They call it musical comedy, but few shows are actually laugh-out-loud funny. One exception is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the tale of a couple of unscrupulous con men out to fleece rich women on the French Riviera. It earns its audience guffaws thanks to the unexpected lyrics of composer David Yazbek — who else would come up with the almost-rhyme of “castle” and … [Read more...]
Hewitt’s Barrymore makes Maltz’s ‘I Hate Hamlet’ a must-see
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre never expected to start its season with Paul Rudnick’s puckish comedy, I Hate Hamlet, but such as the vagaries of COVID and construction. Still, when you think about it, what better way to welcome back its audience than with this tongue-in-cheek celebration of theater and of the man who wrote with such peculiar, stilted, yet soaring language – William … [Read more...]
Maltz returns with ‘I Hate Hamlet,’ a valentine to the theater
Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. In Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, novelist Charles Condamine is haunted by his peeved ex-wife Elvira. And in Paul Rudnick’s comic valentine to the theater, I Hate Hamlet, TV star Andrew Rally – nervous about taking on one of Shakespeare’s greatest roles – is persuaded to accept … [Read more...]
COVID shelves more shows: ‘Sweet Charity,’ ‘Last Night in Inwood’
Two more theater troupes have postponed or canceled shows as the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus continues its spread across the country. “Due to the recent surge of Omicron,” the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has announced further changes to its grand reopening season. The COVID-19 variant has delayed the completion of the $36 million building renovation, causing the … [Read more...]
Omicron cancels ‘RomaDrama’ convention, Theatre Lab play festival
A convention featuring stars and writers from romance dramas featured on channels such as Hallmark, Lifetime and Netflix has been canceled because of the spread of the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. The second RomaDrama Live! convention, which debuted last year in Nashville, had been scheduled for Jan. 7-9 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2021-22: The season in theater
This was supposed to be the first post-COVID theater season in South Florida, but the delta variant took care of that wishful thinking. Most stage companies are optimistic that they can produce something this season. Whether the audience will show up is another story. If all goes well, it could be an exciting year at the theater, with a new artistic director at … [Read more...]
Maltz to open its post-COVID season with ‘Jersey Boys’ at Roger Dean stadium
Never accuse the Maltz Jupiter Theatre of thinking small. During the past year, when most resident stage companies were idled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maltz was busy demolishing its theater chamber and rebuilding an improved, larger complex to the tune of $36 million. The new theater could eventually house pre-Broadway tryouts, and in a later phase an expanded … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2020-21: Theaters mostly in hiding for season
Although Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared the state’s playhouses safe to reopen, the area’s theater companies are less than comfortable with the notion of getting up and running again. Most have canceled their 2020-2021 seasons, some in favor of a presence online with streaming options. A few have pushed their openings to next year with a shortened season of offerings. And … [Read more...]
Maltz cancels 2020-21 season, will concentrate on expansion project
While most area theater companies are still mulling the possibility of producing live theater in some form in the upcoming season, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has announced a firm postponement of its 2020/2021 shows. Instead, it will begin construction this month to complete the expansion of its playhouse complex, previously reported to have a $32 million price tag. The … [Read more...]
Area’s theaters exploring the question: What now?
Optimism tempered by uncertainty is the mood of area theater companies, which project several possible scenarios for re-opening their playhouses and getting back to producing shows, based on what the government will allow. While champing at the bit to be up and running, to have subscribers and single-ticket buyers return, their plans to restart vary over time, with options that … [Read more...]