LOCAL THEATRE
The Caldwell Theatre
Company at 7901 North Federal
Highway, Boca Raton, (561) 241-7432, is
named after the man whose invention of the rubber dustbin grew into the
business known as the Rubbermaid Corporation.
James and Madeleine Caldwell, together with director, Michael Hall, and
set designer, Frank Bennett, opened the Caldwell Playhouse on the campus of the
College of Boca Raton in December, 1975.
Since then, new programs have been developed including summer seasons,
drama classes and the Broadway Babies series.
The theatre company is now settled in the Levitz Plaza on US 1, has two
buildings, over 13,000 subscribers and reaches over 60,000 people with it's
main stage productions. “Marie
Antoinette – The Color of Flesh” by Joel Gross runs February 24 – March
30.
Florida Stage located at 262
South Ocean Blvd., Lantana (585-3433) is the only company dedicated to
producing new work never seen before in South Florida and prides itself on
challenging audiences with issues, ideas, structure and style. The Company began in 1984 as a not-for-profit
company designed to tour original educational theatre to young audiences and
has over the years reached more than 500,000 public and private school students. In 1992 the Company built and moved into a
beautiful new home in Manalapan. Critics
praise the electric, eclectic productions of regional and sometimes world
premieres of some of the finest work in the theatre today. You can catch ‘The Count” by Roger Hedden January 25-March 2.
“Ward 57” by Jessica Goldberg runs March 21 – April 27.
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 East Indiantown Road, Jupiter (575-2223). Originally
built by Burt Reynolds in 1978 as a dinner theatre and occupied during the 80's
and early 90's by Reynolds and his successors, the landmark building was
acquired in 2001 by the not-for-profit Palm Beach Playhouse, Inc.
Following a successful capital campaign that raised an excess of $6.5 million,
the 28,000 square foot theatre was renovated and re-named the "Maltz Jupiter
Theatre" in recognition of major benefactors, Milton and Tamar Maltz. The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is a professional
nonprofit regional theatre dedicated to the performing arts whose mission is to
entertain, educate and inspire our community. Classes, workshops and outreach programs are
offered along with plays and limited engagement entertainment. Upcoming shows in the 554 seat theatre are “The
Full Monty” February 26 – March 16 and “Master Class” April 1 - 13. George Winston’s solo piano concert is March
21.
The Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Avenue, Lake
Worth
(586-6410). The Lake Worth Playhouse
occupies the former Oakley Theatre, the oldest building on the Register of the
Art Deco Society of Palm Beach County, which first opened its doors on November
3, 1924. In October of 1975 the Lake Worth Playhouse purchased the Oakley Theatre building for
$60,000 and began much-needed renovations with an additional $15,000
Bicentennial grant. Currently the
organization offers a season of traditional musicals and plays on the main
stage; a vibrant Education Program with classes for adults and children of all
ages; the International Cultural Exchange Program; extensive community outreach
and multicultural programming; The LakeWorth
Playhouse Playwrights’ Workshop; a variety of cultural collaborations with
other arts groups such as the Uptown Poetry Slam, Street Painting Festival,
Ballet Folklorico Bolivia, Finn Fest, Evenings on the
Avenue, jazz concerts, special events and an Opera series with lectures. Enjoy “Modern Orthodox” February 29 – March
16 and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” April 11 – May 3.
Palm
Beach Dramaworks, 322 Banyan
Avenue, West Palm
Beach (514-4042). Dramaworks
is a professional not-for-profit theatre company that engages and entertains audiences
with provocative and timeless productions which personally impact each
individual and enhance the quality of life through the transformative power of
live theatre. Four or five plays are
presented each year, from November to June, with works ranging from Edward Albee to Terrance McNally.
The intimate theater has just 84 seats and over 2,000 annual season
subscribers. Almost all shows sell
out. “Agnes of God by John Pielmeier can be seen February 22 – April 6 and “Benefactors” by Michael Frayn from April 25 – June 15.
