The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts is a cultural beacon in Miami. Since opening in 2006, the non-profit organization has reinvigorated local interest in the arts, introducing award-winning talent and bringing nationally renowned performances to its South Florida stage. Touring Broadway shows, musicals, world music and children’s shows feature here, plus several circus-type acts and acrobatics. The striking postmodern architecture alone makes it worth a visit. But the fact that it’s home to the Florida Grand Opera and the Miami City Ballet, doesn’t hurt either.
Long gone are the days when Miami theater consisted only of kitschy dinner shows or nursing home productions of Annie and Cats. Miami theater audiences have grown over the past decade, both in number and in sophistication, and every season seems to outdo the last with a fresh crop of blockbusters, often Broadway hits such as Les Misérables and Mary Poppins. The local performing arts scene has also expanded geographically, extending beyond downtown Miami and into suburbs such as Cutler Bay and Aventura, the perfect dinner-and-a-show destinations where you’ll also find some of the best restaurants in Miami. Though why stop there? Chat about all the wonderful sets and incredible production value over a nightcap at a cozy Miami cocktail bar.
