While many plan the next vacation at a great hotel, Brad Weiser plans the next great hotel.
As president and CEO of the Continental Companies, a company created in 1970 that has developed and owned over 85 hotels and casinos, and as principal of Hostmark Hospitality, a large independent hospitality management company, Mr. Weiser has demonstrated his sharp eye for catering to the needs of his customers by building outstanding hotels.
Mr. Weiser is mostly active in the development part of the business, from acquisitions to searching for new opportunities to build luxury hotels.
Aside from his early involvement in the hotel business, Mr. Weiser also embarked on a successful venture in 1988 as owner and creator of The Tango Group’s Café Tutu Tango, a restaurant that grew into 10 locations around the country.
Still, his love for catering to others doesn’t end here. When not at work, Mr. Weiser enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two dogs, and is passionate about cooking an amazing meal and enjoying a great wine.
He was interviewed at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne by Blanca Venegas.
AUGUSTO SOLEDADE BRAZZDANCE will perform at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center in the intimate Lab Theater on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. including a matinee performance on Sunday, June 2 at 3:00 p.m.
The performance will include Altars and audience favorites, Kayala and Diaries of An Outlaw. In Altars, artistic director Augusto Soledade considers and abstracts aspects of the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomble in order to comment on divine presence in religious rituals and daily life. He juxtaposes his Afro-Fusion aesthetic with the Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach with the intention of bringing together the spiritual sense of two distinct worlds. The book How Night Came from the Sea, an Afro-Brazilian folktale, told by Mary-Joan Gerson was the inspiration for Kayala. It sparked the choreographer’s interest to draw ideas from some of the literary images in order to explore the concepts of Night and Day, and create a contemporary dance that is appropriate to all ages. Diaries of an Outlaw is inspired by the life of the legendary outlaw Maria Bonita of Brazil. The work investigates life as outlaws; the intrinsic limits and pressures of motherhood and love in such adverse environment. As in much of Soledade’s repertory, the blend of dance styles found in Diaries of an Outlaw yields a work that is at once athletic and nuanced, both percussive and fluid, as it captures the rhythms of the outlaw life.
Tickets for COLLAGE are $20 for the general public, $10 for students and seniors, and may be purchased through the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center box office by calling (786) 573-5300, or online at www.smdcac.org. Tickets are on sale now.
Artist Michael Bise creates intricate, highly personal drawings that trace the narrative of his life and touch on the universal themes of family, love, loss, and hope. TAKE A LOOK …
The song Love is Gone; lyrics, composition and arrangement by Melis Bilen.
Melis Bilen performed a couple of songs together with Istanbul University State Conservatory Jazz Band.
The song Dark In The Eyes; lyrics and composition by Melis Bilen.
Christina Alexander shares stories of love in America and the country’s struggle to understand or accept that different doesn’t mean wrong.
Hate is being performed at the Miami Theater Center until February 23, for information visit http://www.mtcmiami.org/performance/
In this clip Christina and Stephanie Ansin, Founder and Artistic Director for MTC discuss the production and the newly branded Theater
Turkish lyrics by Melis Bilen and music byAlicia Keys.
Turkish lyrics by Melis Bilen and music by Rodney Jerkins.
Time Steps
Colleen Campbell
Time: Now
Place: New York City, NY
Advisor: Patrice Bailey
Stage Manager: Kristian Bikic
Through song and dance Donna Mckechnie shares her life experiences and all that her theatrical journey encompasses. Despite the struggles of her life, she is able to overcome her set backs and start again with this brand new day.
Donna Mckechnie began her love affair with dance as a child in Detroit. At fifteen she ran away from home to join a touring dance troupe. Recounting her dazzling career, Donna also reveals the dark side of fame.
I would like to thank Patrice Bailey for encouraging me to find what I am most passionate about and giving me the freedom to really explore that. I would like to thank all of the teachers here at NWSA. I would like to thank my mom and dad for their constant love and support. My friends back home and the people who inspired me to follow my dreams in the first place. And lastly all of my classmates and now colleagues for always encouraging me to be at my best and to do my best.
My Lips Are Sealed
Malia’Kekia
Nicolini
Time: Present time, Q&A segment of the final workshop
Place: Any space equiped to hold a Vagina Convention
Advisor: Gail Garrisan
Stage Manager: Sahid Arnaud Pabon
They say to write what you are passionate about and in this time of my life… its vagi-nas. Not the vagina itself (though it is beauti-ful) I’m more interested in what she stands for, her voice or shall we say her lack of one. I am proud to be a woman in this day in age, now if only society would let me be the God-dess I really am! We are all born with happy little clams and unfortunately as we grow up that clam sometimes can decide to close up on us for various reasons. Why does that happen? What in our past silences our voice!? How can we move forward and allow her to speak again? China doesn’t know all the answers but what she might know is a key for further understanding. China has a gift, she is a vagina whisper and you’d be shocked if you could hear what she hears (or can’t hear)! And like many she wants the same, to find your inner beauty (literally) and to be HEARD!
I would first like to thank all the miraculous and inspirational women in my life: My mother Michelle, Terry Nicolini, Gail Garrisan, Patrice Bailey, Natalia Hunt, Estela Vrancovich, Felicia Kurtz, Barb, Pam, Ashley, Alyssa, and Gerardo! To the ever so handsome Sahid for stepping in so open armed, you’re the sweetest! To Mark for being a lifesaver and for making me “google dat shit”! Thank you to my family for their never ending support and loving me for who I am. Especially to my father who accepts the fact I need to talk about vaginas in public! To my Honeybadgers of 2013- I can’t be-lieve this is OUR year! I love you guys truly and deeply! Finally to China, I hope after this you can see how beautiful you truly are! Inside and out! Go get’em Kitty!
P.s- No need to point my feet Mom!
This show is for Kalea and for EVERY woman who has ever felt less than they are!
Audience participation is encouraged!
*This show contains Adult Language/Content
Does Anyone Love
Like Lucy?
Jessica Sanford
Time: Present
Place: Lucy’s living room. New York, New
York.
Advisor: Gail Garrisan
Stage Manager: Keith Shaw
Growing up Lucy Baker has always felt a
little disconnected in the love department.
While the world loved Ryan Gosling, Lucy
fancied James Dean. Instead of checking her
email for love letters, she waited by her mail
box. Wanting to find other people who also
have issues with love, Lucy starts a support
group for romantics.
Tonight is the first meeting and she's ready to
finally get this off her chest: she's in love with the past and she's not letting go.
First and foremost I want to thank my parents for raising me in the good old fashioned
black and white way. It may set me apart but I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank
you for continuing to support this big dream of mine. I love you all so much. Ryan,
Kristin, Mark, my cousins, aunts, uncles and Nana, I couldn't ask for a more loving
family. Pop, we celebrate you everyday and I know you would've been front row
center. To Luke, Jonathan and Matthias, none of you can read yet but you light up my
life.
To my best friend Jillian who I met on the cheerleading bus in 7th grade, you are my
sister and I have no idea who I would be if I didn't have you in my life. I love you!
Gail, my advisor, thanks for all your encouragement and patience. To all my professors
past and present at this magical school, I never believed I'd be the actress I am today
and that credit goes to you. To my honey badgers, my second family, we have worked
and grown together. We've conquered this, now let's go out with a bang!
To all of you out there who are looking for love, be tenacious and it'll find you.
And Lastly, to NWSA... "Here's looking at you, kid!"
Noise:
An Interruption
Vanessa Elise
Time: Present
Place: A Waiting Room
Advisor: Stuart Meltzer
Stage Manager: Michelle Hernandez
So many of us constantly just skim the sur-face of our lives. Without realizing it, we start racking up what-if's and I-should-have's. Amaya has taught me so much about living without regrets and that it's OK to be impulsive sometimes. Be fearless. The jour-ney of writing and rehearsing my OPS has served as a true reminder of why I love be-ing an actor; the discovery, the playing and the satisfaction of knowing you've potential-ly given someone in the audience a voice, is priceless. Through it all I have had the sensational support, relentless cheering-on, and the love of my family, my hero (my Mommy), and my angel, my husband, Jair. My love and appreciation goes out to my personal AAA: Angie, Ari, and Alma. Special thanks to Stuart Meltzer for always be-lieving in me and never allowing me to second guess myself. To all of the NWSA fac-ulty, thank you! Michelle Hernandez, you rock! Felicia Kurtz and Melissa Kollwitz, thank you for helping me find my voice and having faith in it. And I would be remiss if I failed to mention the brilliant actors that make up the class of 2013. My darling Honey Badgers, time IS life, and I know that I have been blessed by being able to learn from all of you these last four years. Peace and love.
*This show contains Adult Language/Content
Where’s the War?
Katherine Du Bois
Time: May 5, 1970
Place: Interrogation room in Madison, Wisconsin
Advisor: James Randolph
Stage Manager: Jose Elosegui
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana
Jim Randolph, you have a light that shines inside of you and I will always carry a piece of it with me. Thank you for sharing that light with me. Jose Elosegui, I wouldn’t have it any other way, LOVE YOU! Rayner Garranchan, I love you man, thank you for all your help. Estella and Angie, thank you for always answering all my questions. Mark Dellaventura, thank you for being you. Carlos Hincapie and Vincent Rodriguez you guys are the best! Thank you!
To my Honey Badgers of 2013, words will never express the joy you have all brought into my life - I will forever be grateful for the things you have taught me and for the laughs we have shared. I love you guys.
To all my professors at New World - Stuart, Gail, Andy, David, Jim, Matt, Helena, Dale, PK, Michael, Jeff, Dorset, Estella, Toohey and Sandra - you have shaped me into the actress I am today and I could never repay you for that.
Thank you Dean Bailey for being the Dumbledore to my Hogwarts.
To my family, thank you for always supporting me in everything I do, I would not have been able to do this without your love.
Natalia Hunt, thank you for always listening.
To Nathalie, keep following your dreams because nothing in this world will give you as much joy as the joy you feel when you follow your heart.
This show is dedicated to anyone that has been affected by war - past and present.
*This show contains Adult Language/Content
Plastic Makes
Perfect
Natalia Coego
Time: Christmas Eve
Place: Toys “R” Us
Advisor: Gail Garrisan
Stage Manager: Marie Becnel
"Barbie is not just a doll." To my Honey Badgers, I am so proud to be a part of the Class of 2013. We did it! Gail, thank you so much for believing in my show. You're an amazing advisor. I couldn’t have done it without you! Dorset, I appreciate all your help with my Barbie Doll Box. Patrice and David, thank you so much for your sup-port! Estela and Onelida, thank you for letting me borrow clothes from the costume shop. Seriously. It's saved me a lot of money. Spe-cial thanks to Marie, you’ve been a very helpful Stage Manager! Gregg, thank you for keeping me sane throughout this whole process. Muah! And last but not least, to my family, Mom, Chris, and Patrick, I love you all! <3
Imagination is key!
*This show contains Adult Language/Content
The song Sen ve Ben; lyrics, composition and the arrangement by Melis Bilen.
