by Jan Davisson
I love the season! There are so many shows to experience both locally and within the South Florida area. Theatergoers, here you are…
Maltz Jupiter Theatre
We weren’t even close with our guesses of what the 2019-20 season would be at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. The hints in the Mamma Mia program were FRIGHT for the first production; followed by CHOOSE THE WHO; then PASSION, COMING OF AGE and AMBITION.
The Curious Case of the Curse of Count Dracula is definitely frightening. It’s also a musical with a dash of Mel Brooks and Monty Python thrown in for some deep belly laughs. The holiday production is the musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. It’s the final novel by Charles Dickens and is unfinished, so I guess the CHOOSE THE WHO means we gets to decide the finish. There are so many that come to mind with PASSION, but the choice is great…it’s Chicago, just loaded with glitz and glam, great music and fantastic choreography. COMING OF AGE turned out to be the Neil Simon comedy Brighten Beach Memoirs. It takes place right before World War II and follows a 15-year-old boy as he navigates through the process of growing up. Last, but not least, is a final musical for the end of the season. All about AMBITION, it’s the award-winning musical comedy How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
What can one say about the last Maltz Jupiter Theatre production of Mamma Mia other than FUN, FUN, FUN! From the exuberant cast and wonderful dancing that incorporated the Greek Isles, to the glitzy costumes, and, of course, the music of Abba, from start to finish, your toes just didn’t stop tapping. Director Mark Martino and Associate Director Elise Kinnon certainly know how to get the most out of the talented cast. They also were the choreographers of the clever dances. The stars, Mary Mossberg as Donna and Becca Andrews as daughter Sophia, proved to be an extremely talented duo. The cast of 26 also included some of South Florida’s favorite actors, including Jim Ballad who can tackle any role and make it his; Taylor Jackson, who was recently seen in Steel Magnolias at the Maltz, and scene stealer Margot Moreland. Margot is one funny and talented lady who obviously enjoys herself. She radiates fun whenever she’s on stage.
After a three-week sold-out performance of Mamma Mia, it would be hard to top such a fun musical production, but when you follow it with a comedy taken from a classic, I think it’s pure magic. Now through March 10, A Doll’s House Part 2 by Lucas Hnath provides the laughs at the Maltz. Playwright Hnath takes a humorous look at what would happen if Nora, the amazing woman in the revolutionary Herik Ibsen classic, A Doll’s House, were to reappear fifteen years after slamming the door as she left her smothering life in 1879. Now she comes back as a worldly woman with a career. Unheard of at the turn of the century.
Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter. Tickets: 561.575.2223; www.jupitertheatre.org
Palm Beach Dramaworks
After running the complete cycle of adjectives to describe The Spitfire Grill, I’ve decided that STUNNING fits best. The reason is because I expected a light, musical comedy and instead received a production with theater to think about, which is the mission statement for the award-winning theater. It wouldn’t do to just have a mainstream musical; it had to be something with interesting characters with stories to tell and unusual music, ably performed by the Lubben Family of musicians. It combines some blue grass, a bit of country and even some Broadway-style music. Many of the regular patrons are winter visitors and had inquired about a possible musical during the season. That was enough for Producing Artistic Director William Hayes to decide that this was the year to start including a musical. Judging from the number of additional performances that had to be added to the schedule, I think the audience agreed. The Spitfire Grill was directed by Bruce Linser and featured Amy Miller Brennan, Elizabeth Dimon, Patti Gardner, John Barry Green, David A. Hyland and Ashley Rose.
Next up is August Wilson’s drama Fences March 29-April 21, 2019. It’s a classic play that details life of a black family through the good times and bad times. It’s part of Wilson’s Pittsburg Cycle, a series of 10 plays. The best known is Fences, which won both a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony.
Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach FL 33401 Tickets: 561.514.4042 Ext. 2; www.palmbeachdramaworks.org
Kravis Theatre for the Performing Arts
Big doings with the current Kravis on Broadway shows and the announcement of the 2019/20 season.
The production of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables was as good as I could remember. Strong cast and chorus, lots of drama and outstanding singing of the beautiful score by Claude-Michel Schonberg with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. The leads were Josh Davis as Javert (Soliloquy), Nick Cartell as Jean Valjean, (Bring Him Home), J. Anthony Crane as Thenardier (Master of the House), Jillian Butler as Cosette (In My Life), Mary Kate Moore as Fantine (I Dreamed a Dream), and Joshua Grosso as the love interest, Marius (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables). Cartell as Jean Valjean received over two minutes of applause after his stirring rendition of Bring Him Home. It brought most of us to tears. Going to be hard to top Les Miserables; however, Kravis on Broadway is up to the task with the hit Broadway show, Waitress running March 5-10. The musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, who has received five Grammy nominations. Waitress is still running on Broadway. It’s based on a 2007 film about the perseverance of a young woman to overcome life’s challenges. It’s one of those touching productions that digs deep into your soul and fills it with joy. This production is extra special as four-year-old Caroline Joslin, a Jupiter actress, is featured as the the daughter of the production’s main character, Jenna.
SCHOOL OF ROCK – THE MUSICAL runs from March 27-31. It’s a hilarious new musical that follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. While teaching these pintsized prodigies what it means to truly rock, Dewey falls for the school’s beautiful, but uptight headmistress, helping her rediscover the wild child within.
Next season is equally as exciting kicking off with Fiddler on the Roof November 12-17, 2019; The Play that Goes Wrong, December 10-15; A Bronx Tale, January 7-12, 2020; of course, everyone is waiting for Hamilton, January 28- February 16, Miss Saigon March 3-8; Come From Away, March 31-April 5 and wrapping up with the smash Broadway hit Summer, The Donna Summer musical, April 28- May 3.
WICK THEATRE & COSTUME MUSEUM
The Wick Theatre in Boca Raton offers the delightful musical comedy Crazy for You with the triple-threat Broadway star Matt Loehr as leading man.
One of my all time favorite musical comedy actors is coming to the Wick Theatre this month. It’s Matt Loehr who has appeared at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre in The Music Man; Hello Dolly, Me & My Girl and Crazy for You. He won a Carbonell as best actor in a musical for each show. Good reason for that, he’s terrific. He has also appeared on Broadway in The Book of Mormons. The upcoming show is the delightful musical, Crazy For You, which won the 1992 Tony for Best Musical. If you love a good dancing show, this one is for you, especially the tap number, I Cant Be Bothered Now. Of course, with music by Ira and George Gershwin, you know it’s outstanding with numbers like I’ve Got Rhythm and Someone to Watch Over Me. It’s based on the 1930 musical, Girl Crazy. Crazy for You runs for one month, March 14-April 14.
The Wick Theatre, 7901 North Federal Highway Boca Raton, FL 33487 www.TheWick.org 561.995.2333
Film Review
This month I had the opportunity to see a film produced by an independent producer, Robert Deranian, PhD. I have always loved books or films that help bring history to life and then have a discussion after the viewing. The screening of TABU was held at Keiser University in West Palm Beach. The panel discussion following the film included the event moderator Program Director Glenn Swift, M.A., Andrew Plotkin, Ph.D., and the film’s writer and producer, Robert Deranian, Ph.D. Don’t let all those degrees scare you! It was a very down to earth discussion of a subject that I hadn’t thought of in years.
The film is a plot much like Romeo and Juliet with opposing families. In this case, the young man, whose family came from Turkey, is ethnic Armenian and the girl is Turkish (born, bred, the whole nine yeards); however, it takes place in the United States where both are students. The film is intense as the couple and their families try to come to terms with the century-old extermination of more than 1.5 million men, women and children that forever changed the history of Armenia—the Armenian Genocide. The starting date is conventionally held to be 24 April 1915, the day that Ottoman authorities arrested and executed hundreds of prominent Armenian professionals and intellectuals. To this day, the Turkish government denies that it ever happened. The story of the ill-fated lovers revolves around the difficulties the present-day Turkish have accepting this historical fact even though there is overwhelming proof on film and in the historical record.
Despite this unimaginable tragedy having happened over 100 years ago, it remains a source of contention between the citizens of each country. Some of the film’s photos are disturbing, but the historical event should be a lesson learned. Regretfully, there are still countries systematically exterminating entire populations. The Q&A segment following the film delved into the factors leading to the genocide and the various reasons the Turkish government still refuses to acknowledge that it ever happened. Kudos to Keiser for launching their History Movie Series. (Stay tuned for the next one…)