Official uVu Blog

It's Time To Meet The Muppets

The Young at Art Museum in Davie presents a new traveling exhibition, The Art of Jim Henson with Muppet Masterpieces and original Muppets on display.  All items are on loan from the Jim Henson Family Collection, courtesy of the Jim Henson Legacy.

 

Grumpy Old Men?

Sam Shepard's Ages of the Moon opens at the Mosaic Theatre in Plantation. 

Meet the cast here:

 

2011 Cappies

Miami Today Profile -Carlos Migoya

After a 10-month stint balancing the City of Miami’s cash-strapped budget at no pay, Carlos Migoya now takes on a more challenging role with a six-figure salary.

Mr. Migoya, a longtime banking executive, was selected to lead Jackson Health System as president and chief executive officer, at a time when the organization is financially in critical condition.

His initial strategy is not to cut services, he said, but will involve some layoffs.

A search committee directed to find Jackson’s next CEO agreed Mr. Migoya was the right man for the job. But some have criticized Mr. Migoya’s selection because he doesn’t have health care management experience. 

Jackson’s problems are concentrated on the business side not the health care side, he said, as the hospital is considered a top comprehensive health care provider.

The hospital’s financial troubles stem from charging more for some medical services and paying higher salaries than competing local hospitals.

“So we've had a much higher pricing, that's kept revenues away, and a high expense structure, of which the combination of the two created the losses and we need to change that,” he said.

In this role, which he took on in April, Mr. Migoya listed as a top priority adjusting prices for day-to-day medical services that Jackson offers  to be more competitive with other hospitals in South Florida.

To increase revenues, he plans to attract HMOs, a type of managed-care company, to do business with Jackson as well as create a first-class service line to draw more affluent patients.

Mr. Migoya shared his plans and priorities with Miami Today reporter Yudislaidy Fernandez at the Jackson complex in Miami’s Health District.

Issues: 2011 Florida Legislative Review

Governor Rick Scott has called his first legislative session successful, but was it?  Four south Florida legislators join us for a panel discussion to analyze the highs and lows of this year’s session.

 

Why Arts Matter

This past week, we've had some shining examples of High School Arts programs in Broward County making a difference in the lives of the students and the community as well.

Here are some excerpts from the  Essentially Ellington High School Jazz competition at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, which saw the Dillard Center for the Arts take home First Prize.

 

 

And from the world of Theatre, some stand out performances from the 2011 Cappies.

 

 

A musical taste of Haiti with "Big Night in Little Haiti"

Tomorrow night, Friday May 20, 2011, UVU will be at “Big Night in Little Haiti” for this month’s free concert with Haitian singer-songwriter Beethova Obas, one of Haiti’s most revered singers and composers.  

Obas, now based in Europe, builds upon Haiti’s rich diverse traditions- the elegant contribution of French chanson, African roots music and lyrical Caribbean dance rhythms.  It is a fusion that speaks strongly of Haiti even as it incorporates Brazilian, Cuban and jazz stylings. Beethova Obas will also be featuring his brother, Emanuel Obas in this concert, and the opening set will be by Rosamora.

The event will also showcase world class art on exhibit and a roots-fueled late night after party.  Haitian food by Chef Creole, drinks and hands-on activities for children of all ages will also be available for purchase.  Big Night in Little Haiti will be from 6pm-10pm around the Little Haiti Cultural Center Plaza. 

More than a thousand people have attended previous month’s editions- locals from the neighborhood, hipsters, families with young children, as well as people who have never visited Little Haiti before.

 For more information, please visit www.bignightlittlehaiti.com or call 
305-960-2969 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            305-960-2969      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

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Miami Today Newsmaker - Joseph Adler

After 13 years at the Biltmore Hotel, GableStage and its Director Joseph Adler have become mainstays of South Florida’s cultural community.

During that time the theater has received 30 Carbonell Awards, which recognize excellence in South Florida theaters, and 135 nominations.

 

 

The plays, many of which are Florida premiers, address contemporary issues in ways that may give audiences glimpses of a new perspective.

“We want to be doing the kind of theater that sometimes makes them uncomfortable,” Mr. Adler said, “but that gives them something to think about and talk about after they leave.”

As he continues to head the day-to-day operations of the theater, including finding new plays and funding sources as well as trying to employ local talent, Mr. Adler is also in the midst of preparing for a possible transition to a new, 300-seat theater at the Coconut Grove Playhouse site, double its current size. 

He  discussed the changes the company will undergo if in fact it moves to the Grove and the “renaissance” he’s seen in South Florida’s arts community in recent years with Miami Today staff writer Zachary Fagenson.

 

Congrats to Dillard and All That Jazz

Three high school jazz bands took top honors tonight in Jazz at Lincoln Center's 16th Annual Essentially EllingtonHigh School Jazz Band Competition & Festival.  Each band was chosen by a panel of judges composed of distinguished jazz musicians and historians - Jazz at Lincoln Center's Artistic Director WYNTON MARSALIS; composer, conductor, and Ellington authority DAVID BERGER; composer and arranger RICH DEROSA; trombonist, educator, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra memberVINCENT GARDNER, and drummer and big band leaderJEFF HAMILTON- from among the 15 finalist bands that came to the Competition & Festival in New York City. Competition performances of all the bands were streamed live and can be seen at jalc.org/essentiallyellington from Monday, May 16th through Saturday, May 21st.

Meet Ken Burns

The acclaimed Director will be in south Florida on June 9 to screen part of his new film, Prohibition,  scheduled for broadcast in the fall.  ken will also do a Q & A after the film.  Seats are going fast, for more info visit here