Storytelling, social justice, and artistic transformation will occupy the limelight during Brévo Theatre’s upcoming program, Rooted & Resilient.

The event is a one-day festival culminating in a monologue competition. It will take place Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Ali Cultural Center. The address is 353 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd. in Pompano Beach.

Rooted in the belief that every voice deserves to be heard, Rooted & Resilient invites audiences and artists alike to witness the power of words grounded in truth, lived experience, and creative courage. Through the lens of monologue, emerging and established performers will take center stage to confront injustice, celebrate resilience, and share stories often silenced or ignored.

“Rooted & Resilient is more than a competition—it is a platform for expression,” said Terrence Pride, co-founder and artistic director of Brévo Theatre. “This event celebrates the intersection of art and activism, offering space for voices to be seen, heard, and honored.”

The festival is open to the public and welcomes artists, educators, students, community leaders, activists, and newcomers of all ages. No prior performance experience is required.

“Whether you’re looking to build skills through workshops or simply enjoy an evening of bold, original theater, Rooted & Resilient offers meaningful engagement for everyone,” reads promotional material.

Festival Schedule Highlights

• 9:30 a.m. – Opening ceremony
• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Transformative workshops:
  • The Art of Activism, facilitated by the Center for Artistic Activism
    Explores how to merge artistic expression with activist goals through creative, strategic action.
  • Rewriting the Narrative: Storytelling Through the Lens of Social Justice, facilitated by Dr. Marie Lovett
    Engages participants in reflective writing and dialogue to advance equity through narrative.
  • Radical Movement: The Physical Journey to Change
    Encourages physical expression of identity, resilience, and social change—no dance experience needed.
  • Wellness in the Work: Caring for Self While Changing the World
    Offers mindfulness tools and peer support to promote sustainability and joy in justice work.
• 12 to 2 p.m. – Artists & Advocates Brunch Mixer, including a special panel discussion with esteemed guest judges
• 2 to 3:30 p.m. – Live group chat and panel discussion
• 3:30 to 6 p.m. – Visual art exhibition, food trucks, and community vendors
• 6:30 p.m. – Rooted & Resilient National Monologue Competition featuring original performances by finalists and special guests

Two winners will receive $1,000 cash prizes, awarded by a distinguished panel of judges.

Rooted & Resilient continues Brévo Theatre’s mission of amplifying marginalized voices and using the stage as a catalyst for dialogue, healing, and collective action.

🎟️ A Full-Day Pass costs $15 per person, with an additional $1 per workshop. Tickets are available at www.brevotheatre.org.

Thinking Cap Theatre – Women’s Equality Day Celebration

In honor of Women’s Equality Day 2025, Thinking Cap Theatre will host an evening of suffragette comedies, live music, and a celebratory reception on Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, 1770 Monroe St. in Hollywood.

“Make no mistake, America’s Suffragettes had a sense of humor, plenty of talent, and big plans to effect change that would benefit future generations of women,” reads promotional material.

Doors open at 6:45 p.m. for a reception featuring live piano music from the early 20th century. Performances begin promptly at 7:30 p.m., followed by dessert, conversation, and photo opportunities in the lobby.

The featured works, known as “parlor plays,” were short comedic dramas privately printed for home performances. Rediscovered in the late 1970s by Radcliffe scholar Bettina Friedl, these humorous yet pointed pieces tackle issues like the work/life balance and gender roles with timeless wit.

Audiences can expect to laugh, reflect, and appreciate both the progress made and the journey still ahead in the fight for equal human rights.

🎟️ Tickets are $28.52. Register at https://thinkingcaptheatre.org/current-programming.

Carbonell Awards Preview: Honorees Announced

The Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s premier theater and arts honors, continues announcing recipients to be recognized at its annual ceremony this fall.

🏆 Vinnette Carroll Award: Michel Hausmann

Miami New Drama (MiND) Co-Founder and Artistic Director Michel Hausmann will receive the Vinnette Carroll Award, which honors significant achievement in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in South Florida theater.

MiND, the country’s largest bilingual theater company, is the resident company at the historic Colony Theater on Miami Beach. Under Hausmann’s leadership, it has premiered over 20 original plays and musicals, becoming a nationally recognized incubator for new work.

Notable productions include:
A Wonderful World (Broadway transfer, Tony Award nomination), Seven Deadly Sins, Birthright, Bad Dog, Lincoln Road Hustle, Las Aventuras de Juan Planchard, Confessions of a Cocaine Cowboy, Viva La Parranda!, Papa Cuatro, The Cubans, The Museum Plays, Fake, When Monica Met Hillary, Gente Ociosa, Queen of Basel, and a landmark multilingual production of Our Town.

Hausmann’s accolades include the Thornton Wilder Prize, a New York Theatre Workshop 2050 Fellowship, three Knight Arts Challenge Awards, and multiple Silver Palm Awards.

“(Hausmann) diligently and passionately gives voice to BIPOC artists and artisans,” reads his nomination, praising his “multi-language productions and multicultural programming that offer voice and vision for not only South Florida, but for the country.”

The award’s namesake, Vinnette Carroll, was the first African American woman to direct on Broadway and receive a Tony nomination for directing. She later founded the Vinnette Carroll Repertory Company in South Florida.

🏆 Jan McArt Award: New City Players

New City Players (NCP), an ensemble-based nonprofit in Wilton Manors, has been selected for the Jan McArt Award, honoring exceptional achievement by a small theater company.

“New City Players is the ‘little theatre that could,’” wrote award-winning South Florida theater director Stuart Meltzer in his nomination. “They tackle daunting works with creative chutzpah and a commitment to community, inclusion, equality, and powerful storytelling.”

🏆 George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts

Previously announced: William Hayes and Sue Ellen Beryl, co-founders of Palm Beach Dramaworks, are this year’s Abbott Award honorees.

🗓️ Coming Up

• Charlie Cinnamon Award – Aug. 12
• Ruth Foreman Award – Aug. 19
• Bill Hindman Award – Aug. 26
• Howard Kleinberg Award – Sept. 2
• Bill von Maurer Award – Sept. 9
• Carbonell Award Finalists – Sept. 16 (120 finalists in 20 categories)

🎭 The 2025 Carbonell Awards will be held on Monday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at FAU’s University Theatre in Boca Raton. Directed and produced by Andrew Kato (Producing Artistic Director/CEO of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre), with Caryl Fantel serving as music director.

🎟️ Tickets are $45 and include access to the afterparty. Public ticket sales open in late September.