Things are about to get a little “off-center” at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
But that’s the plan. The new boundary-pushing Broward Off Center series will put some unconventional performances in the spotlight in the Fort Lauderdale venue’s intimate Abdo New River Room.
We’re talking immersive productions with lots of audience participation driving the inaugural season, which will include “In Pour Taste: A Comedy Wine Tasting Experience,” “BATSU!” and “The Office! A Musical Parody.”
“We wanted something different, something fresh, something maybe for the younger demographic that does want to be involved,” said Jill Kratish, the Broward Center’s associate vice president of programming and producing, who has been checking out off-the-beaten-path productions for shows that fit the bill.
“Immersive and interactive programming has become not just a countrywide conversation … but also a worldwide conversation … What we’re all hearing is audiences want the opportunity to be more involved. They want to be participatory.”
The new series also aims to introduce a whole new audience to the Broward Center’s Abdo New River Room, a 3,000-square-foot multipurpose banquet room situated between the Au-Rene Theater and Amaturo Theater.
“The stars aligned,” Kratish said. “We didn’t just want to pick up a proscenium show and put it in the New River Room. What a perfect place for this series. Each show will be set up in a slightly different way in the room. For people that decide to dive into the whole series, they’ll see the room in different ways for different shows.”
The Broward Center is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. For more information, call 954-462-0222 (press 1) or visit browardcenter.org.
Here are details about the upcoming Broward Off Center shows.
‘In Pour Taste: A Comedy Wine Tasting Experience’
Comedians Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh bring the laughs while a sommelier guides you through a wine tasting journey — or, depending on how posh you are, a vino swig/chug — of five wines. This show brings the wine flow to SoFlo following sell-out stagings in New York, Toronto and the United Kingdom. You also get a charcuterie board (vegetarian option possible), and there is an alcohol-free alternative available upon advance request.
WHEN: Through Jan. 25
COST: $112.10-$147.50
WHAT’S BEING SAID: “This is not like a hoity-toity wine tasting. This is not for the connoisseur,” Kratish said. “It’s a lot of audience interaction. The “In Pour Taste” guys are Australian. They do a lot of the fringe festivals. They’ve done Edinburgh. They’ve done all the Australian fringe festivals. So they just decided they’re going to start to tour around the United States.”
In Pour Taste
“In Pour Taste: A Comedy Wine Tasting Experience” will come to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale through Jan. 25. (In Pour Taste/Courtesy)
“BATSU!”
Never heard of BATSU? Neither had we. It’s a sort-of Japanese game show where improv comedians compete to avoid humiliating and super-silly punishments … while the audience enjoys a meal. Speaking of which, there will be Japanese-inspired bites on the menu, including sushi options (that need to be pre-purchased) as well as a curated selection of spirits available for purchase at the bar. And yes, you can also volunteer for the game (after signing a waiver) and hopefully get to strike the “Gong of Punishment.”
WHEN: Feb. 11-22
COST: $64.90-$88.50
WHAT’S BEING SAID: The show is “hilarious,” according to Kratish, who said she first saw a performance in a small Japanese restaurant in New York City a few years ago. “It is a crazy, crazy Japanese game show. And at the time, I was like, “Oh my gosh, if they could ever get this out on tour.” And then it took a couple years for them to figure out how to get it out on tour and into performance spaces. The winner gets a prize. If you lose, you get a punishment, which I think is what ‘batsu’ means.”
Craig Sugden
“BATSU!” is part of the Broward Off Center series in downtown Fort Lauderdale. (Craig Sugden/Courtesy)
“The Office! A Musical Parody”
The British import sitcom by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant — a hit on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean — is now a musical mockumentary with all your favorite characters. This production will be fully produced by the Broward Center and feature a local cast.
WHEN: April 16-May 3
COST: $70.80-$82.60
WHAT’S BEING SAID: “We co-produce with Slow Burn [Theatre Company] and we really like the concept of pouring some of our money back into the local arts community. [We’ll be], soup to nuts, using all local designers, local director, local actors to round out a three-show series,” Kratish said. “This show has been running in New York City for years and years. It is this crazy cast of characters … each of them are playing all these different roles. They’re just changing hats and wigs — it’s quick-change artists. There’s a lot of inside ‘Office’ jokes, so the more you are a fan of ‘The Office,’ the more you’ll get it.”
Broward Center
“The Office! A Musical Parody” will run at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale from April 16 to May 3. (Broward Center/Courtesy)
In Pour Taste
Sweeney Preston, left, and Ethan Cavanagh are the comedians behind “In Pour Taste: A Comedy Wine Tasting Experience.” (In Pour Taste/Courtesy)
In Pour Taste
“In Pour Taste: A Comedy Wine Tasting Experience” will include samples of five wines. (In Pour Taste/Courtesy)