A historic Florida surfing image from the FAU exhibit. From left: Todd Holland, Scott McCranels, Rich Rudolph,Kelly Slater, Matt Kechele and Charlie Kuhn.(Photo by Tony Arruza) FAU gets grant for surfing exhibitThe University Galleries of Florida Atlantic University’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters has been awarded a $16,596 matching grant from the Florida … [Read more...]
Theater review: Crystal’s ‘700 Sundays’ is a gem
Tickets are scarce for Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays.By Hap ErsteinI never saw Billy Crystal’s one-man show 700 Sundays when it was on Broadway. Yes, I knew it had won a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event of the 2004-05 season, but what could it be other than an extended stand-up comedy routine?Plenty, as it turns out. The show, which clocks in at a running time of … [Read more...]
Theater commentary: Florida Stage move raises artistic questions
The auditorium at Florida Stage in Manalapan.By Hap Erstein I remember arriving in West Palm Beach in early 1994 to become the theater writer for The Palm Beach Post and being given a personal tour of the Kravis Center. I was told all the pertinent facts about Dreyfoos Hall, how it had the same stage dimensions as the Metropolitan Opera House (for some indiscernible reason) … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Florida Stage moving to Kravis, MCB gets live orchestra back
An artist's rendering of the revamped Rinker Playhouse for Florida Stage. Florida Stage moving to Kravis CenterFlorida Stage is making a long-anticipated move to West Palm Beach.Beginning in July 2010, Florida’s largest professional theater company dedicated exclusively to new and emerging plays will take up residence in the Marshall E. Rinker Sr. Playhouse at the Kravis … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Nov. 27-29
Domestic Deity, by Bethany Krull. Art: Sculptor Bethany Krull's technical expertise is matched by the strength of her intellectual concepts, which focus on the relationship of humans to the natural world. This Saturday evening, Mulry Fine Art in Palm Beach hosts the opening of a solo show by Krull called Dominance and Affection. "It seems that the most intimate connection we … [Read more...]
Dance review: ‘Symphony’ provides much-needed spark at MCB
Carlos Guerra and Jennifer Kronenbergin Symphony in Three Movements. (Photo by Joe Gato).By Sharon McDanielFor a season opener, Program I seemed a bit tame.Friday’s performance at the Kravis Center, heralding the start of Miami City Ballet’s 24th year, was remarkably low-key: No sets, for one thing. And of course, in these lean times, again no orchestra.And no new repertoire. … [Read more...]
Music feature: Composer Danielpour first built dreams in Palm Beach County
Composer Richard Danielpour.By Greg StepanichWhen Richard Danielpour was a student at Twin Lakes High School and thinking about being a musician, he used to go down each week to Spec’s Music at the Palm Beach Mall and go trolling for LPs.One day he bought a recording of the Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, in a performance by a French pianist named Philippe … [Read more...]
Theater feature: ‘Grease’ co-creator marvels at show’s enduring appeal
Grease celebrates a 'very simple time' for teens,co-creator Jim Jacobs says.By Hap ErsteinGrease was never supposed to make it to Broadway.Let alone play 3,388 performances (the longest-running Broadway show at one time), let alone become a mega-successful film starring John Travolta (the highest-grossing movie musical ever, a record that still stands), let alone receive major … [Read more...]
ArtsPreview 2009-10: The season in theater
Billy Crystal. (Illustration by Pat Crowley)By Hap ErsteinDespite the still rocky economy, the region’s professional theaters appear to remain bullish on programming, with few signs of caution or budget-pinching in the season ahead.All eyes remain on Caldwell Theatre Company, which is coming off of a critically acclaimed summer under new artistic director Clive Cholerton, who … [Read more...]
ArtsPreview 2009-10: The season in dance
A scene from Israel Ballet's Don Quixote. By Sharon McDanielYes, Virginia, there will be a Nutcracker at the Kravis Center. But Santa is bringing it by sleigh -- from Russia. With Ballet Florida out of commission and Miami City Ballet staging it only in Broward and Miami, the door is open for the Moscow Classical Ballet (Dec.24-26, Kravis Center, West Palm Beach).Of the … [Read more...]