Theater-going audiences are in for a treat with the national stage debut of Diego & Drew Say I Do at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.
What’s more fantabulous than a gay wedding!?! Diego Torres and Andrew Boudreaux III invite you to join them on their special day as they head down the aisle with pride, during a wedding celebration you’ll never forget.
Two eccentric, yet lovable families, an uptight wedding planner, an ex-boy band crooner and a diva in drag create the perfect storm of hilarity in this over-the-top, interactive matrimonial experience that is equal parts Fun, Fierce, and Fabulous!
The Experience
From the moment the doors open, YOU – the wedding guests, have the opportunity to participate in the wedding experience, trade zingers with Big Daddy and dance the night away with members of the family. Don’t forget to bring your appetite! The festivities are complete with a Southern/Puerto Rican feast including arroz con collo, shrimp and grits, succotash, wedding cake and a champagne toast!
Diego & Drew Say I Do will run for two weeks, Thursday, March 31–Sunday, April 10 with show times on Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Tickets are $59.50 general admission and includes buffet dinner, cake and champagne toast. $105 VIP tickets are available on select performances including reserved seating, cast meet & greet and signed show poster. A full cash bar is also available.
“This show has been a joy to create,” said Jennifer Sierra-Grobbelaar, Co-Creator and Producer. “We are thrilled to partner with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on the world premiere of Diego & Drew Say I Do and are equally excited to finally be able to share our production with South Florida audiences that has been over a year in the making.”
The Cast
The 15-member ensemble of Diego & Drew Say I Do features Benny Antipuna and Eric O’Keefe in the title roles of Diego and Drew, respectively. The Torres family is comprised of Sharyn Peoples (Diego’s Mother, Lourdes), Cesar Arguelles (Diego’s Dad, Santiago), Carbonell Award Nominee Vanessa Elise (Diego’s Aunt, Tia Maria) and Dominic Smith (Diego’s Brother, Max). The Boudreaux family includes Merry Jo Cortada (Drew’s Mom, Ginny), Steven Wilson-Chambers (Drew’s Dad, Andrew ll) and Mark Kroczynski (Drew’s Grandad, Big Daddy).
Other wedding party members are Danielle Tabino (Drew’s Highschool Sweetheart, Shelby), Cannon Starnes (Ginny’s Boyfriend, Bo), Kent Wilson-Chambers (The Officiant, Raven), Jeffrey Bruce (The Wedding Planner, Chauncy), Meagan Nagy (Social Media Maven, Stacy) and Carbonell Award Nominee and Silver Palm Award Winner Mike Westrich (Vance, Wedding Emcee).
The creative team includes Matt May and Jennifer Sierra-Grobbelaar (Co-Creators and Producers), Carbonell & Silver Palm Award-Winner John Manzelli (Director) and Maciej Osada-Sobczynski (Original Compositions, Musical Arrangements & Recordings). Jamie Copper is the Lighting Designer. Carey Hart serves as Stage Manager with India Davison as Wardrobe Supervisor.
Each performance of Diego & Drew Say I Do includes a special appearance by The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus at every performance. The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus is the oldest gay arts organization in Florida and is celebrating its 30th season this year. Under the direction once again of its founder, Dr. Gary Keating, the Chorus strives to unite the community through music.
As a thank-you for the support from South Florida’s LGBTQ community, funds raised from Diego & Drew’s official Wedding Shower, hosted by Naked Grape Wine Bar and Tapas on March 3, as well as the grooms’ dollar dance during each performance, will directly benefit AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and The Pride Center organizations.
The show’s creators, Matt May and Jennifer Sierra-Grobbelaar, both prominent fixtures in the local South Florida theater scene, emphasize the importance of giving back to the community. “It is quite rewarding to not only entertain audiences with a project we hold near and dear to our hearts, but to also contribute to the fabric of our community through AHF and The Pride Center,” says Sierra-Grobbelaar.
“AHF and The Pride Center are both wonderfully impactful organizations and we are thrilled to be able to help raise funds and awareness for their extraordinary services,” adds May.
Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center, Parker Playhouse, and affiliated venues. Tickets are available 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. NO 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.
All dates, programs and artists are subject to change.
Watch Diego & Drew go shopping for tuxedos:
ABOUT THE BROWARD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is one of America’s premier performing arts venues. Presenting more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, the Center showcases a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events, and offers one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, serving more than 150,000 students annually. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.
ABOUT AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION (AHF)
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, is a global organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 570,000 patients in 36 countries. They are the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the U.S. A truly independent voice in our mission to rid the world of AIDS. AHF Pharmacies, thrift stores, healthcare contracts and other strategic partnerships generate funding that helps AHF provide medical and advocacy services across the globe. Info at http://ahfpharmacy.org/
ABOUT THE PRIDE CENTER
The Pride Center celebrates its 23rd year of service in 2016. Their mission is to provide a welcoming, safe space–an inclusive home–that celebrates, nurtures and empowers the LGBTQ communities, friends and neighbors in South Florida. The Center’s program and services meet the distinct cultural, health, educational, economic, social and safety needs of the LGBT community. More than 30,000 adults and youths attended activities at the Center over the past year. Info at http://www.pridecenterflorida.org/
ABOUT THE NAKED GRAPE WINE BAR & TAPAS
Wilton Drive is a premiere destination for nightlife, dining, and shopping. The diversity of establishments along “The Drive” draws an equally diverse clientele. Naked Grape Wine Bar and Tapas strives to be a unique and interesting night spot, offering a non-smoking environment where wine lovers old and new can go to relax, sip some wine, nibble on cheese and get caught up. Info at http://nakedgrapewinebar.com/
By Terri Lynn, SouthFloridaReporter.com, Managing Editor, Feb. 17, 2016
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