Mondays are Dark

Well, we can no longer pretend that it's not summer. It's danged hot out there.  So here's something to read while you huddle in the AC.

Summer Make-Up
Broadway World reports that the Kravis Center will offer a complimentary ticket for each ticket purchased to see the defunct Florida Stage offering of Ella.

The "comps" can be used at any "Kravis Center presents" performance in the Rinker Playhouse, Persson Hall or Gosman Amphitheatre during the 2011-2012 season, based on availability.

It's a lovely gesture to the patrons of the late and lamented Florida Stage.

"Hi, Diddly Dee, the Actor's Life For Me..."
Over on First Draft, which has risen from the ashes of Florida Stage, a farewell to some companions, and reflections on the nomadic nature of Life in the Theatre.  (as opposed to life in a theater.)

All You Playwrights
The Drama Queen reports that City Theatre is hosting CityWrights, an information and entertainment filled literary conference at Miami's Epic Hotel.

"And The Winners Are..."
While the Theatre Scene inexplicably didn't get chosen for Best Blog, there are a slew of other theatre winners in this year's New Times Miami's Best of 2011: the Actors' Playhouse production of August, Osage County, the Alliance Theatre Lab's Brothers Beckett, GableStage, Gary Marachek, Sharon Gless, Antonio Amadeo, Aubrey Shavonn, David Arisco, the cast of A Round-Heeled Woman, and The M Ensemble production of the musical Crowns.

Meanwhile...
...In Palm Beach, the Royal Poinciana Playhouse is still closed.  On the one hand, The Real Deal reports that the town council has settled the lawsuit to preserve the Playhouse with Preserve Palm Beach. 

"I hope this shows good intentions on the part of the Town Council," Councilman Richard Kleid said. "I hope Patrick Flynn [PPB CEO] and the Preserve Palm Beach group would not bring any other actions along these lines because it's costly and time-consuming."

On the other hand, The Shiny Sheet reports that the closing of Florida Stage bodes ill for reviving an out-of-date venue too large for regional repertory theater.

The guild and PAC leader, Patrick Flynn, has earnestly pushed forward throughout the years, even though the Playhouse has been closed since 2004 and it would take millions upon millions of dollars to renovate it to acceptable standards — even before one performance was held.

Florida Stage had been around since 1987, had staged more than 150 plays (the vast majority well-received), had a knowledgeable and dynamic leader in Louis Tyrrell, had 30 full-time employees, and had worked in smaller, more-established venues than the aging Playhouse — yet could not survive.

Florida Stage turned down an opportunity to re-locate to Palm Beach when they realized that Palm Beach's "town serve" law would hamper their ability to draw in enough people to remain viable.