South Florida theatre is thriving.  At last count, the Theatre League of South Florida reported a membership of 58 theatres, with several new production companies waiting in the wings to join.

The 2013-2014 South Florida theatre season promises to be more exciting than ever.  Theatre companies have chosen a wide variety of plays – traditional and non – to populate their many stages, and audiences will have the opportunity to sample everything from Broadway classics and award-winning dramas to rock operas, madcap comedies, and children’s theatre.

Although many are familiar with the larger venues in the area – The Broward Center for the Performing Arts, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, and Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, there are a number of excellent smaller, interesting, and reasonably priced local theatres definitely worth visiting.

Boca Raton hosts several well respected theatre companies.  The award-winning Women’s Theatre Project and the Boca Raton Theatre Guild both operate out of the Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park.  This state of the art theatre seats 155 patrons.  There is ample parking available, and the surrounding park is a delightful setting for a pre-theatre picnic. This year, the two companies have joined forces to offer patrons the opportunity to purchase subscriptions to their productions.  For a total of $99, patrons can attend four plays – two musicals produced by the Boca Raton Theatre Guild, and two plays presented by the Women’s Theatre Project.

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild will also team with Peter J. Loewy this season, and together they will co-produce Respect: A Musical Journey of Women at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center.  Respect originated in South Florida, and Loewy was not only its first director, but one of the prime developers of the ever-popular show.

Parade Productions is one of Boca Raton’s newer companies. Their mission, “to produce high quality theatre experiences that entertain, enlighten inform, uplift and inspire”, is reflected in their choice of plays.  This season’s production, The Last Schwartz has been praised as being ‘rollicking, sad, shocking, goofy, and thoughtful…’  Their home, at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre, is easily accessible, and free, metered, or valet parking is available.

Sol Children Theatre offers theatre for the entire family.  Now entering their 11^th year, this company of young performers, under the direction and guidance of Rosalie Grant, produces a number of quality productions each year.  Located on Federal Highway just south of Spanish River Boulevard, Sol is a small black box theatre.  It seats 77, including child sized front row seating for their younger audiences.  This year they are debuting a new production company, Evening Star Productions, which will focus on plays for more for mature audiences, and feature adult, professional actors, as well as young people working towards a career in theatre.

For those who would venture north to Delray Beach, Entr’Acte Theatrix will follow up this past summer’s highly successful production of Monty Python’s Spamalot with The Who’s Tommy at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square.

Steve Solomon will bring his comedic recollections back to the The Lyric Theatre, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, and the Coral Springs Center for the Arts …And the Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs has a dozen productions planned between September 2013 and July 2014.

Below is a list, in chronological opening night order, of just some of the theatres, theatre companies, plays (and one musical group), that will be on stage this season, along with brief descriptions of each production. Group rates are available for every one of these productions. Mark your calendars and purchase your tickets soon!

The Broward Stage Door Theatre will present 12 plays and musicals between August 30, 2013 and July 6, 2014.  Included in their schedule are 9-5: The Musical, Stephen Sondheim’s Company, Sophisticated Ladies, featuring the music of Duke Ellington, Twilight of the Golds, Crimes of the Heart, and The Last Night of Ballyhoo.
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com
Tickets:  $38 (Students $16)
Phone:  954-344-7765
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
Several productions will also play at the Broward Stage Door Miami
www.stagedoormiami.com
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Sol Children Theatre and Evening Star Productions will present a number of plays throughout the season.  Please keep checking this website for more information!
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The Last Night of Ballyhoo
Presented by: The Broward Stage Door Theatre
By Alfred Uhry
November 15 – December 31
Tickets:  $38 (Students $16)
Phone:  954-344-7765
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com

It’s Atlanta, Georgia, in December 1939. Gone with the Wind is having its world premiere, and Hitler is invading Poland. But many of Atlanta’s German Jews are more concerned with who is going to Ballyhoo, the social event of the season. By the author of Driving Miss Daisy. Winner of the 1997 Tony Award for Best Play.
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Steve Solomon – Stand Up
December 3
Showtime: 7:00 pm
The Lyric Theater
59 S.W. Flagler Avenue,
Stuart, FL 34994
Tickets: $35
Phone:  772-286-7827
To purchase tickets on line:  www.lyrictheatre.com/show

America’s favorite dysfunctional comedian is back again. Creator and star of three-time award-winning Broadway comedy “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, and I’m in Therapy”, Steve Solomon returns with even more side-splitting, raucous jokes this December, introducing new material and incorporating stories from his other hit shows, such as “STILL in Therapy” and “Home for the Holidays.”
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RESPECT:  A Musical Journey of Women
December 5 – January 6
Presented by:  The Boca Raton Theatre Guild & Peter J. Loewy
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone:  866-811-4111
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets: $38/$33 if purchased before November 15
RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women chronicles of the progress of women through the 20^th Century, as played out against the songs they were listening to during various periods in their lives.  Featuring an ensemble cast of four and a live band, the show includes more than 60 songs, ranging from “I Wanna Be Loved by You,” and “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” to “I Will Survive,” “Hero” and “Video.
Purchase tickets at: www.brtg.org
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The Lyons
December 6 – 22, 2013
Presented by: The Women’s Theatre Project
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Tickets: $25 (Joint subscriptions with the Boca Raton Theatre Guild available – see above)
www.womenstheatreproject.com
Nicky Silver’s outrageously funny and stirring play about a family coming to terms with the impending death of its patriarch received glowing reviews when it ran on Broadway in 2012.   The play focuses on Rita Lyons and her grown children, who, as they gather to say goodbye, learn that despite being a family, each of them is totally isolated. Afraid of closeness and solitude, they are pushed into a new arena – the human connection.
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9-5: The Musical
Presented by: The Broward Stage Door Theatre
Music and Lyrics by  Dolly Parton
Book by  Patricia Resnick
Based on the 20th Century Fox Picture
December 13 – January 19
Tickets:  $38 (Students $16)
Phone:  954-344-7765
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com
9-5: The Musical is the musical comedy based on the popular movie, and features Dolly Parton’s original hit title song, along with her Tony Award and Grammy-nominated score.  9-5: The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge.  Outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic, 9-5: The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business!
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My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m STILL in Therapy… the chaos continues
December 18 – December 22
Showtimes:
Wednesday, December 18 at 7:30 PM
Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 PM
Friday, December 20 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 21 at 2:00 PM
Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 22 at 7:00 PM

The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
701 Okeechobee Blvd,
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Tickets: $30
Phone:  561-832-7469 or 800-572-8471
To purchase tickets on line: http://www.kravis.org

The comedy chaos continues in this ALL NEW critically acclaimed prequel to his original smash hit, My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m In Therapy! I’m Still In Therapy takes us back to Steve’s wacky childhood right up to the present day. The audience follows along in this wonderfully funny journey about growing up, mixed marriages, ex-wives, dogs, cats, dieting, and dozens of other side-splitting situations that we can all relate to. It’s an evening of comedy you don’t want to miss!
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Peter Pan
January 17 – February 2
By J.M. Barrie – Updated by John Caird & Trevor Nunn
Presented by Sol Children Theatre
Fridays & Saturdays 7pm;
Saturdays & Sundays 2pm
Tickets: $12 & $8 juniors
3333 North Federal Highway,
Boca Raton, FL  33431
Phone:  561-447-8829
www.solchildren.org
The beloved story of Peter, Wendy, Michael, John, Capt. Hook, Smee, the Lost Boys, pirates and Indians, and, of course, Tinker Bell, in their adventures in Never Land. However, for the first time, the play is here restored to Barrie’s original intentions.
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Wiesenthal
January 22 – March 16
Presented by Karyl Lynn Burns & Normand Kurtz
and The Broward Stage Door Theatre
Tickets:  $38/$42
Phone:  954-344-7765
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Thursday Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com

Written by and starring Tom Dugan and produced by Karyl Lynn Burns and Tony Award-winner Normand Kurtz, Wiesenthal tells the remarkable story of the life of Simon Wiesenthal, sometimes referred to as “The Jewish James Bond.” Told with hope, humanity and humor, the play follows Wiesenthal as he addresses a group of visitors on his last day at the Jewish Documentation Center in Vienna. As he reflects on his life and work, Wiesenthal recounts how he faced Hitler’s SS; how he endured the loss of family and friends; how he escaped a concentration camp only to be recaptured; and how, after liberation day, he began a remarkable journey for justice.
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Pippin
January 24 – February 9
Presented by: The Boca Raton Theatre Guild
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets:  $35 (Joint subscriptions with the Women’s Theatre Project available – see above)
www.brtg.org
Currently enjoying an extremely successful revival on Broadway, Pippin uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of a young prince and his search for meaning and significance.
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The Last Schwartz
January 30 – February 23
Presented by: Parade Productions
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone:  866-811-4111
Group Sales:  561-291-9678
Tickets:  $35/$40
www.paradeproductions.org
The Schwartz family is on its last legs. Their father has died and their Catskills home is going up for sale. Norma Schwartz’ husband hasn’t spoken to her since she turned their 15 year old son in for smoking pot; it doesn’t seem like brother Herb’s wife will ever present him with an heir; middle sibling Simon has one foot on the moon; and youngest brother Gene arrives at the family compound with an unexpected guest. Will any of them remember what it means to be a family?
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Steve Solomon’s Canoli, Latkes, & Guilt! The Therapy Continues…
February 5 – 16
The Coral Springs Center for the Arts
2855 Coral Springs Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33065
Phone:  954-344-5990
Group Sales: 1-888-264-1788
Tickets: $42.50/$49.50
The Coral Springs Center for the Arts
2855 Coral Springs Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33065
Phone:  954-344-5990
Group Sales: 1-888-264-1788
www.stevesolomoncomedy.com
Just in case you’ve missed one of Steve Solomon’s award winning “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish…” comedies, he’s back with a new show featuring the very best comedy bits from his earlier three shows – plus loads of new comedy pieces.
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Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins
February 28-March 16
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Tickets:  $25 (Joint subscriptions with the Boca Raton Theatre Guild available – see above)
www.womenstheatreproject.com
Barbara Bradshaw will star as the unsinkable, unstoppable Molly Ivins. The ‘dyed-in-the-wool liberal from deep in the heart of Texas’, famously brassy newspaper columnist and best-selling author was a crusading journalist who broke gender barriers with her sharp-tongued wit, humor, and political savvy to establish herself as one of the nation’s most influential political columnists.
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The Anarchist
By David Mamet
February 28 – March 21, 2014
Tickets: $25 ($20 previews)
Days & Times: Thu – Sat: 8pm
Sat & Sun: 2pm (not all Sat matinees available)
Andrews Living Arts Studio
23 NW Fifth Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33301
Tickets available online at: www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111The Southeast American premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet’s The Anarchist, starring Carbonell Award-winner Patti Gardner and Jacqueline Laggy. Two women and one unspeakable crime highlight this searing drama as one character’s radical past in the turbulent 70s comes back to haunt her….again. This production will take place in the Andrews Living Arts Studio, an intimate, 50 seat black box theatre well suited to the play.
www.brtg.org
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Great Moments in Opera:
March 29 & April 4
Presented by: The Delray Beach Chorale
Featuring the choruses of several major operas.  The 60-voice chorale will be performing with professional instrumental accompaniment.  The concert will feature soloists Artists-in-Residence Alicia Branch, Soprano, Monica Hidalgo, Alto, Myngoe Brashears, Tenor, Jorge L. Toro, Tenor and William R. Stafford, baritone and Jorge Toro, Tenor.

The concert will be performed on March 29th at
The Duncan Theatre in Lake Worth
4200 South Congress Avenue
Lake Worth 33461
&
On April 4th at
The First Presbyterian Church in Delray Beach
33 Gleason Street,
Delray Beach 33483
Tickets: $25 in advance/$30 day of show
delraybeachchorale.org
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Everyday Rapture
By Sherie Rene Scott & Dick Scanlon
Music by various composers
April 25 – May 11, 2014
Tickets: $28
Days & Times: Thurs – Sat: 8pm
Sat & Sun: 2pm
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone:  866-811-4111
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets available online at: www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111

May 25 – May 27, 2014
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Tickets:  $28
Days & Times: Fri & Sat:  8pm
Sat & Sun: 2pm
Phone: 561-347-3948 (tickets available by phone or at the box office only)
www.brtg.org

Everyday Rapture was praised by critics and audiences alike when it played on Broadway in 2010.  Margot Moreland will star in the Southeast premiere of this Tony Award-nominated musical story of a young woman’s psycho-sexual-spiritual journey on the rocky path that separates her mostly Mennonite past from her mostly Manhattan future. Her life takes her from the cornfields of Kansas to the clover fields of New York (with a disturbing detour through YouTube). Featuring songs made famous by Harry Nilsson, The Band, David Byrne, Roberta Flack, Mister Rogers, The Dap Kings and Judy Garland.
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This page will be updated on a regular basis.

For information on the Theatre League of South Florida and what’s playing in theatres from Key West through Jupiter, visit www.southfloridatheater.com.