^{by Jan Davisson}

Palm Beach Dramaworks at the Don and Ann Brown Theatre in West Palm Beach kicked off the 2019/20 season with a production exemplifying the WOW factor. The Tennessee Williams drama, A Streetcar Named Desire, features a cast of outstanding actors. Starring Danny Gavigan as Stanley Kowasiski, the crude husband of Stella (Annie Grier) bred and brought up as a Southern Belle and sister of Blanche DuBois portrayed by Kathy McCafferty. The trouble starts when Blanche shows up at Stella’s and discovers that her sister is married to a man with no social graces. Unfortunately, Blanche has lost the family plantation and is destitute so she must impose on the hospitality of her sister Stella and her husband Stanley. The story progresses as the audiences tries to figure out if Blanche is mentally unbalanced or just refuses to live in the real world. It’s truly “theatre to think about.”

On a scale of 1-10, the Palm Beach Dramaworks season opener, the Tennesse Williams drama A Streetcar Named Desire is an 11. The outstanding cast includes Kathy McCafferty as Blanche DuBois and Brad Makarowski as Mitch. Now through November 3 at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre on Clematis Street, West Palm Beach. Photo by Samantha Mighdoll

The audience watched spell bound. No one even coughed, afraid that they might miss a line. It was an audience that obviously loved drama. Enough can’t be said about the performances of Danny Gavigan, Annie Grier and Brad Makarowski (as Mitch who decides to court Blanche). Under the direction of J. Barry Lewis, KathyMcCafferty took Tennessee Williams’ magnificient script and made it her own. The night belonged to Kathy McCafferty in the role of the fragile Blanche. Other standout performances include Julie Rowe as a neighbor who was brought up in the 40s and her husband Steve ( Gregg Weiner), a typical blue collar husband of the era.

Streetcar Named Desire runs through November 3. It’s a treat, so don’t miss it!

Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach FL 33401 Tickets: (561) 514-4042 Ext. 2; www.palmbeachdramaworks.org

MALTZ JUPITER THEATRE

Just in time for Halloween, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre opens with The Curious Case of the Curse of Count DRACULA. Pictured from Left to Right: Malloray Newbrough as Lucy Westfeldt, Jared Zirilli as Dracula, Paul Carlin as Mina Wesfeldt, Peter Simon Hilton as Jonathan Harker, and Wayne LeGette as Renfield. Photo by Jason Nuttlex

Just in time for Halloween, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre opened with A Comedy of Terrors: DRACULA, which opens on October 27 and runs through November 10. Written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, the show combines the epic horror story of Count Dracula and mixes it up with the quirky humor of Mel Brooks and Monty Python. Written and directed by Gordon Greenberg, the production features five actors playing a cast of zany characters as it tells a fast-paced story through illusion and special effects. According to Producing Artistic Director Andrew Kato, “We are very excited to produce a world premiere at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre and give our audience the chance to see a fresh, brand new production.” The first phase of the improved production facilities (Act 1) was completed this summer and includes extensive improvements to the parking lots, adding 40 new spaces, landscaping and bringing power to the building in advance of the next phase. Act 2 will begin in April and includes the redesign of the entire Production area (widening of stage by six feet and deepening it by three feet as well as raising the fly tower by three feet). “One of the primary objectives of our current expansion is to have the improved facilities to be able to produce more new works and, ultimately, new shows before they make it to Broadway,” said Kato.

The holiday season musical is The Mystery of Edwin Drood opening December 3-19. The show has a twist that includes inviting the audience members to vote for which character they think is the killer. Watch out, Jessica Fletcher, I’m here to steal your thunder as a detective!

Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter. Tickets: 561.575.2223; www.jupitertheatre.org

KRAVIS ON BROADWAY SERIES

Kravis on Broadway kicks off season with Fiddler on the Roof starring Israeli theater, film and television star, Yehezkel Lazarov. The production runs November 12-17 at the Kravis Theatre of the Performing Arts. Yehezkel Lazarov and Jonathan Von Mering and cast members of Fiddler on the Roof. Photo by Joan Marcus

Every season I mention that this is the best season ever. Well, again I was wrong. It’s coming up for 2019/20! You can’t beat opening a season with a well-loved classic, especially when it stars Israeli theatre, film and television star, Yehezkel Lazarov, who continues his acclaimed two-year run as Tevye in the North American tour of Fiddler on the Roof. The Tony Award nominated production is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher and choreographed by Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter. The original production, which opened in 1964, was the first musical in history to surpass 3,000 performances. The show won a total of nine Tony Awards, including the 1965 Best Musical of the year. If you’ve never seen Fiddler on the Roof, you’re in for a treat. The songs have been loved for over fifty years with “Sunrise, Sunset” a favorite for weddings. Other songs include “Match Maker, Match Maker,” “If I Were A Rich Man” and “Tradition.” Unfortunately, it only runs from November 12-17 at the Kravis Theatre for the Performing Arts. Tickets are now on sale so better get them quickly.

Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach Tickets 561.832.7469 or 800.572.8471; www.kravis.org   

WICK THEATRE AND COSTUME MUSEUM

If you love tap dancing, then the play to see is the Wick’s production of Hotfoot Shuffle. The show runs through November 10 at the Wick Theatre and Costume Museum in Boca Raton.

A total of five outstanding musicals are slated for the Boca Raton theatre, including a dancing show Hot Shoe Shuffle, a classic musical comedy for the holiday season; The Music Man, November 20-December 29; two dramatic musicals, Evita and A Chorus Line; and closing with the zany musical Nunsense.

Hot Shoe Shuffle is currently on stage through November 10. If you love tap dancing, you’ll adore this show.

The Wick Theatre, 7901 North Federal Highway Boca Raton, FL 33487