Not too long ago, summer was simply "the off-season," a time when theatres - and many businesses - closed down completely. Theatre professionals would head north to pursue gigs in Summer Stock. Heck, most of the hospitality industry migrated north.
In the 1980's, Actors' Rep stayed open simply because they couldn't afford to be closed. With 99 seats to fill, they were able to keep producing through "the summer doldrums." In fact, they thrived the summer they offered Educating Rita in repertory with Agnes of God. The former was a hit, starring Nancy Barnett in a tour de force performance, possibly her finest work.
Barnett may have taken that experience with her to The Theatre Club of the Palm Beaches; after their move to Manalapan, they started to offer what was usually the only musical in its season; a few performers backed by a small combo. The small company eventually became Florida Stage, and they are still renowned for "inventing" the summer musical.
Actors' Playhouse also started offering small-cast musicals, and now many theatres offer something for the "native Floridian," the one who doesn't head north as the temperature rises. In some cases, the fare is safer than their "mainstage season," and in others, more experimental. Either way, for most companies, theatre is a year-round operation in the 21st century.
The 2010 Summer Theatre Season is as busy as any as I can remember - make sure you escape the heat by slipping into a nice, cool theatre.
In the 1980's, Actors' Rep stayed open simply because they couldn't afford to be closed. With 99 seats to fill, they were able to keep producing through "the summer doldrums." In fact, they thrived the summer they offered Educating Rita in repertory with Agnes of God. The former was a hit, starring Nancy Barnett in a tour de force performance, possibly her finest work.
Barnett may have taken that experience with her to The Theatre Club of the Palm Beaches; after their move to Manalapan, they started to offer what was usually the only musical in its season; a few performers backed by a small combo. The small company eventually became Florida Stage, and they are still renowned for "inventing" the summer musical.
Actors' Playhouse also started offering small-cast musicals, and now many theatres offer something for the "native Floridian," the one who doesn't head north as the temperature rises. In some cases, the fare is safer than their "mainstage season," and in others, more experimental. Either way, for most companies, theatre is a year-round operation in the 21st century.
The 2010 Summer Theatre Season is as busy as any as I can remember - make sure you escape the heat by slipping into a nice, cool theatre.
june
3.
City Theatre, Signature Shorts, through June 27
Andrews Living Arts Studio, Godspell, through June 20
Mosaic Theatre, Groundswell, through June 27
4.
City Theatre, Undershorts, through June 26
9.
Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Mary Poppins, through June 27, 2010.
10.
Alliance Theatre Lab, Coyote on a Fence, through June 27.
Rising Action Theatre, Mother/Son, through June 27.
11.
Stage Door Theatre, The Drowsy Chaperone, through July 25.
17.
City Theatre, Camp Kappawanna, through 27, 2010 (for Children & Families)
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Curious George Live!, through June 20, 2010
19.
GableStage, Speech And Debate, through July 18, 2010.
20.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, CATS, through June 27, 2010.
23.
Actors' Playhouse, Pippi Longstocking, through August 7, 2010 (for Children & Families)
25.
Florida Atlantic University, A Midsummer Night's Dream, through July 25th.
july
7.
Actors' Playhouse, Are We There Yet?, through August 15, 2010.
Caldwell Theatre, Secret Order, through August 1, 2010.
9.
Florida Atlantic University, Shipwrecked, through July 24th.
16.
Palm Beach Dramaworks, The Gin Game, through August 15, 2010
17.
Florida Stage, Low Down Dirty Blues, through September 5, 2010. (First show in their new home at the Kravis Center!)
23.
Ground Up an Rising re-emerges to present Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman, playing through August 8
august
5.
Women's Theatre Project, Wicked Sisters, through August 29.
11.
Caldwell Theatre, The Comfort of Darkness, through September 5, 2010.
14.
Gablestage, Fifty Words, through September 12, 2010.
20.
Stage Door Theatre, Mack & Mable, through September 26.
27.
New Theatre, The Tempest, through September 26.
september
9.
Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Bare, the Pop Opera, through September 18.
Mosaic Theatre, Completely Hollywood (abridged), through October 3.
10.
Ground Up and Rising, Hurlyburly, through October 3.
24.
Stage Door Theatre, Steel Magnolias, through November 7.
.
Speech & Debate at GableStage opens JUNE 19th, not July...and runs through July 18th...
ReplyDeletethanks for the line up!