Miami Theater is Back!

The Culture Edit, October 6th-19th

Author

Susan Bannon
October 05, 2025

There may be no leaves changing around here, but we know it’s fall because three great theater productions are opening this week: a heartwarming folk musical at Actors’ Playhouse, a seductive one-man show at Gablestage, and the national tour of The Wiz at the Arsht Center. It was a long summer, but these shows look well worth the wait.

Another upcoming event to keep on your radar - Miami Film Festival announced the full schedule for its GEMS mini-fest last week. The Ethan Hawke talk did in fact sell out, but now you can see who else is coming (hint: Lucy Liu and legendary Korean director Park Chan-wook) and all the buzz-worthy films they’re screening. Just do yourself a favor and book what you want to see now.

Lastly, an invitation to an immersive dinner at MAD Arts in Dania had me crossing the county line last week, and I was blown away by the exhibits they have up there. Two floors of mind-expanding work pushing the boundaries of art and technology - worth a roadtrip, for sure (you can check out images from the night here).

Let’s get planning…

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Theater

Gablestage: Harry Clarke

Gablestage opens its season with Harry Clarke, a wickedly funny, sexually charged one man show by Obie Award-winning playwright David Cale. Stage veteran Mark H. Dold (whom Gablestage audiences will recognize from last year’s Lehman Trilogy and Appropriate) delivers a mesmerizing, shape-shifting performance as shy Midwesterner Philip Brugglestein, who reinvents himself as the seductive, cocky Londoner Harry Clarke, moving to New York and charming his way into a wealthy family’s life.

October 10th-November 12th, 7:30pm evenings, 2pm matinees, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Actors’ Playhouse: The Spitfire Grill

Actor’s Playhouse opens its 38th season with The Spitfire Grill, a heartwarming musical based on the 1996 film about a young parolee who follows a page from an old travel book to a small town in Wisconsin in search of a fresh start. Featuring a gorgeous, soulful score that blends folk and Americana, The Spitfire Grill explores themes of community and second chances among the denizens of the titular diner.

October 8th-November 2nd, 8pm evenings, 3pm Sunday matinees, Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, $40

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

More Upcoming Theater:

  • October 7th-12th: The Arsht Center presents a newly choreographed revival of The Wiz, the 1970’s soul- and gospel-infused remake of The Wizard of Oz, as part of its “Broadway in Miami” series of touring shows.

  • October 18th-November 2nd: Miami Lakes’ Main Street Players present Here, Chew-Chew, a new psychological horror play written by Miami playwright Armando Santana.

Music

The Best of Seraphic Fire

Seraphic Fire, Miami’s stunningly good vocal ensemble, opens the new season with a crowd-pleasing, audience-choice program of their greatest hits, including Ticheli’s Earth Song, Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium, and Bermudez’ Padre Nuestro. If you haven’t gotten a chance to hear this group, make it a priority. It’s like an aural bath for the part of your brain that experiences awe.

Thursday, October 9th, 7:30pm, St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, $45-$65

Neighborhood: The Roads

Saturday, October 11th, 7:30pm, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, $45-$65

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nu Deco Lounge: Psychedelic Symphony

Artistic Director Jacomo Bairos conducts Nu Deco Ensemble at the Citadel. Photo Credit: Alex Markow

Nu Deco Ensemble, Miami’s genre-bending contemporary orchestra, returns to the Citadel cabaret space for its intimate - and very popular - Nu Deco Lounge series. To kick off the season, the orchestra takes on the music of psychedelic rock legends The Grateful Dead and Talking Heads. If you’ve never experienced one of these concerts, they are very high energy, with a lot of audience participation. Note that general admission prices are for standing-room only. If you want a seat on the floor or the balcony, you’ll need a VIP ticket.

October 10th-11th, 7pm & 9:30pm both nights, the Citadel lounge, $45 or $85 VIP

Neighborhood: Little River

More Upcoming Music Events:

  • Saturday, October 11th: Miami Chamber Music Society presents pianist Marina Radiushina and cellist Gabriel Martins in a concert of Bach’s timeless dance forms and Ginastera’s vibrant Argentinian landscapes, at UM’s gorgeous new Knight Center for Music Innovation, at 7:30pm.

  • Sunday, October 12th: Martin Beaver, first violin of the famed Tokyo String Quartet, joins the New World Symphony String Fellows for a chamber concert of quartets by Schubert and Barber, at New World Center at 2pm.

  • Saturday, October 18th: Stepháne Denève leads the New World Symphony in a performance of “the Best of John Williams,” from Star Wars to Harry Potter, at the Arsht Center at 8pm.

  • Sunday, October 19th: the world-famous Buena Vista Orchestra, featuring key players from throughout the history of the Buena Vista Social Club, plays the Miami Beach Bandshell, at 7:30pm.

Dance

Miami City Ballet Dances Peck

Miami City Ballet dancers performing “Heatscape” by Justin Peck, 2015.

All eyes are on Miami City Ballet for their 40th season, the first under new Artistic Director Gonzalo Garcia. Like Edward Villella and Lourdes Lopez before him, Garcia comes to us from New York City Ballet, steeped in everything Balanchine. And while there’s plenty of Balanchine on the menu this season, their opening program is a high-octane celebration of Tony Award-winning choreographer Justin Peck, including Heatscape, Peck’s love letter to Wynwood, with “graffiti” backdrops by artist Shepard Fairey. Get a taste of what’s in store with this stunning “trailer” the company made for the performance - gotta say, Miami’s looking good!

October 17th-19th, 7:30pm Fri. & Sat., 2pm Sat. & Sun., Ziff Ballet Opera House, $35

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

The 15th Annual Daniel Lewis Dance Sampler

Now in its 15th year, the Daniel Lewis Dance Sampler presents a season opener for the Miami’s dance community, with short pieces from ballet to modern, contemporary to flamenco, performed by some of our best local dance companies - Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, Karen Peterson and Dancers, and Dance NOW! Miami, among others. Come early for a reception honoring our city’s tireless arts journalists, including WLRN’s Christine DiMattei and ArtBurst Miami’s Michelle Solomon.

Saturday, October 18th, 8pm, New World School of the Arts, $25

Neighborhood: Downtown

More Upcoming Dance Performances:

  • Thursday, October 9th: Pioneer Winter Collective presents In the Belly of the Bird: Godmother, a free poetic dance meditation honoring mothers, developed with community-sourced stories in partnership with the O, Miami Poetry Festival, at the Miami Beach Regional Library, at 6:30pm.

  • Saturday, October 11th: Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida opens their new season with a revival of Stravinsky’s powerful Firebird, choreographed by company Artistic Director Vladimir Issaev 25 years ago, now with gorgeous new sets and costumes, at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, at 7:30pm.

  • Friday, October 17th: the New World Dance Ensemble presents a 90-minute program of contemporary choreography by modern masters from Paul Taylor to Robert Battle, at Sanctuary of the Arts at 7:30pm.

Art Openings & Events

Carol Prusa: Shimmering Geometries 

Bernice Steinbaum Gallery celebrates the opening of Shimmering Geometries, a solo show of work by artist Carol Prusa. Prusa is known for revitalizing the centuries-old drawing medium of silverpoint to model natural “emergent behaviors,” as scientists would model the crystallization of a snowflake or an expanding star, but entirely by hand at large scale.

Saturday, October 11th, Opening Reception 4-7pm, Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Coconut Grove

Josh Aronson: Jit Pictures

Baker—Hall Gallery celebrates the opening of Jit Pictures, a solo show of new photographs by Florida-based artist Josh Aronson, whose work explores contemporary American boyhood, masculinity, and the Southern landscape. For the past five years, Aronson has embarked on road trips across rural Florida with groups of young men, creating intimate, coming-of-age images portraying camaraderie, vulnerability, and connection to the land. On view through November 22nd.

Saturday, October 18th, Opening Reception 6-9pm, Baker—Hall Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Allapattah

More Upcoming Art Events:

  • Saturday, October 11th: artist william cordova joins scholar Dr. Terri Francis and curator Aldeide Delgado for a discussion of his current exhibit algo ritmos, at Locust Projects, from 3-5pm.

  • Saturday, October 11th: PAMM celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with free admission, interactive looming with artist Aurora Molina, plus a Peruvian dance group and Venezuelan drumming company, from 11am-3pm.

  • Thursday, October 16th: as part of its free Third Thursday’s series, The Bass Museum welcomes artist Eli Sudbrack, of the multidisciplinary collective assume vivid astro focus (avaf), for a discussion of his work, at 6:30pm.

  • Saturday, October 18th: Primary Projects celebrates the opening of a new solo exhibit for Minneapolis-based still life painter Sara Suppan, with an opening reception from 5-8pm.

Indie Cinema

South Florida Greek Film Festival

A still from “Always Something Missing,” a new film by director Elena Housni.

The 3rd Annual South Florida Greek Film Festival kicks off in Fort Lauderdale, but the grand finale is a full day of Greek flicks at the Bill Cosford Cinema at UM. The four films have all earned recognition at international film festivals this year, and the first of the day, Always Something Missing, includes a Q&A with one of the filmmakers. All screenings are in Greek with English subtitles.

Sunday, October 19th, 1:30-9pm, Bill Cosford Cinema, $5-$10 per film or $25 pass

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Vice City Pizza, Daniel’s, Matsuri | Drinks: Fox’s Lounge, Titanic (of course!)

Udo Kier Weekend at CGAC

Who is Udo Kier? Well, once you see his face, you’ll know you’ve seen him before. A versatile actor equally comfortable in roles big and small, Kier has worked with an impressive list of famous directors (John Carpenter, Lars von Trier, Gus Van Sant) and joins Coral Gables Art Cinema this weekend for an “Udo Kier Weekend.” Kier will host special screenings of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Blood for Dracula/Flesh for Frankenstein (in 3D!), and von Trier’s Medea, each with an intro and post-screening Q&A with the man himself.

October 10th-12th, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $15-$30

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

More Upcoming Indie Cinema:

Book Talks

War Games: An Evening with Alan Gratz

Coral Gables Congregational Church and Books & Books welcome Alan Gratz, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Heroes, to discuss his new book, War Games, a heart-pounding, high-stakes take on the 1936 Berlin Olympics, also known as the “Nazi Olympics.” The story follows an American gymnast who gets pulled into a plot to steal Nazi gold, taking her deep into a Berlin in the grip of growing Nazi terror. Ticket price includes one book copy.

Wednesday, October 8th, 7pm, Coral Gables Congregational Church, $19

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby(ish) Eats: MIKA, Frenchie’s Diner, Bulla | Drinks: Bulla, Sospiro Wine Bar

Waiting for Britney Spears: An Evening with Jeff Weiss

Award-winning journalist and music writer Jeff Weiss visits Books & Books to discuss his new book, Waiting for Britney Spears, a gonzo account of his early days tracking Britney’s every move for a third-tier gossip rag. Now an established journalist, Weiss’ account of her meteoric rise and tragic fall evolves into a thoughtful critique of a changing nation. Weiss will be in conversation with FIU’s Alfred Soto, whose music writing has appeared in Rolling Stone and Billboard.

Tuesday, October 14th, 7pm, Books & Books Coral Gables, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Basilico (New!), Dojo Izakaya, Cebada Rooftop | Drinks: Books & Books Café, Bay 13 Brewery

More Literary Events:

  • Thursday, October 9th: the University of Miami’s 43rd Annual West African Literature Conference presents two free talks at PAMM with Caribbean scholars addressing the themes and challenges in Caribbean literature today, talks at 4pm and 6pm.

  • Sunday, October 19th: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer visits Coral Gables Congregational Church to discuss her life in politics and the new young adult version of her book, True Gretch, at 5pm.

Planning Ahead

Miami's most anticipated events sell out and those new restaurants you want to try book up. For the ultimate plan-ahead guide, you have my complete Highlights of the Fall Season, but if that’s too much trouble, you can just plan for these two…

October 29th-November 5th

Miami Film Festival GEMS

The main Miami Film Festival is in April, but each fall, MFF presents GEMS, a “mini-fest” of films that are expected to make waves in the upcoming awards season, weeks or months before we would typically get a chance to see them in theaters. This year’s GEMS fest has expanded to eight days of Oscar contenders, with an Opening Night party celebrating Korean director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, The Handmaiden) and an actor Q&A with Lucy Liu.

Multiple theaters, but often Silverspot Cinema

Neighborhood: Downtown

November 15th-16th

Dvořák's New World Symphony

Ladies, this man is a conductor and he’s leading New World Symphony this November!

One of today’s most exciting young conductors, Domingo Hindoyan has made waves as Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Guest Conductor for marquee orchestras around the world. He’ll be making his New World Symphony debut, fittingly taking on Dvořák’s New World Symphony, one of the most famous symphonies of all time. Also on the program, celebrated young cello virtuoso Johannes Moser returns to NWS for Glanert’s Cello Concerto. This double bill of talented young artists is selling out fast, but if you can’t score a ticket, Saturday’s performance will be projected as a free WALLCAST concert in adjacent Soundscape park.

7:30pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday, New World Center, $40-$175

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Casa Tua, Blue Ribbon Sushi, AVIV | Drinks: Water Lion at the Sagamore, Brother’s Keeper

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