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The Carbonell Awards mourns the passing of Jan McArt, Florida’s First Lady of Musical Theater

Jan McArt Retouched

For more than 25 years, she ran the Royal Palm Dinner Theatre in Royal Palm Place which, according to an article last year in Boca Magazine, “included three separate companies—the main dinner theater; the 100-seat Rooftop Cabaret Theatre, which brought in vocal talents from prominent supper clubs; and the Little Palm Children’s Theatre, which hosted family productions on Saturday mornings. Its alumni include Frankie and Ariana Grande. McArt would go on to “break” performers like then 17-year-old Rachel Bay Jones—star of Royal Palm’s first Gigi—who would go on to win a Tony Award for Broadway’s “Dear Evan Hansen” in 2017.”

She also started theatres in Fort Lauderdale, Delray Beach, Key West and Miami Beach, and produced many shows through her not-for-profit wing, Jan McArt’s American Festival Series. In addition, she simultaneously produced three national touring companies of The Pirates of Penzance; in 1989 she brought an original musical, The Prince of Central Park, to the Belasco Theatre on Broadway.

McArt had an exciting and wide-ranging career from opera, Broadway and the concert stage to award-winning television performances and highly acclaimed supper club appearances, both nationally and abroad. She was a leading soprano with the San Francisco Opera Company and the NBC Opera Company and starred in world premieres in New York.

Having made her symphony debut with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, the Columbia concert artist became a favorite guest performer with symphonies across the country. She co-starred with Liberace and Jack Jones; played well-known cabaret nightspots such as the St. Regis and Pierre Hotels in New York, the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles, and the Colony and Society in London. She also performed concert engagements in Saudi Arabia, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

Throughout her career, McArt earned numerous honors, including multiple Carbonell Awards (the George Abbott Award in 1984, the Ruth Foreman Award in 2001), as well as  278 Carbonell Award nominations for her dinner theatre, and a Carbonell Best Actress Award for her performance in Nightclub Confidential. In fact, The Palm Beach Post named her “One of the 100 Most Influential People in Florida for This Century.”

In recent years, Jan McArt was Producer & Director of Theatre Arts Program Development at Lynn University, where she oversaw several popular theatrical series, including Libby Dodson’s Live at Lynn Theatre Series, Jan McArt’s New Play Readings, and the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s Cabaret at Lincoln Center Comes to Live at Lynn.

She was a huge force in the development of South Florida Theatre for nearly 50 years, a true diva that will be deeply missed.

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THE CARBONELL BOARD OF DIRECTORS RENAMES SCHOLARSHIPS IN HONOR OF FOUNDER JACK ZINK

SCHOLARSHIPS WILL NOW BE CALLED THE JACK ZINK MEMORIAL CARBONELL AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS

jackzink200On August 25, 2008, hundreds of friends, family members and those from the South Florida arts community gathered at Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale to pay tribute to theater critic, arts writer and founder of the Carbonell Awards, Jack Zink, who had passed away the week prior.

Seven years after that celebration of the life and work of Jack Zink, the Carbonell Awards Board of Directors has announced that the organization’s scholarship program has been renamed the The Jack Zink Memorial Carbonell Awards Scholarship.  The Carbonell Awards gives three scholarships yearly to high school students who want to pursue careers in journalism or theater.

Jack Zink was a leading theater critic and arts writer in South Florida for more than 40 years, writing for the Miami Herald, the Palm Beach Post, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and Variety.  He founded the Carbonell Awards in 1975 to honor the thriving theater and nightlife scene in South Florida and was active in the organization until his death, often producing and directing the annual Carbonell Awards ceremony.

“As we approach the Carbonell Awards’ 40th anniversary, we are inspired by those who made the organization what it is today, one of the oldest and most prestigious regional theater awards programs in the country,” said Donald R. Walters, president of the Carbonell Awards Board of Directors.  “Jack Zink was not only the organization’s founder but also the man who shepherded the awards through its evolution.  We believe that renaming the scholarships for Jack is the best way to honor him and his dedication to theater and journalism in South Florida.”

By email, Jack Zink’s widow, Cynthia Zink of St. Augustine, and his sister, Carol Bruening of Lorain, Ohio, said they were touched when told of the honor.

“I would like to thank the Carbonell Awards for honoring Jack with the Jack Zink Memorial Carbonell Awards Scholarship,” said Cynthia Zink.   He covered the Arts in South Florida for almost 40 years.  He especially loved live theater.  It was a love affair I witnessed firsthand.  It made him laugh, gave him energy, made him reflect and at times almost made him cry.  He always wanted more, to see what splendor was being produced and by whom.  Thank you once again for honoring his life.”

Bruening said, “Some people touch our lives, Jack touched our hearts too. I want to thank the Carbonell Board of Directors from the bottom of my heart.  These tears of mine are both from the sadness in my heart from our loss of Jack seven years ago, to the happiness that his legacy and love of everything theatre will carry on.  Thank you for not letting him be forgotten.”

The 40th annual Carbonell Awards ceremony will be held Monday, April 4, 2016, at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.  For more information about the Carbonell Awards, visit CarbonellAwards.org.

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Check Out Coverage from the 39th Annual Carbonell Awards on ARTLOFT – WPBT 2

http://video.wpbt2.org/video/2365491631/

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NEW CARBONELL AWARDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED AT MARCH 30TH CEREMONY

DONALD R. WALTERS WILL TAKE THE REINS IN MAY

Along with the winners and special recognition awards that were announced at the 39th annual Carbonell Awards ceremony on Monday, March 30, 2015, another very important name was revealed: that of the new president of the Board of Directors.

South Florida Theatre League 39th Carbonell Awards and After Party at Revolution Live!Donald R. Walters, a Coral Springs attorney who currently serves as the Board Treasurer and Secretary, will begin his term as Board President in May, taking the reins from Scott Shiller, who announced in February that he would be leaving South Florida to take a position as president and CEO of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Walters joined the Carbonell Board of Directors in 2009 and immediately became Treasurer.  He added Secretary to his duties in 2014.

Except for college, law school, and a stint working for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., Walters has lived in South Florida since 1972.  In addition to his career as an attorney, Walters has been involved in the South Florida theatrical scene for decades. Walters’ first onstage performance was as a pumpkin in the 1968 kindergarten Halloween play at Parkview School in Milltown, New Jersey.  “I had such stage fright that I pulled the pumpkin costume up over my face,” he recalled.  He has performed onstage, worked backstage, worked front of house, watched from the house and sat on boards for more than 30 years, mostly in community theater in Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.  He has served as Program Chair of the South Florida chapter of the Cappies, the national critics and awards program for high schools, since he joined their board in 2007.

“I look forward to the challenge of continuing to improve the credibility and financial strength of the Carbonell Awards organization, and to fulfill our mission of fostering the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community,” said Walters.

About the Carbonell Awards

The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. Over 25 professional theater companies in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties participate in the awards process every year. Each season volunteer panelists and judges choose nominees and recipients from hundreds of shows produced on our area stages. The Carbonell Awards also celebrate the accomplishments of our artistic leaders by presenting ‘Special Awards’ and support the  next generation of artists and journalists by awarding scholarships. Along with New York’s Drama Desk and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation’s senior regional arts awards and predate others, including Washington, D.C.’s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards are named after Manuel Carbonell, an internationally-renowned sculptor, who designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976, the signature trophy that is given to Carbonell Award winners.

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RECIPIENTS OF CARBONELL AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED

SENIORS IN BROWARD, MIAMI-DADE AND               PALM BEACH TO RECEIVE $1,000 EACH FOR COLLEGE

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Although the Carbonell Awards is best known for honoring excellence in South Florida theater, it is also a scholarship program. Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have achieved a minimum 2.5 GPA and are enrolled in college to pursue a degree in theater or journalism.  The selection of recipients is based on talent, experience, and demonstrated commitment to the theater.  The award amount is $1,000.  This year’s scholarship winners will receive their awards Monday, March 30, 2015 on stage at the 39th annual Carbonell Awards ceremony.

2015 Carbonell Scholarship Winners

Scholarship 

GENA YVONNE SIMS is a Miami-Dade County student at the New World School of the Arts. She is described by her director/acting teacher as a gifted actress, singer and dancer. With all of her responsibilities at school she has made time to initiate the Autism Theatre Project which she describes as an effort to give autistic children the tools to express themselves in order to better share their unique messages of love and acceptance with the outside world. 
DANIELLE ANGELA JENSEN is a Broward County student at Margory Stoneman Douglas High School and is an accomplished actress dancer and choreographer. She has excelled academically, being a member of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society and International Thespian Society. Danielle gives back by helping to promote the arts to young students in South Florida. 
JACOB POSER from Palm Beach County is a student at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts who already has a long list of credits in various theatrical tech areas. Recently he has narrowed down his many interests to costume and set design. The Dean at Dreyfoos describes Jacob as a meticulous and highly creative designer with great attention to research and detail. Jake also spearheads a fund-raising campaign for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. 

Tickets are still available for the 39th annual Carbonell Awards ceremony, which takes placeMonday, March 30, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater, at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S.W. 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $31.86 and can be purchased by calling 954-462-0222, in person at Broward Center’s AutoNation box office or by visitingwww.browardcenter.org.

 

About the Carbonell Awards

The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. Over 25 professional theater companies in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties participate in the awards process every year. Each season volunteer panelists and judges choose nominees and recipients from hundreds of shows produced on our area stages. In addition, The Carbonell Awards celebrate the accomplishments of our artistic leaders by presenting ‘Special Awards’ and show our dedication to the next generation of artists and journalists by awarding scholarships. Along with New York’s Drama Desk and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation’s senior regional arts awards and predate others, including Washington, D.C.’s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards are named after Manuel Carbonell, an internationally-renowned sculptor, who designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976, which return again this year as the signature trophy for award winners.

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Excitement Builds as South Florida Gears Up for  39th Annual Carbonell Awards Ceremony  March 30,  2015  

Recipients of Special Awards Announced  

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — As the South Florida theater community prepares for the 39th annual Carbonell Awards, one of the most anticipated features of the March 30th  ceremony, the recipients of the prestigious George Abbott Award, Howard Kleinberg Award and Ruth Foreman Award, have been announced.

Each year, the Carbonell Awards sponsors the George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, awarded to an individual (or team) who has contributed significantly to the artistic and cultural development of the region. The award may be given for accomplishments within the year, or for a lifetime.

 This year’s recipient is Scott Shiller, executive vice-president of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and President of the Board of Directors of the Carbonell Awards.  In addition to implementing many arts and cultural programs designed to bring the arts to Miami-Dade residents, Shiller’s civic involvement has also made a regional impact.   In 2009, Shiller joined the board of the Carbonell Awards, the nationally-recognized awards for excellence in South Florida theater, after a period of near collapse. He became president two years later, led the organization through its first strategic plan, established new financial goals and instituted fresh governance procedures aimed at securing the organization’s future.  Shiller recently announced he has accepted an offer to become president and CEO of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the second largest performing arts center in the U.S.

“I am extremely grateful to be receiving this honor,” said Shiller. “The South Florida community has been so welcoming to me—both in my role at the Arsht Center and as president of the Carbonell Awards. I have grown personally over the last eight years as our arts community has itself grown. South Florida is one of the great performing arts regions in the country because of the wisdom, hard work, and artistic drive of those who have created a thriving theater scene in the 39 years since the Carbonell Awards were founded. I’ve been honored to work side-by-side with these dedicated producers, directors, actors and designers who embrace the art of storytelling and community engagement each and every day. With my new appointment to the Denver Center I stand hopeful that the artistic ties between Miami and Denver will become stronger than ever.”

Established in 2000, The Howard Kleinberg Award is named after Howard Kleinberg, long-time Editor of The Miami News, historian, and author of numerous articles and books on the social and cultural history of Miami and South Florida. It is awarded as special recognition for contributions to the health and development of the arts in South Florida.

This year, Iris Acker, actress, director, author, talk show host and Carbonell Awards judge, is the recipient of The Howard Kleinberg Award in recognition of her contribution to promoting the arts in South Florida.  When Acker moved to South Florida following a long, successful theatrical career in New York, she wasn’t about to rest on her laurels.  She was elected the first Actors’ Equity Liaison for the State of Florida and started a casting hotline.  She worked to fill theaters with audiences by beginning a half-price ticket program that would eventually evolve into Cultural Connection.  She was elected President of The American Federation of TV and Radio Artists.   When WLRN asked her to host a program in the performing arts, Acker told them she was the wrong person for the job because she’d never hosted a show before, but they insisted, saying it would be on-the-job training.  That was 27 years ago, and Acker’s show, On Stage with Iris Acker, has morphed into Spotlight on the Arts—and it’s still going strong.  Acker also kept up her acting career, working in dozens of houses, including the Ruth Foreman Theatre, the Coconut Grove Playhouse and the Hollywood Playhouse.  “Coincidentally, all have closed,” she joked.  Acker is one of the original members of the group that became the Carbonell Awards and also co-directed the show on several occasions alongside the late Jack Zink.

“I have enjoyed a wonderful life in the theater,” Acker said.  “When I’m not on stage, I have the privilege of being able to promote everything that is now on stage.”

The Ruth Foreman Award  

Named after pioneer theater director and producer, The Ruth Foreman Award is awarded in recognition of the contributions to South Florida theater development by an individual or group, for singular achievement and/or career contributions.

This year, The Naked Stage will be honored with the Ruth Foreman Award for their annual event, The 24-Hour Theatre Project.  Two of The Naked Stage co-founders Antonio Amadeo andKatherine Amadeo, who also produce The 24-Hour Theatre Project, will accept the award on behalf of their company.

The 24-Hour Theatre Project began in 2007 when Naked Stage co-founders John Manzelli, Katherine Amadeo and Antonio Amadeo were looking for a creative way to fund-raise and bring together the theater community.  Modeled on the 24 Hour Plays in New York, eight playwrights gather on a Sunday night at 7 p.m. and choose a director and four actors from a hat.  They then choose a title from a pre-written list, and spend the night writing a short play.  The next morning the actors and directors arrive and produce each play, which is performed that night.  “Not knowing quite what to expect, we asked nearly 50 of the region’s top artists (actors, directors, playwrights) to donate 24 hours of their time, and couldn’t believe our luck when, not only did they say yes, but were enthusiastic about the project,” said Katherine Amadeo.  “That first year ended up being pure (chaotic) magic, and we realized we had something wonderfully special on our hands.”

Since that first year, Naked Stage’s 24-Hour Theatre Project has produced 68 short plays, and some have gone on to be produced by other theaters.  During their first year they invited three other theater companies to join them and split the profits, and this last year they donated all of the profits from the 24-Hour Theatre Project to a beloved member of the theater community, Dana Castellano, as she battled cervical cancer.

“It is humbling and we continue to be awed by the outpouring of generosity and love this community has shown to us, time and again,” said Amadeo.

Tickets are still available for the 39th annual Carbonell Awards ceremony, which takes place Monday, March 30, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater, at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S.W. 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $31.86 and can be purchased by calling 954-462-0222, in person at Broward Center’s AutoNation box office or by visitingwww.browardcenter.org.

About the Carbonell Awards

The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. Over 25 professional theater companies in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties participate in the awards process every year. Each season volunteer panelists and judges choose nominees and recipients from hundreds of shows produced on our area stages. In addition, The Carbonell Awards celebrate the accomplishments of our artistic leaders by presenting ‘Special Awards’ and show our dedication to the next generation of artists and journalists by awarding scholarships. Along with New York’s Drama Desk and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation’s senior regional arts awards and predate others, including Washington, D.C.’s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards are named after Manuel Carbonell, an internationally-renowned sculptor, who designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976, which return again this year as the signature trophy for award winners.

 

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Scholarships Now Available
For High School Senior Arts Students
in Tri-County Area

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Carbonell Awards, which annually pays tribute to the very best theatrical productions on regional stages, raises scholarships funds for students in the tri-county area to study the performing arts or journalism at accredited colleges and universities. Along with New York’s Drama Desk and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation’s senior regional arts awards and predate others including Washington, D.C.’s Helen Hayes Awards and Philadelphia’s Barrymore Awards.Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have achieved a minimum 2.5 GPA and are enrolled in college to pursue a degree in theatre or journalism. Students must be nominated by a mentor from a school or theatre. The selection of recipients is based on talent, experience and demonstrated commitment to the theatre. Continuing the tradition, The Carbonell Awards will once again be awarding three student scholarships, in the amount of $1,000 each. The scholarships will be awarded to one student in each of Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, and will be presented during the 39th Annual Carbonell Awards ceremony at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on March 30, 2015.ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
  • Student must be a graduating high school senior with a minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Student must be a resident of Broward, Miami-Dade or Palm Beach county
  • Student must be nominated by a mentor from school or theatre (No parents please and no self-nominations)
  • If selected for a scholarship Student must be accepted into College to pursue a degree in theatre or journalism to receive the award.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
A student’s mentor (director, teacher, guidance counselor who has first-hand knowledge and experience with the student) must nominate the student to be considered for the scholarship. However, the student is expected to work with the nominator to complete other elements of the application.

SCORING CRITERIA
The judging committee will evaluate scholarship applicants and select scholarship winners based on the following criteria:

  • 15 pts. Letter of Recommendation
  • 15 pts. Student Bio
  • 25 pts. Educational Goals
  • 20 pts. Theatre or Journalism Experience
  • 25 pts. Interview

Deadline for submission of applications is February 13, 2015.

The application form can be found at http://carbonellawards.org.

Student Scholarship Applications must be submitted via email to Jerry Cohen, chairman of the Scholarship Committee. If you have any questions you may contact Jerry Cohen at jjc25@aol.com or 305-893-4352.


SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

This year the CARBONELL AWARDS have once again partnered with award-winning theater company ZOETIC STAGE to provide three free professional Master Classes to all high school seniors in the tri-county area.

Zoetic Stage is a multiple Carbonell Award winning theater company in residence at The Adrienne Arsht Center in Downtown Miami. Students will have the opportunity to perform and receive coaching on songs or monologues with award-winning artists in an intimate group setting. This program is free of charge and part of Zoetic Stage’s ongoing commitment to reach out to our community and tomorrow’s stars. Participants are encouraged but not required to apply for the Carbonell Award Scholarships. If you are interested in taking advantage of this great opportunity to perfect your performance skills, please email Nick@ZoeticStage.com to secure a spot. Please include the name of song or monologue you would like to workshop. All monologues should be from a published play. An accompanist will be provided.

  • MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: Saturday, FEBRUARY 7th at 1PM, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
  • BROWARD COUNTY: Saturday, FEBRUARY 14th at 1PM. Broward Center for the Performing Arts
  • PALM BEACH COUNTY: Monday, FEBRUARY 16th at 5PM, Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

Master Classes will be conducted by Zoetic Stage Artistic Director Stuart Meltzer and award-winning actor Nicholas Richberg.

The Carbonell Awards and Zoetic Stage wish to thank the Adrienne Arsht Center, the Broward Center and the Raymond F. Kravis Center for their generous partnership in presenting the Master Class Program.***

 

 

MANUEL CARBONELL

Internationally renowned sculptor Manuel Carbonell is the creator, namesake, and Grand Benefactor of South Florida’s Carbonell Awards. Mr. Carbonell designed the original solid bronze-and-marble award in 1976. Born in 1918 in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, and educated throughout Europe, he fled Cuba’s totalitarian regime in 1959.


ABOUT THE CARBONELL AWARDS

The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. Each season volunteer panelists and judges choose nominees and recipients from hundreds of shows produced on stages throughout the tri-county area.

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An Evening of Broadway Songs At South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center

Features Performances By South Florida’s Acclaimed Carbonell Winners

South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center presents An Evening of Broadway Songs and the Carbonell Award Winners on Saturday, October 25 at 7:30pm and 9:30pm as part of the Center’s Cabaret Series. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 day of show and can be purchased through the Box Office by calling 786-573-5300 or online at SMDCAC.org.  A portion of the proceeds for this event will support the Carbonell scholarships awarded to graduating high school seniors to pursue a degree in theater or journalism. The Center is located at 10950 SW 211th Street, Cutler Bay.

Several winners of the Carbonell Award (South Florida’s “Tony”) from recent years will perform the Broadway music that garnered them their awards (the “Golden Eggs”) or nominations. The evening will feature great songs and artists hosted by Carbonell Award-winning director David Arisco, who has been the Artistic Director of Actors’ Playhouse for 26 years.

Some of the artists in the production include: Caryl Fantel, Musical Director for the annual Carbonell Award ceremonies at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts who will serve as Music Director for this production; Margot Moreland, winner of  four Carbonells for her acting in RuthlessTomfooleryHeartbeats and AnnieReggie Whitehead, three-time Carbonell winner in acting in The Full Monty and Smokey Joe’s Café and in choreography for Zombie PromAngie Radosh, who won in acting for Exit The KingStuff, and CabaretIrene Adjan, three-time winner in acting for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatBlood Brothers, and Funny Girl; and Jim Ballard, two-time Carbonell winner in acting for Urinetown and The Adding Machine.

Currently in their 39th season, the Carbonell Awards foster the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. More than 25 professional theater companies in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties participate in the awards process every year which recognizes the outstanding talent in the South Florida theater community. Each season volunteer panelists and judges choose nominees and recipients from hundreds of shows produced on our area stages. The Carbonell Awards also celebrate the accomplishments of our artistic leaders by presenting ‘Special Awards’ and support the next generation of artists and journalists by awarding scholarships to deserving high school seniors. The Carbonell Awards are named after Manuel Carbonell, an internationally-renowned sculptor, who designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976, the signature trophy that is given to Carbonell Award winners.

The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center’s Cabaret Series takes place in the intimate Black Box Theater space which seats up to 130 people. The series includes jazz, string groups, flamenco, comedy, burlesque, jazz, Broadway show tunes and soulful singers. The lounge setting has table seating, food, drinks and a relaxed atmosphere.

The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, designed by an internationally-acclaimed design team that includes Arquitectonica International, Inc. (architects), Fisher Dachs Associates, Inc. (theater design), Artec Consultants, Inc. (acoustics), and AMS Planning & Research Corp. (theater management), provides, for the first time, a state-of-the-art cultural venue and community gathering place in the southern part of Miami-Dade County. Located at 10950 SW 211th Street in Cutler Bay, the Center is an integral part of the economic and cultural development of the area, offering quality artistic programming and community accessibility. The Center features prominent works of art created by Miami artist Robert Chambers who was commissioned by Miami-Dade County’s Art in Public Places program to design a kinetic light wall and sculptures for the theater.

The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center is managed by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, with funding support from the Office of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.  The Center is dedicated to presenting and supporting arts and culture and providing access to the arts to the entire Miami-Dade County community. More information about the Center and its programs can be found at www.smdcac.org.

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