Page 9 - Boca Exposure - September '20

Boca Exposure, Page 9
The Theatre Scene

No red carpet, glamorous sequined apparel or black ties best supporting actress
in sight at the 44th Annual Carbonell Awards but, as always, in A Raisin in the Sun
it was fun to watch. Even though it was a virtual ceremony by Lorraine Hansberry.
on television, it was well done. We’re so lucky to have such David Kuwait won the
great theater here in Palm Beach County and South Florida. best supporting actor for
Unfortunately Palm Beach County theaters only his portrayal of Philip
received four awards. This, despite that fact that Palm Loeb in the world premiere
Beach Dramaworks was nominated for 29 Carbonell of Ordinary Americans.
Awards and also received the prestigious Bill Von Maurer It’s a stunning script by
Award presented to the theater company that exemplifies Joseph McDonough. It
excellence for the totality of its programming productions, covers the fifties era of
educational outreach, developmental programs and the communist witch hunt
audiences served. and the McCarthyism
Each season, Producing Artistic Director William black list and Gertrude
Hayes puts together a wonderful combination of well- Berg’s brave stand against Due to the postponement of the new season during the pandemic, plans have changed for the
known classic plays, world premieres and a musical. corporate media giants for Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Release from Andrew Kato, managing, producing artistic director at the
They received a Carbonell in each category. The classic her husband, Philip Loeb Maltz Jupiter Theatre: “Our expansion begins! After five years of planning and fundraising,
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams accused of being a member our 30-million-dollar expansion will break ground at the end of the month. The Maltz Jupiter
(Anne Mendel for best scenic design) and Rita Cole for of the communist party. Theatre will reopen in October 2021.”

Elizabeth Demon (Molly Goldberg) was nominated for
best actress.
The 2019 musical, The Spitfire Grill featured the
talents of the Lubber Family musicians. Amy Miller
Brennan took home the Carbonell for best supporting
actress in a musical. The unusual script is about the
journey a young woman takes after being released from
prison and deciding to start a new life in rural Wisconsin.
Book and music by James Vale and book and lyrics by
Fred Alley. Great music by extremely talented musicians.
Farther south at the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton, Justin
M. Lewis won for the best choreography in the production
of The Hot Shoe Shuffle. Best actor in a musical went
to Aloysius Gigi for his role as the Demon Barber in
Sweeney Todd at the Zoetic Stage. The Zoetic Stage in
Broward County set a record in number of Carbonells
received. A total of 12.
The Carbonell Awards rank right up there with New
York’s Drama Desk and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award
for senior regional arts awards. It celebrates the diversity
of our theater artists providing educational scholarships;
and certainly helps to aid in the growth of a dwindling
live theater audience within the tri-county area. It’s an
honor to just be nominated and certainly looks great on
an actor’s resume to include winning a Carbonell.

The 2019 musical, The Spitfire Grill, produced at the Palm
Beach Dramaworks, earned a Carbonell for Amy Miller
Brennan as best supporting actress in a musical.

Justin M. Lewis brought home a Carbonell for best
choreography in the production of The Hot Shoe Shuffle at
the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton.