GableStage Upgrades Technology Experience

Before the extreme cutbacks to the arts, GableStage, the widely acclaimed Coral Gables-based theatre company, announced plans to upgrade its virtual and in-person theater experiences, thanks to an investment from the Knight Foundation. With newly acquired video projection and theatrical lighting equipment, GableStage will enhance the livestream capabilities for performances, elevating production quality and reaching new audiences.

This is the second time GabeStage has been named a Knight Art + Tech Fund, dedicated to enhancing the sustainability of Miami’s arts organizations by equipping them with the tools needed to integrate technology into their work.

“We are immensely grateful to Knight Foundation who have supported us with a tech grant for two consecutive years,” said Bari Newport, GableStage’s Producing Artistic Director. “The merger of technology with the arts allows GableStage to continue to transcend traditional stage boundaries and truly immerse audiences in performances which enhance their ability to empathize and stimulate dialogue.”

GableStage is wrapping up its current season preparing for its upcoming 26th season. The 2024-25 season is made possible through the support of generous sponsors, including Knight Foundation. Running from November 2024 through June 2025, the new season will feature five productions and over 120 performances – King James, Both Sides Now: The Music and Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, Appropriate, Summer 1976, and Fat Ham.

FGO Unveils Mixed Martial Arts Opera

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) gathered friends and supporters in advance of the organization’s highly anticipated 83^rd season for an exclusive preview featuring the unveiling of a groundbreaking new mixed martial arts opera, Triângulo. This work, currently under development, fuses the intensity of mixed martial arts (MMA) with an original score inspired by musical influences from Brazil, the Caribbean, 1990s pop, and hip hop, the organization said in a release. The event was part of the newly established FGO Innovation Hub.

 Conceived by Joe Specter, an accomplished arts executive, former opera singer, and martial arts practitioner, Triângulo showcases a diverse team of creators including Latin GRAMMY-nominated composer Martin Bejerano, Emmy Award-nominated librettist and director Crystal Manich, international dance and fight choreographer George Birkadze, legendary MMA coach and fight consultant Greg Jackson of Jackson Wink MMA, and multi-Tony and GRAMMY Award-winning orchestrator, arranger, and music director Alex Lacamoire consulting on orchestrations. Specter, Bejerano, and Lacamoire share deep Miami roots, having all attended New World School of the Arts together.

The preview was presented to an invitation only audience at KO Zone Miami, a mixed martial arts gym, an unconventional yet fitting venue that perfectly complemented the unique fusion of art forms. The event was made possible through generous donations from PNC Bank, with food provided by Fogo de Chão, beverages by Bacardi, DJ by DAT Media Group and event planning by Le Blanc Events.

“Here at FGO, we pride ourselves in taking undiscovered gems and putting them in the spotlight,” said Maria Todaro, General Director of FGO. “The FGO Innovation Hub does just that by creating a platform for innovators in the opera space and beyond to test their works, showcase their talent, and explore ways in which we can make opera more relevant to today’s audiences.”

Museum of Ice Cream to Open

The Museum of Ice Cream — known for its immersive, multi-sensory, ice cream-inspired experiences — is returning to a permanent location at Miami Worldcenter in Downtown Miami. The place boasts it’s the only immersive experience where everyone plays like a kid and eats unlimited ice cream together over 14,000 square feet over two floors.  Highlights include a retro ‘Cream Liner’, a 60’s inspired luxury airplane that transports you from downtown Miami to a world of endless possibility where anything is pop-sicle. Guests explore ‘A Grand Hall of Freezers’, filled with mysterious doors, where you discover surprises, wonders and of course, treats. Top off your adventure by sliding down a double helix slide into the world famous sprinkle pool, designed – the museum says – as a tribute to the iconic Versace Mansion.

To enhance the journey through scent and taste, Museum of Ice Cream Miami partnered with sensory scientists at International Flavors and Frangrances to create a multi sensory tasting experience that takes you on a journey through the flavors of the tropical city. In celebration of opening, Museum of Ice Cream Miami will feature new flavors from beloved local creamery Azucar Ice Cream and for the first time serving Cosmic Bliss, featuring a new and creamy coconut based soft serve.

It’s not just for kids, as there are ice cream-themed cocktails and hours of adults-only play. Adults are taken on a transformational journey, allowing them to forget their adult worries by utilizing the power of play; from swimming in sprinkles, exploring banana jungles, playing in a carnival and of course, eating unlimited ice cream.

“Living in Miami, and opening a Museum at the Faena Bazaar back in 2018 was a dream for me and changed how I approached designing the past five museums we have opened around the world,” says Maryellis Bunn, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Museum of Ice Cream. “With this Museum being a permanent build, I was able to push the boundaries of design and interactivity, making this the creamiest, most colorful, and tastiest museum yet.”