SPOTLIGHT ON STAGE
By Eleanor Hannan

STAND UP COMEDY HAS COME TO DOWNTOWN HOLLYWOOD AT THE HOLLYWOOD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, STARRING ROSLANE GHOLSTON:

  Roslane Gholston, better known as Lady Roz G, whose appearances include Comedy Cental's Premium Blend and Jamie Foxx's Laffapalozza, UPN's Showtime at the Apollo, Bet's Comic View and NBC's Last Comic Standing, has made her one of the outstanding comedians around these days.
   The first thing you notice about Lady Roz is her voice. She is commanding and – there's no other way to put it – loud. Her material isn't exactly sanctified, but, Roz lets it all hang out, and does just that during her performances. She moved up to fifth place with "I Ain't Got Jokes, I Got problems," theme which is a major part of her material.
    Randy Singer, a Boca Raton Comedy Club house emcee, at a night, and Award-winning stand-up comedian Eddie Brill, a Hollywood native, have teamed together to bring stand-up comedy, for the first time, to Hollywood, at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center located at 1770 Monroe St. Roslane Gholston's appearance on August 15 and 16, at 8 p.m. will wrap up the series of performers until September 2008. Tickets are $20 and $25. For reservations, call (954) 241-0131.

MULTIPLE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING SINGER ANITA BAKER RETURNS TO HARD ROCK LIVE WITH HER ROMANTIC BALLADS BLUES AND JAZZ:  Anita Baker, Grammy Award winning composer, singer and producer, and all around super star, has taken her show on the road again. In 2003, the woman who had given birth to fireside Love songs, and classic gems as "Giving You the Best I've Got," "Just Because," and "Fairy Tales," managed to get her small rhythm section, and her dedicated background singers, together for rehearsals, to test the timing for a welcome back after a few years of time out. Hoping her return, after ten years, with changes in the industry and younger singers, she would be welcomed back, like other gifted performers who took time for a break, starting over again to do what she does best. Anita wondered if she built it, would they come? They certainly did come, and in large crowds, as Anita Baker is a very special performer. Her debut album "My Everything," containing ten magnificent songs, including "Serious ," "You're My Everything," "Only For Awhile," "I Can't Sleep" and "Men in My Life," and other powerful melodies.
    Baker is ready to return to Hard Rock Live on July 24, 2008, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55, 470 and $85, available at the Seminole Hard Rock Box Office, open noon to 7 p.m., located on State Road 7 (US 441), Hollywood. For information, call (954) 327-ROCK, or 1 (800) 937-0010.

SOUTH FLORIDA PLAYWRIGHT MARJ O'NEILL BUTLER'S "TRUE BLUE" WORLD PREMIERE TO BE PRESENTED BY THE WOMEN'S THEATRE PROJECT: Marj O'Neill-Butler, is a published playwright of eight Children's theatre scripts, the short play "What If?" and a reader's theatre script "The Women of the Beat Generation." Other plays include "The Color of Love," "Rings," "Belle's Café," "Communication" and "What Are You Getting?" Marj is delighted to have the World Premiere of her play "True Blue," performed by The Women's Theatre Project.
    The story revolves around five female undercover cops (two are sisters), who meet regularly for drinks, games and relaxation. One evening, late at night, they receive a phone call relating to an automobile accident, in which two of their husbands, accompanied by two women, were killed. As cops, they are trained to handle everyone else's problems, but can't face their own. Their friends rally around them, helping them through their grief and loss with humor, love and new insight.
    Opening at The Women's Theatre Project August 8-31, at 8 p.m. evenings, Thursdays and Saturdays, including August 30th, at 2 p.m. For tickets and information, call (954) 462- 2334. The Theatre is located at Sixth Star Studios, 505 NW 1st Ave., Fort Lauderdale.

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF MIAMI LIBRE IS HEADED FOR THE KNIGHT CONCERT HALL IN THE ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER:  Join the party, get up and dance, when the Knight Concert Hall is transformed into the city's hottest night club in town, featuring Miami's own sizzling timba band, Tiempo Libre, and the hottest dancers north of Havana. Be amongst the first to experience a sexy new dance extravaganza, a tale of two cities united by the spirit of one people, and a celebration of Cuban music. The new dance tells the story, in English and Spanish of a musician's search for love and liberty.
     From Friday, July 25 to Sunday, August 17, the world premiere of Miami Libre will be the attraction at the Adrienne Arsht Center, located at 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. The Concert Hall will be set with cabaret style seating, drink service during the show, and a dance party with the band at the end, right on the stage.
     Tickets start at $40 for theatre seating, $50 for cabaret seating, and $87.50 VIP cabaret seating.  Show times are Tuesday, July 29, Wednesday, July 30, and Thursdays at 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 8 and 11 p.m. Sundays 5 p.m. For additional information, call (305) 949-6722.
 

FORT LAUDERDALE CHILDREN'S THEATRE'S MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE TOM HANKS’ FILM "BIG" IS LIVE ON STAGE AT THE HOLLYWOOD PLAYHOUSE:  JThe 1997 Tom Hanks movie "Big," was a big hit. This vibrant, funny and touching musical is an adaptation of the film. When a young frustrated adolescent, Josh Baskin, wishes he was big, he discovers there's much more to be being an adult than he bargained for. Josh makes a wish at a fairground machine to be big. When he awakens the following morning, he finds his wish has been granted and his body has grown over night. But, he is still the same 12-year-old kid on the inside, although he now looks like a 30-year-old guy. He must now learn how to cope with the unfamiliar world of grown ups. The lesson is, be careful what you wish for.
    The musical holds universal appeal for audiences of all ages when it opens at the Hollywood Playhouse July 25 to August 3, located at 2640 Washington St., Hollywood. Performances are Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Evenings at 7:30 p.m., matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 children and students. For more information, call (954) 763-6882, or (954) 763-6701.