Culture Watch

Published March 9th, 2008

Doug Crosley Guests with Symphony of the Americas

James Brooks-Bruzzese and the Symphony of the Americas perform a special program of popular classics at 2 p.m. this Sunday on the Michael and Madelyn Savarick stage of the Countess de Hoernle Theatre at Spanish River High School, 5100 Jog Road, Boca Raton.
Special guest artist is Canadian singer, stage and television star, Doug Crosley.
Crosley, a seasonal resident of Boca Raton, will perform favorites by Frank Sinatra, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Leonard Bernstein. Tickets are $15 and $25. Call (800) 564-9539.

Connie Francis in Coral Springs

Who’s sorry now?
Not Connie Francis, nor her fans. Francis makes her debut at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Coral Springs Center for the Arts. Tickets are $81.62.
Italian-American Concetta Rosemarie Franconero only one of the most successful female recording artists in the world, with hits in 13 languages.
Connie made her stage debut at age 4, and through the untiring efforts of her doting father George she was a regular on television by age 11. Later she appeared on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour.
“My father had me audition for Ted Mack, and when I wasn’t chosen, he demanded to know why,” revealed Francis recently. “Dad was my number one fan and best supporter. Then came Dick Clark, who made it all happen.”
Jan. 1, 1958 was the fateful day Francis sang “Who’s Sorry Now?” on American Bandstand.
Host Dick Clark said prophetically, “Connie is a new girl singer heading straight to the number one spot.”
Francis was voted Best Female Vocalist on American Bandstand that year and she made the first of more than 35 appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. She added movie star to her resume in 1960 with the filmed-in-Florida “Where the Boys Are,” singing its theme song. At age 22 she became the youngest performer to headline the Sahara in Las Vegas.  
Everything hasn’t been roses for Connie. She’s been married four times and had a horrendous rape experience after a performance in New York in 1974.
Francis moved with her mother to Parkland, near Coral Springs, ten years ago.
“Mom is gone now, but I still love living here,” she says. “It’s going to be fun to perform in my own back yard.”
Call (954) 344-5990 for reservations.

Spam, Spam, Spam, etc.

“Spamalot” returns to our area for a run through today at the Arnst Center (formerly Carnival) in Miami and Kravis Center in West Palm Beach March 11-16.
Tony Award-winner Gary Beach stars as King Arthur in this spoof of “Monty Python & The Holy Grail.”
“I’ll find out what it’s like to be King when we open Tuesday,” said Beach from Fort Myers. “Rehearsals have been a ball.”
Beach is signed on for six months, ending in Philadelphia.
“Unlike Monty Python, the show is enjoyed equally well by men and women,” says Beach. “I was at a banquet once when (show creator) Eric Idle spoke. He was absolutely hilarious.”
Tickets are $26-& $80 at Ticketmaster or the box office. The number at Kravis Center is (800) KRAVIS-1.

Show Time at Pavilion Grille

Pavilion Grille is Boca latest nightspot with entertainment. Located in the Stonegate Bank building at 301 Yamato Road, the restaurant will feature Tony Sands in “A Tribute to Frank Sinatra” Saturday, March 8. Tickets are $50 for 7:30 p.m. dinner and 9 p.m. show.
On Monday, March 17 the Pavilion goes green for St. Patrick’s Day with entertainment by the five-piece Celtic River. The cover is $10 and a $20 Irish dinner is offered. Call 912-0000.

Don’t forget the 40th anniversary St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday, March 15 on Atlantic Avenue. Frank McKinney is Grand Marshall this year. The parade runs from 1-2:30 p.m., but there are festivities before and after. Call 279-0907.