Official uVu Blog

70 local students culminate Broadway success

The Roxy Theatre Group (RTG)

and the Greater Miami Youth Symphony (GMYS), two youth arts programs, are ready to Broadway up Miami with the Tony-Award winning musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  Representing over 25 schools and colleges in Miami-Dade County, the cast and orchestra of 70 students, ages 12-22, bring forth an illuminating musical theater explosion to the local arts scene. 

Through vibrant songs and exuberant choreography, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying culminates in an energetic story of ambition, love and the hilarious behind-the-scenes antics of the corporate world.  The music and lyrics are by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert.  GMYS and RTG collaborate to present this musical cornucopia thanks to The Children’s Trust.  GMYS is dedicated to training young musicians, ages 5-18. 

“The Broadway production blew me away and I am honored to share this experience with an amazing cast and wonderful student musicians.  Having participated in RTG’s programs since the age of ten, I have grown so much artistically and as a person and this production brings it all full circle,” said Lauren Cote, 18, playing the female lead, Rosemary Pilkington in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  Cote is a senior at Miami Coral Park Senior High School and has participated in RTG’s programming for eight years.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, February 17, 2012-March 3, 2012.  Fridays & Saturdays, 8:00p.m.  Saturday, March 3rd, 3:00p.m. & 8:00p.m.  Sundays, 5:30p.m.  Saturday, February 18, 2012, 7:00p.m.,   Proceeds benefit RTG’s Student Scholarship Fund.  1645 SW 107 Ave. Miami, FL 33165. For tickets or more information please call 305-226-0030

Lester Holt at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches

Lester Holt, weekend anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” co-anchor of the weekend edition of “Today” and principal anchor of “Dateline NBC,” spoke about the emerging role of the media when he addresses the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches Jan. 17, 2012.

Holt has reported from many of the world’s hot spots and has been with NBC since 2000.  From the streets of Cairo, he reported on the latest political and civil unrest and travelled overseas to cover the earthquake and nuclear crisis in Japan as well as the earthquake in Haiti.

Before becoming co-anchor of “Weekend Today,” the award-winning broadcast journalist anchored “Lester Holt Live,” a daily news show on MSNBC in which he covered breaking news and provided news updates and analysis.  Hold has also served as the lead anchor for daytime news and breaking news coverage on MSNBC. He had served as primary anchor for MSNBC’s coverage of the biggest news events of the last several years, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war in Afghanistan.  Of special interest to Palm Beach County, he was the lead daytime anchor for MSNBC’s coverage of Decision 2000.

 

Lester Holt (1/3) Forum Club January 2012

 

 

Lester Holt (2/3) Forum Club January 2012

 

 

Lester Holt (3/3) Forum Club January 2012

 

The Mother of all Theatre

For discretions sake we will refer to the latet production at GableStage as "The Mother (blank) with The Hat," but for what it is worth the title is tame compared to the actual production which sizzles with the poetic if somewhat shocking script and a dynamic young cast (some of whom come directly from the New World School of The Arts).

This limited run is not be missed, and in this short clip you can meet the cast.

 

 

Also recently opened "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" at the Caldwell Theatre Company, see some video from that production on uVu.

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity

The newest production at the Caldwell Theatre Company is far more than the title and program graphic may suggest.  Using the world of Wrestling as a backdrop, the play is a metaphor for globalization, racism and the evolving role of America in the world view.  Of course there is a suplex or two and the real chance that one of the actors may get hurt, but that may be just value added.

We had a chance to meet the cast and see a few scenes from the production, the experience was certainly reminiscent of changing in the High School locker room.  Let the testosterone flow.

 

 

The Cast

The Creative Team

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

B.B. King brought back the thrill in Miami

When is the last time you went to a concert where the main act received a standing ovation as soon as his foot set on stage?  It would have been January 4^th, 2012 if you attended the B.B. King concert at the Arsht Center.

The king of blues playfully performed in front of a full house who was overpowered by the sound of the 86 years-old powerful voice. Occasionally stopping to tell story of the band over the years or joke around with the crowd, B.B. King received so much applause and shout outs that the concert competed with the Miami Heat game cheering fans three blocks down Biscayne Boulevard.

Adults of all ages rocked their bodies to the beat of the band, tapped their fingers to the rhythms of blues, and sang along “the thrill is gone baby…” like they were the one lamenting on their love lives. It was powerful to see a legend on stage with such great energy to share.

B.B. King joked about his old age but also took pride of his journey explaining how he never though he would be here today. He continued by sharing that during his time, growing up in Mississippi, people either starve or  get beat up to death.

The band delivered a unique night of blues in Miami and although the performance went over its allocated time, no one moved from their seats until B.B. King left the stage. Pleas of encore and autograph signing session extended the event by another 20 minutes.

Interns Wanted

WPBT2 is looking for interns for the next semester, working on the community video site uVu. If you have an interest in the arts, community activities, video production (shooting and editing), field reporting and want to gain some practical experience in exchange for school credit give us a call.

Internship Program Opportunities
WPBT2 provides students with an opportunity to combine work experience and professional development to enhance their formal education. Our program serves to reinforce and strengthen the students' personal values and career objectives through an improved understanding of themselves and the work environment. We provide practical work experience to balance the students' theoretical training and allow students to meet and learn from professionals in the field and develop a network of contacts. Areas of openings include, but are not limited to: Accounting, Engineering, Graphic Design, Information Technology, Interactive Media, Marketing, Production, and Programming.

To be considered for an internship students must be enrolled in college/university in which their coursework requires internship hours. Students must also provide documentation from their school stating that they will be receiving credit for their time spent interning at WPBT2. For more information please email Diane Herron at humanresources@channel2.org or call 305-424-4011.

Miami Today Profile: Eduardo Padron

Since moving to the United States as a refugee at 15, Eduardo Padron has spent 41 years at Miami Dade College, working his way through the ranks at the only school he said would give him a chance after high school.

 

Since graduating from the college, Mr. Padron has worked as an assistant professor of economics, department chair, division director, associate dead, dean, vice president, campus president and now college president.

His goal is to ensure that all students, young and old, rich or poor, receive access to a quality education at a low cost.

“Opportunity changes everything,” he said, “and our concern is making sure that people who have the least opportunity are given a chance to get an education…Education is the passport to a better life and we’re worried about the low-income people and their ability to obtain a college [degree].”

As head of one of the most diverse institutions in the nation, in 2003 Mr. Padron pushed to receive state approval to offer bachelor’s degrees through the college. He has advocated on behalf of the Dream Act to provide those born outside of the US with cheaper tuition costs, and has been asked to serve on the White House Commission on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans, where he works to provide educational opportunities to all nationalities.

“This institution has changed many lives,” he said, “and it’s demonstrated that you can have open access and excellent academic programs. The students who finish here are second to none and are able to compete in the best universities in the country.”

Mr. Padron discussed his plans to provide Miami-Dade residents with a quality education, how he plans to counter recent reductions in state funding and what the college is doing to better the community with Miami Today staff writer Ashley Hopkins at his downtown office.

uVu, from 2011 to 2012

As a producer, 2011 was an exciting one for uVu. From art to food, Miami was the perfect canvas for new expression. Many restaurants opened, while many others closed ( we actually started a game at the office called the 3 months test for new restaurants). uVu was there when people ate in the dark for the first time at City Hall The Restaurant, or when Miami Spice hit records attendance during the summer.

Food topics were always a biais for me as a producer as mixing personal pleasure and business  was supposed to be a "no no" in the industry until I realized that Miami is full of foodies and the culinary world has become a trademark for the sunny city as much as its beaches and breast implants women.

So the new year will start with a new online series on local chefs. If you know any food maestro , feel free to nominate them as we will profile five of them in January. 

Another area of uVu 2011 was art. uVu did not need to wait for Art Basel to display the great local talents Miami has to offer. Many renowned artists such as Jen Stark , Huong have been featured on uVu for the last couple of years, but we always made sure to give a voice to the upcoming ones as well such as Nancy Martini, Serafima Sokolov among many.

For those who keep comparing Miami to New York as far as the culture scene: complaining that there is not that much to do here, please stop. It is like repeating over and over that "it does not snow in Miami, and the holiday season is not the same" It is true. We are not New York, and we are not trying to be. We are a mix of different activities and culture, which at times are still too segregated into their own communities, but it is changing slowly but surely. Every art event we cover creates a new hope in the true "melting pot" definition that Miami tries to have. Haitian attend Jamaican concerts, Cubans enjoy French cuisine, Colombian learn African dancing alongside caucasians and asian people for example. It is changing and that in itself is a true art piece.

So on that hopeful note, uVu wish you a great holiday season and encourages everyone to become more involved in the Miami scene. We can shape this city into a wonderful cultural mecca where its citizens would be creating new outlets of expression, organizations to help the youth, and ways to expose everyone to new ideas and culture.

Jessy Schuster, uVu producer

 

Miami Today Profile: Julie Grimes

When Julie Grimes is not busy overseeing operations at the Hilton Bentley Hotel in South Beach as its managing partner, she invests her time helping the community through numerous organizations. She has helped provide training and opportunities for inner city residents, particularly those residing in the Overtown area. 

Among her main efforts has been her involvement with Miami Dade College’s Hospitality Institute, a program that provides Overtown residents in need training for jobs in the hospitality industry. Funding for the program primarily comes from grants from the Southeast Overtown/ParkWest Community Development Agency and through funding partners. Over 1,000 people have gone through the five-day program, with about 300 of those getting jobs in hospitality. Her goal is to expand the program so it can reach people beyond those in Overtown.
“We need additional funding partners into the Hospitality Institute so we want to go beyond the CRA and get corporate partners engaged with funding and job opportunities for those in need,” she said.
Through the Hilton Bentley Hotel, she has also helped spearhead the hotel’s community outreach program. The hotel currently works with Big Brother Big Sister, providing high school students the opportunity to shadow someone in the hospitality industry and be eligible for a college scholarship. She is also on the board of the Miami Dade College Foundation and the Camillus House.
Her dedication to helping those in need has gone beyond Miami city limits and for the past couple of years she has been involved with World Vision, which not only has helped provide supplies to Haiti in times of need but is also providing training for residents to help developed rural communities in Haiti.
Originally from Canada, Ms. Grimes said she has noticed Miami transform into an international hub full of wealth in the past 20 years. She said she hopes her community outreach efforts will help inner city residents not be left behind and have opportunities available to them as Miami growths.
“I just wish everyone would give more, not only of treasure but of their time,” she said. “I think it’s coming to an understanding that those that are in a position to help really if ever there was a time to do so, this is the time to do what you can, to connect with those in need and really reach out and touch them.”
Ms. Grimes discussed the need to get Miami business leaders involved in the community and her goal of expanding the Hospitality Institute with Miami Today staff writer Patricia Hoyos in her downtown apartment.

Frank Brogan at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches

State UniversityChancellor Frank T. Brogan tackled the issue of revamping Florida’s university system when he addressed the Forum Club Dec. 12.  Gov. Rick Scott has called for state colleges and universities to be on the front line of his fight to create more jobs.

Brogan is a former Florida lieutenant governor and a past president of Florida Atlantic University.

Frank Brogan began his career as a classroom teacher before serving as a dean of students, assistant principal, principal, superintendent and finally Florida’s Commissioner of Education.  He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1998 and re-elected in 2002.A year later, he was selected to be president of Florida Atlantic University, a position he held until 2009 when the Board of Governors of the State University System unanimously chose him to serve as Chancellor of Florida’s public universities.

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