Welcome to BT Arts Beat, a new weekly online-only column covering the arts along the Biscayne Corridor and beyond. This is your spot to find out what’s happening in the coming week. BT Arts Beat will be posted each Wednesday and will cover the upcoming week in the arts, perfect timing for planning your weekend.
It’s the middle of summer and the arts season is winding down, but there are still a few things to do. This week, you can catch a couple of shows at local theaters or see Miami showcased on TV.
ONE STEP AT A TIME
This is the last weekend to see “Step by Step” at Actors’ Playhouse, a play about three women who hike up a mountain to honor their deceased friend. The show features Elizabeth Price, Anna Lise Jensen, and Kareema Khouri. Playwright Peter Quilter also wrote “End of the Rainbow” about Judy Garland, which Actors’ Playhouse produced in 2014 and was the basis of the 2019 film “Judy,” which starred Renee Zellweger and earned her an Oscar. “Step by Step” runs through Aug. 10.
SWINGING AND SINGING
(Photo: Chase Wells for Area Stage)
Siena Warland and Coby Oram in “Disney’s Tarzan” at Area Stage in South Miami.
You can still see the Lord of the Jungle through this Sunday at Area Stage in their Sunset Place venue. This is a more intimate, up-close-and-personal staging of “Disney’s Tarzan” from director Giancarlo Rodaz, who has had great success with his inventive productions of other Disney musicals, including “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid.” “Disney’s Tarzan” runs through Aug. 10.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE MAGIC CITY
(Photo: Mary Damiano)
The giant guitar at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood proclaims the news of the new local ABC affiliate, ABC Miami.
WPLG is out and ABC Miami is in as the new network affiliate, and this week, ABC’s morning show, “Good Morning America,” (GMA) has turned the spotlight on the Magic City. The Monday, Aug. 4 episode opened with anchor Robin Roberts giving a special good morning to viewers in Miami and Fort Lauderdale as they welcomed ABC Miami to the network family. Reporters on the show, including Sam Champion and Victor Oquendo, have done live segments from South Florida all week. Monday featured Oquendo with local news anchors Belkys Nerey and Craig Stevens on Hollywood Beach. Tuesday had Champion with Nerey and Stevens at family-owned coffee shop Tinta Y Café in Coral Gables. Wednesday featured Champion touring Wynwood, Brickell, and Little Havana, with a dance performance at Miami nightclub Ball and Chain. The Thurs., Aug. 7 episode will feature the “ultimate insider’s guide to South Florida.” In case you missed the segments and want to catch up, full episodes of GMA are on demand on many services, as well as YouTube.