by Jan Davisson
It’s the height of the season and it’s reflected in the caliber of theatrical performances available throughout Palm Beach County. It’s also the month that some of the theaters release the upcoming 2020/21 season. In other words, February is a great theatrical month.
Kravis on Broadway
Don’t get me wrong, January was pretty fabulous, starting with the Kravis on Broadway musical production of A Bronx Tale. It was advertised as Jersey Boys meets Westside Story opening with a Doo Wop quartet singing under a lamp post (Jersey Boys style). What a great opening in anticipation of what was to come, it had the wannabe hoods, the gang friction and the love story with boy and girl of a different race, falling in love, all the elements that make a great story line. Jeff Brooks in the lead role as the crime boss Sonny was outstanding as was Nick Fradiani as Lorenzo, the hardworking family man trying to keep his son (Calegero) from falling under the spell of Sonny and his easy to get money. It starts with a young Calegero, alternately played by Trey Murphy and Anthony Gianni, meeting Sonny and being taken under his wing. The lure of the life as a gangster stays with Calegero through his teen years. It’s more West Side Story with the unrest and sadness of the path Calegero is following. The mostly male cast of strong vocals and the amazing dancing skills of the cast made for a fantastic evening. Next up is Hamilton from January 28-February 16. This is a much longer run that the usual Kravis on Broadway production. It’s understandable due to the demand for tickets. Then it’s back to the regular marvelous season with Miss Saigon from March 3-8, another hit in the stellar line up of musicals for Kravis on Broadway.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach Tickets 561.832.7469 or 800.572.8471; www.kravis.org
Palm Beach Dramaworks
An entire weekend of theater was a birthday treat for me from my daughter, Donnie, also a lover of plays. It was the Dramaworkshop Festival, which offered a play reading of five new works, an opportunity to talk with the playwrights, and a special luncheon. It was an over the top experience. Last year’s event presented Ordinary Americans, starring Elizabeth Dimon as radio star, Molly Goldberg. The show was then added to the 2019/20 season. It was so successful that additional performances were added. This year, a new play from this year’s Festival has been slated for the new season. The People Downstairs by Michael McKeever has been added to the 2020/21 shows. It’s the story of Anne Frank with a twist. Her story of living in a factory attic for over two years with several families is a classic. McKeever presents a look at the brave people downstairs, who provided the shelter, food and protection for the families. If caught, they all faced death. It’s a gripping tale of a nerve shattering experience and how the small group of the factory employees handled the situation. The play reading was thrilling, I can’t wait to see the actual production.
There were four other new plays that might well crop up at a theater in South Florida. Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom by Padraic Lillis. It’s based around Renaissance painter, Giovanni Ballini who painted The Crucifixion opposite, the darling of the art world in the late 1400’s, Leonardo DiVinci’s The Last Supper.
Currently on stage at the Don and Ann Brown Theatre in West Palm is the outstanding dramady (drama and comedy) Skylight written by David Hare. It features three extra -ordinary actors who handle the dramatic story of an old beau trying to insert himself into his former girlfriend’s life again with humor. Peter Simon Hilton portrays Tom Sergeant, a successful, full of himself, businessman. Fortunately, I’ve seen him in several other Palm Beach Dramaworks. He’s an outstanding actor as one can tell from reading his national credits. Throughout the play, you keep harking back to men’s beliefs before women’s lib. Everything he did was right and Sarah Street’s (Kyra Hollis) life choices were sneered at, although she was working for the betterment of mankind. Her decision to live in a poor district to be near her job is beyond Sergeant’s comprehension. He’s just one of those men who thinks that he’s the only one to know what decisions you should be making. This also applies to his son, Edward Sergeant (Harrison Bryan), who also is making the wrong choices, according to dear old Dad. The world revolves around Tom Sergeant, so he thinks. The ending is no surprise as it’s clear that Sarah has moved on to the life she is meant to have as well as the son, Edward. The last scene involving Sarah and Edward is very touching.
The playwright, David Hare, is a prolific writer. His first play, Slag, was produced in 1970. Since then he has gone on to write close to 40 plays. He has also received several Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay. Hare certainly demonstrated his understanding of his characters with both drama and humor. If you haven’t had a chance to see Skylight, there’s still time as it runs through March 1. It’s another of Palm Beach Dramaworks continuous selection of plays that give you something to think about.
Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach FL 33401 Tickets: 561.514.4042 Ext. 2; www.palmbeachdramaworks.org
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre
If you didn’t get your tickets early to see Chicago, I feel sorry for you. It’s totally sold out. It’s a wonder: better than the production I saw on Broadway. Directed and choreographed by Denis Jones, it’s astounding. The show is one of those high energy production that gets you tired just watching the talented dancers. I particularly loved the Busby Berkeley type Razzle Dazzle number with Nicolas Dromard as Billy Flynn, the flim-flam lawyer defending the jail house murderers, Velma Kelly as Sarah Bowden and Samantha Sturm as Roxie Hart. Both were hilarious in their portrayals of gals who had murdered their husbands and were now trying to get a “not guilty” from the jury through the efforts of Billy Flynn. The opening, All That Jazz, was over the top. Of course, one of the standouts of Chicago is Cell Block Tango and Class with talented Altamiece Carolyn Cooper as Matron “Mama” Morton.
One of the funniest characters in Chicago is a quirky radio reporter known as Mary Sunshine. Her names sums it up; she looks at everything through rose colored glasses. I do believe that the role of Mary Sunshine was created for actress Anna McNeely. This is McNeely’s seventh show at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre whose Broadway credits include Cats, the original cast, Little Johnny Jones and Gypsy as Miss Electric, which proves that she’s quite capable of handling any role including the delightful Mary Sunshine.
Next up is the Neil Simon comedy, Brighton Beach Memoirs about growing up in Brighton Beach. Set in 1937 Brooklyn, it’s a coming of age story with which the audience will relate. It runs February 23-March 8 and is already almost sold out.
Looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day? The Celtic Tenors return on February 13 for one show only. This talented group has created a wonderful show with everything from Celtic classics, to pop and show tunes that will knock your socks off.
It’s another exciting season for the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Producing Artistic Andrew Kato announced the 20/21 season. It starts with a hilarious comedy, I Hate Hamlet (October 25-November 8, 2020); Sweet Charity, a musical about a girl who never gives up on love (December 1-20, 2020); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a high energy musical comedy, a Broadway favorite. (January 12-31, 2021; Good People, a dark comedy by David Lindsay-Abaire (February 14-28); and the Andrew Lloyd Webber award-winning musical, Sunset Blvd, the story of starlet Norma Desmond. (March 9-28, 2021)
Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter. Tickets: 561.575.2223; www.jupitertheatre.org
Cutlines:
Kravis on Broadway presents Miss Saigon March 3-8, 2020. Photo by Matthew Murphy
Palm Beach Dramaworks production of Skylight by David Hare features Peter Simon Hilton and Sarah Street. Production runs through March 1 at the Don and Ann Brown Theatre in West Palm Beach. Photo by Alicia Donelan
Nicolas Dromard portrays Billy Flynn in the Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s production of the sizzling American musical Chicago, onstage through February 2 at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Photo by Jason Nuttle
Evita, the Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice musical of Eva Peron’s climb from poverty to power is on stage at the Wick Theatre and Costume Museum in Boca Raton now through February 23. The demanding role of Eva will star Daniella Mass for evening and Sunday matinee performances. Kristina Huegal will portray Eva at the remaining matinee shows. Show was directed by Norb Joerder. Call 561.995.2333 for tickets.