Life In Car

There are so many cultural attractions in the city of Miami that a great number of the people who visit it simply for the fabulous beaches and water park events decide to return to check out one of the great professional productions that occurs there. In addition, some of the guests at some of the finest hotels in Miami prefer to spend their days on the beach and their nights at the symphony or theatre, which makes Miami the ideal place to vacation. The arts and entertainment scene in this city are known for maintaining a high standard of excellence and this is demonstrated by the quality of the performances.

In addition to the quality of talent and skill of performers the theatre scene in Miami is also extremely diverse. Some of the top Broadway shows tour through and make stops in the city and it also hosts some incredible original and innovative local and regional productions. The Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre is one of the area’s top production companies and it is a great place to see some of Miami’s top talent. Actors from other cities are also seen on the stage, which is typical to most regional theatres, who hold auditions in major cities such as Los Angeles and New York in addition to pulling from the local pool.

The company’s mission focuses on the importance of theatre to communities and emphasizes the cultural vitality that classic and contemporary performance offers. In addition to the productions, they offer educational and outreach programs and stress the importance of multi-cultural dynamics in performance. In addition to the mainstage productions, the company offers a children’s theatre, which is great for younger audiences. Unreasonable Doubt, a play by Michael McKeever is currently onstage at the theatre. It is a new script by a south Florida playwright and it addresses complicated issues of the legal system in dealing with a family tragedy.

While staying in Manila it is quite entertaining to go spend some time seeing the Chinese influence on the city. This city in the Philippines has one of the oldest Chinese communities out side of China. Even before the Spaniards came to the area in 1521, there was already a large Chinese population collected in an area now called Binondo. Binondo was once the big hub for big business including many banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions from the United States as well as Britain. Before this business was moved to the Makati area Binondo was the wall street of the Philippines. Now it is a great China Town and because of the big business it still does it is said to have some of the most expensive real estate in the country. Any of the manila hotels you decide to stay at will have information on where to find this China Town.

Another interesting Chinese area to visit while in Manila is the Chinese Cemetery. This is a cemetery that is so unique to the Chinese people. The monuments they build for those that have moved onto the next life are like homes. They are built up with the classic Chinese ornate design and filled with furniture. There are some that even have air conditioning inside. The locals who are still living will come on certain days and bring a feast to share, leaving an empty seat for the departed loved one and share stories and memories.  

After a day of exploring the old history of the Chinese people in Manila you may want to find a nice place to eat some local Chinese cuisine. A great Chinese restaurant in Manila, Eng Bee Tin may be a great stop for you. It has some old traditional recipes and delicacies that will have you buying up a bag of goodies to take home. A Makati Chinese Restaurant, Singkit also has some nice items to fill you up.

If you’re an Opera lover, then plan for next years New York City Opera – VOX series . VOX is an annual series of concerts featuring excerpts from operas-in-progress. VOX is an exciting opera lab and showcase of new works that gives an opportunity for American librettists and composers to hear their works-in-progress a full orchestra and the use of professional artists.

Every year, around the end of April and the beginning of May, VOX presents approximately 12 new, previously un-produced works from established and emerging composers with orchestra readings that are open and free to the public. In 2009, the New York City Opera showcased 10 new operas such as Armide, A Bird in Your Ear, Car Crash Opera, Cresent City, Invisible Cities, Katrina Ballads, Mosheh, No Easy Walk to Freedom, The Rat Land, and Seance on a Wet Afternoon. In 2008, the NYCO also produce 10 new work-in-progress operas.

The VOX festival also has included excerpts from 70 new operas with more than 30 of the 70, going on to full productions at other opera companies, such as Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Washington National Opera and the Santa Fe Opera.

The works featured in 2010 were experimental, diverse and all pushed the boundaries of American opera. This year’s crop of presentations were whittled down from 99 applicants to 10 and included new inventions and works by returning artists, like Beth Morrison who is a young entrepreneur that specializes in the avant-garde. The New York City Opera has been the leader in the development of American opera and will continue to be the leader as long as there are still opera lovers willing to expand their repertoire and embrace what keeps Opera alive today, its willingness to stay fresh and current.

Make your reservations now at a New York hotel , for the 2011 VOX festival; its opera you don’t want to miss. Stay afterwards and participate in a panel discussion that promises a revealing glimpse behind the opera making scenes.