Boca Raton is getting ready for the biggest and most awe-inspiring cultural event of the year beginning next week.
From March 7 - March 16, 2013, The Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park Amphitheater, located at 590 Plaza Real and Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, 201 Plaza Real (Second Floor) will provide the atmosphere for the captivating 7th Annual Festival of the Arts Boca.
This festival is a cultural showcase bringing world-class talent to South Florida. "Bourbon Street Meets Boca"introduces us to The Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans and we look forward to their magical sounds as they entertain and open a festival of ten unforgettable days.
The powerful Kodo, a troupe of legendary Japanese taiko drummers, makes Friday, March 8, 2013, a night of excitement as they take the stage with the Kodo One Earth Tour 2013: Legend, produced under the direction of a Japanese Living National Treasure, Tamasaburo Bando, a Kabuki Theater legend.
Saturday, March 9th becomes even more special as avant-pop classical violinist, Amadeus Leopold-formerly known as Hahn-Bin-will combine art and music into a remarkable performance. He made his international debut at the Grammy® Awards at the young age of 12 and since then has performed with the world's most prestigious concert venues. He will be joined by the Boca Raton Symphonia under the direction of Festival Music Director, Constantine Kitsopoulos.
Sunday, March 10th will be an adventurous one as the Peking Acrobats will amaze you with their dare-defying feats in a dramatic show accompanied by live music. They have been featured on Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven and ABC's Wide World of Sports.
Thursday, March 14th will bring the sweet sounds of virtuoso performer, Carmen Carpenter, performing with the Boca Raton Symphonia under the direction of Kitsopoulo. Carpenter is the first organist ever nominated for a Grammy® Award for a solo album. She has generated a level of acclaim, exposure and controversy unprecedented for an organist.
For all those that enjoyed the festival last year, Valentina Lisitsa, will perform once again. This is one of the most sought-after classical pianists mesmerizing culturally savvy audiences. New World Symphony and America's Orchestral Academy, under the direction of widely applauded conductor, Peter Oundjian, will unite with Valentina for a moving presentation.
The high point will be the closing of the Festival of the Arts Boca as headliner Audra McDonald, debuts on Saturday, March 16th. With 5 Tony® Awards and most recently in 2012 for Best Actress in the musical, 'The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess', 2 Grammy® Awards and the role of Dr. Naomi Bennett on the hit ABC medical drama, Private Practice, from 2007 to 2011, talent abounds. This is certainly a performance that you will not want to miss.
“This year's line-up of guest artists promises to delight and surprise our community,” said Constantine Kitsopoulos, Festival Music Director. “I'm so looking forward to working with Audra McDonald, whom I had the pleasure of recently working with on Broadway; Amadeus Leopold; Cameron Carpenter; and the Boca Raton Symphonia to bring our audiences a new kind of performance experience that I know will open their eyes and ears like never before.”
The Festival of the Arts Boca is pleasure for all of your senses. David Ignatius, award-winning columnist for the Washington Post, novelist and lecturer will present “Foreign Affairs: How to Fix the World” at the Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, March 9 at 4 p.m. Ignatius is well known for his unique perspectives in global issues including diplomacy, policy and economics. He has written eight novels including Bloodmoney and best-seller, Body of Lies, which was adapted into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.
On March 10th at 4 p.m., The Festival of the Arts Boca will welcome Patricia Engel, whose acclaimed debut novel Vida was recognized with multiple awards and recognition including New York Times Notable Book of the Year, finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Fiction Award and Paterson Fiction Awards.
Declared a National Living Treasure by the Australian government, Thomas Keneally will address “Fraternity Across the Lines of Race: The Case of Oskar Schnindler” on Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Keneally is author of Schindler’s Ark, the basis for the Academy Award winning film, Schindler’s List. Other works include The Great Shame, The People’s Train and Three Families. His latest novel, The Daughters of Mars, will be released in the United States in 2013.
General George W. Casey, Jr. US Army (Ret.) will share “A Soldier’s View of International Security” on Tuesday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. As one of the most accomplished soldiers in U.S. history, Casey was the 36th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2011. He is an authority on strategic leadership credited with restoring balance to the war-weary U.S. Army and modernizing and transforming our armed forces.
Highly regarded Harvard professor and New York Times best-selling author of Justice: What’s the Right Thing To Do, Michael Sandel, will take center stage on March 13th at 7 p.m.
Tickets range in price from $15 to $100 per person and packages are available for sale for admission to all events. Student discounts are available with proper I.D.
Build your cultural prowess at The Festival of the Arts Boca.
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