by Jan Davisson

Back in 1969 there were only a couple of venues that produced live theater, so it was with great anticipation that theatergoers waited for the new season announcements in the Accent section of the Palm Beach Post. Usually, the lineup was to be found in the Famous Artist Series, which brought in touring plays to the West Palm Beach Auditorium and the Royal Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach. The local season also included shows such as Liberace, Red Skelton, Lawrence Welk’s Orchestra and Victor Borge.  

The Royal Poinciana Playhouse plays featured top names such as James Earl Jones and Christopher, who starred in Othello. Every nearby town had a community theater, which was reviewed in the Post. The only two remaining community theatres are the Delray Playhouse and the Lake Worth Playhouse. They’ve lasted for a good reason: outstanding productions.

Things have certainly changed for the better and now there are four major theaters in Palm Beach County with numerous others both to the north and south. Here’s a list of the exciting line-up of shows for the 2022/23 season.

Maltz Jupiter Theatre

At last, the newly enlarged and remodeled regional theater kicks off with Jersey Boys (October 25-November 13, 2022). It had been on the schedule for last year but got cancelled. Thank goodness, it’s back! Who doesn’t love the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons? A lovely, upbeat show with lots of great songs and memories such as Sherry, My Eyes Adore You and Walk Like a Man.

The Broadway classic, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (November 29-December 18) offers a delightful Broadway farce highlighted by Stephen Sondheim music. The show will take you through a comedic tour of ancient Rome. It’s “something for everyone, a comedy tonight!”

A Neil Simon, high energy dance-filled musical with songs by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields will open in 2023. It’s Sweet Charity (January 10-January 29). Who can forget the movie with Shirley McClain as she belted out “If My Friends Could See Me Now!”

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre always includes a good mystery or dramatic comedy within the season. This year it’s Good People (February 12-26). It captures the struggles and hopes of working-class Americans.

Winding up the season is (March 14-April 2). Based on Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, the show features book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. A Tony-winning masterpiece, the production features numerous  songs that never grow old, Where is Love, Consider  Yourself One of the Family and Food, Glorious Food. A great show to introduce kids to live theater! Season tickets are now on sale. Don’t forget that the Maltz also has numerous limited musical engagements including: TheMusic of Billy Joel; A Carpenters Tribute; The Original Eagles Tribute, Hotel California; and James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James.

Maltz Jupiter Theatre
1001 E. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter
Tickets: 561.575.2223
www.jupitertheatre.org

Palm Beach Dramaworks

Throughout the pandemic, Palm Beach Dramaworks continued with play readings and even a taping of The Belle of Amherst by William Luce, which could be viewed on ZOOM. They just ended their season with the full stage production of The Belle of Amherst. The story of poet Jane Austin was brilliantly portrayed by Margery Lowe. Now it’s time to take a peek at the 2022/23 season at the Don and Ann Brown Theatre in West Palm Beach. 

Living up to their reputation as presenting “theater to think about,” the season opens with 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog (October 14-30). Directed by Carbonnell-winning director J. Barry Lewis, the show tells a story of several generation when Leo, the 21-year old grandson of Vera, shows up very unexpectedly at his 91 year-old grandmother’s West Village apartment. It’s a touching comic/drama about how two people from different generations learn to connect.

One can always count on Palm Beach Dramaworks to include a classic drama within the season. This year it’s Twelve Angry Men, the timeless classic by Reginald Rose. The stunning play takes a look at the strengths and flaws of the American justice system. It’s a timeless tale of how 12 jurors deliberate the fate of a young man accused of killing his father. 

This season’s world premiere is The Science of Leaving Omaha by Carter Lewis and directed by Bruce Linser. The show’s a quirky, unpredictable storyline. It’s always exciting to be the first audience to see a new script, and this one promises to be filled with humor. 

Next up is a semi-autobiographical Pulitzer Prize-winning show by Tracy Letts. August: Osage County runs from August 31-April 16. Directed by Producing Artistic Director William Hayes, this comic/drama follows a very dysfunctional family through a very dark but funny family reunion.

A tale of simmering sibling rivalry told with dark humor, Topdog/Underdog will run from May 26-June 11. The play’s a  Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Suzan Lori Parks and directed by Bea Boyd.

Palm Beach Dramaworks
201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach
Tickets: 561.514.4042 Ext. 2
www.palmbeachdramaworks.org

Kravis Theatre for the Performing Arts

As usual, the Kravis on Broadway series always manages to bring in the latest of the touring shows. This season is no different! The series open with 9-5 the Musical (November 15-20). It’s a rip-roaring musical by Dolly Parton from the book by Patricia Resnick. Look for lots of great hits by Dolly.

What a holiday gift to give young and old alike: the enchanting tale of Aladdin. It’s a “whole new world” brought to the stage by Disney. If your child or grandchild had three wishes for a gift, one would be to see the beauty and magic of Aladdin. The show promises to hook a child for life as a lover of theatre.

Fresh from Broadway is Hadestown (January 3-8). Winner of eight Tony Awards in 2019 and a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, the show is the perfect way to start out the new year.

Everyone’s favorite movie, Tootsie, comes to life February 7-12, 2023. The hilarious Tony-winning book by Roberts Horn, this promises to live up to the New York Times Critic’s Pick. It’s Tootsie!!!

Last season, Kravis on Broadway featured An Officer and a Gentleman. This season get ready for Pretty Woman: The Musical (March 7-12, 2023). The show will make you fall in love all over again.

The long-awaited Kravis Center premiere of Wicked (March 29-April 9) arrives! That’s when the Witches of Oz fly by Palm Beach County  straight from The Land Of Oz. It’s another show for young audiences with a great story line and music. Ain’t Too Proud-The Life and Times of the Temptations (April 26-30, 2023) follows that amazing Rock and Roll Hall of Fame quintet through the streets of Detroit to becoming one of the greatest R & B group of all times.

It’s a season featuring one blockbuster after another. Season tickets are now on sale.

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

The Wick Theater and Costume Museum is a trip into the glitz of Broadway. The show’s a great ninth season of fun-filled musicals for 2022/23.

The season opens with Milk and Honey (October 13-November 6), a wonderful evening of love and laughter with music by Jerry Herman. It’s a story of hope about a group of American widows who travel to Israel in hopes of finding new love.

The timeless romance of Cinderella (November 25-December 24) appeals to all. This Rodgers and Hammerstein show has been updated and is about much more than a glass slipper.

One of my favorite musicals is Anything Goes. It will start the new year running from January 12-February 12, 2023. Lots of great Cole Porter classic such as I Get a Kick Out of You and You’re the Top accompanied by some fantastic dancing.

Just in time for the spring baseball season, the Wick welcomes in Damn Yankees (March 2-April 2, 2023). What would you do to become a baseball player to help your team beat the Yankees in the World Series? See for yourself and enjoy the creative musical team of Jerry Ross and Richard Adler with favorite songs from the fifties  including You Gotta Have Heart, Whatever Lola Wants and Two Lost Souls.The season winds up with Million Dollar Quartet (April 20- May 14, 2023). Imagine a meeting with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. It would be the ultimate jam session with a combination of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Gospel, R & B and Country. The show’s based upon a real-life event when the four super stars met up at Sun Records in Memphis. This will be a night to remember.

The Wick Theatre
7901 North Federal Highway Boca Raton
Tickets 561-995-2333
www.TheWick.org