Find us on:52 October 2015 | FLMag.com

City Life COMMUNITY

Broadwayoff Broward Boulevard

The Broward Center and Broadway Across America have created a partnership that brings the Great

White Way to Fort Lauderdale. BY JENNIFER LIMA

THE BROWARD CENTER for the Per-forming Arts opened its doors nearly 25 years ago with Phantom of the Opera, the only 12-week run in its history, and it has been bring-ing Broadway musicals to Fort Lauderdale ever since. The venue has partnered with Broadway Across America since the early days - a part-nership that has become hugely valuable for both organizations. As a new season launches, the Broward Cen-ter today stands as one of only three venues that

hosts two-week engagements for Broadway Across America shows. The center ranks num-ber two overall out of the 40 markets that Broad-way Across America reaches across the country. “Broadway Across America is just a great partner, they’re on the ground in New York City, they’re living in the Broadway world, they’re in-vesting in shows, they have their finger on the pulse of the industry, and you really can’t get that from anyone else,” says Kelly Shanley, the Broward Center’s president and CEO.

Broadway Across America uses regular email surveys with its patrons to stay up to date on what they want to see. This allows them to book shows into the Broward Center that ca-ter to the Fort Lauderdale community, “an audience that’s very savvy, well-traveled, and knows what’s hot on Broadway,” says Susie Krajsa, Broadway Across America’s executive vice president of presenting. Each year Broad-way Across America looks at the research, then selects an eight-show season from its longer list

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Beauty and the Beast

54 October 2015 | FLMag.com

of productions. They also try to incorporate shows that appeal to lifelong musical theater fans as well as reach out to newer ones. Creating this communi-ty-centric programming, and bringing shows straight from Broadway to Broward, has contributed to keeping the venue in the national top 10 in terms of attendance. “We’re making sure that we are bringing the new shows from Broadway and making sure they fit in with this audience and demo-graphic,” Krajsa says. “We are bringing Broadway to your backyard.” While the season is tai-lored to locals, the reach of Broadway Across Amer-ica’s national network of subscribers also contributes to the center’s high attendance numbers. While more northern subscribers

can always see the shows in their own mar-kets, the appeal of South Florida weather and a Broadway show can prove enticing.

During a Broadway show last season, a survey of the audience showed that 19 percent of attendees were tourists who either traveled for the show or purchased tickets locally. By bringing these musicals to the Bro-ward Center each season, the center plays a major role in driving the cultural tourism in Fort Lauderdale. In addition to the shows, the series also gets Broad-way into the classroom. Through its partnership with Broward County Stu-dent Enrichment in the

Arts, local students can watch the musi-cals and participate in classes, lectures and demonstrations. Additionally, many of the

Broadway shows that come to the center feature child-friendly special performanc-es and behind-the-scenes events. Most of the Disney musicals incorporate an autism-friendly performance that is cus-tomized to ensure that setting, music and visuals are appropriate for the audience. Other musicals include touch tours for blind students. Each show also features an audio descriptive performance for the blind, allowing them to experience Broadway in a way that was never available to them before. Together, Shanley says, all of these pro-grams and opportunities allow for “great shows on the stage and great experiences leading up to them.”

The Broward Center’s 2015–16 Broadway Across America season kicks off this month. For more information on this and all Broward Center shows, visit browardcenter.org.

ONCEOCTOBER 6 TO 18The Tony Award-winning musical tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician on the verge of giving up his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs.

NEWSIESNOVEMBER 17 TO 29The musical by Disney, based on true events, tells the story of a band of underdogs who become the unlikely heroes when they stand up to the most powerful men in New York.

DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!DECEMBER 15 TO 27Inspired by the original book by Dr. Seuss, this holiday classic tells the tale of a mean and scheming Grinch and how his plan to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos showed him the true meaning of Christmas.

THE BOOK OF MORMON*JANUARY 26 TO FEBRUARY 7The nine-time Tony Award-winning musical, from the creators of South Park, follows a pair of young Mormons on their journey through Africa and their struggles as they strive to complete their mission.

KINKY BOOTSMARCH 1 TO 13The six-time Tony Award-winning musical, inspired by true events, tells the inspirational story of a struggling shoe factory owner trying to turn his business around and an entertainer in need of some seriously sturdy stilettos. Together, the unlikely pair proves that changing your world starts with changing your outlook.

DIRTY DANCINGAPRIL 12 TO 24The film-to-stage romance follows free spirits from two completely different worlds, Baby and Johnny, as they dance their way through the best summer of their lives.

BEAUTIFUL –THE CAROLE KING MUSICALMAY 10 TO 22The Tony and Grammy award-winning musical tells the true life story of Carole King’s rise to stardom, from her start as part of a songwriting team to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in music history.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST*JUNE 15 TO 19The Disney classic follows Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, as she finds herself trapped by the Beast, a young prince under a spell. As they learn to co-exist, she soon finds that the Beast isn’t the only one under a spell as his household comes to life.

*Not included in season subscription packages, additional purchase is required.

Schedule

Each year Broadway

Across America

looks at the research,

then selects an eight-

show season…

The Book of Mormon

Newsies

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