Theater Town

The Culture Edit, February 2nd-15th

Author

Susan Bannon
February 01, 2026

City Theatre’s “How to Break in a Glove” runs February 5th-22nd at the Arsht Center.

Okay, so maybe we’re not New York, but Miami stages are cranking out some great productions this winter. This week, City Theatre premieres How to Break in a Glove, a new play about a Cuban immigrant family in 1990’s Miami by Chris Anthony Ferrer, developed as part of CT’s HOMEGROWN playwright initiative.

Meanwhile, two excellent productions are still running: Gablestage’s Sotto Voce, written and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz, and Miami New Drama’s English Only, a new play by journalist Nicholas Griffin, whose Dangerous Days was such a hit for them last year.

As icing on the cake, next week Actors’ Playhouse opens its highly anticipated version of Dear Even Hansen, possibly the best musical of this century so far, with a blockbuster cast of national and local actors recruited to deliver its already iconic songs and heartbreaking scenes.

In restaurant news, everyone’s excited about the reopening of Fooq’s, the beloved Persian-French bistro that closed its doors during the pandemic (actually just transforming into Eleventh Street Pizza). And while the old Fooq’s was tiny, the new one is a spacious two story property in Little River, with a stunning outdoor bar and an upstairs vinyl listening room. I’d book those tables now.

Let’s get planning…

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Theater

Sotto Voce

Gablestage presents Sotto Voce, a lyrical meditation on memory, longing, and the legacy of the Holocaust, written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics). The plot follows a young Jewish-Cuban researcher obsessed with the MS St. Louis, leading him to an 80-year-old novelist who is still haunted by the love she lost aboard the doomed voyage.

Through February 15th, 7:30pm evenings, 2pm matinees, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Miami New Drama: English Only

Following the success of last year’s Dangerous Days, journalist and author Nicholas Griffin returns with another brand new work for Miami New Drama, English Only. Set in Miami in 1980, English Only unfolds in the wake of the Mariel Boatlift, when 125,000 new arrivals to South Florida ignited a fierce grassroots campaign to make English the county’s sole language - sparking a showdown with activists determined to keep Miami-Dade bilingual.

Through February 22nd, Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre, $40-$85

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

More Upcoming Theater:

  • February 5th-22nd: City Theatre presents How to Break in a Glove, a story of one Cuban-American family’s struggle to fit in and hold tight to each other in 1990’s Miami, at the Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center.

  • February 11th-March 18th: Actors’ Playhouse presents Tony Award-winning tearjerker and musical theater sensation Dear Evan Hansen with a powerhouse cast of national singer/actors for its already iconic songs.

Book Talks

Ann Packer with John Dufresne

Bestselling author Ann Packer (The Dive from Clausen’s Pier) visits Books & Books to discuss Some Bright Nowhere, her first new novel in over a decade. An intimate portrait of a forty-year marriage rocked by an end-of-life request, Some Bright Nowhere explores love, the choices we make in life, and the mystery of our own loved ones. Packer will be in conversation with author and FIU professor John Dufresne.

Wednesday, February 4th, 7pm, Books & Books Coral Gables

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

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

More Literary Events:

  • Wednesday, February 11th: PEN/Faulkner award-winning author and poet David Guterson visits Books & Books to discuss his latest novel, Evelyn in Transit, about spiritual searching and the quest to live the right way, at 7pm.

Art Events

Nina Johnson Winter Shows

Nina Johnson Gallery opens three new shows this month: The Tongue is the Child of the Heart (love this title!) by textile artist Megumi Shauna Arai, Tu, yo, y todo el viento entremedio by multimedia artist Constanza Alarcón Tennen (pictured), and Dripped, a group show by artists Oh de Laval, made by Astronauts, Hilliary Gabryel.

Thursday, February 12th, Opening Reception 6-8pm, Nina Johnson Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Little Haiti / Little River

Nearby Eats: Walrus Rodeo, Bar Bucce, Fooq’s | Drinks: Conventillo, Mi Chini at Phuc Yea

More Upcoming Art Events:

Indie Cinema

A Poet: Red Carpet Screening with Director Q&A

Coral Gables Art Cinema, in partnership with the Consulate of Columbia, presents a special red carpet opening night screening of A Poet (Un Poeta), with a post-film conversation with director Simón Mesa Soto. The film follows Oscar, a “failed writer who has given up on life” (this seems rather harsh), and his shot at a second chance that arrives in the form of a young devotee.

Friday, February 6th, 8pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $22

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

More Indie Cinema:

Music

An Evening with Samara Joy

Gen Z jazz phenom Samara Joy sings like she’s been doing this for decades, with a voice and style that evoke her influences, notably Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae. A multiple Grammy Award-winner at the ripe old age of 26, Joy released her most recent album, Portrait, in 2024.

Thursday, February 12th, 8pm, Knight Concert Hall at the Arsht, $53-$152

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

More Upcoming Music Events:

  • Saturday, February 7th: International chart-topping pianist and composer Zade Dirani plays the Knight Concert Hall at the Arsht Center, at 8pm.

  • February 7th-8th: Guest conductor Ryan Bancroft leads the New World Symphony in Coleman + Copland, an evening of work by American visionary Aaron Copland and contemporary composer Valerie Coleman, at New World Center.

  • Thursday, February 12th: Music at McBride Plaza presents a free outdoor concert by international guitar duo Miami Nylon, playing a mix of jazz and flamenco at downtown Coral Gables’ McBride Plaza, at 5:30pm.

  • Friday, February 13th: Legendary 90’s hip hop trio Digable Planets celebrates the 30th anniversary of their second and final album, Blowout Comb, with a national tour, landing at the Miami Beach Bandshell for one night only, at 8pm.

  • Saturday, February 14th: Back for its second year, the Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational welcomes choirs from all backgrounds to compete for a cash prize and the opportunity to perform at Gospel Fest Miami, at 6pm.

  • February 14th-15th: Grammy-nominated Cuban artist Cimafunk headlines two full nights of Cuban funk, with a host of musical guests and dancing led by the kids of Salsa Z, at ZeyZey, with festivities starting at 6pm.

  • Sunday, February 15th: Superstar tenor and “King of the High C’s” Juan Diego Flórez gives a concert of opera favorites and Spanish songs at the Arsht Center (only tier 3 seats left!), at 7:30pm.

Dance

Peter London Dance + Frost Studio Jazz

Peter London Global Dance Company teams up with composer and trumpeter Etienne Charles and UM’s Frost Studio Jazz Band for an evening celebrating Caribbean culture through music and dance. PLGDG will present world premiere choreography set to three of Charles’ jazz suites - Bacchanal Tuesday, As an Offering, and Green Thumb - with interspersed narration by Charles.

Thursday, February 5th, 7:30pm, Gusman Concert Hall at UM’s Frost School of Music, $50-$75

Neighborhood: UM / Coral Gables

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

DDTM: Love in the Air

Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, the young, contemporary ballet company run by former Miami City Ballet principals Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra, presents Love in the Air, a special Valentine’s Day recital of romantic pas de deux. The program of neoclassical and contemporary works explores love in its many forms - passionate, playful, and profound.

Saturday, February 14th, 8pm, Sanctuary of the Arts, $33

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

More Dance Events:

  • Saturday, February 7th: Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida presents an evening of classical and neoclassical ballet, including an excerpt from Firebird, at Sanctuary of the Arts at 7:30pm.

  • Friday, February 13th: Dance NOW! Miami presents A Life in Dance, a collaboration with Miami Dance Futures celebrating the life and work of Miami dance luminary Dr. Daniel Lewis, at Little Haiti Cultural Complex at 10am.

Planning Ahead

Miami's most anticipated events sell out and those new restaurants you want to try book up. Here are a couple of upcoming events to get on your calendar now…

February 21st-22nd

Davóne Tines: Anthem

Up-and-coming bass baritone Davóne Tines has been shaking up the opera world with his innovative concerts, and his Recital No. 1: MASS with the New World Symphony was one of the coolest things I saw last year - a blend of poetry, visuals, and song that brought down the house. So I’ll be in the seats for his return visit to New World this February, when he’ll be performing his Concerto No. 2: ANTHEM, which weaves spirituals, popular music, and spoken word poetry into “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

7:30pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday, New World Center, $25-$140

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Casa Tua, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Pauline | Drinks: Little Torch, Water Lion at the Sagamore

Saturday, March 7th

A Few Cheery Songs About Death

Tony, Emmy, AND Grammy award-winning composer David Yazbek (Dead Outlaw, The Band’s Visit) has a lot on his mind, and he enjoys unloading it on unsuspecting audiences like us. He’ll be visiting the Colony Theatre for a night of Cheery Songs About Death, performing songs from his Broadway shows and albums, plus riffing on his successes, failures, and general angst.

8pm, Colony Theatre, $45-$90

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Mimi Chinese, Paya, Uchiko | Drinks: Brother’s Keeper, MILA

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