by Jan Davisson
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
It might be the middle of summer, but there are still events going on. Summer months are always a great time to explore other close-by theaters, especially when it’s a show for kids. If you’ve never been to the Broward Center Au Rene Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, mark down July 28 and 29. There’s a great children’s show with tickets starting at only $19: The Paw Patrol Live. Good time to visit Fort Lauderdale when it’s not so crowded. It’s also a good time to check out the upcoming season, which opens with Phantom of the Opera in October and The King and I in November.
The Broward Center for Performing Arts
201 S.W. 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale 33312; Tickets: (954) 462-0222
Palm Beach Dramaworks
Not to be missed is this year’s summer musical Woody Guthrie’s Song Book. The show opens on July 13 and runs through August 5 at the Don and Ann Brown Theatre on Clematis St. in downtown West Palm Beach. This slice of Americana features the music of story teller/musician Woody Guthrie, a traveling troubadour who celebrated the wonders of America but also listened and wrote about the downtrodden. Produced by Palm Beach Dramaworks( PBD), the show, which had its world premiere in 1988, was conceived by Peter Glazer and orchestrated by Jeff Waxman. It follows the history of America through legendary songs composed and performed by balladeer Woody Guthrie. Remember Nine Hundred Miles, Bound for Glory and This Land is Your Land? Just a few of the more than two dozen songs featured in this patriotic musical. Cost of tickets for those under forty years of age is based on your age. Just bring proof of birth.
Palm Beach Dramaworks summer production, Woody Guthrie’s American Song cast includes the Lubben Brothers. Joshua Lubben, Michael Lubben, and Tom Lubben, triplets who are familiar to many South Floridians as The Lubben Brothers, an acoustic folk band.
The cast of five actor/musicians features, in alphabetical order, Cat Greenfield, Don Noble, Sean Powell and Jeff Raab, all making their PBD debuts, and Julie Rowe, who just finished a strong performance in Equus as Dora Strang. They will be joined onstage by musicians Joshua Lubben, Michael Lubben and Tom Lubben, an acoustic folk band that includes two of the wives. The show is directed by Bruce Linser with Sean Powell as the musical director. The dynamic duo, scenic designer Michael Amico, and costume designer Brian O’Keefe will be joined by John Hall for the lighting design and Brad Pawlak on sound design.
The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach at 201 Clematis Street. For ticket information, contact the box office at (561) 514-4042 or visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.
Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The Frank Baum classic tale of Dorothy and friends following the yellow brick road to the Emerald City in Oz has two performances only at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
The young audience productions continue through July and August at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Produced by COPA (Conservatory of Performing Arts), they just finished Sister Act in June and now have Dorothy skipping down the “yellow brick road” in a student production of the classic story by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz on July 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. This will be followed by the Youth Artist’s Chair Production of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. This is usually required reading at some point in one’s life. What a painless way to experience the story. This is an annual production with everything from behind the stage and on stage, including directing, done by the older COPA students. Where else can young people interested in theatre have the opportunity to created this on a professional stage?
Don’t forget that season tickets are now on sale. Just pull up www.jupitertheatre.org and see for yourself all of the fantastic shows that will be produced at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. That means everything from set design to costumes to lighting and sound, all created at the Maltz.
Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter, Tickets: (561) 575-2223; www.jupitertheatre.org
Broward Stage Door
The cast of Breaking Up Is Hard to Do at the Broward Stage: Gail Byer, Michael Small, Trenton Bainbridge, Molly Shippy, Leigh Green, Bruno Faria.
It’s only about an hour drive to the Broward Stage Door down south in Margate. If you’re a Neil Sedaka fan, you’ll love this show. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do. It tells the tale of two friends just looking for that final summer fling over a long Labor Day weekend in the Catskills. It’s filled with 18 Sedaka song such as Where the Boys Are, Sweet Sixteen and the title song, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. It’s set in 1960 and is guaranteed to bring back some wonderful memories. This great production is currently on stage and runs through August 12.
Broward Stage Door, 8036 W. Sample Rd., Margate, 33065. Tickets: (954) 344-7765
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets for The Kravis on Broadway Series for 2018/19 are now on sale. Broadway star Betty Buckley will star in Hello Dolly from December 11-16.
Time to get busy and order your tickets for the outstanding 2018/19 season for the Kravis on Broadway series. Each year just gets better and better! Something for all age groups with the kick-off on November 6-11 of Rock of Ages. Remember the songs in 1987 recorded by JOURNEY, NIGHT RANGER, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, PAT BENATAR, TWISTED SISTER, POISON, ASIA, WHITESNAKE? Well, there are lots more from that time period. The holiday season show December 11-16, stars Betty Buckley in Hello Dolly. This classic from 1964 received 10 Tony Awards plus a nomination for Charles Nelson Reilly, a long-time resident of Jupiter before his death in 2007. The “feel good” musical, On Your Feet, will light up the stage from January 8-13, 2019. The show is based on the lives and music of 26-time Grammy Award-winning husband and wife team, Emilio and Gloria Estefan. If you want to dazzle your Valentine with a special treat, pick up tickets to Les Miserables, February 12-17. Waitress is on stage March 5-10. The show received a Tony nomination for Sarah Bareilles in 2016 for best score. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway rocker, School of Rock from March 27-31 is a fun musical for all ages. The final show is The Lion King, an extravaganza with breathtaking costumes, singing and story line for all ages.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach Tickets (561) 832-7469 or (800) 572-8471; www.kravis.org.