by Jan Davisson
Maltz Jupiter Theatre
What does one do when life hands you a bunch of lemons? The clever folks make lemonade! That’s what Andrew Kato, Producing Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer at the Maltz Jupiter Theater is doing. When COVID-19 made all the theaters go dark, people lost their jobs and business dried up. That’s when Kato and his supportive board of directors decided to advance plans for the $30 million dollar expansion of the regional theater. The original plans had been a three- phase expansion, but the opportunity was right to start immediately, combining the next two phases of the plans, which will include a Broadway-scale stage. “With a proper Broadway-scale Stage, we’re going to be able to attract independent producers who might want to invest their money here to develop a pre-Broadway show or national tour.”
The rehearsal hall will be doubled in size and the new three-floor, state-of-the-art production facilities will include floor to ceiling windows, a dining experience, expanded conservatory and lobby, redesigned entrance and second theater space. A 199-seat black box theater is also included, which will allow the creative teams to develop works that are a little more cutting-edge works,” said Kato. Part of the mission statement of regional theaters is to create new works.
“Most Broadway shows try out in a regional theater before they go to Broadway,” said Kato. “And we were not in a position to compete because of our stage specs. You know, the depth and width and height of the stage, and having no trap doors in the floors. All of that prevented us from being able to say that we could do that.”
Sadly, there will be no 20/21 season; however, the 21/22 season has been announced starting with Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express (Oct 31-Nov. 14, 2021). The holiday musical Sweet Charity will run from (Nov. 30-Dec. 19, 2021). The production for the start of 2022 has not been announced, but we’re promised a big Broadway musical that is not allowed to be announced yet (Jan. 11-Feb. 6, 2022). I Hate Hamlet is slated for Feb. 20-March 6, 2022, and the season closes with the hilarious musical comedy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (March 22-April 10, 2022). Many of the limited engagements and the two benefit concerts have been transferred to 21/22.
“The best way people will be able to see the difference is when you come in off Indiantown Road and look at the three stories of preproduction facilities with the top floor being the rehearsal hall. You’ll actually be able to look up and see people rehearsing. And then the second floor, you be able to see the costumes being made,” he said. “You’ll really be looking into the soul of the theater.”
When the original Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre opened in 1979, Jupiter was so small that there was only one restaurant that remained open late, the Lighthouse Truck Stop. Actor/director/teacher, Charles Nelson Reilly was so impressed with the new theater and the caliber of shows being produced that he decided to have bumper stickers made for the employees that read, Miracle at a Truck Stop. If he could just see what his old student, Andrew Kato, has accomplished, he’d be very pleased and probably have a reprint!
Palm Beach Dramaworks
Unfortunately, Palm Beach Dramaworks has no plans for the balance of 2020. While it’s still waiting on news for 2021, Palm Beach Dramaworks hasn’t slowed down even through the Clematis Street theater has been closed since March. Founding member, William Hayes, who is also the Producing Artistic Director has kept his actors busy with productions and interviews online or You Tube. This included a reading of the new play, The People Downstairs, which will be part of the season, whenever it begins. For older theatre goers, these readings are kind of like “old time” radio except that you can see the actors.
The programs are part of Drama Logue and Drama (in the works) series and offer a variety of online events that are free. For the original evening, you must make a reservation; then you’re given a code so that you can access it at 7 p.m. However, the performances are taped and can be viewed on You Tube for a few days after each reading. It certainly beats the constant reruns that are on television.
Many of the Drama (in the works) readings are scripts that were part of the New Year/New Plays Festival. These included Ordinary Americans, which was selected as part of the 2019/20 season and The People Downstairs, which is on the future calendar. Although I saw the original reading, I was so happy to see it again as part of Drama (in the works) on You Tube. It proved to be as exciting as the first time I heard it.
No red carpet, glamorous sequined apparel or black ties in sight at the 44th Annual Carbonell Awards but, as always, it was fun to watch. Even though it was a virtual ceremony on television, it was very well done. We’re so lucky to have such great theatre here in Palm Beach County and South Florida.
Palm Beach Dramaworks received four awards plus the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award presented to “the theatre company that exemplifies excellence for the totality of its programming productions, educational outreach, developmental programs and audiences served.”
Sounds just like Palm Beach Dramaworks…
Each season, PBD Producing Artistic Director, William Hayes, puts together a wonderful combination of well-known classic plays, world premiers and a musical. PBD received a Carbonell in each category. The Best Scenic Design was presented to Anne Mendel for her set design for the classic A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Rita Cole won for best supporting actress in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. David Kuwait won the best supporting actor for his portrayal of Philip Loeb in the world premier of Ordinary Americans. It’s a stunning script by Joseph McDonough and covers the ‘50s era of the Communist witch hunt, the McCarthy black list and Gertrude Berg’s brave stand against corporate media giants for her husband, Philip Loeb, who was accused of being a member of the Communist party. Elizabeth Demon (Molly Goldberg) was nominated for best actress.
The 2019 musical, The Spitfire Grill featured the talents of the Lubber Family musicians. Amy Miller Brennan took home the Carbonell for best supporting actress in a musical. The unusual script is about the journey a young woman takes after being released from prison and deciding to start a new life in rural Wisconsin. Book and music by James Vale and book and lyrics by Fred Alley; great music by extremely talented musicians!
For additional information on Drama (in the works) and Drama Logue, go to www.palmbeachdramaworks.org or call the box office at (561) 514-4042, ext 2. Tickets to both events are free, but reservations are required.
The Wick Theatre
Justin M. Lewis from The Wick Theatre in Boca Raton won the Carbonell for Best Choreography in the production of Hot Shoe Shuffle. To date, no productions in the works works for 2020.
One final note for this column on theater. Jim Hilliker, the drama teacher and beloved Santa Claus for the Annual Jupiter Tequesta Christmas parade, passed away on August 13, 2020. His former students, teachers and friends will always remember what an inspiration and blessing he was in the community.
Captions:
Due to the postponement of the new season during the pandemic, plans have changed for the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. In a release from Andrew Kato, Managing, Producing Artistic Director at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, “Our expansion begins! After 5 years of planning and fundraising, our $30 million expansion will break ground at the end of the month. The Maltz Jupiter Theatre will reopen in October 2021.
2. The 2019 musical, The Spitfire Grill, produced at the Palm Beach Dramaworks, earned a Carbonell for Amy Miller Brennan as best supporting actress in a musical.
3. Justin M. Lewis brought home a Carbonell for best choreography in the production of The Hot Shoe Shuffle at the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton.
4. Set to the music of Jimmy Buffet, Escape to Margaritaville is bound to be an audience pleaser. The musical has been rescheduled to January 5-10. It will restart the Kravis on Broadway Series at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach.