” The second is “yes,” as in, “there’s a best way to get the best seats at the best prices and that’s strazcenter.org.” Otherwise, you might get sucked into a bad situation by ticket... Continue Reading →
Hot onstage kisses from the land of Broadway in honor of Valentine’s Day Love is often a many-splendored thing on Broadway. Equally often, it is a non-splendored thing (oh, Alexander Hamilton … but we’ll endure that moment next season). And, not quite as often, love is turned inside-out, upside-down and simultaneously ridiculed and held to... Continue Reading →