By Márcio Bezerra The Kravis Center’s Classical Concert Series launched its latest season with a performance that has set the standard so high that it will be difficult to surpass it. Featuring the Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra and Chorus, the program’s sole work was the profoundly beautiful (and often butchered) George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. Written in … [Read more...]
The season in dance, 2025-26: MCB remains infrequent visitor, but Palm Beach County’s dance season remains robust
The Palm Beach County performance season is just around the corner even though the oppressive heat and humidity of summer is still with us. When the weather is cool, Palm Beach comes alive with things to do and places to go and the season recommences with the joy of the performing arts, which are such an important part of the culture here. However, things have changed. … [Read more...]
The season in classical music, 2025-26: New and familiar faces on tap for robust concert offerings
Although the upcoming season in classical music does not resemble in breadth of offerings the South Florida seasons of 30 or even 20 years ago, its core, centered around a few key venues, has remained solid and reliably compelling. The same is true of the 2025-26 season, which sees the return of major orchestras and soloists on tour, and absorbing offerings from homegrown … [Read more...]
The season in theater, 2025-26: A rich offering of Broadway standouts and provocative world premieres
By Sharon Geltner Area stages are planning an exciting season of TV stars, Netflix writers, off-Broadway actors, European festival standouts, and innovative productions. The contrasts range from Broadway musicals and brand names such as Neil Simon and Stephen King to Southeastern United States premieres of thought-provoking plays. Below, in geographical order, from north … [Read more...]
‘Ain’t Too Proud’: Motown supergroup’s story compelling, but songs are the real draw
For a singing group known for their close harmonies, the saga of The Temptations is full of discord. Anyone who lived through the 1960s and 1970s surely knows the hits of this Detroit-bred rhythm and blues group, but they probably do not know the story of their rise to fame and ultimate implosion. That is the essence of Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The … [Read more...]
It’s no mystery: There’s no good reason to catch ‘Clue’ at Kravis
Remember the old joke about the guy who complained of the poor quality of a restaurant’s food, then added “and the portions are so small.” So it is with Clue, the painfully silly, amateurishly performed show at the Kravis Center through Saturday. And it only runs an intermissionless 80 minutes. Maybe the West Palm Beach performing arts center was stuck for a show to fill … [Read more...]
The Little Sparrow returns: Singer recreates the art of Edith Piaf
The evocative and haunting melodies of French singer Edith Piaf, known as the “little sparrow,” are brought to life by French chanteuse Annie Royer in her new cabaret show, Piaf! The Tribute, premiering at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, April 8. Royer, who calls herself a “French cabaret chanteuse with a twist of jazz,” revisits Piaf’s musical career, … [Read more...]
‘Moulin Rouge’ provides entertainment in excess, and it’s welcome
As Oscar Wilde is said to have said, “Nothing succeeds like excess.” Wilde lived in the late 19th century, the time period that Moulin Rouge: The Musical takes place, though he was born too early to see the musical, which is a perfect illustration of his aphorism. From Catherine Zuber’s sensuous costumes to Derek McLane’s fanciful, eye-popping sets to Justin Townsend’s very … [Read more...]
MCB’s Palm Beach presence smaller, but Balanchine was beautiful
Two weekends ago, the Miami City Ballet appeared for the first time in their now-abbreviated season at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts presenting just three performances of its second program, Winter Mix. The company’s offerings in Palm Beach have been dramatically clipped. Its previous seasons were composed of four different programs ranging from repertory shows … [Read more...]
Violinist Shoji, conductor Wong make Cleveland Orchestra concert a standout
By Márcio Bezerra The procession of great orchestras at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Classical Concert Series continued Jan. 27 with the revered Cleveland Orchestra. Featuring two widely divergent works of the standard repertoire, the orchestra, under the direction of guest conductor Kahchun Wong provided refined and, at times, spectacular moments to an … [Read more...]