Aventura Mayor, Susan Gottlieb, today announced that Boca Raton’s critically acclaimed Slow Burn Theatre Company will transfer two productions in its 2013-14 season to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center after their runs at the West Boca Performing Arts Theater.  The non-profit regional theater will present the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal from November 7-10, 2013, and the musical Chess by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (formerly of ABBA) and lyricist Tim Rice from April 10 -13, 2014. 

“The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center and Slow Burn Theater Company both made theatrical debuts three years ago; and each has made an impact on its respective community in a relatively short time,”  said Mayor Gottlieb.  “This new collaboration is a milestone for both organizations,  and continues to fulfill the Center’s mission of bringing cultural opportunities to the people who live, work and visit Aventura.” 

A member of the South Florida Theatre League, the Slow Burn Theatre Company employs local artists, and offers intern opportunities to students, in mounting full-scale productions of musicals here in South Florida.  Past productions have included Avenue Q, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rocky Horror Show, Into the Woods, Side Show, Urinetown, Bat Boy, Blood Brothers, Assassins and Xanadu.  The company’s current season continues with Sweeney Todd and The Wedding Singer.  Their four-show 2013-14 season in Boca Raton includes Parade and High Fidelity as well as Next To Normal and Chess.

“Slow Burn Theatre Company is devoted to presenting contemporary musicals. Those shows that if you weren’t in New York at the right time you might never have seen,” said Patrick Fitzwater who co-founded the company with Matthew Korinko.  “These musicals dig deeper than their predecessors and address the topics and struggles of more recent times. Consequently, our shows appeal to a broad spectrum of audience members, and we look forward to bringing part of our 2013-14 season to Aventura.” 

Tickets for performances of Next to Normal at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center go on sale April 12 followed by Chess tickets being available in the fall.  Tickets for the Aventura engagements of each production are $34.50 and $39.50.  Tickets, group discounts and scheduling information for all performances are available through the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center’s box office at (877) 311-7469 or online at www.AventuraCenter.org.