Carbonell Awards Tickets Go on Sale

Jennifer McClain

(PRESS RELEASE)_South Florida – March 9, 2020) Donald R. Walters, Esq., board president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s Theatre & Arts Honors, today announced that tickets go on public sale today for the April 6 awards ceremony at 7:30 pm at Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place in Lauderhill (33311).

Several hundred actors, musicians, performers, writers, directors, techies, producers, reviewers, designers, specialty artists, and diehard theater fans are expected to attend the glittery, entertainment-packed event which is South Florida’s version of Broadway’s Tony Awards®.

The talented co-hosts of this year’s Carbonell Awards will be:

+ Sirius XM’s Program Director Julie James, an award-winning vocalist, theatre performer, voiceover artist and radio personality who is celebrating 10 years as host of Broadway Names with Julie James, which features many of the biggest stars on the Great White Way. She has performed at 54 Below, The Rainbow Room, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre and recently appeared in Kristen Chenoweth: For the Girls

+ Cabaret star Jennifer McClain, who has been entertaining South Florida audiences for over 15 years in venues ranging from small bars to large night clubs and charity events. She has appeared on CNN performing in Key West for New Year’s Eve, and she has also performed in New York City, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and on the High Seas. Currently she can be seen every Saturday at The Alibi/Monkey Bar and every Monday at Tropics Grille, both located in Wilton Manors. 

The ceremony is being co-produced by a talented mother-daughter team:

+ A Carbonell Award winner herself, Co-Producer/Music Director Caryl Fantel has been part of the award show’s production team for 12 years, is a two-time Silver Palm Award-winning music director, pianist and vocal coach with more than 25 years of experience working at theaters and concert halls around the United States.

+ Co-Producer/Director Alyssa Fantel is an actress, acting coach and award-winning playwright. She has performed with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Chicago’s Remy Bumppo and Silk Road Rising Theatres, and locally at Palm Beach Dramaworks, GableStage and numerous other venues.

“Along with the Fantel Music Group and the Carbonell team, we are planning an event where everyone who contributes to the vast and varied landscape of South Florida theatre feels included in the festivities that fund college scholarships and also celebrate our rich theatrical community,” says Caryl Fantel. “Moving the event to the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center will enable more people to attend, and we look forward to seeing many friends, colleagues and arts supporters there.”

Adds Alyssa Fantel: “This year, along with celebrating an all-female-identifying leadership team, we will shine the spotlight on those who may feel less recognized or who don’t typically appear on stage or in reviews. We see you and appreciate all you do.”

Tickets for the upcoming Carbonell Awards are $25 in advance, and $35 day of show, plus the usual admission fees. As of today, tickets may be purchased online at www.lpacfl.com/Carbonell or by phone at 954.777.2055.

For the 44th Annual Carbonell Awards, Palm Beach Dramaworks shows earned a record-breaking 29 nominations overall, the most of any theater in the tri-county region. Zoetic Stage received 20 nominations, the most for any theater in Miami-Dade County, and Slow Burn Theatre Company in Fort Lauderdale earned 12 nominations, the most of any theater in Broward County. Out of more than 80 shows that opened in 2019 at regional theaters, 62 were eligible for nominations.

Another highlight of the Carbonell Awards will be the awarding of the 2020 Jack Zink Memorial Student Scholarships. The selection of recipients is based on talent, experience and demonstrated commitment to the theatre. One student from each of three South Florida Counties—Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach—will  receive scholarships ranging from $1,000-$3,000.

Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have achieved a minimum 2.5 GPA and are intending to enroll in college to pursue a degree in theatre or journalism. The funds will be disbursed to the students selected when they have enrolled in college. The scholarship is named for Jack Zink (1947-2008) who was a major voice in South Florida entertainment coverage for more than three decades.

---