GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — Jay-Z is the leader of the 2018 Grammy Award nominations in a year where the top four categories are heavily dominated by rap and R&B artists, giving the often overlooked genres a strong chance of winning big.
The Recording Academy announced Tuesday that Jay-Z is nominated for eight honors, including album, song, and record of the year. Bruno Mars is also nominated for the big three, while Kendrick Lamar — who earned seven nominations — and Childish Gambino are also up for major awards.

"Despacito" is also nominated for song of the year — a songwriter's award — along with Mars' No. 1 hit, "That's What I Like"; the title track from Jay-Z's "4:44"; rapper Logic's suicide prevention anthem, "1-800-273-8255"; and "Issues" by Julia Michaels, the singer who has written hits for Bieber, Selena Gomez and other pop stars.

No rock or country acts were nominated in the top four categories. The rap- and R&B-heavy nominations, which include numerous black and Latino artists, come after the Grammys were criticized earlier this year when some felt Beyonce's multi-genre "Lemonade" album should have won album of the year over Adele's "25." Adele also expressed that Beyonce should have received the prize.

The win for Adele, though, marked another year when the Grammys awarded its biggest prizes to an artist outside of the rap or R&B genre. Kanye West, Eminem, Mariah Carey and others have also lost in the top categories over the years to pop, rock and country acts despite owning the year in music, critically and commercially.

Despacito the biggest worldwide hit song of the year will be performed with Justin Bieber at the 60th Grammy Awards live from New York's Madison Square Garden January 28th.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/grammy/jay-z-bruno-mars-lead-grammy-noms-in-top-categories/ar-BBFSiOK?li=BBnb7Kz

MiamiReviewNews

EVITA'S OPENING NIGHT

Gloria Alfonso / Miami Review News

I  finally had the privileged of being invited to the opening night of Evita at the Actor's Playhouse on Miracle Mile Coral Gables Florida, the most epic musical of all time. "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" obliterates the rest of Evita. This Andrew Lloyd Weber and Time Rice bio-musical from 1978, is certainly in my opinion the best collaboration and beautifully constructed show telling the story of Argentina's Eva Peron.

This robust revival directed by David Arisco is sharply energetic enough to convey the excitement of South American rhythms and beautiful costumes, not to mention the fabulous choreography.

Andrea Pilar charts this journey superbly. From the moment she appears, she creates a character full of life. Her voice is strong and powerful with an attractive catch, making each note count. Eugenio Vargas' Che, who as the commentator on the action is the man who holds the story together, looking forward and back, with an appealing voice and passion.

Feliciano Martinez, Gloria Alfonso MRN and Mary Fernandez

A must-see performance! On-stage through November 26th, following the Spanish production through December 17th 2017.

MiamiReviewNews
       
Actorsplayhouse.org

Actors' Playhouse del Miracle Theater da inicio a su 30 aniversario con la producción de Evita

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – 30 de Octubre, 2017 – Actors' Playhouse del Miracle Theater se enorgullece en dar inicio a la temporada de celebración de su 30 aniversario con Evita, uno de los más poderosos y apasionantes musicales en la historia del teatro. En una presentación excepcional, para la escena del teatro regional, la compañía mostrará, con el mismo elenco, la obra en inglés desde el 1ro al 26 de noviembre del 2017 y luego en español del 30 de Noviembre al 17 de Diciembre de 2017. Ganadora de 7 premios Tony, Evita revive la dinamica y eterna Evita Peron.

“Actors’ Playhouse está muy emocionado de presentar a Evita, una de las producciones más significativas en nuestros 30 años de historia, tanto en inglés como en español” Señala David Arisco, el Director Artístico de Actors’ Playhouse. “Nuestra última producción en el 2000 contó con la participación de Rachel Bay Jones, quien actuó en uno de los mejores musicales de Broadway Dear Evan Hasen, y ha sido recientemente galardonada con el premio Tony. Estoy seguro que podremos ver a parte del elenco del 2017 en Broadway en un futuro cercano.”

El director David Arisco ha reunido a un elenco de grandes estrealls para darle vida a este epico musical: Andrea Pilar como Eva Peron, Eugenio Vargas como El Che, Samuel Druhora como Juan Peron y el resto del gran elenco incluyendo Kelly Ziegler, Joshua Dobarganes, Nicole Coffaro, Diana D'Ambrosio, Rodrigo De La Rosa, Brent D. Kuenning, Taylor Hilt Mitchell, Francisco Padura, Brian varela, Vicky Campadocino, Yanet Felipe, Jonathan Fleites, Vivian Garcia-Lopez, Santiago Garza, Lauren Horgan, Victoria Lauzen, Michael Leyte-Vidal, Amanda Lopez, Hugo E. Moreno, Brandon Osorio, Nicolette Quintero, Phillip Andrew Santiago, Ryan Townsend, Alexandra Van Hasselt y Hollis Williams.

El show estrenará el viernes 3 de noviembre a las 8 pm en inglés y se extenderá hasta el 26 de noviembre, 2017. Seguidamente, la producción continuará en español del 30 de noviembre al 17 de diciembre 2017. Los horarios están sujetos a cambios.

Los boletos para días de semana y matinées tienen un costo de $57, viernes y sábados $64. El teatro ofrece 10% de descuento en todas las funciones semanales para personas de la tercera edad y boletos de última hora a $15 para estudiantes, 15 minutos antes de que abra el telón con su debida identificación, los descuentos estarán basados en la disponibilidad.

 

Descuentos grupales estarán disponibles para grupos de 15 o más a través del departamento de ventas. Boletos individuales pueden ser adquiridos a través de la taquilla en el 305-444-9293 o en línea en la página  www.actorsplayhouse.org.

Actor's Playhouse celebrando su 30 aniversario con una temporada fabulosa 2017-2018, que incluye, Million Dollar Quartet, Noises off, Evita, The Big Bang.   Fundada por Dr. Lawrence E. Stein, y bajo la dirección de la Directora y Productora Ejecutiva Barbara S. Stein y la Dirección Artística de David Arisco.
 

 miamireviewnews

SENATE PASSES BUDGET TAX PLAN FOR 2018

 Reuters- President Donald Trump's drive to overhaul the U.S. tax code cleared a critical hurdle on Thursday when the Senate 100% Republican, approved a budget blueprint for the 2018 fiscal year that will pave the way for Republicans to pursue a tax-cut package without Democratic support.

The plan will add up to $1.5 trillion to the Federal deficit over the next decade in order to pay for proposed tax cuts and promises to deliver up to $6 trillion in tax cuts to businesses and individuals (the wealthy of course).

The White House contends that the Republicans' plan to slash the corporate income tax to 20 percent from 35 percent. Senator Ron Wyden said hat Democrats believed his plan would benefit the wealthy.


miamireviewnews

Trump's major shift in US policy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Here he goes again! U.S. President Donald Trump struck a blow against the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement on Friday in defiance of other world powers, choosing not to certify that Tehran is complying with the deal and warning he might terminate it.

He suggested Iran might be working with North Korea on its weapons programs, an accusation that has not been substantiated.

"We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence more terror and the very real threat of Iran's nuclear breakout." Trump said.

That increases tension with Iran as well as putting Washington at odds with other signatories of the accord such as Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union.

Israeli's intelligence minister described Trump's speech as "very significant" and one that could lead to war given threats that preceded it from Tehran.

Trump's message is beyond comprehension making the U.S. responsible for his inability to effective leadership.


MiamiReviewNews
 

Lento renacer de los Cayos de la Florida Key West

Para los residentes de Los Cayos de la Florida, la ansiedad por la espera del paso del huracan Irma no fue tan traumatica como lo esta siendo llevar sus vidas a un estado de normalidad, en medio de la destruccion y la consecuente desolacion del letal ciclon que cobro la vida de por lo menos nueve personas en ese territorio insular.

Alrededor de 30,000 personas fueron evacuadas de Los Cayos, como medida de prevencion, cifra que corresponde a casi la mitad de la poblacion total del territorio insular. Nueve muertos en el condado de Monroe, vecino de Miami-Dade, un numero que podria cercer mientras prosiguen las labores de busqueda entre los escombros.

Una semana despues que Irma abravesara el Estado del Sol, los habitantes de los Cayos regresaban lentamente el Sabado y Domingo para encontrar todo convertido en ruinas.

Se estima que el 25% de los hogares en Key West resultaron destruidos, un pueblo fantasma cuyos residentes apenas inician la compleja tarea de reconstruirlos con ayudas federales.

miamireviewnews
Diario Las Americas

Biggest fight of the night...

 LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The big money continued rolling in just before fight time at this city's sports books, with several million-dollar bets on Floyd Mayweather Jr. to beat Conor McGregor.

Bookies had faced taking a big loss because McGregor tickets outnumbered Mayweather tickets by as much as 18-1 at some books. But the big bets started coming in Thursday on Mayweather and at the William Hill chain of sports books 74 percent of the money on straight bets was on Mayweather.

There were a handful of million-dollar bets on Mayweather, with three coming in just hours before the fight. The biggest reported bet on McGregor is $100,000.

Bookmakers say they still will post a big loss should McGregor beat Mayweather, especially if he stops him early. If Mayweather wins, though, it will be a big score by the sports books.

The sport will be boxing, and Mayweather, 40, is one of the most accomplished boxers ever. He is 49-0 with a dozen world titles in five weight classes. In the other corner will be a fighter not used to boxing out of corners. In fact, he hasn't boxed anybody since he was a teenager, and never professionally. McGregor, 29, is a two-time MMA champion and current Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion in a sport that includes kicking and body-slamming and occurs in an octagon-shaped cage.

The fight is expected to set records on pay-per-view, with some 5 million homes buying at $99.95. 

AP

MSN Sports

MiamiReviewNews.com

LIVE: President Trump announces new Cuba policy changes from Miami Fl

President Trump announces new Cuba policy changes, however diplomatic relations will continue.

The new rules include the prohibition of financial transactions between Americans and Cuban companies affiliated with the country's military or intelligence services, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity to discuss the changes ahead of the president's announcement.

Those changes are likely to have a significant effect on U.S. travelers because of the dominant role in the Cuban economy occupied by GAESA, a state run military-affiliated conglomerate.  Live from Manuel Artime Theatre in Miami Fl.



MiamiReviewNews

BROADWAY'S HIT MUSICAL COMEDY

Audiences are cordially invited to the wedding of the year. I personally attended opening night and had a great time, I enjoyed it very much, it is absolutely hilarious and very entertaining, on stage until next week.

GLORIA MiamiReviewNews, FELICIANO and MARY

Direct from Broadway to Miami in years. The bride is Jewish, the groom is Catholic, her mother is a force of nature; his mother is a tempest in a cocktail shaker. But when the bride's ex-boyfriend shows up, the perfect wedding starts to unravel faster than one can whistle, "Here Comes the Bride,"

USA Today called this South Florida premiere "endearingly old-fashioned in spirit and decidedly contemporary in execution".

MiamiReviewNews called this Broadway premiere "Best Musical Cast Show"

miamireviewnews

Was Trump’s Syria Strike Illegal?

WASHINGTON- President Trump ordered the military on Thursday to carry out a missile
attack on Syrian forces for using chemical weapons against civilians. The unilateral attack
lacked authorization from Congress or from the United Nations Security Council, raising
the questions of whether he had legal authority to commit the act of war.

The strike raises two sets of legal issues. One involves international law and when it is lawful
for any nation to attack another. The other involves domestic law and who gets to decide-the president or Congress-Whether the United States should attack another country.

Did Trump have clear authority under international law to attack Syria?

No. The United Nations Charter, a treaty the United States has ratified, recognizes two
justifications for using force on another country's soil without its consent: the permission
of the Security council or a self-defense claim.

MiamiReviewNews 

Republicans take over Washington

To understand Donald Trump's potential to be a truly consequential president, it's necessary to grasp a fundamental reality of American politics today. His fellow Republicans are not only the ascendant party in Washington, they are the dominant party nationwide and at the state level.

"There has been an extraordinary collapse of the Democratic Party," says political scientist Bill Galston, a former White House adviser to President Bill Clinton.

This means there is a natural well of support for Trump's conservative ideas across the country, more than Democratic insiders had expected. If congressional Republican unite behind Trump, this could give him grass-roots momentum to push his 'ludicrous' agenda and overcome objections from defenders of the status quo in the capital.

Additionally, I will say that if Obamacare is not simultaneously replaced when repealed, analysts are predicting bankruptcy of insurance companies and massive insurance bailouts within the first 6 months of repeal. Obvious to say that this is just the beginning of many issues facing our country in a total non-judicial government control by Republicans.

U.S News/ Kenneth T. Walsh
Miami Review News
www.miamireviewnews.com