Theater News

Concert for Miami to Inaugurate Carnival Center for the Performing Arts

Linda Eder
Linda Eder

Bernadette Peters, Gloria Estefan, José Carreras, Andy Garcia, and Quincy Jones will headline The Concert for Miami, the inaugural event of that city’s Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, on October 5.

The new center was originally to be called the Miami Performing Arts Center, but its name was recently changed in acknowledgment of a $20 million gift from the Carnival Corporation, famous for its cruise lines. Designed by Cesar Pelli, the complex occupies six acres of land on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami. Its two principal peformance venues are the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Opera House (2,400 seats) and the Knight Concert Hall (2,200 seats).

The Carnival Center’s inaugural season will include appearances by such notables as Woody Allen, Burt Bacharach, Bill Cosby, Barbara Cook, Linda Eder, Andrea Marcovicci, Olivia Newton-John, and Lily Tomlin. Also on tap are a staged reading of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, to be presented by L.A Theatre Works; a production of the children’s play Alice, adapted from the book by Whoopi Goldberg; performances by the Classical Theatre of Harlem; and Jennilyn Duany’s solo show Cabaret Unkept.

Other entertainers who will appear at the center include comedians George Carlin, Kathy Griffin, and Paula Poundstone; jazz singers Andy Bey, Bobby McFerrin, Carmen Lundy, Nicole Henry, and Dianne Reeves; world music great Gilberto Gil; Oscar winner Randy Newman; and The Baseball Music Project, a celebration of our national pastime in song and video, hosted by former New York Yankees powerhouse Dave Winfield.

The Carnival Center will also present Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the New World Symphony; the Miami City Ballet, under the artistic leadership of Edward Villella; and the Florida Grand Opera. For dates, tickets, and other information, call 305-949-MPAC or visit www.miamipac.org.