LTC 198-2010 July "Arts in the Parks" programm MIAMIBEACH
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER 20IO JUL ~ A I 1~ I
NO. LTC # 198-2010 LjEyT,/TER 1~0 ~} O~L ISSION
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TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: July 13, 2010
SUBJECT: July "Arts in the Parks" programs
I am pleased to inform you of two wonderful free programs that will wrap up this year's Arts
in the Parks series. The first is a celebration of Intemational Children's Day at North Shore
Park and Youth Center on Sunday, July 18, from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. It will be the first
collaboration between the City of Miami Beach and Miami's famed Intemational Hispanic
Theatre Festival, and will include acting, dance and voice workshops for children, arts and
crafts activities, carnival rides, food, and a play in Spanish by the Consejo Artistico de Puerto
Rico called "Versado, EI Andarinn Cuentero: De Como La Princesa Oma Acabo Con La
Guerra." Travelling storyteller Versado, part human magician and part playful animal,
presents a funny and entertaining tale that exposes children to world literature and promotes
reading and love of culture. The full afternoon's program is presented by the Tourism &
Cultural Development and Parks & Recreation Departments with support from Target and
the Marlins Community Foundation.
The following week we are excited to present the Florida premiere of Sarruga, Barcelona's
world-famous street theater group, with the show "Insects," which features giant, bicycle
powered bugs (ants, spider, centipede and mantis) in a nonverbal show filled with music,
lights and movement. We had planned to present Sarruga in the first Sleepless Night, but a
visa problem forced them to cancel. For this engagement we are fortunate to piggyback on
their shows in Chicago's Millennium Park the week prior. The Spanish government's Centro
Cultural Espanol is paying half the artists' fee, and Catalina Hotel and Beach Club is
providing hotel accommodations. Sarruga will present workshops for kids (with insect-
themed arts 8~ crafts activities coordinated by the Bass Museum) on Thursday and Friday,
July 22 and 23, at 10:30 a.m., and complete shows of "Insects" on Saturday, July 24 at 3:00
p.m. and on Sunday, July 25 at 11:00 a.m. All activities and shows are free, and will be held
in the air-conditioned Miami Beach Convention Center. I urge you to take advantage of this
unique, not-to-be-missed family entertainment.
Shoul have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
JMG\ S\gf
c: Hilda Fernandez, Assistant City Manager
Max A. Sklar, Tourism and Cultural Development Director
Gary Farmer, Cultural Affairs Program Manager
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