It’s a legit hit on the Great White Way AND in the West End.

It’s set in the Elizabethan Period AND it’s also sooooo firmly in our time.

It’s Shakespeare AND it’s jukebox musical with chart-toppers from the likes of Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, *NSYNC, Céline Dion, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Pink, The Weeknd, Demi Lovato and more.

Those hits are the work of Swedish pop music composer Max Martin and include irresistible earworms such as “Oops!…I Did It Again,” “I Kissed a Girl,” “Since U Been Gone,” “That’s the Way It Is,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” “As Long as You Love Me,” “It’s My Life” and more. Much more.

The national tour is currently playing Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts through Jan. 4, 2026. Then there will be a run at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts Jan. 13-25, 2026.

Martin’s songbook is deftly deployed to reimagine the whole “Romeo & Juliet” saga. William Shakespeare finds himself in a write-off with his wife, Anne Hathaway. The two creatively joust as the story changes: Juliet does not kill herself, but rather runs off to Paris with her nurse and a bestie.

“She has her whole life ahead of her,” says Anne Hathaway. “She’s only had one boyfriend.”

To go into more detail would be an unforgivable spoiler, but what can be said is that while initially you get the feeling that the production is a grand retelling of the Disney Channel’s “High School Musical,” that will quickly give way to something that hits a little harder.

If Shakespeare had written a sitcom for a streaming network, this seems pretty close to what it would be. That’s not throwing Shakes-shade — quite the opposite, the jokes and comedy bits land perfectly with Gen Z, Gen Alpha and maybe even some “mad lit” Millennials.

It’s super silly (in the best way) as opposed to supercilious (in that highfalutin “theatuh” way).

“& Juliet” is a crowd pleaser with lots of seat-dancing, head rocking, toe-tapping and lip-syncing in the audience. Even the choreography has bop-till-you-drop Tik Tok energy. As for the music, the sound is seemingly set on 11; You’ll feel the boom. And if hearing a harpsichord with a Katy Perry or Backstreet Boys tune doesn’t bring a smile to your face, then you’re dead inside.

In that same vein the visuals are amusingly anachronistic, carrying a vibe of bubblegum, neon pops of color, fizzy drinks and “what are those” sneakers — as if the whole show has been shot back and forth through a wormhole … a few times.

And that is where “& Juliet” lets its feminist fabulousness shine. Juliet and the other women (as well as a gender-bending supporting character) wind their way toward triumphant independence in the narrative. The journey feels right for our zappy zeitgeist.

But it also must be said, while you won’t exactly get Bard-bored, the musical is allllllmost epic long with a performance time a little over two-and-a-half hours.

“& Juliet” could shave a few minutes off here and there throughout the two acts … and still keep its and-ness.

IF YOU GO

WHERE:

• The Arsht Center is located at 1300 Biscayne Blvd., in Miami
• The Broward Center is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave., in Fort Lauderdale

COST: 

• The ticket price range at the Arsht Center is $58.50-$193.05
• The ticket price range at the Broward Center is $60.48-$184.38

INFO: arshtcenter.org, browardcenter.org

A phased opening began this fall for the new Glazer Hall, a $30 million-plus revitalization of the Regency-styled theater where the first full-length American classical ballet, “The Princess,” premiered during its inaugural 1958 season — and no less than the grand dame of the stage, Helen Hayes, starred in revivals of “The Cherry Orchard” and “The Glass Menagerie” in the early 1960s. New programming is scheduled to kick into high gear in January with “The Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai Circus” on Jan. 22, singer Corinne Bailey Rae on Jan. 23 and “An Evening with James Patterson & Mike Lupica,” on Jan. 25, with a wide variety of acts in the weeks to follow, https://glazerhall.org/#events.

“The great thing about this venue is that it’s going to be everything for everyone,” says Allison Stockel, who’s served as the center’s executive director since April. She compares the variety of the programming to that of Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut, which she previously operated.

“One weekend was like a microcosm of what the entire season looked like,” Stockel says. “You know, there was a dance program next to a comedy, next to family, next to rock, next to pop or jazz or opera. And that’s what we’re going to do here.”

Stockel adds that sponsors will also be doing some special cocktail parties and dinners for members, alluding to Glazer Hall’s multipurpose dynamic as a non-profit theater, cultural center and event space.

“All sorts of things are going to be happening,” she says.

The revitalization of the once-illustrious facility began about five years ago. Originally called The INNOVATE, the name was changed to Glazer Hall in honor of co-founders and co-chairs Jill and Avie Glazer, longtime Palm Beach residents whose vision, dedication and a financial commitment of more than $15 million have been central to the project.

“The Royal Poinciana Playhouse has languished in the dark for far too long. We felt it was time to turn on the lights and bring this jewel box back to life,” says Avie Glazer, who owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and with his wife shares a passion for philanthropy.

“It was the board that said, you know, with just the amount of sweat equity, you guys deserve this,” Stockel says in explaining the name change for Palm Beach’s first new nonprofit arts organization in more than 60 years.

What emerged from the Glazers’ vision and equity is a 27,000-square-foot performing arts center that retains the exterior appearance of the Royal Poinciana Playhouse as well as some interior architectural details, such as architect John Volk’s historic staircase and certain color schemes.

“And so it has the same feel,” Stockel says. “You don’t walk in thinking that you’re in a different space. You walk in thinking, ‘Wow, this looks similar to what I remember it to be.’”

However, that is largely where the similarity ends.

“From the outside, it looks exactly the same, but it’s a different theater,” Stockel says. “It used to be, you’d walk into a very small lobby. And there was no water view. Now the lobby is front to back. You walk in and you see the water at the other end. There’s also a water-view terrace. Prior to a show, members can go out and have cocktails out there.”

Water is also the focus of perhaps the most distinctive feature of the renovation — instead of a traditional backdrop, the scene behind the theater’s stage can be a live view of the Intracoastal Waterway.

“Now you can do something where if you have a solo artist who doesn’t want a lit-up screen behind them, they can have the view of the water and the sunset,” Stockel says. “And because it’s a multipurpose space, when you have parties and private events, well, it’s just the most gorgeous view.”

There is a 1,200-square-foot, second-floor space for those events in addition to the option to reconfigure the theater’s seating, which has been halved from the original capacity of 800 to now 400 seats.

“So that’s very different as well,” Stockel says. “But it’s going to have really everything — state-of-the-art equipment for lighting and sound and movies. And the bathrooms are twice the size of what they used to be.”

Does the center’s director expect that the limited capacity will lessen the venue’s  own “star power,” so to speak?

“No, while the seating may be less, it’s going to have big names, because, look, a performer is going to get what a performer is going to get. Right? It’s whatever they cost. I ran a 500-seat theater and we would get Willie Nelson and Kristen Chenoweth and Squeeze and Blondie and major names that would perform in theaters four times our size.

“So the difference is that your tickets are going to be a little higher, right? Because if an artist costs, you know, $100,000, and then you have your expenses, divide that by the seats, and that’s your ticket price. I mean, it’s simple math.”

But, Stockel points out, there’s a payoff for the audience. “What you get as a patron is the ability to see these amazing names, these really world-renowned performers in a tiny, intimate venue. It feels like you’re seeing them in your living room. I think that was the allure of the venue that I used to run and that’s going to really be the allure of this.”

Show starters

Programming at Glazer Hall is scheduled to kick into high gear in January 2026, with a wide variety of acts to follow, https://glazerhall.org/#events.

Directed with finesse by Patrick Fitzwater, this rendition clicks all the boxes with superb singing and acting; sharp dancing choreographed by Cat Pagano; excellent stagecraft including lighting, set design and projections; and magnificent costumes. Fitzwater, Slow Burn’s artistic director and co-founder, seamlessly manages his cast of 32 with precision.

The musical features a book by Jennifer Lee (who also wrote the 2013 Disney film) and original songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Surely by now, most people — at least those who see movies, attend theater or don’t live under a rock — have heard of “Disney’s Frozen,” or at least its most famous song, “Let It Go.” As with many Disney works, “Frozen” can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

At its heart, “Disney’s Frozen” is about family bonds, especially those between sisters, as well as finding and accepting your identity, embracing kindness and positiveness, and letting go of negativity. These are timeless themes. And the song “Let It Go” adds another level — it’s a showstopper that’s an anthem about the future, about growing up and taking responsibility.

“Disney’s Frozen” revolves around two sisters and princesses: Elsa and the younger Anna. Elsa’s magical powers can create ice and snow, which entertain Anna (“Do You Want To Build a Snowman?”). But after Elsa accidentally harms Anna, nearly killing her, their parents separate the sisters and close the castle to the community to keep the princesses safe. (In addition to healing Anna, the leaders of a nearby troll community also erase her memory.)

Then the king and queen of Arendelle die in a storm at sea, but the sisters’ separation continues until Elsa is crowned queen when she is 21. At the coronation, Anna meets dishy Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. It’s love at first sight. He proposes. She accepts. But Elsa refuses to give her permission, urging her not to marry someone she just met.

The sisters quarrel, causing Elsa’s powers to erupt, which puts Arendelle in permanent winter. Elsa flees to the mountains, planning to live alone. Anna follows with the help of ice harvester Kristoff, his reindeer, Sven, and Olaf the snowman.

Lea Marinelli as Elsa and Kristi Rose Mills as Anna exude chemistry, making the audience believe they truly are sisters and best friends with a deep love for each other. Marinelli’s powerful voice commands the stage. She also is steely and, of course, icy in order to protect Anna, her community and herself. Mills’ strong voice is the definition of exuberance as she is both playful and determined. Marinelli’s rendition of “Let It Go” is indeed a showstopper — in several ways. (No spoilers!)

They receive terrific support from Jason Ivan Rodriguez as Kristoff, Milo Alosi as the charismatic Hans, and Aaron Atkinson as the puppeteer maneuvering reindeer Sven. Comic relief and constant smiles shine from Kalen Edean as Olaf and John Luis Mazuelos as Weselton (a dignitary from a neighboring kingdom). The trolls, Bulda (Kareema Khouri) and Pabbie (Jarod Bakum), are high energy.

The large ensemble is on point, with an extra boost from several performers who have had starring roles in Slow Burn productions, such as Mikayla Cohen and Jerel Brown. The child actors alternate. One night, Blaire DiMisa played a young Elsa and Penelope Martone was young Anna — both were delightful.

The production staff deserve many kudos, visualizing the constant swirling snowfall, flashes of a storm through the sky, Elsa’s ice palace and the mountains. These are brought to life by scenic designer Nikolas Serrano, with lighting by Eric Norbury, projections by André Russell, sound by Dan Donato, and Timothy Shaun Dickey as technical director. Wilhelm Peters as production stage manager and Jolie Rubinchik as assistant stage manager keep the production running smoothly.

Rick Peña’s costumes are nothing short of magnificent. He worked more than a year on them, from the beautiful gowns of Elsa and Anna to the outfits worn by the servants, mountain people and others. (This includes a jaw-dropping stunner.) His hard work shows.

Slow Burn again has produced a highly entertaining show. Sing “Let It Go,” but do not let “Disney’s Frozen” go without seeing this musical.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Disney’s Frozen,” presented by Slow Burn Theatre Co.

WHEN: Through Sunday, Jan. 4

WHERE: Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale

COST: Starts at $91.45, available by calling 954-462-0222, visiting browardcenter.org or going to Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office

INFORMATION: slowburntheatre.org

A version of this review ran in floridatheateronstage.com.

After all, the best we can do for a winter wonderland is white sand beaches, with SoFlo Santa rocking a tank-top, shorts, flip-flops and shades.

If that’s got you feeling all Grinchy, here’s something to soothe those yuletide yearnings: a roundup of holiday-themed shows in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

Please note: Ticket prices may not include fees and taxes. Also, we will continue to refresh this list, so you may want to keep checking back. Enjoy the shows!

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’

The Wick Theatre will produce an elaborate staging of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” with a large cast and a score by Broadway legends Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens
WHEN: Nov. 28-Dec. 24
WHERE: The Wick Theatre & Museum Club, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton
COST: $89-$119
INFORMATION: thewick.org

SYMPHONY OF THE AMERICAS PRESENTS ‘JUST LIKE THE ONES WE USED TO KNOW’ HOLIDAY CONCERT

Conducted by Luke Frazier, this holiday concert will feature Laurie Jennings, the Emmy-winning TV news reporter and former WPLG-TV anchor, as well as guest vocalists Nova Payton (sang with Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack), Eric Ulloa (Gloria Estefan musical, “On Your Feet”) and Amanda McGovern (winner of American Pops Orchestra’s NextGen Vocal Competition).
WHEN: 7:45 p.m. Dec. 1-2
WHERE: Amaturo Theater at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale
COST: $64.90-$118
INFORMATION: sota.org; browardcenter.org

ONE JOYOUS NIGHT GOSPEL CONCERT

Grammy Award-winning and gospel music superstar — and co-star of the Broadway musical “Hell’s Kitchen” — Yolanda Adams is the headliner for this holiday show. Soul/R&B-gospel ensemble Sensere will also perform. The event is presented by the City of Lauderhill as well as WHQT Hot 105 and WEDR 99Jamz radio stations.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2
WHERE: Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill
COST: $85-$125
INFORMATION: lpacfl.com

FLORIDA GRAND OPERA’S ‘SILENT NIGHT’

Based on Christian Carion’s Academy Award-nominated 2005 movie “Joyeux Noël,” this opera recounts the extraordinary moment during World War I when Scottish, French and German soldiers laid down their weapons to share a night of peace. The production is a team effort between Florida Grand Opera (FGO), The Atlanta Opera and Opera Carolina. “Launching our season with ‘Silent Night’ is deeply symbolic,” FGO general director Maria Todaro said. “It reminds us that even in times of division and despair, there is always a moment when humanity prevails. Music becomes the common thread that binds, heals and restores.”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 and Dec. 6
WHERE: Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale
COST: $54-$215
INFORMATION: 954-462-0222; fgo.org

BALLET PALM BEACH PRESENTS ‘THE NUTCRACKER’

The professional ballet company of the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast presents this Christmas classic where Marie is spirited away for adventures in an enchanted winter wonderland.
WHEN:

• 7 p.m. Dec. 5
• 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 6
• 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 7

WHERE: Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
COST: $28.75-$143.75
INFO: kravis.org

”TIS THE SEASON’ CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA FUNDRAISER CONCERT

With an ensemble of more than 150 musicians, this benefit concert from the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Broward College will spotlight holiday classics, movie favorites and singalongs.
WHEN: 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6
WHERE: Bailey Hall at Broward College, 3501 Davie Road, Davie
COST: $15
INFORMATION: eventbrite.com

SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S PERFORMANCE OF HANDEL’S MESSIAH AND HOLIDAY POPS

Led by Sebrina María Alfonso, the South Florida Symphony Orchestra will perform the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah,” which culminates in the “Hallelujah” chorus, as well as a collection of modern Holiday Pops favorites. There will be a pre-concert presentation with Alan Mason 30 minutes before the concert featuring an in-depth conversation and insights about the works and composer.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6
WHERE: The Parker, 707 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale
COST: $41.30-$147.50
INFORMATION: parkerplayhouse.com

SERAPHIC FIRE’S ”TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS’

The Miami-based professional a cappella choral ensemble will present its signature candle-lit Christmas program throughout South Florida. “Somehow the music of the Christmas season brings that sensation of eagerness and hopeful wonder back to all of us, whether we’re 5, 55 or 95,” conductor James Bass said. “That’s what we will be trying to capture in this program. Seraphic Fire’s holiday concert is the perfect way to start the season.” In addition to Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, performances will take place in Coral Gables, Miami, Cutler Bay and Naples.
WHEN/WHERE:

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 333 Tarpon Drive, Fort Lauderdale
• 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton

COST:

• $68 general admission; $85-$95 reserved (Fort Lauderdale)
• $65 general admission; $85-$95 reserved (Boca Raton)

INFORMATION: 305-285-9060; seraphicfire.org

FLORIDA INTERGENERATIONAL ORCHESTRA’S HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA CONCERT

Now in its 20th season, the Florida Intergenerational Orchestra — as the name spells out — unites children, parents, grandparents and retirees into one music group, with members ranging in age from 8 to 96. “This concert is all about joy, connection and community,” said conductor Lorraine Marks-Field. “It’s wonderful to see generations performing side by side, sharing the gift of music together.”
WHEN: 3 p.m. Dec. 7
WHERE: O’Shea Hall at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 22094 Lyons Road, Boca Raton
COST: $23.18-$44.52
INFORMATION: 561-922-3134; flioa.org

QUIRKY CHRISTMAS CABARET

South Florida-based entertainer Jennifer McClain returns for a third consecutive year with her mix of classic Christmas tunes, comedy, singalongs and a few surprise guests.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Dec. 9-11
WHERE: The Foundry, 2306 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors
COST: $37.50-$53.50
INFORMATION: ronnielarsen.com

‘BLACK NATIVITY’

This gospel-infused retelling of The Nativity story was written by poet/playwright Langston Hughes and is being staged by Brévo Theatre, a nonprofit arts organization with a mission “to amplify underrepresented voices and inspire cultural dialogue.” This production is directed by Zaylin Yates and choreographed by Terrence “TM” Pride — both co-founders of Brévo Theatre. There will be a concert version at 7:30 p.m. Saturday Dec. 6 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center (tickets are $25).
WHEN: Various times Thursday, Dec. 18-Sunday, Dec. 21
WHERE: The Abdo New River Room at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale
COST: $53.10
INFO: brevotheatre.org; browardcenter.org

CHRIS MACDONALD’S MEMORIES OF ELVIS ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY’ DINNER SHOW

Elvis Presley tribute artist Chris MacDonald brings the special holiday edition of his show performing of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s most popular renditions of Christmas songs. Tickets include a three-course meal.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Dec. 12
WHERE: The Paddock Restaurant at Palm Beach Kennel Club racetrack,1111 Congress Ave., West Palm Beach
COST: $80.89-$94.49
INFORMATION: pbkennelclub.com

MASTERWORKS CHORUS OF THE PALM BEACHES PERFORM HANDEL’S ‘MESSIAH’

The Masterworks Chorus presents their 47th annual performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” in both North Palm Beach and Palm Beach. The solos will be sung by professional vocalists Dorothy Gal (soprano), Erika Vasallo (mezzo soprano), Tyrese Byrd (tenor) and Neil Nelson (bass-baritone). “Messiah is a beautiful, moving oratorio that reflects the spirit of the season,” said Bryan Ijames, artistic director of Masterworks Chorus. “The music is filled with anticipation, reflection and excitement, underscoring a powerful narrative. We look forward to performing this masterpiece and celebrating this time-honored tradition with the community.”
WHEN:

• 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at Benjamin Hall
• 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 at Royal Poinciana Chapel

WHERE:

• Benjamin Hall at The Benjamin School, 4875 Grandiflora Road, Palm Beach Gardens
• Royal Poinciana Chapel, 60 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach

COST: For both concerts general admission is $36.05, premium seating is $77.25, student admission is $10.30 (though student tickets for Royal Poinciana Chapel concert are sold out)
INFO: masterworkspb.org

SOULFUL CHRISTMAS

This weekend celebration of music, art and cultural heritage will transform Fort Lauderdale’s African American Research Library and Cultural Center into a unique take on a tropical winter wonderland.

• A free “Soulful Christmas Concert” with Hued Songs from 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 will feature artists such as Ja’Nia Harden (jazz/R&B), Erron Cooper (gospel singer), Brittany Graham (operatic soprano) and Wilkie Ferguson III (Broadway/TV performer)
• A “Soulful Christmas Community Day of Celebration” from 1-5:30 p.m. Dec. 13 will include holiday storytelling and singalongs, LEGO Christmas Ornament Making, Ugly Christmas Sweater Decorating, Super Soul Steppers performance, gift giveaways (while supplies last), a Hued Songs concert, Delou Africa performance, face painting, holiday crafts for all ages and more.

WHERE: African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
COST: Free
INFORMATION: broward.org

PENTATONIX: CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY TOUR

The Grammy-winning vocal group is bringing their holiday concert tour to SoFlo featuring the five a cappella singers (including baritone Scott Hoying, who twinkled his toes on the latest season of “Dancing with the Stars”).
WHEN: 7 p.m. Dec. 15
WHERE: Amerant Bank Arena, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise
COST: $52-$522
INFORMATION: amerantbankarena.com

PATRICK LAMB’S A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TOUR

Saxophonist Patrick Lamb performs live as the iconic Charlie Brown animated  TV Christmas special plays on a screen in the background. In addition to his band, Lamb will be joined by a Delray Beach student choir for this family-friendly holiday concert.
WHEN: 5-8 p.m. Dec. 17
WHERE: The Amphitheatre at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach
COST: $27.37 (bring your own lawn chair)-$266.25
INFORMATION: downtowndelraybeach.com

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY’

New City Players has a new take on a Christmas classic with Frank Capra’s iconic movie reimagined as a radio play, complete with live Foley sound effects and a cast of five actors voicing almost three dozen characters. “Most people are familiar with ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,'” said producing artistic director Tim Davis. “While the style and venue of this show will feel fresh, at its heart the story remains the same: A man who has felt like he has lost everything realizes that what is most important in his life all along has been his community.” Doors open an hour before showtime for cocoa, carols and a curated menu from The Palm Cafe at General Provision in Fort Lauderdale.
WHEN: Dec. 18-21
WHERE: General Provision Downtown, 300 SW 1st Ave., Suite 155, Fort Lauderdale
COST: $30-$35
INFORMATION: 954-376-6114; newcityplayers.org

ARTS BALLET THEATRE OF FLORIDA’S ‘THE NUTCRACKER’

This production set to Tchaikovsky’s score is choreographed by artistic director Vladimir Issaev. The performance will spotlight the company’s professional dancers in key roles, as well as a community cast of children from Issaev’s School of Classical Ballet and local character artists.
WHEN:

• 10:30 a.m. Dec. 18 (Smart Stage Matinee Series)
• 7 p.m. Dec. 19-20
• 3 p.m. Dec. 21

WHERE: The Parker, 707 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale
COST:

• $31.27-57.53
• $10.01 per ticket for Smart Stage Matinee Series

INFORMATION: parkerplayhouse.com

CANDLELIGHT’S CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

This series of live, candlelit concerts by a local string quartet will feature a “multi-sensory musical experience” of – depending on the performance – Christmas carols such as “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” “Deck the Halls” and “Joy to the World” as well as classical masterpieces from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” including the “Waltz of the Flowers” and the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”
WHEN:

• Candlelight: Christmas Special Featuring “The Nutcracker” & More at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19 at The Sanctuary Church FTL
• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings at 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 on Friday, Dec. 19 and then 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 at Savor Cinema
• Candlelight: Christmas Classics at 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28 at Savor Cinema

WHERE:

• The Sanctuary Church FTL, 1400 N Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
• Savor Cinema, 503 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale

COST:

• The Sanctuary Church FTL on Friday Dec. 19 ticket prices are $28.35-$57.60
• Savor Cinema on Friday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. ticket prices are $28.35-$57.60
• Savor Cinema on Friday, Dec. 19 at 8:45 p.m. tickets are $45.45-$66.15
• Savor Cinema on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. tickets are $67.50 (the $52 and $71 tickets are sold out)
• Savor Cinema on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 9 p.m. tickets are $40.95-$63.90
• Savor Cinema on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 8:45 p.m. tickets are $32.80-$53.20

INFO: feverup.com

HOLLY JOLLY JINGLE JAM

Cabaret performer Dawn Derow and resident artist Madison “Mad.E” have teamed up for this unique yuletide celebration. In addition to a performance by Dawn Derow & The Delta Jazz as well as a sing-along with Pat Norris at the piano, there will be hands-on collaging with Mad.E. Also the dynamic duo promise Christmas cookies, bites and holiday-themed cocktails along with hand-crafted gift boxes by Ami from saltandearthcollections.com. “Think of this event as a festive neighborhood party. It’s all about bringing people together through art, music and a little holiday sparkle,” explains Mad.E. “And a huge thank you and shout out to the owner of the Warehouse, Joe DeStephan, for hosting this happy holiday hoop-de-doo.”
WHEN: 5-11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20
WHERE: Northwood Art & Music Warehouse, 933 28th Street in West Palm Beach
COST: $33.85
INFO: eventbrite.com

Through Jan. 4, catch the production at the Amaturo Theater within the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. It is based on the Oscar-winning original Disney film with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez as well as a book by Jennifer Lee, plus new music.

“’Frozen’ is a breathtaking journey through the bonds of family, the courage to be oneself, and the magic that lives within,” said director Patrick Fitzwater. “We’re excited to share this dazzling production with audiences of all ages during the holiday season.”

A Noon Year’s Eve celebration with preshow arts and crafts, dance contest and prizes is set for 11 a.m. Dec. 31 before a noon performance.

COST:

• $96.76-$118.80
• $91.45-$120 for Noon Year’s Eve celebration

INFORMATION: 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org or slowburntheatre.org

That is what director Jessica Stone has said is at the center of the stage musical version of “Water for Elephants.” Sounds like a major downer, doesn’t it?

Well, it isn’t.

The Broadway national tour, now playing the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale through Nov. 23, somehow manages to smile brightly and crack acerbic jokes, all the while enveloping its sorrow in a close hug.

Based on a 2006 book by Sara Gruen that became a 2011 movie (starring Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz and Hal Holbrook), the show bowed on the Great White Way last year and was nominated for seven Tony Awards.

Set in the Depression era, the story is told in flashback. Jacob Jankowski (played by Zachary Keller as a young man and Robert Tully as the elder version) is running away from the grief of losing his parents in a car accident. Penniless and without hope of finishing his veterinarian studies, he hops on a train only to find out it is carrying a down-on-its-luck traveling circus.

That is where “Water for Elephants” sticks its landing.

The production is visually triumphant, choreography brightened by airborne acrobatics, balancing acts and terpsichorean tricks. The score, though admittedly not particularly memorable, does have a some toe-tappers, with music flowing something akin to a concept album. Imagine Cirque du Soleil … set to folk music.

And the transitions are filmic, seamless, keeping the show moving for two hours plus a 20-minute intermission.

That is needed as the narrative follows Jankowski’s run-ins with the volatile circus owner/ringmaster August (Connor Sullivan) and — giving the story another layer of impending “ohhh-nooooo” — his blossoming romance with August’s wife and circus star performer, Marlena (Helen Krushinski).

So where does that title come from? Yes, there is an elephant, beautifully and ingeniously realized through puppetry and … um … muppetry, as is the case with all the circus animals. Being able to carry enough water for an elephant to drink is a hopeless task, a metaphor for the overwhelming pressures that all the characters face during the height of the Depression Era, an inescapably defeatist time.

Again, sounds like a major downer, doesn’t it?

This cast (non-Equity though you’d never ever know it) walks that tightrope, performing with bravura, singing with crystalline precision and thunderous boom — somehow making it all less overwhelmingly sad through their collective charisma, the desperation and cruelty dialed down just enough to keep the edge, the cut.

What’s left is a powerful musical that touches your heart, tickles your ribs, caresses your face, dazzles your eyes and then … ever so gently and gracefully … sets you back down into your world.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Water for Elephants”

WHEN: Through Sunday, Nov. 23

WHERE: Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale

COST: $48.68-$172.58

INFORMATION: 954-462-0222 (press 1); browardcenter.org

But it’s the first time a dance troupe from Broward County — the C.A.M. Dance Co. in Davie — will be part of the event presented by the Inter-American Choreographic Institute.

“The essence and purpose of Men Who Dance is not to promote any agenda or reach conclusions,” said Rafi Maldonado-Lopez, institute founder and the festival’s artistic director. “It’s about engaging in the process of deconstructing stereotypes, re-evaluating what masculinity means on and off the stage, and daring artists to explore it.”

Also for the first time, the festival will feature an American Indian dance troupe, Indigenous Enterprise, in honor of November being National Native American Heritage Month.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Men Who Dance, produced by Inter-American Choreographic Institute

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30

WHERE: Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Amaturo Theater, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale

COST: $25-$45

INFORMATION: 954-462-0222; BrowardCenter.org

COST: $29.50-$53.10

On the one hand, this ambitious and personal play, first seen off-Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre, is a moving tribute to the big thinkers who got naked in their meetings (which is why the show judiciously locks up the audience’s phones) and to the pioneers when it came to demanding respect in the workplace, building reproductive rights, advancing sexual freedom and demanding equal pay. Not to mention myriad other victories, even while these women often were raising kids and caring for their less-than-evolved husbands.

On the other hand, its continual interrogations are a reminder of successive generations’ endless fascination with baby boomers, not to mention yet another example of Gen Xers and millennials’ weird complexity of feelings about them.

“Why did you make these sacrifices?” the play wants to know. “Did they bring you happiness? Did you abandon your principles when you had kids?” And, perhaps most interestingly of all, “Did you actually liberate anyone beyond yourselves?”

You can also see this play as highly reflective — for obvious reasons — of the current progressive age of anxiety.

Wohl’s authorial mouthpiece, the character Lizzie (Susannah Flood), begins the show by introducing both herself and her mother’s “friends” who form the feminist group that meets inside a high school gymnasium somewhere in Ohio. (David Zinn’s set looks like a functioning school gym.)  She tells us she will be playing her mother (she shares her name), and so she does, taking us inside those 1970s conscious-raising meetings on folding chairs, but also inside her own nagging sense that the country has failed to follow through on the sacrifices of these women — and even has gone in the opposite direction.

“Why?” the daughter Lizzie often interrupts the play to ask. And does that mean her mom’s generation of feminists somehow failed to make lasting, transferable change, even if they achieved some level of emancipation and power for themselves? Was her mom’s problem actually that she fell in love with a handsome guy and left Ms. Magazine to take care of her kids?

That’s a gutsy question for a writer of Wohl’s generation to interrogate, of course, especially since most feminist plays consider some of the matters questioned here to be inviolate truths and the handsome guy in question is Lizzie’s dad (played, with amusing deference to the rest of the show, by Charlie Thurston) who helped conceive her.

Make no mistake, this is a sophisticated piece of writing that goes far beyond the usual 90 minutes on Broadway, and it is cleverly self-protected too: In the opening scene, Lizzie even takes the audience to task for spending Broadway money and still wanting to get out of there as fast as possible. A paradox, she asserts, and she is right.

At times, you feel like Wohl made a list of what other progressives might criticize about both the play and the movement (too rich, white and straight) and then set consciously about fending them all off by writing beyond her own experience. She pulls it off, thanks in no small measure to this formidable ensemble, especially Kristolyn Lloyd, whose performance is the most dynamic of the night.  But there is no question that Wohl, who went to both Harvard and Yale, writes from the perspective of the liberal elite. For example, we never know in which Ohio city the play is set, even though there is much discussion of the excitement of life in New York, San Francisco and Chicago. A Buckeye would have made a different choice, but then Wohl lives in Brooklyn, where Ohio functions mostly as a metaphor for the other America.

So “Liberation” feels aimed more at the women of Park Slope than Cleveland. Then again, that is who likely will be sitting in those expensive Broadway seats (perhaps with their Upper West Side moms), but it does answer one of Lizzie’s questions about the political direction of the world in a way that the play can’t quite admit.

That said, just asking these kinds of questions is rare, especially with this level of humility.  The other great strength of “Liberation” is the potency and humanity of its characters, even if Lizzie struggles to shut up long enough to let them talk. All are adroitly performed under Whitney White’s direction; if there were a Tony Award for best ensemble, it would be wrapped up now by Betsy Aidem, Audrey Corsa, Kayla Davion, Irene Sofia Lucio and Adina Verson, as well as the aforementioned Lloyd and Flood.

If you are of a certain age, you likely will view “Liberation” as an exploration of the questions that have always come to mind as one’s era of political activism recedes and it dawns on a person that successful relationships and kids and partners take even more work, at least until the nest empties out. It’s a version of the “can-you-have-it-all question” to which, alas, the answer is always no. Whoever you are. The advertisers sold you lies. But the theater always has been the right place to wonder, and hope.

“Liberation” pokes fun at long, “male” plays written by the childless, which is a bit of a cheap shot, albeit one that lands with this audience. In reality, it has much in common with those epic lifts, and that’s a compliment. There are certain thematic interests and structural devices in common with Paula Vogel’s “Mother Play,” which is not surprising, but Wohl has such a powerful and enjoyable voice.

She makes everyone care about the questions she has herself and that’s exactly what a playwright should be doing.

At the James Earl Jones Theatre, 138 W. 48th St., New York; liberationbway.com

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

FRIDAY

Garden party: Art After Dark at the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach will conjure a haunted mansion theme on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., with visitors encouraged to come in their spookiest and/or most glamorous Victorian outfits. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners at 7:15 p.m., followed by a moonlight dance party in the garden with DJ Nia Nova. Docents will lead tours of the museum’s Rembrandt exhibit at 5:30 and 7 p.m. (limited to 20 guests each). Art After Dark tickets cost $10, or $5 for students, and can be purchased at the reception desk or in advance at Norton.org. Note: Costumes must not cover the face, should be family friendly, and props are limited to 12-by-12 inches.

Street party: The iconic Wicked Manors block party returns to Wilton Drive on Friday, with the costumed and the cocktailed ruling the route from Northeast 21st Court to North Dixie Highway from 6 to 11 p.m. General admission is $12 in advance, $15 at the gate, with premium and VIP levels also available. Proceeds support the work of nonprofit Pride Center at Equality Park. Visit WickedManors.org.

Just can’t get enough: For pure sexy glam on Halloween night, it will be hard to top the concert by Los Angeles-based Depeche Mode tribute band Strangelove and Miami’s Ordinary Boys, the spot-on simulation of The Smiths and Morrissey. The double bill will be found at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available, starting at $43.37, at ParkerPlayhouse.com.

Family dinner: Spooky musical comedy “The Addams Family” sets up at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach this weekend for performances at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. The show, appropriate for guests age 8 and older, revolves around a dinner party the oddball family plans to host for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. Tickets start at $39.10 at Kravis.org.

Clematis crawl: South Florida’s signature Halloween-night party, Moonfest returns to the 500 block of Clematis in downtown West Palm Beach on Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., with a bar crawl (O’Shea’s, Respectable Street, Hullabaloo, Lost Weekend, Shanghai’d and Subculture Coffee); live music (continuing until 4 a.m. at Respectable Street with We’re Wolves, The Haunt, Chez and World’s First Cinema); DJs and a costume contest with $500 to the winner. Admission packages are available, starting at $42.39. All proceeds benefit Hospitality Helping Hands dog rescue. Visit Facebook.com/respectablestreet/events.

Upside Down party: The Wharf in downtown Fort Lauderdale will transform into the supernatural town of Hawkins for a “Stranger Things”-inspired party on  Friday, with creature encounters, shareable visuals and themed cocktails. Visit WharfFTL.com.

Metal of honor: The best item of Halloween 2025 swag will be found at Mathews Brewing Co. in Lake Worth Beach on Friday: A souvenir glass honoring the late Black Sabbath icon Ozzy Osbourne with your first purchase of a Mathews craft beer (while supplies last). A centerpiece of the brewery’s eighth annual Halloween party, the glass giveaway begins at 6 p.m. The night will include live music (young metal band Maximum Friction, Tool tribute 46 & Tool and Jane’s Addiction tribute Jane’s Affliction); a dog costume contest (7 p.m.) and human costume contest (8:30 p.m.), with cash prizes for the winners. Admission is free. Visit Facebook.com/mathewsbrewing.

Ozzy overload: Speaking of Ozzy, Galuppi’s in Pompano Beach and radio station BIG 105.9 will host The Skullapalooza Party on Friday from 3 to 10:30 p.m., with live music led by Randy Rhoads/Ozzy Osbourne tribute band The Railz on the main stage from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Longtime local favorites the Original Studio 54 Band will perform disco hits throughout the night. BIG 105.9’s costume contest will begin at 7 p.m., with a chance to win $1,800 in cash prizes (determined by audience applause). Admission is free; the $75 Skullapalooza VIP Pass includes a premium open bar and buffet, VIP-only areas and prime main stage views. Visit Galuppis.com.

Free movie: The horror freaks at Popcorn Frights will get you in the mood at Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale with a free screening of the frightful “Big Baby” (showing publicly for only the second time, according to Popcorn Frights) at 9:45 p.m. Friday. The event will include a costume contest with prizes. RSVP for free admission at PopcornFrights.com.

Ticket window: Song-and-dance man (and “Wolverine” star) Hugh Jackman is coming to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on March 6, with tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at MyHRL.com.

Warped sense of humor: The Miniaci Performing Arts Center at Nova Southeastern University in Davie will host a Halloween-night shadowcast performance of cult classic film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Friday with all the trashy features you love. So, yes, wear the fishnets, dance in the aisles, shout at the screen. Bagged props will be sold in the lobby (no outside props allowed). Tickets for the 18+ event cost $29.50 (just a couple of dozen seats remain). Visit Ticketmaster.com.

SATURDAY

Calling all Dead heads: The popular Downtown Fort Lauderdale Day of the Dead celebration will return on Saturday, a showcase of family friendly fun and spooky fashion statements that has been listed among the best Día de Los Muertos events in the country by the Travel Channel, USA Today and other publications. Festivities will begin at Esplanade Park at 3 p.m., with music, dance and folklorico performances, face painting, mask making, Latin food and artist booths. The iconic Skeleton Processional costume parade will begin at 6 p.m., with colorful Catrinas, flower-flinging Frida Kahlos, swaggering luchadores and masked mariachis winding through the Himmarshee District. The parade will end a couple of blocks away at a street party in front of Revolution Live and Backyard, where food and drink, music and photo opportunities will run until 11 p.m. All events are free, and the processional is open to anyone. Visit GoRiverwalk.com/dotd or BackyardFTL.com.

Steps lively: At the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, Miami City Ballet continues its 40th-season opener with Peck: Miami in Motion, a stylish program created by Tony Award-winning choreographer Justin Peck that is fluent in the visual language of South Florida. It includes the kaleidoscopic “Year of the Rabbit,” the joyous “Chutes and Ladders” and “Heatscape,” an ode to Wynwood. Performances this weekend will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $45. Visit MiamiCityBallet.org.

Magnetic attraction: Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields come to the Arsht Center in Miami to perform their influential 1999 triple-disc album “69 Love Songs” in full over two nights on Saturday and Sunday. Part of a 25th anniversary tour, the band will perform one half of the album each night, with signature orchestral-pop arrangements featuring cello, ukulele, guitars, keyboards and multiple singers. Tickets for the 8 p.m. performances start at $64.35 per night, $102.96 for both nights. Visit ArshtCenter.org.

Saturday laughs: Actor, producer and comedian Jessica Kirson brings the brutally honest observations of her recent Hulu special, “I’m the Man,” to the Coral Springs Center for the Arts on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $51.50 at TheCenterCS.com.

Good luxe: Newish vintage-glam lounge Mary Lou’s will set up at the Northwood Art & Music Warehouse in West Palm Beach on Saturday for the Dead Sirens Society Halloween Warehouse Party, running from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. with headliner DJ Snakehips. Requested attire is “drowned decadence,” so mermaid, pirate or something nautical and luxe (Thurston Howell III?). Tickets cost $115, VIP $190. Visit Instagram.com/marylouspb.

Saturday night live: Guitarist slingers Richie Kotzen (once of Poison and The Winery Dogs) and John 5 (now of Mötley Crüe, formerly of Marilyn Manson) bring their tour to the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, joined by special guests Vern Daysel & The Burning Breeze. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. General-admission tickets cost $56.05. … Theatrical alt-pop singer-songwriter Sofia Isella, soon to be seen as an opener on Florence + The Machine’s 2026 tour, will perform at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday at 8 p.m. joined by Ayleen Valentine. Tickets for the all-ages show cost $38. Visit JoinTheRevolution.net. … Longtime Spanish-Italian pop heartthrob and actor Miguel Bose brings his world tour to the Kaseya Center in Miami at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $43.70 at Ticketmaster.com.

Black is back: If you have been curious about what mercurial rap star Kodak Black has been up to (and who hasn’t?), the Pompano Beach native will host the Bill Kill Halloween Concert on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Also on the bill are Sexyy Red, Rob49, YTB Fatt, YK Niece, 1900Rugrat and BLP Kosher. Tickets start at $63 at Seatgeek.com.

Local sounds: Hosted by Amplify Arts, a new Broward Center initiative to elevate local artists and emerging arts organizations, Sons of Mystro and Alexander Star & The Golden People will perform in the Amaturo Theater at Fort Lauderdale‘s Broward Center on Saturday at 8 p.m. Sons of Mystro includes brothers Malcolm and Umoja, who learned to play violin in the public school system and attended Dillard High School for the Performing Arts, now using the violin to interpret reggae classics, American pop songs and their own music accompanied by a DJ and a drummer. South Florida-based Alexander Star is an Emmy-nominated songwriter and performer who, with five-piece band The Golden People, has opened for Earth, Wind & Fire, Black Violin, Koffee and others. Tickets start at $41.30 at BrowardCenter.org.

Free movie II: Part of the city of Hollywood’s celebration of its 100th Anniversary, the Hollywood Historical Society will host a free Cinema Paradiso screening of “Canvas.” The film was shot in the city by Hollywood native and Hollywood Hills High School graduate Joseph Greco. Screening at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the film stars veteran actor Joe Pantoliano as a father who finds strength in his young son after his wife, played by Marcia Gay Harden, is diagnosed with schizophrenia. Tickets are free at CinemaHollywood.org.

’Zat you, Santa Claus? With Halloween and Day of the Dead (barely) in the rearview, The Christmas Palace will host a Santa meet-up at holiday events on Saturday at the Hialeah Gardens shop and on Sunday at the Fort Lauderdale location. Festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Visitors are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for patients at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, with each toy donor receiving a $10 store coupon to use that day. Visit TheChristmasPalace.com.

SUNDAY

Do you feel? We’re nearly two months short of the 50th anniversary of the album “Frampton Comes Alive,” which is crazy math. (Quick, what’s your favorite song on the album? Mine: “Do You Feel Like We Do?”) Sunny rock star Peter Frampton will offer fresh reminders of what made the album so popular when he brings his Let’s Do it Again! Tour to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $71.10 at MyHRL.com.

Trip to the Keys: Funky keyboardist and charismatic showman Brian Culbertson brings the tour supporting new album “Day Trip” to The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are available, starting at $58.41, at ParkerPlayhouse.com.

Sing America: Grammy-winning choral ensemble Tonality will perform a program titled, “America Will Be,” making the case for an inclusive nation, in the Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets to the concert, part of the Kravis Center’s ambitious Peak Series, cost $46. Visit Kravis.org.

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on IG: @BenCrandell. 

“Life of Pi” — now at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale through Sunday, Oct. 26 — is a dazzling display of theatrical visuals and coruscant storytelling so powerful, so enthralling, that it’s hard to imagine how it could be any better.

The play is based on the 2001 bestselling, philosophical novel from Yann Martel that delves deep into spirituality and became an Oscar-winning movie in 2012. This stage version debuted in London’s West End, winning five Olivier Awards before bowing on Broadway in 2023, where it won three Tony Awards.

“Life of Pi” is not a musical but has that multilayered, multidimensional poetry wound tightly in and around the production. The special effects, the puppetry, the music (nope, not show tunes as much as something akin to a movie soundtrack), the movement/choreography — it all works in symphony to make the metaphysical almost tangible.

Don’t let the puppets and the homespun humor, of which there is a generous amount, fool you. This show is born and bloodied by conflict. “Life will defend itself no matter how small it is,” one character says.

The narrative, epic as it is, starts simply. Pi Patel (played by boundlessly energetic Taha Mandviwala) and his family run a zoo in India. Pi has been raised as a Hindu, but he is equally interested in Islam and Christianity.

In this regard, the play is faithful and faith-full. It honors Martel’s novel in that respect and burnishes beliefs until you can almost feel the warm glow. “I just want to love God,” Pi says.

Mirroring those potentially fractious religious ideas he’s exposed himself to is the political discord and turmoil in India in the mid-1970s, which force the Patels to pack up their animals onto a freight ship and move to Canada. Disaster strikes when a massive storm sinks the freighter, leaving Pi on a lifeboat with an injured zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a Bengal tiger.

Now to go into any more detail on the plot would be more than a spoiler. It would be a sin. “Life of Pi” needs to unfold before your eyes and inside your mind in order for the play to preserve its punch … and its gentle pat.

But it must be said that the framework for the narrative, and one of the production’s most clever bits, is that — for two hours including a 20-minute intermission — Pi is recounting his tragedies and triumphs all in flashbacks from a hospital room as he is interviewed by an insurance adjuster and an embassy attaché.

At least that’s on one level.

But on another level, a level so profound it is breathtaking, this play is about stories we tell in our religions, our faiths — at first spackled here and there in “Life of Pi,” but then increasingly painted on with the ardor of an artist, each brushstroke passionate and pure and sure.

It is dark, brilliant and (surprisingly) funny at times listening to and watching Pi’s 227 days adrift at sea through two lenses, one animalistic and the other humanistic. Is it fantastical yarn-spinning? Is it a factual account?

“We believe what we see,” the insurance adjuster concludes.

“And so it goes with God,” Pi responds.

A perfect answer.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Life of Pi”

WHEN: Through Sunday, Oct. 26

WHERE: Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale

COST: $48.68-$231.58

INFORMATION: 954-462-0222 (press 1); browardcenter.org