March Roars And Soars With Broadway Hits, Musical Legends, Comedy And Family Fun

Musical legends The Beach Boys will rock the Amaturo Theater in a rare, intimate performance during the Broward Performing Arts Foundation’s Annual Celebration and Benefit, presented by Charles and Laura Palmer on Saturday, March 1st at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from the Annual Celebration benefit the Broward Center’s education and enrichment programs. The full evening of festivities begins with a cocktail reception and pre-show dinner followed by The Beach Boys performance and a post-show party with The Weedline Band. The Beach Boys have been giving out good vibrations for more than half a century with a torrent of hit singles and albums that number in the tens of millions. Hits such as “Surfin’ USA,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “Kokomo” and “California Girls" have made this band Rock and Roll royalty for music lovers everywhere. The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love, who, along with longtime member Bruce Johnston, Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago and John Wedemeyer, continue the legacy of the iconic band. This concert will not feature Brian Wilson, Al Jardine or David Marks. Tables of ten and individual tickets are available. Visit: www.BrowardCenter.org/support - Or email: Foundation@BrowardCenter.org for information about buying table sponsorships and tickets to this event.

In this musical tribute celebrating the legendary music of their fathers, Sons of Cream, featuring Kofi Baker, Malcolm Bruce and Rob Johnson, comes to the Amaturo Theater on Sunday, March 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in a performance presented by the Broward Center. Ginger's son Kofi Baker and Jack's son Malcolm Bruce are joined by Ginger's grandnephew Rob Johnson in performing Cream classics as well as select songs from other related bands of the period, such as Blind Faith, Ginger and Eric's band with Steve Winwood and Ric Gretch. This is a not-to-be-missed concert of blistering Blues Rock performed by its true inheritors with the light, spirit, energy and audacity of the music of their fathers.

The Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale series presents Disney’s “The Lion King” Thursday, March 6th – Sunday, March 30th. On Broadway since 1997, there is simply nothing else like Disney’s “The Lion King.” Join the more than 100 million people around the world who have experienced the entire Serengeti come to life as never before with awe-inspiring visual artistry, unforgettable music and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular – one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage. Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, “The Lion King” brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award®-Winning Director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. “The Lion King” also features the extraordinary work of Tony Award®-Winning Choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, including “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” and “Hakuna Matata,” crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Performance times vary. The Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale 2024/2025 Season is made possible with the generous support of title sponsor Bank of America. Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale is presented by Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 

Guests can enhance their experience at Disney’s “The Lion King” by adding the Pride Rock Buffet, located inside: https://www.browardcenter.org/visit/dining/martis - The pre-show buffet dining experience is conveniently located on the Broward Center campus. The family friendly culinary feast features a buffet of succulent starters and entrees inspired by the flavors of African cuisine. Includes a dessert bar with selections of fresh fruit, berries, assorted cookies and brownies. Buffet service begins 2 1/2 hours before show time. Prices are $40 for adults and $20 for children 10 and under when purchased in advance or $5 more at the door. Beverages and gratuity are not included.

Audiences will enjoy a hilarious, moving and uplifting evening of songs and stories when the Broward Center presents Ari Shapiro in Thank You for Listening in the Amaturo Theater on Friday, March 7th at 8:00 p.m. One of the most recognized and beloved American storytellers, Shapiro (NPR, Pink Martini) returns to the stage with a new cabaret solo show that adapts tales from his best-selling memoir “The Best Strangers in the World” into an evening of stories and songs about the power of listening to bridge divides. “I’ve used the phrase ‘Thank you for listening’ to mean so many things,” Shapiro says. “It’s versatile, sort of like shalom, aloha or bless your heart.” In this show with music direction by Henry Koperski, Shapiro shares behind-the-scenes stories of flying on Air Force One and reporting from war zones, imparts lessons he learned from his fortune teller grandmother, and recites selected excerpts from his treasured collection of hate mail – all in an exploration of the profound difference that merely listening to one another can have on the world. With songs from Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Taylor Swift, Stephen Sondheim and Rufus Wainwright, among many others, audiences will leave Thank You For Listening feeling more hopeful about the world around them and may never listen to “All Things Considered” in quite the same way again.

The Magic of Kevin Spencer: A Sensory-Inclusive Performance comes to the Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom with a post-show meet and greet on Saturday, March 8th at 11:00 am. The award-winning magician delivers a fun-filled show that combines storytelling, stage magic and audience participation in a show for the entire family. Intended to create a welcoming and supportive environment for children and adults on the Autism Spectrum as well as individuals with other sensitivity issues or developmental disabilities, this performance features slight adjustments including reduced sound levels, no flashing or strobe lights and minimal special effects. An area adjacent to the theater has been designated as the ABA Centers of Florida Sensory Quiet Room with a specially trained therapist to provide audience support. Patrons may bring their own headphones, fidgets and other calming items into the theater or borrow these items at the theater. The Broward Center's sensory-inclusive programming is made possible through the generous support of ABA Centers of Florida, The Batchelor Foundation, The Gore Family Memorial Foundation Trust, Nicklaus Children's Hospital and The Taft Foundation with special thanks to UM-NSU CARD for their in-kind support.

Elephant & Piggie's “We Are in a Play!,” a rollicking musical adventure ripped from the pages of Mo Willems' beloved, award-winning, best-selling children's books, comes to the Amaturo Theater. An elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie are best, best, "bestus" friends, but Gerald worries that something could go wrong that would end their friendship. Not worried at all, Piggy is happier and more excited than usual because they are invited to a party hosted by the Squirrelles, three singing squirrels who love to have a good time. The production is presented on Saturday, March 15th at 1:00 p.m. as part of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Imagination Series, which offers a passport to a fun-filled adventure with a host of family-friendly productions, and Thursday, March 20th at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. as a Smart Stage Matinee, recommended for pre-K(4) – grade level 2. Smart Stage Matinee performances are ideal for charter, private, public and parochial school students and home-school networks. These educational performances are curriculum-driven and align with Florida’s B.E.S.T. Standards. Free study guides called “Curriculum Connections” are available to download on the Broward Center’s website. This production offers an optional added Smart Stage Plus interactive learning experience, a 30-minute workshop featuring a Broward Center teaching artist.

Skip the classroom and step into a night of American history-telling, live music and multimedia when the Broward Center presents History That Doesn’t Suck! With Professor Greg Jackson in the Amaturo Theater on Saturday, March 15th at 7:00 p.m. Adapted from the top-ranked history podcast, Professor Jackson tells the epic tale of “The Unlikely Union,” weaving defining moments in American history (1754-1865) into a thrilling narrative of the struggle and triumph of a young nation to form, define and reform itself. Audiences will travel back in time through epic storytelling of familiar and unsung real characters from history and return with real context for today. 

The iconic family-favorite board game comes to life when the Broward Center presents CLUE: A Walking Mystery!, an interactive and immersive experience Thursday, March 20th – Sunday, April 6th; times vary. Anyone who has ever wanted to solve a cold murder case, inhabit the world of Clue and unravel its mystery like a real detective now has the chance with this real-life version of the beloved board game. In this version, the murder was never solved, the mansion sold, and the furniture from all nine rooms has been auctioned off and scattered throughout a specified area. Players must find the furniture at local businesses and solve puzzles within them to figure out who did it where and with what. This outdoor experience begins on foot at the Broward Center’s Peck Courtyard and stretches across Las Olas Boulevard, involving approximately 1.5 miles of walking. Ticket holders are urged to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the appropriate weather conditions.

The Broward Center and Outback Presents bring the Spanish-language stand-up comedy show Carlos Ballarta: Tlatoani to the Amaturo Theater on Friday, March 21st at 7:00 p.m. Born in Mexico City in 1990 and raised in Chicoloapan, a borough in the Metropolitan area, stand-up comedian and actor Ballarta began his artistic career as a voice actor, first taking the open mic in 2012. Due to his fear of looking audiences in the eye, he started wearing glasses, which has since become his signature look. In 2014, Ballarta became a fan favorite with his debut on Comedy Central Latam. Since then, he has taped three Netflix specials and has toured around Mexico, Latin America, the U.S., Canada and Europe. He has also appeared on many films and TV shows as an actor, comedian and voice actor, positioning Ballarta as one of the most recognizable faces in the growing Spanish-speaking stand up scene. A father of two, Ballarta is an advocate of diversity in the Mexican entertainment industry. His three stand up Netflix specials, “El Amor es de Putos,” “Furia Ñera” and “Falso Profeta” are a testament to his beliefs. 

The Cleveland Clinic Rock Series continues when the Broward Center presents John Waite: The Golden Voice of Rock Tour on Saturday, March 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater. During The Golden Voice of Rock tour, English singer and songwriter Waite performs his catalog of hits from his 40-year career. As a solo artist and as the lead singer of The Baby’s and Bad English, Waite was a fixture of album-oriented rock radio stations during the '70s and '80s. He has a talent for power ballads and driving arena rock, occasionally touching on new wave-styled power pop as well. Waite’s catalog of hits feature some of the most loved songs of the '80s and '90s. The number one worldwide hit “Missing You,” The Babys’ “Isn’t It Time” and Bad English’s “When I See You Smile” rank among some of his biggest international hits and are still heard on the radio today. Other hits include “Tears,” “Change,” “These Times Are Hard For Lovers,” “Every Step Of The Way” and “If Anybody Had A Heart.”

The Electric Light Orchestra Experience featuring Evil Woman, the American ELO, comes to the Amaturo Theater as part of the Cleveland Clinic Rock Series on Sunday, March 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Delivering the chance to experience what it would be like to see and hear an Electric Light Orchestra concert, this incredible show with a sensational string section accurately reproduces ELO smash hits including "Mr. Blue Sky," "Telephone Line" and "Evil Woman." 

Not content with just one day, Slow Burn Theatre Company delivers weeks of April foolishness in the Amaturo Theater with “Something Rotten!” Saturday, March 29th – Sunday, April 13th, including an open captioned performance on Sunday, April 6th at 2:00 p.m. Proclaimed “Broadway’s big, fat hit!” by the New York Post and nominated for 10 Tony Awards, this hilarious smash journeys back to 1595 as brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom compete to write a hit play against the popularity of the insufferable superstar Shakespeare. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, they set out to write the world’s first musical. With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, the musical added up to a winner with New York Magazine proclaiming it “’The Producers’ + ‘The Book of Mormon’ x ‘The Drowsy Chaperone.’ Squared!” Performance times vary. Slow Burn Theatre Company’s 2024/2025 Season is supported by American National Bank and Visit Lauderdale. Major support of Slow Burn Theatre Company is provided by the Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and Visit Lauderdale.

Also at the Broward Center in March: Broadway in Fort Lauderdale: Disney’s The Lion King from March 6th – March 30th; Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida: Dancing Prokofiev and Ravel from March 8th – March 9th; Symphony of the Americas: Courage & Resilience on March 11th & March 16th; South Florida Symphony Orchestra on March 12th; and Gold Coast Jazz: Warren Wolf Quintet on March 12th.

Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and The Parker. Buy tickets online at: www.BrowardCenter.org - Or: www.Ticketmaster.com - By phone at: (954) 462-0222. Or in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. 

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 Southwest Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. For more information visit: www.BrowardCenter.org - Like us on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/BrowardCenter - And at: www.Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation - Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @BrowardCenter. Subscribe to our channel at: www.YouTube.com/user/BrowardCenter - And join the conversation with: #BrowardCenter.

The Broward Center 2024/2025 Season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Nicklaus Children’s Health System.