We're well into summer, but it's "snowtime" in Miami. No, Hell hasn't frozen over... yet. It's the return of Slava's Snowshow to the Magic City.
After a record-breaking run at the Ziff Ballet Opera House five years ago, the production is back following sold-out engagements in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Barcelona, Madrid, London, and New York.
Snowshow is a product of the Russian-born Slava Polunin. Drawing inspiration from some of the world's best mime, pantomime, and silent film artists of all time (think Charlie Chaplin), Slava is not your average rainbow-wig-donning, fire-truck-riding, water-squirting-corsage-wearing clown. Nor is Snowshow his first rodeo.
Born in the 1950s, Polunin quit his education in engineering and economics despite his mother's dream of her son becoming an engineer. Instead, he has spent the better part of his life perfecting his craft of pantomime and raising it to a true art form. Eventually, he started a semiprofessional pantomime theater that produced several successful shows, and later he launched the Academy of Fools, organized a mime parade with more than 800 participants (a true feat considering the absence of Twitter and other social media in the day), made televised appearances, performed all over Europe, worked with Cirque du Soleil, and has been the creative mastermind behind many other ventures.
Later this month, Miami will again experience one of his many creations. Snowshow offers a unique Blue Man Group-meets-Cirque du Soleil experience. Spoiler alert: You will be ankle-deep in snow by the show's end, but don't worry. We won't judge you for attempting a snow angel before venturing out into the city's scorching heat.
Whether it's the skyrocketing temperatures or the fact that everyone has vacation on their mind, summer is the ideal season to introduce (or in Snowshow's case, reintroduce) this lighthearted, whimsical entertainment to the Miami masses.
The show doesn't take the Arsht Center stage until July 31. But the return of Snowshow deserves a proper Miami celebration, and what better welcome -- especially in the summer -- than sharing an icy treat? Slava Snowshow's Great Ice Cream Crawl, scheduled for Saturday, July 13, will take guests on a three-hour tour of several of the city's ice-cream shops. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., the tour is open to Car2Go members and will visit Azucar Ice Cream Company, Feverish Ice Cream & Gourmet Pops, the Frieze, and Quarterman's Ice Cream Parlor.
To RSVP, visit the event Facebook page.
It seems that this summer, you can see your Snowshow and eat it too.
Slava's Snowshow will run July 31 through August 25 at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht Center. You can purchase tickets at arshtcenter.org.
-- Rebecca Salgado
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