Out in the Tropics, a different kind of performing arts festival produced by FUNDarte, will turn South Florida upside down with a diverse group of award-winning, contemporary gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer artists and arts events June 9 through 19, 2011. This year’s Out in the Tropics will include a diverse range of performance events and panel discussions, including “Words and Power,” a panel discussion, and “Dirty Little Secrets” by Jai Rodriguez,best known for his roles in the musical “Rent” and “Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” Audiences can also look forward to “Cracks,” a feature film by Jordan Scott, set in a ’30s-era, isolated, English all-girls boarding school on the eve of WWII, as well as “Lip Service: True Stories Out Loud,” one of Miami’s most popular literary events, produced by Andrea Askowitz and Esther Martinez.

The schedule of events is listed below. For more information, visit www.fundarte.us.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, June 9 at 7 p.m. Opening Kick Off Event: Panel Discussion and Reception The Shore Club, 1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach Free and open to the public. For additional information about the event or the festival, call 305-910-7898. Out in the Tropics kicks off its second year with a panel discussion and opening reception at the event’s official hotel, The Shore Club. The evening begins with the ideas and insights of some of the best gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer contemporary artists in “Words and Power,” a panel discussion moderated by Founding Artistic Director Robert Rosenberg. This opening event features Festival artists Bitch, Keith Hennessy, Andrea Askowitz and South Florida-based performance artist Octavio Campos in an in-depth discussion addressing how many gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer artists turn words that have often been seen as oppressive and offensive.

Friday, June 10 at 8 p.m. Concert Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach Tickets are $20 and $15 for students/seniors and may be purchased at fundarte.us or ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000 or in-person at the Colony Theatre box office, 305-674-1040. For additional information about the event or the festival, call 305-910-7898. New York-based singer/songwriter takes the stage at the Colony Theatre.

Friday, June 10 and 17 at 10 p.m. Sunday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. Jai Rodriguez’ “Dirty Little Secrets” Carnival Studio Theater at Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Co-presented by City Theatre and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $35 and $17.50 students/seniors and may be purchased at arshtcenter.org or by calling 305-949-6722. For additional information about the event or the festival, call 305-910-7898. Dirty Little Secrets continues Emmy award-winning Rodriguez’ interest in late night. He became a star in the firmament of New York City nightlife when he created his long-running “Twisted Cabaret” in one of N.Y.C.’s most notable hotspots, club XL.

*There will also be an encore performance of “Dirty Little Secrets” on June 24 at 10 p.m. as part of City Theatre’s CityWrights festival.

Saturday, June 11 at 8 p.m. Keith Hennessy/Zero Performance “Crotch (all the Joseph Beuys references in the world cannot heal the pain, confusion, regret, cruelty, betrayal or trauma…)” Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach Tickets are $20 and $15 for students/seniors and may be purchased at fundarte.us or ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000 or in-person at the Colony Theatre box office, 305-674-1040. For additional information about the event or the festival, call 305-910-7898. Keith Hennessy’s Bessie award-winning piece was presented to critical acclaim at New York’s Dance Theater Workshop in 2009. “Crotch” references the images and actions of legendary conceptual artist Joseph Beuys. On the surface, the work is about art — its histories and heroes. On a deeper level, a sadness grows within a queer divorce melancholy.

Sunday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m. Women’s Reception at 6:30 p.m.; Screening of “Cracks” at 8 p.m. Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at fundarte.us or tix.com or by calling 800-595-4849. For additional information about the event or the festival, call 305-910-7898. Mary D. Events hosts a women’s reception prior to the screening of the film, “Cracks,” an official selection of the Toronto International and London BFI Film Festivals. Crushes, “cracks” in British slang, and jealousies are the ruling passions of this beautifully realized debut film from Jordan Scott, daughter of the legendary director Ridley Scott.

*There will be additional screenings of “Cracks” through June 16. Full schedule and theatre info at www.gablescinema.com.

Saturday, June 18 at 8 p.m. “Lip Service: True Stories Out Loud” Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at lipservicestories.com. For additional information about the event or the festival, call 305-910-7898. The popular literary event returns to the Miracle Theatre after its last sold-out event, presented in partnership with WLRN’s “Under the Sun.”  At this special event, eight South Floridians will reveal the truth about their diverse lives, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer experiences. The afterparty at 10 p.m. will be hosted at Books & Books, Lip Service’s long-time sponsor, located at 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables.

VIP Festival passes are available at www.outinthetropics.com or by calling 305-910-7898. The passes include one ticket to every event of the festival and additional perks for $100. No ticket surcharges apply to the festival passes. Tickets may be purchased in advance online for all events. Details for each event are outlined in the schedule of events. Advance ticket sales may also be purchased in person at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the Colony Theatre without a service charge. Group sale discounts can also be arranged by calling 305-910-7898. All venues are wheelchair accessible.

WHAT: Out in the Tropics: a different kind of contemporary performing arts festival WHEN: June 9 through 19, 2011, event times vary WHERE: Various locations, including the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center, Colony Theatre, Coral Gables Art Cinema and Miracle Theatre TICKETS: Various ticket prices, including free events INFO: www.outinthetropics.com, www.facebook/outinthetropics, [email protected] or 305-910-7898