by Donnie Quigley
Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were joyful and filled with family and friends. Now is the time to give yourself the gift of live theatre. This upcoming season on the Palm Beaches is filled with wonderful performances and music. I’ve included the productions from our four leading venues: Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Palm Beach Dramaworks, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, and the Wick Theatre and Museum.
Maltz Jupiter Theatre
If you missed A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, you missed a show filled with laughter, hilarity, and Stephen Sondheim music. Pseudolus, wonderfully played by Scott Cote, was so much fun to watch as the mischievous slave only wished for freedom. The whole cast was strong and energetic. The pace of the show worked so well, and the audience laughed from the opening number until the end of the show.
Sweet Charity is the next production to be held from January 10-29. It is a beautiful musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by the fabulous and witty Neil Simon. Sweet Charity is the story of a dancer-for-hire in a New York City dance hall. Her romantic escapades are recounted in the action and musical numbers. Charity Hope Valentine will capture your heart with her sweet optimism and dreams of finding her true love. Don’t miss this show with numbers such as “Hey, Big Spender” and “If They Could See Me Now.” You will not be disappointed!
Good People is an award-winning drama set in South Boston written by David Lindsay Abaire. It is the story of Southie, Margie Walsh, a single mother raising a severely handicapped daughter. She is fired from her job and is desperate to find another to pay the bills. Margie contacts her old boyfriend, hoping, through him, to meet someone that can give her a job. Her story is revealed during their reunion. It’s a slice of life in a South Boston neighborhood and an example of how fate and our choices determine our path in life. This show will run from February 12-26.
Besides the Maltz produced dramas and musicals, there are a number of limited engagements to enjoy in this new year.
Sweet Baby James – February 2, 7:30PM
Earth, Wind and Fire, Tribute Band – February 3, 7:30PM
Rumours – February 4, 8:00PM
Portrait if a Queen – February 5, 7:30PM
Staying Alive, One Night of the Bee Gees – February 28, 7:30PM
The Neil Diamond Experience – March 1, 7:30
What a Fool Believes – March 2, 7:30
The Celtic Tenors – March 3, 7:30
For Tickets Visit: GO.JUPITERTHEATRE.ORG
Maltz Jupiter Theatre
1001 E. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter
Tickets: 561.575.2223
www.jupitertheatre.org
Palm Beach Dramaworks
Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose was the last show of 2022 at Palm Beach Dramaworks. It was the most superbly cast and directed drama that I have seen in a long time. It was originally written and performed at Studio 1 during their 1954-55 season and is as relevant today as it was then. The jury walked onto the stage, and, for the next 128 minutes, the audience held their breath as each new piece of evidence was revealed and the character of the men exposed and peeled away. It was fascinating to watch, and one felt like they were a fly on the wall watching in real time. I sat in my seat with goosebumps as the last juror gave his vote. The set, lighting and actors set the mood for a stunning performance.
The Science of Leaving Omaha by Carter W. Lewis
February 3-19
This world premiere play is the story of Iris, a school dropout who is working at the Belladonna Funeral Home’s basement crematory. Iris is trying to find a way out of her job and Omaha. Will things change when Baker, whose wife awaits cremation, breaks into the funeral home to say goodbye? Baker and Iris spend an evening together trying to understand their working-class lives before the police arrive. This play promises dark humor and drama and will be directed by Bruce Linser. A new play is always exciting as the audience discovers the secrets hidden in the unknown script. Don’t miss this premiere!
New Year/New Plays
Dramaworkshop Festival will be held from Friday, January 6 through Sunday, January 8. The goal of the Dramaworkshop is to cultivate significant new work for the PBD main stage and other theatres around the country. It provides the opportunity for the playwrights to hear their words performed by gifted actors and it also provides feedback from the audience. I have been to the festival and will be there, again, this year. It is exciting and so enjoyable to listen to new works. The plays chosen for this year are:
The Messenger by Jenny Connell Davis
Friday, January 6 at 3PM
Inspired by the life of Hungarian survivor Georgia Gabor, this play in four monologues is a meditation on how our stories can protect or expose us, and on the connections between past, present, and future.
The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool by Michael Holliger
Adalia, Virgin Queen of the Realm and Mother of Us All, is dying and must name her successor before it is too late. But she would rather spend her final hours enjoying the distractions of her fool. Meanwhile, her niece and nephew have both assembled armies to storm the castle, each hoping to grab the crown as it falls. Clearly, the clock is ticking. What’s a woman to do?
The Islanders by Carey Crim
Saturday, January 7 at 3 PM
Anna lives a small and quiet life on Beaver Island, Michigan. She has few friends and likes it that way. Her carefully controlled life is turned upside down by the arrival of her charming but secretive neighbor, Dutch. For different reasons Anna and Dutch have been thrown away by mainstream society. Can their connection survive the revelations that must inevitably come with true intimacy?
Dangerous Instruments by Gina Montet
Saturday, January 7 at 7PM
Laura, a single young mother, would do anything for her gifted son, Daniel. Scholarships to elite private schools are the golden ticket for her little genius. But when Daniel’s brilliant mind turns violent, she finds herself battling a broken system. Laura must confront a mother’s darkest fears as she desperately races to help her son before he becomes the next horrifying headline.
Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Bill Cain
Sunday, January 8 at 3PM
Set in 1865 on the eve of President Lincoln’s assassination and 1894 during the Pullman Strike in Chicago, the play explores the legacy, accountability, and how American history was written. And continues to repeat itself through man’s obsession with money and power.
The price for the festival is $20.00 for each play or $75.00 for all the plays.
Dramawise
Dramawise is a program that delves into each mainstage production. It is divided into two “acts” and an intermission (Lunch at a local estaurant). Act I is an in-depth discussion of the play, while Act II features the cast and artistic team in conversation about the production and creative process. Act I runs from 10:00AM-11:30AM, intermission (lunch) from 11:45AM-12:45PM and Act II from 2:00Pm-3:00pm. Each program takes place the Thursday before opening night.
Dramawise Tickets:
Act I, Intermission (lunch included), and Act II. $75
Act I only: $35
Act II only: $25
Palm Beach Dramaworks
201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach
Tickets: 561.514.4042 Ext. 2
www.palmbeachdramaworks.org
Kravis Theatre for the Performing Arts
I hope a lot of you were able to enjoy Disney’s Aladdin. A musical spectacular of music and colors! It was a show for all ages! Kravis has a wonderful 2023 list of shows and performances.
Hadestown, January 3-8
The world is a bleak, post apocalyptic landscape, a town similar to one in the Great Depression. The god Hermes, is the narrator of this story. His tale is one of Orpheus and Eurydice. It was written by Anais Mitchell. The folk opera was first staged in 2006. It is a Tony award winning musical.
Tootsie, February 7-12
Tootsie is a musical comedy based on the 1982 film of the same name. The book is by Robert Horn and the music and lyrics are by David Yazbek. The story is about Michael Dorsey, a volatile actor who is fired from his job for being too difficult. After being told by his agent, he will never work again, Micheal has the brilliant idea of dressing up as a woman and auditioning for women’s roles. A lot of hijinx occurs as well as lessons in grace and empathy.
Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra – Tuesday, January 6 at 8:00PM
David Feherty – Thursday, January 12 at 7:30PM
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra – Friday, January 13 at 8:00PM
Fela! The Concert – Saturday, January 14 at 8:00PM
Judith Hill – Sunday, January 15 at 6:00PM
The Cleveland Orchestra – Monday, January 23 at 8:00PM
Chris Botti – Wednesday, January 25 at 8:00PM
The Greatest Love of All-Whitney Houston Tribute – Thursday, January 26 at 8:00PM
The Kat and Dave Show – Friday, January 27 at 8:00PM
Blue Man Group – Saturday and Sunday, January 28 and 29
Michael Feinstein – Thursday, February 2 at 8:00PM
Wheel of Fortune Love! – Friday, February 3 at 8:00PM
Boyz II Men – Saturday, February 4 at 8:00PM
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra – Monday, February 13 at 8:00PM
Miami City Ballet with Diversion of Angels – Friday, February 17-Sunday, February 19
Academy of St. Martin Fields – Monday, February 27 at 8:00PM
Sarah McLachlan – Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30PM
The Kravis Theatre of the Performing Arts has such a variety of productions, that you can find one for a young family, teens, a romantic evening or a celebration of any kind!
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 and Costume Museum
Anything Goes is a classic musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It’s the voyage of the S.S. American between New York and England. It is filled with eccentric passengers who can sing and dance. Nothing is more fun than a show with lots of tap-dancing numbers. American Songbook classics such as “You’re the Top”, “Anything Goes” and “I Get a Kick Out of You”, are just a few of the songs that will have you humming along and cheering for love!
Anything Goes – January 12 – February 12.
Christine Andreas- Love Is Good – February 18 at 8:00PM
This a musical journey through love and is a presentation of Broadway Classics and the songs of the Great American Songbook. It will be an evening filled with beautiful music!
Lance Lipinski in Concert – February 24 Dinner/Show
Lance Lipinski will be half concert and half history lesson as he takes the audience from the late 1940’2 to the mid 1960’s. Enjoy a beautiful dinner and show at the immersive Museum Club.
The Wick Theatre
7901 North Federal Highway Boca Raton
Tickets 561-995-2333
www.TheWick.org
Palm Beach County is so fortunate to have all these wonderful venues for the arts. Support your favorite theatres and introduce a friend, family member or your grandchildren to the beauty of music, drama, and dance. Until next time, I will see you at the theatre. Exit. Stage right.