Entertainment Guide to Miami

Cinema

Even with all the Blockbuster Video stores (the chain's billionaire founder lives in the Miami area), locals and visitors continue to flock to the closest cinema for the big screen experience. Catch mainstream films at multiplex theaters like the Mayfair Cinemas in Coconut Grove. For state-of-the-art facilities, visit the luxurious Regal Cinemas 18 in South Beach, or the spacious AMC Theatres 24 in the Aventura Mall. There are also several smaller theaters with a bit more history and an interesting selection of features.

Comedy

Good humor comes naturally in a city blessed with beautiful weather year-round. A few local clubs feature comedians that keep the visitors and locals laughing into the wee hours. One of the most popular laugh factories is the Improv Comedy Club in Coconut Grove. The club hosts a variety of acts and features talented line-ups of comics from all over the country.

Dance

From classical to modern to ethnic, Miami has a rich array of dance theater. Even the most classical repertoire is infused with a certain innovative quality. The Miami City Ballet is recognized as one of the top 10 companies in the nation. The company's impressive repertoire (over 80 productions and counting) delicately blends the classical and the contemporary. For the more traditionally inclined, Ballet Etudes of South Florida performs classical masterpieces, while the thrilling performances by Ballet Flamenco La Rosa capture the passion and spirit of flamenco.

Museums

Whatever your interest, Miami offers a museum related to it. Celebrate the city's intriguing past at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. Explore the mysteries of science and space at the Miami Museum of Science & Planetarium. Take a stroll through the exquisite 16th-century Italian Villa Vizcaya and gardens. For those who enjoy the visual arts, there are outstanding collections at the Miami Art Museum, the Bass Museum of Art, the Wolfsonian, the Lowe Art Museum and the Jewish Museum of Florida.

Music

Miami attracts a medley of sounds and talents. Whether it's a jazz festival, a symphony orchestra concert or the Latin beats of Miami's own Gloria Estefan, the city's musical offerings are never at a loss. The innovative New World Symphony showcases fresh talent at the Lincoln Theatre. Also of interest is the talented Miami Symphony Orchestra. There is also the Florida Grand Opera, which presents five productions annually.

Nightclubs

Some of the best nightclubs in the nation can be found in South Beach. The ever-popular dance clubs around the Beach include the always rocking Crobar. Salsa dancing can also be found all over the city. For a mellow alternative, spend the night listening to live jazz at the lively Jazid. South Beach generally carries the bulk of the dance clubs, while Coconut Grove offers a variety of live music venues. Miami's nightlife, however, is much too diverse and extensive for such generalizations. You can always find something going on somewhere.

Theatre

No matter what the season, the stage is always set in Miami. Whether it's a Broadway road show or a local production, the audience is sure to be dazzled. The nationally acclaimed Coconut Grove Playhouse is famous for premiering shows that go on to successful runs in New York. In the elegant Biltmore Hotel, GableStage offers an exciting season of Florida premieres and New York hits. The Actor's Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre also offers quality productions by a talented residential troupe. The Miami Light Project - a non-profit organization that produces music, dance and theater - has the freshest talent in town. Teatro Avante produces the annual International Festival of Hispanic Theatre and presents regular performances in Spanish. Miami's cultural venues are as intriguing for their appearance as for the performances on their stages. From the sophisticated setting of the Jackie Gleason Theater to the charming Art Deco design of the Colony Theatre, audiences have much to admire during intermission.

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