DUENDE! to Round Out 'Broward 100 - Celebrating the Art of Community' This Fall

Broadway Director Neil Goldberg and his team have the Best Job Ever! To discover and audition the talent, resources and hidden gems in Broward County. What a job!

"I've produced shows throughout the world for more than 40 years," says Goldberg, "witnessing exceptional talent from remote countries to major metropolitan cities. What I have seen in our community during the past two weeks in more than 1,200 auditions is enough to produce the greatest Broadway-style Broward spectacle ever."

Goldberg's statement is meaningful; which is why organizers of Broward 100 - Celebrating the Art of Community have been determined to engage this talent and showcase it in a celebratory grand finale of Broward County's 100 years. Duende!

On a recent night, in the final hours of a two-week selection process, the last batch of auditioners approached the stage, one by one, with props and hearts on their sleeve, and gave it all, to be part of this historic event. For the creative and County team previewing, it became clear how character can be revealed in three minutes or less - Broward County's character. A nine year-old piano prodigy, dressed in style, emanated humility before he bolted down the notes that left jaws dropped on the floor. This is Broward's talent!

Says Fushu Daiko's drummer, Ben Miller, "every drum has a story," signaling the 15 plus drums that exploded in dramatic, Japanese form and sound for their 20 minute audition. Fushu Daiko has been a Broward County cultural organization for more than 25 years and it showed; professional, confident and compelling. Fushu Daiko's story is Broward's story!

Mr. Bush brought six of his children to play as a band -- home-schooled and talented. Bush spoke about the impact of music on the life of his children, some who were struggling academically, and now, playing music has improved their attention span and diligence. The evening also brought foreign talent living in our community; an accomplished Russian violinist and Philippine pianist duo performed a dramatic piece full of life, followed by an enchanting presentation that made emotions swell.

In concert with other Broward 100 performances, events and family-friendly activities, Goldberg and his team will produce this unprecedented, Broadway-style original show as part of Duende, to be presented on October 2nd and 3rd at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

All this and more is exciting to envision what Neil Goldberg's imagination is conjuring up for a show that is not to be missed. Stay tuned for more Broward 100 updates in the Cultural Division E-newsletter and the fine arts magazine Cultural Quarterly, facebook and twitter.

About Broward 100 - Celebrating the Art of Community Partners - 'Broward 100 - Celebrating the Art of Community' is a yearlong, community-wide celebration that began in October 2014. Broward 100 will commemorate Broward County's centennial with bold, innovative art and performance projects that attract visitors and bring Broward residents together using our arts, sports and recreation venues, natural attractions and incredible diversity to creatively bridge, bond and build their communities. The celebration will be steeped in historical perspective and more importantly, will look toward the future. For more information, email Broward100@broward.org. Follow Broward 100 on Facebook.com/BrowardCounty100, Twitter.com/Broward100, and Instagram.com/BrowardArts.

About the Broward Cultural Division - Broward Cultural Division is a local arts agency, one of thousands across the U.S. providing financial, technical and marketing assistance to artists and arts organizations. Broward County has more than 1.8 million residents, 13.4 million visitors, 10,000 artists, 6,523 arts-related businesses employing 23,497 people, 823 not-for-profit cultural organizations and 31 cities, some of which operate their own arts councils and public art programs. For more information about the Broward Cultural Division, call 954-357-7457.

About Neil Goldberg (Cirque Dreams Founder, Broadway Director, Theatrical Producer) - To date, Neil Goldberg's imaginative entertainment, unique productions and creative shows have been presented in more than 350 U.S. cities, 20 countries and attended by over 50 million people. Now in its 21styear, Goldberg's world renowned Cirque Dreams entertainment brand has garnered the praise of critics throughout the country including USA Today, New York Times, CNN, Today Show and Fox and Friends. His shows have appeared on Broadway, the Kennedy Center and in partnerships with Broadway Across America, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Sony ATV Music, Armed Forces Entertainment, Disney, Busch Gardens and Six Flags Theme Parks, MGM, Hard Rock, Harrah's, Caesars and Hilton Hotels and Casinos worldwide. Goldberg has designed and created productions for two Super Bowls, the NBA, Miss Universe, NBC, ABC, CBS and 2 PBS Television specials. He's produced and directed shows with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony, YoungArts 25th celebration at Bayfront Park, NYC's Ziegfeld Theatre & MoMA, Broward Center's 20th Anniversary, and AmEx's Centennial Celebration. Also produced shows for Fortune 500 companies including Exxon Mobil, GM, McKesson, GE, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Met Life and IBM. In So Florida, Neil conceived, owned and operated Parties by Neil, Entertainment Etc, Creative Cloths, the Zanadu Dance Company and other creative entities that were a conglomerate of one of the country's largest full-service entertainment, management and theatrical production companies. His 20,000 sq. ft. Dream Studios production complex in Pompano Beach, FL designs, develops, rehearses, produces and manufactures every entertainment component in each of his shows from music to costumes. The Neil Goldberg Dream Foundation was established to support and enrich the pursuit of young artists and dreams.

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