ARTICLE
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA (November 28, 2016) – Festival of the Arts BOCA returns to the Mizner Park Amphitheater and the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, presented by Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts, March 2 – 12, 2017, with a diverse and exciting line-up to celebrate its 11th installation. “We are so excited to present the 2017 Festival of the Arts BOCA season and we think the audience will be too,” said Charlie Siemon, co-founder and co-producer. “We have stars from all over the world, from Brazil to Indonesia to Mexico and the United States, and famous music from the most beloved films and opera, by the world’s greatest composers. And three of the headliners have a combined age of 45!” “Our Authors & Ideas Program is extremely varied, exploring areas of politics, the arts, science and fiction,” added Siemon. On Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m., the Festival will welcome Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis joining The Symphonia, Boca Raton conducted by Constantine Kitsopoulos, in a program that will include music by John Williams from Catch Me if You Can, Star Wars and Harry Potter. On Saturday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m., the Festival will feature the most popular opera of all time, La Bohème, in a semi-staged version (in Italian with English supertitles), with The Symphonia and Kitsopoulos and a stellar cast of young singers. Billed as “Opera for the 99 Percent”, La Bohème will be an experience everyone can afford, with tickets starting at $9.99. On Sunday, March 5 at 7 p.m., 13-year old Indonesian jazz piano prodigy, Joey Alexander, who wowed Festival-goers last season, returns to Mizner Park Amphitheater in a double bill with 13-year old Mexican classical pianist Daniela Liebman, who will play Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1. Accompanied by The Symphonia and Constantine Kitsopoulos, the two teen prodigies will perform a program including Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and new symphonic arrangements of Joey Alexander’s music. A big surprise is in store for the concert Friday, March 10 at 7:30pm: the romantic Violin Concerto in G Minor by Bruch will be performed by a world-renowned Mystery Violinist, whose name will be revealed in January. Completing the program with The Symphonia and Maestro Kitsopoulos will be Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with wunderkind Daniel Hsu, who performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra this past summer. On Saturday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m., the Festival is proud to present the world premiere of Blake Edwards’ classic 1964 comedy film, The Pink Panther with Henry Mancini’s iconic Grammy-winning score performed live by the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, conducted by Constantine Kitsopoulos. The Pink Panther and its famous saxophone theme music have become cross-generational American icons, spawning a series of animated films that are instantly recognized by everyone, young and old. Relive the original classic featuring David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine and Claudia Cardinale on the giant screen at Mizner Park for a memorable and historic evening. The Festival’s last performance will take place on Sunday, March 12 at 7 p.m. with three-time Grammy Award winning Sergio Mendes & Brasil 2017 in an exclusive South Florida appearance. Widely recognized as one of the most successful Brazilian artists of all time, Sergio Mendes will bring his favorite hits including “Mas Que Nada” to Boca Raton, closing the Festival on a dynamic note. The Author & Ideas Program welcomes Jennifer Egan, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Visit from the Goon Squad; Bob Mankoff, cartoon editor for The New Yorker; Jon Meacham, presidential historian, Pulitzer Prize winner and contributing editor at Time magazine; and Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe, theoretical physicist and entertaining communicator of cutting-edge scientific concepts. Tickets for the 11th Annual Festival of the Arts BOCA range from $9.99 to $125 per person and are available at www.festivalboca.org or by calling (866) 571-ARTS (866-571-2787). Multi-event and full Festival packages are also available. The 11th Annual Festival of the Arts Boca, South Florida’s premiere literary and performing arts Festival, returns to the Mizner Park Amphitheater and the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center presented by the Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts March 2 – 12, 2017. A world-class, multi-day cultural arts event, the Festival of the Arts BOCA brings the most sought after jazz artists, classical performers, and authors to South Florida while simultaneously cultivating the stars of tomorrow. For program details and ticket information visit: www.festivalboca.org. # #