DIVA DIARIES to Play Broward Center in January

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and National Arts Institute present a celebration of friendship, family, and fabulous fun with the musical Diva Diaries, performed Wednesday, January 6-Sunday, January 31 as part of the 2015-16 Abdo New River Room Theater Series at the Broward Center.

Diva Diaries tells the story of three dynamic drag queens on the verge of a nervous breakdown as they prepare for their final night on stage. Feathers fly as the divas spill secrets, dish it out, fall apart and come together.

Funny and touching, the musical follows Randee, Damsel and Cleareen who show up for their show only to learn the club where they've worked together for 25 years is closing. Six actors portray older and younger versions of the characters on their journey from disco to drag veterans.

Composer and lyricist John Mercurio has written an energetic pop score to accompany the eye-popping production numbers that evoke the '80s, '90s and 2000s. Mercurio is currently writing the music for the Broadway-bound production of Green Acres, based on the TV show. He is the recipient of the first annual ASCAP Cole Porter Award for Music and Lyrics. In 2012, his musical Academy had its world premiere at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.

One of the show's creators is an expert on divas in drag. Co-author James O'Conner-Taylor, a.k.a. Jem Jender, was a member of the all-male troupe Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo and has appeared on fashion runways for famous designers and in music videos with Cyndi Lauper, L.L. Cool Jay and Madonna.

Divia Diaries, in a version that has since been revised, made its world premiere in 2003 at the Broward Center. Andrew Kato, who conceived, co-wrote and developed the original production, now serves as the producing artistic director and chief executive of the Maltz Jupiter Theater. National Arts Institute, which is co-producing the January presentation, is a non-profit organization based in South Florida with Karen Poindexter as the executive producer.

Starting one hour prior to the performance and during intermission, sumptuous sandwiches, salads, snacks and desserts are available for purchase with convenience walk-up service at the Café in the Abdo New River Room. A full cash bar is also available.

Diva Diaries is presented Wednesday, January 6-Sunday, January 31 with performances Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $45. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center, Parker Playhouse and affiliated venues. Buy tickets online at BrowardCenter.org or Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954-462-0222; in person at Ticketmaster outlets or the Broward Center's AutoNation Box Office. Know who you are buying from when you purchase tickets. We CANNOT PROVIDE REFUNDS OR CUSTOMER SERVICE for tickets purchased from unauthorized sites, brokers or secondary ticket sellers.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.

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