what's up in the Magic City

The Twentieth Century Way, The New Play Project, Marilyn 50 Years On, NWSA Artists, Shortz by Schwartz, Family Day on Aragon, Miami's Official Artist 

Island City Stage is bringing its inaugural production, The Twentieth Century Way, to Ft Lauderdale's Empire Stage. Previewing Aug 9, opening Aug 11, the play by Tom Jacobson won the 2011 PEN award for Drama. Michael Leeds is directing The Twentieth Century Way, a play based on a two actors auditioning for a film and ending up juggling roles that eventually lead to entrapment of homosexuals for "social vagrancy" in the Long Beach, California of 1914. The play contains male nudity. The Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Ft Lauderdale. 954-678-1496 http://www.empirestage.com/ 

The Company Company is back for its fourth annual short play festival: The New Play Project. With an overall mission to get the voices of high school students heard in the community through writing, directing and acting, The New Play Project is a series of eight to ten short student written plays featuring student directors and student actors. All proceeds from the project are donated to The M.S. Society. See The New Play Project at The Byron Carlyle Theater, 500 71st St., Miami Beach. Friday, August 10 7:30pm, Saturday, August 11 7:30pm, Sunday, August 12 2:30pm   305-358-5885 http://thenewplayproject.webs.com/

Marilyn Monroe died on August 5, 1962. Fifty years later the Miami Beach Cinematheque is celebrating her life with an exhibition and retrospective of the Miami Theatrical Premieres of the new anniversary digital restorations of several of her films: Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How To Marry a Millionaire, The Seven Year Itch, and Some Like It Hot. The exhibition at MBC consists of original vintage memorabilia from the MBC Archive including posters, programs, and original promotional items. A complete portfolio of ten European Edition Warhol "Marilyn Monroes" from the Harold Golen Gallery, and select items on loan from the World Erotic Art Museum (WEAM). The films each screen once, starting August 16. http://mbcinema.com 305-673-4567

Thirty one artists, all graduates of the New World School of the Arts high school and college will unite for one exhibition in Miami called Young Blood: Homecoming 2012, curated by John Witty 05'. Opening reception August 11 6 – 9 pm. The exhibition runs through August 25 at the Artseen Gallery, 2215 NW 2nd Avenue, Wynwood.   A portion of the sales will benefit the NWSA high school and college visual arts department. For an appointment to view write to youngbloodnwsa@gmail.com.

Shortz by Schwartz, a reading of five short plays written by Marla E. Schwartz, will be presented August 26, 8 pm, at Empire Stage, 1140 North Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale,
(954) 678-1496 . Actors reading: Marj O'Neill-Butler, Todd Castor, Bryan Hayes, Kevin Johnson,Tammy Smith and Jade D. Wheeler. Directed by Paula Sackett. Free admission.

Join the Gables Art Cinema on Saturday, August 11, at 11:00 am as they continue their regular second Saturday family and youth film screenings as part of Family Day on Aragon, in partnership with the Coral Gables Museum and Books & Books. The program returns with a showcase of family-friendly classic short films from the Gables Cinema's vault. The special ticket price is $5 for everyone, and includes free popcorn and a soda. 

Leonardo Hidalgo has been named the official artist for the 116th birthday of the City of Miami. Mayor Tomas Regalado, Leonardo Hidalgo and Herman Echevarria, entrepreneur and philanthropist, were on hand for the unveiling of the original artwork. Hidalgo donated the painting to the City of Miami and it will be on display in Miami City Hall. Posters of this piece will be available with 100% of sales going directly towards benefiting The Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center.