Palm Beach Dramaworks co-founders to receive prestigious honor
Photo by Curtis Brown Photography William Hayes and Sue Ellen Beryl In December 2000, in a rundown, soon-to-be-demolished theatre at Palm Beach Atlantic University, a new nonprofit theatre company staged its first-ever production. Its apt title: Greetings! Starting out with a shoestring budget of $10,000 — which included...
‘Dangerous Instruments’ is a harrowing, human story we cannot afford to ignore
Photo by Curtis Brown Photography “Cool Mr. P” (Matt Stabile) comforts single mother Laura Hammond in Palm Beach Dramaworks’ world premiere production of Dangerous Instruments by Gina Montet. By AARON KRAUSE The determined and desperate mom in playwright and educator Gina Montet’s new play, Dangerous Instruments, shakes with despair....
A camping trip well worth taking at Palm Beach Dramaworks
Photo by Curtis Brown Photography Henry Ford (John Leonard Thompson), Thomas Edison (Rob Donohoe), and President Warren Harding (Tom Wahl) discuss issues in Mark St. Germain’s funny and thought-provoking play, Camping with Henry and Tom. By AARON KRAUSE A U.S. president, a famous inventor, and a powerful business magnate...
With a new year comes readings of new plays
South Florida residents and visitors will have several chances this month and in April to help develop new work for live theater. First, Palm Beach Dramaworks (PBD) will hold its annual Perlberg Festival of New Plays from Friday, Jan. 17 through Sunday, Jan. 19. The venue is the professional,...
Palm Beach Dramaworks’ remount of ‘The Dresser’ is stirring entertainment
Photo by Curtis Brown Colin McPhillamy, as Sir (front) and Bill Hayes as Norman (back, left) lead the cast of Palm Beach Dramaworks’ remount of ‘The Dresser’ By AARON KRAUSE In Ronald Harwood’s touching 1980 backstage drama, The Dresser, the familiar and perhaps unfamiliar merge to form a humorous,...
‘The Dresser,’ a human story offering a peak backstage, to open at Palm Beach Dramaworks
Photo by Curtis Brown Photography Bill Hayes (standing) plays Norman, the dresser for Actor-Manager Sir (Colin McPhillamy) By AARON KRAUSE While Ronald Harwood’s celebrated play The Dresser offers a backstage glimpse of live theater, ultimately the piece is not about the art form, according to Bill Hayes. “It is...
PBD: Get lost in award-winning ‘Lost in Yonkers’
By AARON KRAUSE When you hear the name Neil Simon, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is comedy. Indeed, the late great playwright’s early work is most notable for, among other things, snappy one-liners. But Simon’s talent extends beyond his ability to make people laugh. This is...
PBD tries, and succeeds, in its re-mounting of touching drama, ‘Trying’
Photo by Tim Stepien Judge Francis Biddle (Dennis Creaghan) and his secretary, Sarah Schorr (Kelly McCready) struggle to get along early on in Joanna McClelland Glass’s historical drama, Trying. By AARON KRAUSE If you look closely at the program for Palm Beach Dramaworks’ (PBD) polished and poignant production of...
Palm Beach Dramaworks brings ‘Death of a Salesman’ to vivid life
Photo by Tim Stepien Clearly, Willy and Linda Loman love each other, as is evident in this photo. Rob Donohoe plays Willy, while Helena Ruoti portrays Linda in Palm Beach Dramaworks’ potent current production. By AARON KRAUSE Attention must be paid Palm Beach Dramaworks’ emotionally powerful professional production of...
PBD’s ‘The Cancellation of Lauren Fein’ is must-experience theater
Photo by Alicia Donelan (From left) Lindsey Corey, Diana Garle, Niki Fridh, Barbara Sloan (with gavel), and Karen Stephens in The Cancellation of Lauren Fein. By AARON KRAUSE “We don’t need you to tell us about (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). We live it,” the title character says in Christopher...