Schedule of Events:

Friday, February 28, 2025

7:30 PM: Dallas Brass: An American Musical Journey

The 2025 Festival kicks off with a rousing performance by the renowned Dallas Brass, featuring music that runs the gamut from classical to Broadway, from Dixieland to swing – all part of the American Experience. They will be joined in the Grand Finale by 100 local high school musicians.

The Dallas Brass has performed from New York to Rome and Tokyo, with gala appearances at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. They have been featured with symphony orchestras including the New York Pops, Philly Pops and Cincinnati Pops. The six-piece brass and percussion ensemble has a repertoire ranging from classical masterpieces to Broadway, Dixieland, swing, and patriotic music.  The Dallas Brass has released numerous recordings: Debut, Dallas Brass II, Windborne, Nutcracker, A Merry Christmas With Brass, American Musical Journey, and more.

Also part of this evening's event: Before the show we will feature our Instrument Petting Zoo, where kids of all ages can see, learn about, touch, and try different orchestral instruments.

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Saturday, March 1, 2025

7:30 PM: Pavarotti Voices Opera Gala

Over three grueling days in January 2025, dozens of the world’s most promising opera performers will descend on Naples, Florida to be judged in The Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition. The winners will perform at special concerts with Naples Opera and then, on March 1, at Festival Boca.

This Competition is a revival of the renowned Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, which was founded in 1981 and, at its height, had 1,500 applicants from over 25 countries. It seeks to foster the career development of promising young opera singers worldwide by providing a platform to be heard by a panel of industry professionals and compete for artistic contracts that will significantly further their careers.

This evening’s concert will also feature a solo performance by our 2024 Music Competition Winner, Jorge Gabriel Rodriguez.

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Sunday, March 2, 2025

7:00 PM: A NeoDance Story Featuring Nestor Torres

The incomparable Nestor Torres returns to Festival Boca to present (and perform in!) A NeoDance Story, a passionate evening that seamlessly blends the exuberant sensuality of salsa with the fervent melancholy of tango.

NeoDance tells the story of the relationship between talent and passion, of overcoming life’s greatest challenges, of seizing opportunities and taking them to the next level. It is also a story about creating an impressive body of original work by following the path of dreams fanned by a true love of music and dance.

NeoDance is the joint creation of choreographer, successful entrepreneur, dancer, and Holocaust survivor Alfred Friedman, professionally known as Mr. Dance, and critically acclaimed Latin Grammy winner Nestor Torres, whose performance is a central part of this concert.

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Monday, March 3, 2025

7:00 PM: An Evening with Doris Kearns Goodwin

Festival favorite Doris Kearns Goodwin returns for a fascinating presentation about politics, history, and her new memoir, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author, presidential historian, and television commentator’s most recent book artfully weaves together biography, memoir, and history in the emotional journey she and her husband, Richard (Dick) Goodwin embarked upon in the last years of his life.

Book coverThe Goodwins’ last great adventure involved finally opening the more than three hundred boxes of letters, diaries, documents, and memorabilia that Dick (who had played key roles in Presidential administrations and campaigns in the 1960s)  had saved for more than fifty years. They soon realized they had before them an unparalleled personal time capsule of the 1960s, illuminating public and private moments of a decade when individuals were powered by the conviction they could make a difference; a time, like today, marked by struggles for racial and economic justice, a time when lines were drawn and loyalties tested.

Their expedition gave Dick’s last years renewed purpose and determination. It gave Doris the opportunity to connect and reconnect with participants and witnesses of pivotal moments of the 1960s. And it gave them both an opportunity to make fresh assessments of the central figures of the time – John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, and especially Lyndon Johnson, who greatly impacted both their lives. The voyage of remembrance brought unexpected discoveries, forgiveness, and the renewal of old dreams, reviving the hope that the youth of today will carry forward this unfinished love story with America.

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Tuesday, March 4, 2025

7:00 PM: Documentary: Life In The Doghouse

Life In The Doghouse tells the inspiring story of Danny Robertshaw, Ron Danta and the remarkable stories surrounding the work they do at Danny & Ron's Rescue. Since 2005, when they rescued 600 dogs in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Danny & Ron have saved and found homes for more than 11,000 abused, abandoned, and starving dogs.

When Danny and Ron rescue a dog it lives with them, not in a kennel, but in their home until their perfect family match is found. At any given time, there will be as many as 75 dogs living in their private home. The feature documentary showcases their unique approach to dog rescue & adoption, while entertaining, educating and inspiring millions to make the right choices when it comes to animal adoption, care and safety.

Danny and Ron will join us after the viewing of the film for a discussion and update on their work.

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Wednesday, March 5, 2025

7:00 PM: Florida Man: Carl Hiaasen

Called “America’s finest satirical novelist” (The London Observer), Carl Hiaasen has been compared to Preston Sturges, Woody Allen, and S.J. Perelman (The New York Times). His 13 novels have been published in 34 languages. And, most recently, his novel Bad Monkey has been turned into a series on Apple TV.

“You wait long enough in Florida and the other shoe drops,” Hiaasen said in a recent interview with GQ, talking about the absurdity of politics and social issues in the state. The journalist in that interview summarized things well when he said:

“In the world of American publishing, [Hiassen] is one-of-one. If there’s any living American writer funnier, then they lack his edge and his readership. No one more politically pointed can touch the sleekness of his prose. If you want to call Hiaasen the Mark Twain of post-Vietnam America, you’ll get no arguments here.”

Hiaasen will join us for an evening of storytelling and commentary, which could well involve considerable shoe-dropping…

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Thursday, March 6, 2025

7:00 PM: Amy Herman: How to Solve Problems and Avoid Conflict

An art historian and lawyer who uses works of art to teach clients from the FBI to Interpol, from the FBI to doctors and financiers, ways to hone their perceptions and visual intelligence, Amy Herman offers a paradigm-shattering twist on problem-solving that can help us find solutions to the problems we face every day.

For two decades, Herman, has taught US Navy Seals, doctors, trauma nurses, FBI officers, CIA intelligence analysts, and the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies how to enhance their powers of observation and communication through study of art. Visual intelligence, she says, can crack a case, save a life, stave off conflict.

“Increasingly in our modern, perilous world,” Herman writes, “the issues that emerge are subtle, laced in subtext, or teeter on the tip of a slippery slope – all attributes that require a human touch to solve. As said humans, we must not only be able to address the problems that arise across all professions and walks of life, we must be able to solve them. Before they drown, damn, or destroy us.”

Herman, an art curator turned leadership consultant, suggests that art is the answer. She now travels the globe teaching problem-solving and conflict resolution through art. “Art," she says, "can help anyone anywhere fix things because it is a universal language. Two people from completely different backgrounds with opposing viewpoints on everything can stand in front of the same image and discuss what they see. Art provides a safe space outside of ourselves to analyze our observations and convert those observable details into actionable knowledge. Doing so can help us understand how and why things go wrong and, more important, how to fix them.”

In this Authors & Ideas event, Herman will share her lessons and ideas in an engaging, entertaining (and visual) way, helping us all walk away with better perceptual and problem-solving skills.

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Friday, March 7, 2025

7:30 PM: Back to the Future With Live Orchestra

Recharge your flux capacitor…  and get ready to celebrate this unforgettable movie classic as you’ve never seen and heard it before!

Back to the Future is the 1.21-gigawatt blockbuster that topped the 1985 box office chart, spawned two wildly successful sequels and stamped an enduring imprint on pop culture.  Join Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and a time traveling DeLorean for the adventure of a lifetime as they travel to the past, present and future, setting off a time-shattering chain reaction that disrupts the space-time continuum!

Now, fans old and new will experience the thrill of Back to the Future like never before – on a big hi-def screen with a full symphony orchestra performing Alan Silvestri’s dazzling musical score live in synch with the movie.  Audiences will also be in for an exclusive treat: approximately twenty minutes of brand new music added by award-winning composer Silvestri to the film's score, especially for these unique live orchestra presentations.

Also part of this evening's event: Before the show we will feature our Instrument Petting Zoo, where kids of all ages can see, learn about, touch, and try different orchestral instruments.

A legendary film, a warm March evening, rumors of a live Delorean on-site… what more could you ask for?

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Saturday, March 8, 2025

7:30 PM: An Evening of Contemporary Ballet

Festival of the Arts Boca presents an evening of classical and contemporary ballet, as well as modern dance, showcasing the innovative fusion of classical and contemporary styles. This dynamic program highlights excerpts from both modern classical repertory and cutting-edge works by emerging choreographers, offering audiences a captivating journey through the evolution of dance.

The evening will feature performances by former principal dancers from renowned companies such as Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, José Limón, and Alvin Ailey, alongside new choreography that pushes the boundaries of contemporary ballet. The program will open with traditional ballet variations performed by talented students from esteemed institutions. These young dancers will demonstrate their technical skill and artistry, setting the tone for the diverse performances that follow.

As the program progresses, the audience will witness a seamless transition into contemporary ballet and modern dance, with performances by professionals from leading New York City companies. A special new contemporary work, involving selected students, will be presented under the direction of Gabriel Chajnik, with assistance from rehearsal director Lindsay Jorgensen. This piece offers a unique opportunity for young dancers to explore the intersection of classical technique and contemporary expression.

The performance will also be enhanced by immersive video projections inspired by the work of Kandinsky, creating a visually stunning backdrop that amplifies the dancers' movements. Live music by Erik Satie will accompany the performance, adding depth and energy to the abstract and vibrant visual landscape.

In addition to the performance, master classes led by the distinguished dancers will be conducted onstage with live music, offering an invaluable educational experience for local dance students. These outreach efforts will extend to the Boca Raton community, ensuring broad access through free or low-cost participation.

This program not only celebrates the traditions of ballet but also underscores the festival’s commitment to artistic innovation and community engagement, inspiring the next generation of dancers and enriching the cultural fabric of the region.

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Sunday, March 9, 2025

7:00 PM: Boca Raton Centennial Celebration

Drawing on a trove of historical archives from our friends at the Boca Raton Historical Society, our closing evening will be a multimedia celebration of Boca Raton’s rich history and vibrant future.

Through sight and song, we will travel back through time to the town’s founding, hearing the words of those who lived and worked here, those who made their mark, and others who have been largely lost to history.

Festival Boca Jazz Orchestra conducted by Kyle Prescott will perform music from the Roaring 20s.  The program will also feature the world premiere of a new work by Kevin Wilt, Composer-in-Residence and Chair of the Florida Atlantic University Department, commissioned to celebrate Boca’s centennial.

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Date: February 28-March 9, 2028

Location: Mizner Park Amphitheater - 590 Plaza Real Boca Raton, FL 33432

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