Mary Damiano Photo by David Vance

Mary Damiano’s Arts Scene

South Florida’s own arts champion, Charlie Cinnamon, center, receiving his award from Lenore Toby-Simmons and Richard Jay-Alexander  Photo: Char Libov

A True Champion
More than 300 arts lovers turned out for a luncheon at the Eden Roc Hotel Wednesday, March 11, to honor Charlie Cinnamon, who received the first ever Champion of the Arts award from the Citizens Interested in Arts, Inc. Champion of the Arts—it sounds like a tagline for a superhero, and even though you can’t see his cape, that’s exactly what Charlie Cinnamon is. He’s South Florida’s own arts superhero, a man who has enriched the arts landscape immeasurably, most notable, perhaps, for the role he’s played in making South Florida a destination for Broadway tours and for founding the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. Charlie received his award from director and producer Richard Jay-Alexander, who spoke expressed his admiration for Charlie as both a mentor and a life-long friend. Charlie was visibly moved by both his standing ovation and hearty applause when he received the award. In his remarks, Charlie lauded the Citizens Interested in Arts, Inc., for filling a void in performance arts funding. He spoke of the importance of the arts in all of our lives, and singled out reps from many arts organizations who played key roles in keeping the arts alive. He also lamented the media troubles that have resulted in the cutbacks in arts coverage and the layoffs of many talented arts journalists. After Charlie’s speech, the audience was entertained by 8 year-old pianist Ethan Bortnck, a fabulous musician who possesses as much poise as prowess. Ethan’s performance was an illustration of Charlie Cinnamon’s words about the importance of the arts in everyone’s lives. To see more photos from the luncheon, check out the photo galleries in this issue. To see video of Ethan Bortnick’s performance, visit our Video page.

Broadway star Mandy Patinkin, who performed last Saturday in Miami

Oh, Mandy
When was the last time you heard a singer read the Gettysburg Address in concert? If you attended Mandy Patinkin’s recent show at the Knight Concert Hall at the Arsht Center, then the answer would be last Saturday, March 21. But that’s Mandy for you. The Broadway and television star boasts an impressive range in his voice and with his material. In addition his own unique interpretations of songs from Oklahoma, Les Miserables, and Carousel, Patinkin tipped his hat to Al Jolson (“Rockabye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody”, “Sonny Boy”), Harry Chapin (“Taxi”) and did a funny bit about classic movies. He also sang a hilarious medley of songs in Yiddish that you wouldn’t expect to hear in Yiddish, including, “White Christmas”, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Maria” from West Side Story. And of course, he did songs from the musicals he starred in on Broadway, Evita and Sunday in the Park with George. And yes, Mandy really did read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, around the same time he donned a hat and vest covered in Barack Obama campaign buttons and spoke about stumping for our new president. The show was theatrical and entertaining, and the Arsht Center was hardly big enough to contain Mandy’s voice or his audience’s enthusiasm.

NBC 6 meteorologist Jennifer Gray is putting on her dancing shoes

Dancing with the Local Stars
The Pantry of Broward, an organization dedicated to providing food and services to in seniors in need and grandparents caring for their grandchildren, have come up with a timely idea for their first gala fundraiser. The organization will present “Dancing with the Stars of Broward” on Saturday, April 4, 6 p.m., at the Westin Diplomat Resort in Hollywood. Based on the popular ABC TV show, five "dancers" and their instructors will perform, and four critics will evaluate the dancing in front of 400 guests, who will judge the competition. The line-up of dancers are Jennifer Gray, NBC 6's meteorologist; Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, CEO, Children's Services Council of Broward County; Juan Carlos Arias, president of the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association; Lisa Colon Heron, president of the Caribbean Bar Association and Dr. Willis Dickens MD.FA Neurology. The critics are Pedro Dijols, Partner at RRA and former Broward Circuit Court judge; Lori Parrish, Broward Property Appraiser; Reverend Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral; E.J. Spector, legal assistant and teacher and. For ticket information and purchase, visit www.thepantryofbroward.org.

Film, Fashion and Food
Entre Nous, and the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival (FLIFF) present The Fine Art of Film, Fashion and Food, Saturday, March 28 from 7–10 p.m. at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale’s student scholarship foundation. "This collaborative event between the college and Entre Nous is extremely beneficial to the students and their education," says Graphic Design Professor Paul Kane whose students designed the invitation and poster. "The students have an opportunity to produce a real world project and include the work in their portfolio." In addition, guests will see the creativity of the college’s fashion design students as they model garment depicting famous pieces of art. One of the highlights of the evening will be a private tour of collections at Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, from 7-8 p.m. Entre Nous, a support group of FLIFF, will also present a silent auction chaired by Teri Pattullo. The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale is located at 1 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $60/person and $100/couple and may be purchased in advance online at www.FLIFF.com or by calling 954.760.9898.

The films of director Alfred Hitchcock have gone hi def

Hitchcock in Hi-Def
There’s never been anyone like Alfred Hitchcock. The formidable director invented many of the tenets of suspense films, and his classics are just as fresh today as when he made them. But now Hitch has entered the 21st century. The Universal vaults have been opened in an exclusive agreement with MBC partner Emerging Pictures, the world's leading digital distributor of motion pictures. For the first time ever, Hitchcock's 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s classics have been restored in HD transfers, and will be screened at Miami Beach Cinematheque. To complement the films, an exhibition of Hitchcock graphics will be on display in April. The Hitchcock films making their Miami big screen HD debut are: Psycho, 1960, Tuesday, March 31, 8:30 p.m.; The Birds, (1963), Thursday, April 2, 8:30 p.m.; Torn Curtain, 1966, Thursday, April 9, 8:30 p.m.; Topaz, 1969, Tuesday, April 21, 8:30 p.m.; and Frenzy, 1972, Thursday, April 30, 8:30 p.m. Miami Beach Cinematheque is located at 512 Española Way at Plaza España, Miami Beach. For more information call 305-67-FILMS (673-567) or visit www.MBCINEMA.com.

Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale

Museum of Art to Award Art Camp Scholarships
The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, a division of Nova Southeastern University, is encouraging budding artists to attend its 2009 Creative Summer Art Academy (CSAA) by holding a merit scholarship competition. The competition, open to students entering grades 1-12 and interested in the Creative Summer Art Academy, will take place on Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Museum’s Studio School Annex. Registration, as well as a meet and greet with staff and fine art instructors, will be held from 8:15-9 a.m. Participants will be separated into grade groups 1-4, 5-8 and 9-12, and will then have up to two hours to create one drawing during the competition. Faculty members and staff will be present. While students are engaged in the competition, parents are invited to enjoy complimentary refreshments in the Museum Café and a docent-led tour at 10 a.m. Funds for the merit and need-based scholarships were raised in part during the Museum’s National Art Festival held in January 2009. In 2008, scholarships were awarded to more than 75 of 200 applicants interested in the arts. Winners will be notified within two weeks of this year’s competition. All competitors will receive either a 10 percent discount or awarded scholarship, applicable to all camp registrations received on this day. Additional instructor-recommended scholarships are awarded throughout the five, 2-week camp sessions based on merit and class performance. Running from June 8-August 14, Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., CSAA offers students focused instruction by local, professional fine art instructors. Many past high school attendees have gone on to receive coveted scholarships and awards and attend prestigious art schools around the United States. Camp registration forms will be available online before the April 1 open enrollment. For additional information or applications for CSAA, call 954-262-0239 or email education1@moafl.org, or visit the Museum’s website www.moafl.org.

Would you mistake these Andrews Brothers for the Andrews Sisters?

Theatre Openings
James Cagney was a man who broke the rules. In a Hollywood studio system that typecast its stars, Cagney was one of the few whose talented transcended typecasting. He made a name for himself playing hard-boiled gangsters and song and dance men, and excelled at both. Cagney the man is the stuff musicals are made of, and you can catch the world premiere of Cagney the musical this Friday, March 27, at Florida Stage in Manalapan. The musical stars Robert Creighton as Cagney, who, along with Christopher McGovern, wrote the music and lyrics. Cagney runs through May 3. www.floridastage.org. In Oakland Park, Rising Action is also opening a musical with a connection to a bygone era, The Andrews Brothers. The premise is that it’s World War II, and Laverne Andrews, one of the famous Andrews Sisters, gets chicken pox and can’t perform, so three stagehands don drag and go on in the sisters’ place. And no one knows the difference. Uh huh. The Andrews Brothers runs April 3 through May 17. www.risingactiontheatre.com

Have a comment about what you’ve read? E-mail letters@miamiArtzine.com