The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale has partnered with Broadway Across America since it opened 25 years ago to bring Broadway shows directly from New York City to South Florida for two-week engagements. This longstanding partnership is beneficial for both organizations, helping the Broward Center attract national audiences and rank among the top venues while allowing Broadway Across America to program shows tailored for the Fort Lauderdale community. Their collaboration contributes significantly to the cultural tourism industry in Fort Lauderdale.

1. Find us on:52 October 2015 | FLMag.com
City Life COMMUNITY
Broadway
off Broward Boulevard
The Broward Center and Broadway Across America
have created a partnership that brings the Great
White Way to Fort Lauderdale. BY JENNIFER LIMA
THE BROWARD CENTER for the Per-
forming Arts opened its doors nearly 25 years
ago with Phantom of the Opera, the only 12-
week run in its history, and it has been bring-
ing Broadway musicals to Fort Lauderdale ever
since. The venue has partnered with Broadway
Across America since the early days - a part-
nership that has become hugely valuable for
both organizations.
As a new season launches, the Broward Cen-
ter today stands as one of only three venues that
hosts two-week engagements for Broadway
Across America shows. The center ranks num-
ber two overall out of the 40 markets that Broad-
way Across America reaches across the country.
“Broadway Across America is just a great
partner, they’re on the ground in New York City,
they’re living in the Broadway world, they’re in-
vesting in shows, they have their finger on the
pulse of the industry, and you really can’t get
that from anyone else,” says Kelly Shanley, the
Broward Center’s president and CEO.
Broadway Across America uses regular email
surveys with its patrons to stay up to date on
what they want to see. This allows them to
book shows into the Broward Center that ca-
ter to the Fort Lauderdale community, “an
audience that’s very savvy, well-traveled, and
knows what’s hot on Broadway,” says Susie
Krajsa, Broadway Across America’s executive
vice president of presenting. Each year Broad-
way Across America looks at the research, then
selects an eight-show season from its longer list
PHOTOGRAPHY:BROADWAYACROSSAMERICA
Beauty and the Beast

2. 54 October 2015 | FLMag.com
of productions. They also try to incorporate
shows that appeal to lifelong musical theater
fans as well as reach out to newer ones.
Creating this communi-
ty-centric programming,
and bringing shows straight
from Broadway to Broward,
has contributed to keeping
the venue in the national top
10 in terms of attendance.
“We’re making sure that
we are bringing the new
shows from Broadway and
making sure they fit in with
this audience and demo-
graphic,” Krajsa says. “We
are bringing Broadway to
your backyard.”
While the season is tai-
lored to locals, the reach
of Broadway Across Amer-
ica’s national network of subscribers also
contributes to the center’s high attendance
numbers. While more northern subscribers
can always see the shows in their own mar-
kets, the appeal of South Florida weather
and a Broadway show can prove enticing.
During a Broadway show
last season, a survey of the
audience showed that 19
percent of attendees were
tourists who either traveled
for the show or purchased
tickets locally. By bringing
these musicals to the Bro-
ward Center each season,
the center plays a major
role in driving the cultural
tourism in Fort Lauderdale.
In addition to the shows,
the series also gets Broad-
way into the classroom.
Through its partnership
with Broward County Stu-
dent Enrichment in the
Arts, local students can watch the musi-
cals and participate in classes, lectures and
demonstrations. Additionally, many of the
Broadway shows that come to the center
feature child-friendly special performanc-
es and behind-the-scenes events. Most
of the Disney musicals incorporate an
autism-friendly performance that is cus-
tomized to ensure that setting, music and
visuals are appropriate for the audience.
Other musicals include touch tours for
blind students. Each show also features an
audio descriptive performance for the blind,
allowing them to experience Broadway in a
way that was never available to them before.
Together, Shanley says, all of these pro-
grams and opportunities allow for “great
shows on the stage and great experiences
leading up to them.”
The Broward Center’s 2015–16 Broadway
Across America season kicks off this month.
For more information on this and all Broward
Center shows, visit browardcenter.org.
ONCE
OCTOBER 6 TO 18
The Tony Award-winning musical tells the
enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician
on the verge of giving up his dream when
a beautiful young woman takes a sudden
interest in his haunting love songs.
NEWSIES
NOVEMBER 17 TO 29
The musical by Disney, based on true events,
tells the story of a band of underdogs who
become the unlikely heroes when they stand
up to the most powerful men in New York.
DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH
STOLE CHRISTMAS!
DECEMBER 15 TO 27
Inspired by the original book by Dr. Seuss, this
holiday classic tells the tale of a mean and
scheming Grinch and how his plan to steal
Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos
showed him the true meaning of Christmas.
THE BOOK OF MORMON*
JANUARY 26 TO FEBRUARY 7
The nine-time Tony Award-winning musical,
from the creators of South Park, follows a
pair of young Mormons on their journey
through Africa and their struggles as
they strive to complete their mission.
KINKY BOOTS
MARCH 1 TO 13
The six-time Tony Award-winning musical,
inspired by true events, tells the inspirational
story of a struggling shoe factory owner trying
to turn his business around and an entertainer
in need of some seriously sturdy stilettos.
Together, the unlikely pair proves that changing
your world starts with changing your outlook.
DIRTY DANCING
APRIL 12 TO 24
The film-to-stage romance follows free
spirits from two completely different worlds,
Baby and Johnny, as they dance their way
through the best summer of their lives.
BEAUTIFUL –
THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL
MAY 10 TO 22
The Tony and Grammy award-winning
musical tells the true life story of Carole King’s
rise to stardom, from her start as part of a
songwriting team to becoming one of the
most successful solo acts in music history.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST*
JUNE 15 TO 19
The Disney classic follows Belle, a young
woman in a provincial town, as she finds
herself trapped by the Beast, a young prince
under a spell. As they learn to co-exist, she
soon finds that the Beast isn’t the only one
under a spell as his household comes to life.
*Not included in season subscription
packages, additional purchase is required.
Schedule
Each year
Broadway
Across
America
looks at the
research,
then selects
an eight-
show season…
The Book of Mormon
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