by Jan Davisson
Palm Beach Dramaworks
Margery Lowe as Emily Dickinson and Gregg Weiner as Edgar Allen Poe star in the world premier of Edgar & Emily at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Produced by Palm Beach Dramaworks, the show will run March 31-April 22. Photo credit: Samantha Mighdoll
Each season one can count on Palm Beach Dramaworks to have several world premiers at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis St., in downtown West Palm Beach. This past season they staged Billy & Me by Terry Teachout and currently Edgar & Emily by Joseph McDonough, now through April 22. Both are about well-known authors…one real and one a fantasy about a possible meeting experience. Billy & Me was about the turbulent friendship between playwrights Tennessee Williams and William Inge. Edgar & Emily covers the unlikely meeting of the poet Emily Dickinson as she is visited by a desperate Edgar Allan Poe. He of the dark poems and stories such as The Tell-Tale Heart.
Next season had been announced and again, a World Premier, House On Fire by Lyle Kesseler. Other plays include The Spitfire Grill, a musical; Fences by August Wilson. The movie won numerous Academy Awards. The House of Blue Leaves, a quirky story about the Pope spending a day in New York and an untalented songwriter hoping to get a blessing from His Holiness to achieve his Hollywood dream. That will wrap up the season. Kicking the season off is a co production with the GableStage called Indecent.
The final production of the 2017/2018 season is Equus by Peter Shaffer May 18-June 3. Shows of this nature are the reason that Palm Beach Dramaworks is often referred to as theater to think about. The annual summer production is Woody Guthrie’s American Song- book from July 7-August 5. It follows his life through his music. And what a song book it is.
The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach at 201 Clematis Street. For ticket information, contact the box office at (561) 514-4042 or visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Something Rotten May 1-6, a hilarious musical set in 1595. Book by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. (Center is Rob McClure and cast of Something Rotten.) Photo credit: Joan Marcus
The Kravis on Broadway Series is about to end. Currently, April 10-15, Deborah Cox is starring in The Bodyguard, the Musical. This is followed by the hilarious Broadway musical, Something Rotten!, which runs May 1-6. The story takes place in 1595. It’s an original musical comedy. Book by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick. It’s a play within a play set in the era of Shakespeare.
Not part of the Kravis on Broadway Series but on the regular Kravis calendar is the smash hit, A Chorus Line, celebrating over forty years of enjoyment. Get out your gold top hat and white tails for the one night only performance on Friday, April 20 at 8 pm.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach Tickets (561) 832-7469 or (800) 572-8471; www.kravis.org.
The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum
Dancers at the magical wedding scene in Brigadoon at the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton. Photo credit: Amy Pasqunto.
The Wick Theatre has had an outstanding season with lots of musical interspersed with special shows. Now through April 8, there is still time to see the charming musical, Brigadoon. A Lerner and Lowe production, the songs have remained favorites such as It’s Almost Like Being In Love. Opening April 19-May 13 is Jerry’s Girls. It’s a tribute to the extremely talented and prolific composer Jerry Herman and centers around his larger than life fictitious women in some of American’s greatest musicals such as Dolly Gallagher from Hello Dolly; Auntie Mame Dennis of Mame and female impersonator ZaZa of La Cage Aux Folles. Tickets are now on sale.
The Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Raton. Box Office (561) 995-2333 or www.wick.org
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Andrew Kato, producing artistic director of the Maltz Jupiter, ended a spectacular season with a magnificent production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s old standard from the forties, South Pacific. It ended the season on a high note. Kato also announced the upcoming 2018/19 season. Steel Magnolias, Beauty and the Beast, A Doll’s House, Part 2 and West Side Story. There was a hole in the line-up stating that a musical would be announced in April. It was well worth the wait. The award-winning musical Mamma Mia! about the Swedish pop-sensation ABBA will be on stage January 15-February 10. It will be directed by Mark Martino, who directed last season’s hit, The Producers.
The Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has an exciting line up of plays for its summer audience. Kicking off with Disney Mulan, Jr.; 42nd Street; Sister Act and The Wizard of Oz. The featured players from each production.
The season might be over, but there’s always something entertaining going on. From one night shows to the summer productions presented by the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA.) Here’s a list of upcoming shows featuring the talented students from the Conservatory. These shows are perfect to introduce younger kids to live theater. May 5 & 6 is Disney Mulan, Jr. Followed by a singing and tap-dancing favorite, 42nd Street May 18 &19. Sister Act is June 22 & 23 and the COPA season ends with The Wizard of Oz July 27 & 28. Tickets are affordable for these outstanding productions, and you just might see a rising star headed to Broadway. They’re that good. For additional information, please visit www.jupitertheatre.org/education.
For ticket information: Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter, Tickets: (561) 575-2223; www.jupitertheatre.org.