“WE” Know Her as a Broadway & Recording Powerhouse
“WE” Know Him as a Grammy Winning Superstar
Linda Eder and John Secada to Star in “WE”
By Mark Young, SouthFloridaReporter.com, Managing Editor, August 10,2015, – Broward County, FL — Broadway Director and Cirque Dreams Founder, Neil Goldberg, today announced that Broadway and recording artist, Linda Eder, and multiple Grammy-award winning entertainer, Jon Secada, have joined Broward 100’s already amazing, diversified and talented cast of “WE”, his highly anticipated Broadway-style show that will be the pinnacle of Broward’s yearlong centennial celebration, Broward 100 – Celebrating the Art of Community.
Secada and Eder are the first celebrity entertainers announced to perform in “WE” on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in the Au-Rene Theatre. They will be joined by other popular artists and performers still to be announced along with the hometown cast of “WE,” comprised of hundreds of brilliantly talented South Florida musicians, dancers, poets, choirs, athletes and variety acts ranging in age from nine to 70+.
Known for his spectacular imagination as a theatrical impresario, Goldberg states, “Adding Linda and Jon to the “WE” production, heightens this once-in-a-lifetime entertainment experience and performance. Audiences are sure to be entertained by memorable performances of every genre under the sun, all the while showcasing the best of Broward.”
As a two-time Grammy award-winning recording artist with mega hits such as “Just Another Day,” Jon Secada is a dynamic, versatile, live performer and international superstar who tours and performs all across the globe. Jon first gained prominence in Gloria Estefan’s Miami Sound Machine. He has performed with opera legend Luciano Pavarotti and recorded a duet with Frank Sinatra, “The Best Is Yet to Come” from Sinatra’s Duets II album. He has, also, recorded duets with pianist Jim Brickman and Grammy winning icon, Olivia Newton-John.
Showcasing one of the greatest contemporary voices of our time, Linda Eder’s diverse repertoire spans Broadway, standards, pop, country and jazz. Starring in the original Broadway musical Jekyll & Hyde, Eder blew the roof off New York’s Plymouth Theatre each night as she belted out signature songs “Someone Like You” and “A New Life”. Her Broadway debut, for which she received a Drama Desk nomination, sent her already rapidly rising star blazing across the sky, securing her spot as one of America’s most beloved singers and dynamic live performers.
Goldberg, recently announced that after the performance of “WE” the audience will vote for their favorite local performer who will win a $10,000 cash prize sponsored by the Neil Goldberg Dream Foundation. Additionally, the Foundation will award each of the five runners up with $1000 cash prizes.
Ticket prices range from $25 – $85, not including service or handling charges, and are available through Ticketmaster, online at BrowardCenter.org, in person at Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office or by calling 954 462-0222.
VIP Dinner and Ticket packages are $160 and include front orchestra seating and pre-show dinner in the Mary N. Porter Ballroom from 7-7:45 PM.
“WE” is presented by Broward 100 as part of the grand finale, Duende. In the spirit of celebrating creativity, Duende will bring together Broward County’s diverse talent and people in a countywide finale. Thousands of people will celebrate Duende with Broward County’s 100th birthday through a mosaic of art, culture, and entertainment.
About Neil Goldberg
Cirque Dreams Founder, Broadway Director, Theatrical Producer
The New York Daily News proclaims, “There have only been a hand full of shows that have generated an exclamation point as assertive as the ones created and directed by Neil Goldberg.”
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 21st year, 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. He has, also, produced shows for Fortune 500 companies including Exxon Mobil, GM, McKesson, GE, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Met Life and IBM.
In South 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.
About Broward Center for the Performing Arts
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is the destination of choice in South Florida for spectacular entertainment. Ranking among the top ten most-visited theaters in the world, the Center presents more than 700 performances each year to more than 600,000 patrons. Overlooking the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, this premier performing arts venue hosts Broadway musicals, operas, ballets, concerts, plays, multi-cultural performances, lectures, workshops and educational events; and it offers one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, serving more than 150,000 students annually.
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 the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
From the seagrass to the sawgrass, Greater Fort Lauderdale boasts more than 34,000 lodging accommodations at a variety of hotels, luxury spa resorts and Superior Small Lodgings reflecting a “beach chic” vibe. Visitors enjoy 23 miles of Blue Wave certified beaches, discover 300-plus miles of inland waterways that run from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Everglades, dine at thousands of restaurants and eateries, get immersed in a thriving arts and culture scene and indulge in top shopping. For more information, contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 22-SUNNY or visit sunny.org.
