MIRAMAR — As a member of the acclaimed duo Black Violin, violinist Kev Marcus has performed with Alicia Keyes, P. Diddy, Akon, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, Aretha Franklin, the Eagles and more. Stage and film star JoMarie Payton became a household name on the popular TV series Family Matters.
This summer they have been sharing their knowledge with children ages seven to 13 as part of the faculty of the Miramar Cultural Center/ArtsPark Little Broadway Summer Camp, and both will make special stage appearances during the camp’s performance of Fun on 42nd Street on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 7 pm. at the center, 2400 Civic Center Place on Red Road in Miramar.
Tickets are $10 with $2 lap tickets available for children under two. Box office fees also apply. Tickets may be purchased at the center’s box office window. For tickets or other information, call 954-602-4500.
Writer, director, choreographer Stephen Semien directs the campers in the show that will crown the two-month session. The spunky spoof of a backstage musical features a down-on-his-luck director, a temperamental star, some dim-witted gangsters, a throng of high-kicking chorus girls, several overworked seamstresses and a few clowns. The musical interpretation blends creative dance, fabulous songs and witty dialogue for the perfect family outing.
Semien, who currently is founder/artistic director of The Urban Arts Theater West in Los Angeles, has performed and/or assisted in the staging of regional, European and Broadway productions of Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope, Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha (also for PBS), Your Arm’s Too Short To Box With God, Eubie, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Sophisticated Ladies, and stage and film versions of The Wiz, among others.
Other music teaching artists include: guitarist Wayne Rediker, who has performed with groups including the Drifters, the Coasters and the Platters; sacred Yorùbá choreographer/dancer and arts educator Prince Emmanuel Abiodun Aderele, international artist in residence with the Osun’s Village & African Caribbean Cultural Arts Corridor; pianist Stevyn McCaw, private music teacher and music director for the South Florida Gospel Church in Fort Lauderdale; vocal instructor Shanpatrick Davis, choral director at Everglades High School; and Lorna Lesperance, who previously taught musical theater and vocal music at Parkway Middle School of the Performing Arts.
Choreographer Nolwen Lalanne, founder and director of Nest of Living Arts (NOLA) and Christal Yanez, also from NOLA, teach the campers dance choreography and technique and Aurora Molina from Arts for Learning adds a visual arts component to the camp.
Berwick “Underscore” Augustin serves as artistic administrator. Founder of Island Faith Production, he is a recipient of myrid cultural awards.
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