Page 6 - The Islander - March '21

Page 6, The Islander

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Palm Beach Dramaworks And Actors’ Playhouse

Announce Coproduction Of The Belle Of Amherst

For Online Streaming, April 2 To 6 Starring Margery Lowe

Palm Beach Dramaworks (PBD) Producing Artistic to do a one- or two-person play of substance. Actors’ Equity
Director William Hayes and Actors’ Playhouse Artistic Association has very stringent rules and procedures that must
Director David Arisco are pleased to announce that their be adhered to, and Hayes said PBD spent thousands of dollars
companies are joining forces on a virtual coproduction of to get special union-approved filters that will purify the air in
The Belle of Amherst, William Luce’s one-woman play based the theatre. “That’s just one indication of the many rigorous
on the life of Emily Dickinson. Margery Lowe portrays the protocols we – and the Actors’ Playhouse – plan to implement
enigmatic poet and Hayes directs. The show will be filmed when audiences return to our theatres.”
on PBD’s mainstage, without the presence of an audience, Anyone uncertain as to whether they’re subscribed to the
and will be streamed from April 2 to 6. upcoming season of PBD or Actors’ Playhouse, or wishes to
subscribe now to receive a free ticket to The Belle of Amherst,
should call PBD’s box office at (561) 514-4042, Ext. 2, or
Actors’ Playhouse box office at (305) 444-9293.
Hayes and Arisco are planning to announce their 2021/22
seasons in the next few weeks. “It’s our way of saying,
‘We’re still here, we’re still creating art, and we’d love your
attendance when you feel comfortable,” they said.
Tickets went on sale Feb. 18. For technical reasons,
tickets can be purchased only through PBD’s website:
www.palmbeachdramaworks.org or box office: (561)
514-4042, Ext. 2.
“We’re very excited to be working together and onstage,” said Arisco. “She’s an interesting combination of Actors’ Playhouse is an award-winning nonprofit regional
mounting a full production even as our theatres remain maturity and youthfulness in her performances, so she’s a professional theatre company celebrating 33 years of artistic
closed,” said Hayes and Arisco in a joint statement. “We’ve terrific choice.” Hayes added, “Having seen Marge embody excellence. Located in the historic Miracle Theatre on Miracle
both done a lot of virtual play readings during the pandemic, Dickinson in a very different play, and having developed a Mile in downtown Coral Gables, Actors’ Playhouse is a Florida
and we wanted to try something different, to bring a full professional bond over 15 years and numerous productions, Presenting Cultural Organization and one of 13 major cultural
production into people’s homes. We want to set an example I know she has the range, the skill set, and the artistry to pull institutions in Miami-Dade County. The company produces
of two organizations that are moving forward and figuring this off brilliantly.” five mainstage and four professional children’s theatre
out new ways to do things. We’ve known each other for a Michael Amico is the set designer, Brian O’Keefe is the productions annually, a year-round theatre conservatory and
long time, and we share a mutual respect – for each other, costume designer, Kirk Bookman is the lighting designer, and summer camp program, educational arts outreach programs,
and for each other’s work. So, it just seemed like a no- Roger Arnold is the sound designer. and the Young Talent Big Dreams countywide youth talent
brainer at this moment in time to do a co-pro and share our The artistic directors were also drawn to The Belle of contest in partnership with The Children’s Trust. To learn more
talents, our ideas, and, of course, the costs.” Amherst because of the poet’s growing popularity. She now about Actors’ Playhouse, visit www.ActorsPlayhouse.org.
Tickets are $30, and all proceeds benefit PBD and Actors’ has a fan base of teens and young adults, thanks to the series Palm Beach Dramaworks is a professional, nonprofit
Playhouse, supplying much-needed revenue at a time when Dickinson that is streaming on Apple TV+, a coming-of- theatre company founded in 2000 and located in the heart of
the theatres are earning no income. Once a ticket is purchased, age story with a contemporary sensibility that stars Hailee downtown West Palm Beach. Each season, the award-winning
the play can be viewed at the ticket holder’s convenience any Steinfeld. In 2017, jazz saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom released company produces five mainstage shows and offers a wide
time from April 2 to 6. an acclaimed album called Wild Lines: Improvising Emily variety of programs for students at the theatre, in schools, and
Patrons who subscribed to the 2020/21 season of either Dickinson, which does precisely what the title suggests. Her online. Committed to fostering the future of theatre, PBD has
company and did not ask for a refund, rolling over their poems have been translated into many languages, from French become a hub for playwrights in Florida and around the country
subscription to the 2021/22 season, get to watch for free. and Spanish to Persian and Kurdish. And Arisco says that he to nurture their work through initiatives including drama (in
“It’s a thank you for having trust and confidence in our and Hayes are “making inroads” into two theatres in London the) works and the annual New Year/New Plays Festival. PBD
organizations,” said Hayes and Arisco. and Dublin, where Dickinson is a favorite. is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, Florida
The shutdown of theatres last March compelled artistic There were also practical considerations. A large cast Professional Theatres Association, and the Cultural Council
directors all over the country to consider new ways to deliver during the pandemic was out of the question; they needed of Palm Beach County. www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.
content to their audiences. In Florida, it also prompted them
to talk and brainstorm. “It seems logical that we’re entering a
new era for regional theatre,” said Arisco, who will participate
in some rehearsals and be present during filming. “The need
for co-pros and collaboration now seems more evident. We
realize we’re not antagonists, we’re not competing. This could
lead to future coproductions when we’re back in our theatres,
because even though we share a region and we share critics,
we don’t share an audience.”
Hayes has been advocating for collaboration and unity reModeling renovations new construction
among Florida companies for years, and the pandemic
strengthened his resolve to reach out. “Almost immediately
after everyone shut down, I started talking with management
of theatre companies that I’d rarely communicated with
before,” said Hayes, who coproduced the 2019 world premiere
of Ordinary Americans with GableStage. “Now we’re sharing
things that we should have been sharing long ago. During a
pandemic, the lessons we should learn are to celebrate unity
and the strength of our community.”
Hayes and Arisco chose The Belle of Amherst for their
first coproduction for reasons artistic and pragmatic. The
play tells the story of the independent, reclusive, witty
poet through her letters, verse, and the playwright’s rich
imagination, interweaving the voices of friends, family, and
acquaintances to create a vivid portrait of the artist. Luce, who
adored Dickinson’s poetry, called his play “a love affair with
language, a celebration of all that is beautiful and poignant With over 50 years of combined experience, PMBuilders has the knowledge and ability to
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Emily. “Margery is a lovely actress, and she has a great warmth