With no summer show this year, Palm Beach Dramaworks has been out of the media eye lately, so it invited the local theater press — and a few politicos — for a tour of the renovations of the Cuillo Centre in West Palm Beach, to demonstrate that it was on schedule to open Dramaworks’ new permanent home on Nov. 11 of this year. Yes, 11-11-11, for you numerology fans.
According to producing artistic director and co-founder William Hayes, the renovations that will drastically reconfigure the auditorium of the rarely booked space — previously known for long runs of Menopause: The Musical and Respect, A Musical Journey of Women — are halfway towards completion. That means that the audience chamber, being reduced from 320 seats to 218, with a less severe stadium-style rake, is currently a rabbit warren of scaffolding. It was clear that a great deal of work had been done to the place, but the main reason to take the tour last week was to wear one of those macho construction hard hats.
Attorney Ed Ricci, chairman of the company’s capital campaign, proudly announced that Dramaworks has raised $4.1 million to date, enough to pay for the renovations, plus 80 percent of what is needed to purchase the theater from West Palm’s Community Redevelopment Agency. It bought the building from car dealer/vintner/occasional Broadway producer Bob Cuillo and is leasing it to Dramaworks, which has a five-year option to buy it outright.
Even in the still-shaky economy, with the recent unnerving demise of Florida Stage, the financially cautious Dramaworks seems to making its biggest gamble ever pay off. Managing director Sue Ellen Beryl described subscription renewals for the coming season as “stellar,” adding that the company’s lengthier runs in a theater of nearly three times the seating capacity are already 80 percent sold-out with subscribers.
That long-ago announced 11-11-11 opening date will be used for an inaugural party, with the official opening of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons happening on the less sexy-sounding Nov. 12. Hayes noted that the production would probably have two previews earlier that week for invited, non-paying audiences. – H. Erstein
Maltz looking for actors ages 8 to 18 for September show
Young drama aficionados, listen up: The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is holding appointment-only auditions on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a student-run show, The Good Times Are Killing Me, a coming-of-age story about interracial friendship in the 1960s.
The audition is open to performers from the ages of 8 to 18. Participants must come prepared with one comedic and one dramatic monologue, a resume, a headshot, and a positive attitude. No prior experience is necessary. Six weeks of rehearsal will begin Monday, Aug. 8, and the show will bow Saturday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
The student project is a new mentorship initiative, the Youth Artists’ Chair, which pairs select high school students with Maltz staff members for one-on-one guidance.
The Good Times Are Killing Me, written by the cartoonist Lynda Barry, tells the story of Edna, a pre-adolescent girl in the mid-1960s who is a proponent of racial harmony and develops an interracial friendship with her next-door neighbor, Bonna. To schedule an audition, or for more information, call (561) 972- 6121.
Master Chorale hosts auditions Aug. 13
The Master Chorale of South Florida will hold auditions for its 2011-2012 season Saturday, Aug. 13, at Christ Lutheran Church in Fort Lauderdale. Auditions are open for singers who are familiar with reading music and have experience as a soloist or member of a choir or vocal ensemble.
The Master Chorale, now under the direction of Karen Kennedy, will host a holiday music concert, including performances of Bach’s Magnificat and Bassi’s Carol Symphony, on Nov. 18-20. A concert of music written by and for royalty, including Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Britten’s Gloriana, will be held April 20-22. Both concert series will be performed in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Rehearsals are held every Monday night from 7:30-10 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, located on Oakland Park Blvd near U.S. 1 in Fort Lauderdale. To schedule an audition appointment or for more information about audition requirements, contact Carole Sandvos, chorus administrator, at sandvosc@bellsouth.net or 954-418-6232.
Cultural Council seeks Muse Award nominees
In anticipation of the 2012 Muse Awards gala, the Palm Beach County Cultural Council is currently accepting nominations for outstanding community leaders.
The annual event honors individuals and organizations for their contributions to the arts and cultural landscape of Palm Beach County. It is the only awards program of its kind in South Florida.
Nominations are open for the following categories: Civic Leader, Cultural Leader, Arts Educator, Arts and Cultural Organization (Budget Under $500,000), Arts and Cultural Organization (Budget Over $500,000), Arts or Cultural Program of the Year, Hector Ubertalli Award for Visual Artists, and Council’s Choice Award.
The co-chairwomen of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, Jean Sharf and Beth Neuhoff, will present the awards at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion at 6 p.m. Feb. 9. The event will include dynamic award presentations, performances and behind-the-scenes looks at what it takes to put together the programming the participating cultural organizations are known for.
Individual tickets to the Muse Awards gala are $300. Proceeds go toward the Council’s Arts and Cultural Education Fund. Award recipients will be notified prior to the gala. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Sept. 30. Forms, nomination criteria and other information may be found at www.palmbeachculture.com/museawards2012.
Masterworks Chors sets season, auditions
The Masterworks Chorus of the Palm Beaches will perform three concerts in the coming season, including its annual singalong version of Handel’s Messiah, the group announced this week.
John Rutter’s Mass of the Children leads off the season on Sunday, Nov. 20, at Lake Osborne Presbyterian Church in Lake Worth. The chorus will be joined by the Lower School Children’s Chorus of St. Andrew’s School in western Boca Raton. Other music by Rutter will also be on the program, which will be directed by Carl P. Ashley.
On Dec. 18, the chorus hosts Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach. As always, audience members with choral experience and their own scores are invited to join the chorus in a special singalong section.
Finally, the chorus will end its season with choral music from the movies and television, in a concert called Choral Music in the Movies. The April 15 concert at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach will be hosted by Caroline Breder-Watts, radio host on Classical South Florida (WPBI-90. 7 FM) in Boynton Beach.
Auditions for new chorus members will take place Aug. 23 and Aug. 30 at PBAU. Interested persons with choral experience can sign up at www.masterworkschorusofthepalmbeaches.com.
Season subscriptions are available for $50, single tickets are $20, and student tickets are $10. Visit the website or call the “Chorus Line”: 561-845-9696.
– Compiled by Katherine Concepcion and Greg Stepanich