by Jan Davisson
The Kravis Theatre said it best: “intermission is over.” Yeaaa…it’s time for the theater season to really start! Listings keep changing, so it’s hard to keep up, but I’ll do my best.
The Wick Theatre, Boca Raton
Everyone’s favorite show featuring hits performed by ABBA opens for a six-week run October 7-November 14, 21/22. The smash hit musical by Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus’, Mamma Mia!, which is based on the songs of ABBA, can be seen again and again. It’s so much fun! The movie with Meryl Streep was terrific, but nothing beats a live stage production. Take a trip down memory lane listening to SOS, Take A Chance on Me and The Winner Takes it all. The show is a great way to kick off a brand new theatrical season in the Palm Beaches.
The Wick Theatre, 7901 North Federal Highway Boca Raton, FL 33487 www.TheWick.org (561) 995-2333
Palm Beach Dramaworks
Due to popular demand, the charming show by William Luce, The Belle of Amherst, is now on the Palm Beach Dramaworks 21/22 season. The online presentation, which was a coproduction with Actors’ Playhouse, was so well received in April that Producing Artistic Director William Hayes has included it in the season. “The feedback was so extraordinary that we wanted it to have a new life in front of an audience,” said Hayes. “That was the only thing missing from our online version. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to produce the world premiere of The Duration, which created a lot of excitement when we presented the reading as part of the Dramaworkshop’s Drama (in the) works series.
The season opening is set for October 15 with Almost, Maine by John Cariani. It’s a love story set in a remote, fictional town called Almost Maine. It’s that old and new, heart-stopping and weak-kneed, unexpected and unrequited, lost and found love. The production offers a touch of magic and a spirit of hope. Sounds like a winner to me.
Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach FL 33401 Tickets: 561.514.4042 Ext. 2; www.palmbeachdramaworks.org
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
“Well, hello Kravis on Broadway, it’s so nice to see you back where you belong.” The entire lineup of Kravis events has been listed and includes 132 fantastic shows. Everything from classical music and comedy such as Steve Martin and Martin Short, to musical power-house entertainers like Paul Anka, Michael Bolton, Chris Botti and Kristin Chenoweth. Top it off with The Temptations and the Four Tops for some doo-wop memories. Public ticket sale day for most of the 2021-22 season presentations begins at 10 a.m. on October 2, 2021.
The 2021/22 Kravis on Broadway opens on November 16-21 with the Best Musical winner all across North America, Come From Away. It’s the true story of 7,000 airline passengers who are forced to land in a small town in Newfoundland during the hours after 9/11. The town welcomed them with open arms, and, although there was a clash of culture and much uneasiness because of the circumstances, the bizarre event ended up with music soaring into the night and friendships developing. This new musical written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein was directed by this year’s Tony-winning Best Director, Christopher Ashley.
Dear Evan Hansen, another Broadway winner, is a great holiday present to family or yourself, running from December 15-19. This is just the start of a spectacular season at the Kravis, and this only covers Kravis on Broadway. Pull up the website and take a look at the season of shows. It’s remarkable. Single tickets are now available.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach Tickets 561.832.7469 or 800.572.8471; www.kravis.org
Maltz Jupiter Theatre
As a local Jupiter/Tequesta resident since 1969, I couldn’t be prouder of the accomplishments of Andrew Kato, Producing Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. I’ve known Andrew since 1979 at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre. While he was attending college, he worked as a waiter in “Burt’s Box,” a special dining room for Burt and friends. Even back then, he was busy writing funny skits for the “waiter and waitress shows” as well as his own musical. After college, he took off for New York where he made a name for himself in producing. The Palm Beaches lucked out when he decided to bring his talents back to his hometown. Having worked on Broadway, he saw the potential of the theater to become a powerhouse regional theater that was big enough to stage pre-Broadway production. Now, thanks to the generosity of Milton and Tamara Maltz and the board of directors, this is not a dream…it’s happening!
During the pandemic, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has been using the time to do huge renovations to the theater, thus enabling it to become a top-notch regional theatre in 2022.
As usual, although the hoped-for deadline did not happen, a unique solution to the start of the season was created. It’s called Maltz Without Walls. Working with Mike Bauer, General Manager of Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium and The Benjamin School, the first two productions will be produced in these unique venues. What an opportunity to see the Florida premiere of Jersey Boys alfresco in South Florida! The grand opening is slated for January 11 through January 30 at the Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.
The second production, the comedy I Hate Hamlet, will be presented at The Benjamin School’s state-of-the-art, 800-seat theater in Palm Beach Gardens from February 8-20, 2022. It’s an offbeat comedy about a ghost of a legendary actor who returns to his New York apartment for a bit of helpful haunting.
The grand opening of the newly renovated Maltz Jupiter Theatre will be the Neil Simon musical Sweet Charity with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. This high-energy, dance-filled musical is the perfect show to try out the huge new stage. Sweet Charity runs from February 19-March 9.
The season wraps up with the delightful musical comedy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. It’s filled with great songs by David Yazbek and lots of fast-paced comedy by Jeffrey Lane.
Once the theater opens, it will be a busy season with numerous one-night only special show with lots of great music with tributes to The Carpenters, Motown, and the Music of Billy Joel.
It promises to be a remarkable and exciting season at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre!
Fort Lauderdale Theaters
The Empire Stage
Two strangers, a man and a woman, board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 am. Alone together in the car, the only thing they have in common is The New York Times crossword puzzle. Soon the puzzles they unravel are more intriguing than any crossword puzzle could ever be. Got your attention? Then check out the opening of the Pigs Do Fly Productions at the Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr., Fort Lauderdale. 2 Across by Jerry Mayer runs from October 8-24, 2021. Tickets available: www pigsdoflyproductions.com.
The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC). kicks off the 2022 season with the MNM Theatre Company’s presentation of Grease. Return to Rydell High’s class of 1959 with great music by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. So, get out your saddle shoes and poodle shirts for Grease, January 14-30.
The MNM Theatre Company continues with Sister Act, February 18-March 6 and ends with the ultimate Frank Loesser delight, Guys & Dolls April 1-17.
All performances are at The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC). Tickets available: mnmtheatre.org
The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill, 33311
