News

MALTZ JUPITER THEATRE STUDENTS
WORK TOGETHER TO PRODUCE
ROMEO AND JULIET
WITH EXPERIENTIAL ‘IN THE ROUND’ SEATING

Students are spending their summer participating in a free ‘summer intensive’ mentorship program at the award-winning regional theatre

July 10, 2019 (Jupiter) – A cast and creative team made up of local middle and high school students are spending their summer producing a historic Shakespearian classic.

Under the guidance of industry professionals at Florida’s largest award-winning professional regional theatre, students are taking part in a free summer mentorship program to produce William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The show will take place on the Theatre’s stage on August 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m.; August 10 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and August 11 at 2 p.m.

The students’ production of Romeo and Juliet will be performed on the Theatre’s stage deck with intimate in-the-round seating that promises to be a unique and unforgettable theatrical experience. A distinctive seating configuration that provides audience members with the opportunity to surround the stage, in-the-round seating immerses the audience in the production’s action.

“We can promise that this production will be one that theatregoers won’t see anywhere else,” said the show’s student director Alexander Goodwin-Elam, a junior at Oxbridge Academy. “The opportunity to produce a classic like this at a professional regional theatre with experiential in-the-round seating is enormous. We are all beyond thrilled to be spending our summer creating something so monumental.”

In one of the greatest love stories ever told, the city of Verona is divided by an historic bitter feud where two star-crossed lovers meet. Romeo and Juliet’s tragic end brings light to the necessity of peace.

One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, the plot is based on the Italian tale The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose in Palace of Pleasure by William Painter in 1567. Shakespeare borrowed from both but expanded the plot by developing a number of supporting characters; he first published his story as a quarto version in 1597. It has been adapted numerous times for stage, film, musical, and opera venues in the years since its inception.

Known as the Youth Artists’ Chair, the project aligns students with individual Theatre staff members for one-on-one mentoring and guidance during the creation process of the show. Since 2011, students have produced the dramas To Kill a Mockingbird, The Diary of Anne Frank, Rhinoceros, The Glass Menagerie, The Crucible, Hamlet, The Laramie Project and The Good Times are Killing Me.

“The Youth Artists’ Chair program is a wonderful annual opportunity for local students to spend their summer working on a significant, vital project with their peers,” said Julie Rowe, the Theatre’s director of education and mentor to the production’s student dramaturg. “Our students have gained an incredible amount of professional knowledge through the years and graduate-level training from highly-skilled artists. We are all honored to be providing guidance this summer for their production of Romeo and Juliet, particularly with the show’s unique in-the-round setting.”

After passing through an extensive interview and selection process, the student creative team consists of: Alexander Goodwin-Elam (director), 15, of Jupiter; Emma Holloway (assistant director), 17, of Jupiter; Isabella Betz (production stage manager), 15, of Palm Beach Gardens; Lily Stewart (dramaturg), 15 of Palm Beach Gardens; Ryan Carroll (lighting designer), 17 of Jupiter; Penelope Hess (costume designer), 12, of Palm Beach Gardens; Mia Rubin (sound designer), 15, of Jupiter; and Mitchell Hockenson (props designer), 17, of Jupiter.

The show’s cast will feature Blake McCall (Romeo), 13, of Jupiter; Hana Roberts (Juliet), 13, of Palm Beach Gardens; Nicholas Russell (Friar Laurence), 15, of Jupiter; Eamon Kimball (Mercutio/Friar John), 15, of Jupiter; Morgan Kullen (Benvolio), 14, of Jupiter; Gabriella Smith (Lord Capulet), 15, of Jupiter; Jacqueline Stiefel (Lady Capulet), 16, of Jupiter; Melanie McDonald (Sir Paris), 13, of Tequesta; Maya Mays (Nurse/Lady Montague), 17, of Greenacres; Brianna Alvarez (Lord Montague), 16, of Hobe Sound; Kenneth Salazar (Tybalt/Apothecary/Police #2), 18, of West Palm Beach; Shanice Lodge (Prince), 16, of Jupiter; Molly Dolan (Peter/Sir Paris’Page/Police #1), 14, of Jupiter; Lauren Holloway (Guard/Citizen of Verona), 14, of Jupiter; and Lauren Perez Guard/Citizen of Verona), 15, of West Palm Beach; Cecile Rubin Guard/Citizen of Verona), 11, of Jupiter; and Jasmine Smith Guard/Citizen of Verona), 17, of Palm Beach Gardens.

Tickets are on sale now for Romeo and Juliet, which will take place at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on August 8 and 9; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on August 10; and 2 p.m. on August 11. Tickets are $20 for students and $25 for adults. Please note that this production explores mature themes. Visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call (561) 575-2223.

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida’s preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state’s largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 8,560 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence. For more information about the Theatre’s upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.   

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Media Contact:
Linnea Bailey (561) 713-0673
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Calendar item:

Youth Artists’ Chair presents Romeo and Juliet – Thursday, August 8 – Sunday, August 11
In one of the greatest love stories ever told, the city of Verona is divided by an historic bitter feud where two star-crossed lovers meet. Romeo and Juliet’s tragic end brings light to the necessity of peace. Produced by middle and high school students as part of the Theatre’s Youth Artists’ Chair program and performed in an intimate “in the round” setting on the stage deck. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on August 8 and 9; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on August 10; and 2 p.m. on August 11. Tickets are $20 for students and $25 for adults.

EXPERIENCE THE SIZZLE OF
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA’S
IN THE HEIGHTS
AT THE MALTZ JUPITER THEATRE

Students from the Theatre’s Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts will perform the hit musical on the Theatre’s stage

June 17, 2019 (Jupiter) – Before there was Hamilton: An American Musical, there was In The Heights, the Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical that made composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda a star.

And later this month, families with teens can enjoy the hit musical on stage at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29. Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for children.

The show will star 62 students in grades 6 and up from Palm Beach, Martin County and beyond who are participating in the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts’ three-week Senior Conservatory summer camp, in which students learn all aspects of theatre such as acting, dance and voice, culminating in full performances of In The Heights. The cast will also include candidates in the Theatre’s Professional Training Program.

With music and lyrics by Miranda and a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, the musical takes place in the vibrant Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican neighborhood of Manhattan's Washington Heights and tells the universal story of bodega owner Usnavi, who dreams of saving enough money to return to his home country, the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, his neighbors face the challenge of sustaining their tight-knit community.

The 2008 Broadway hit was nominated for 13 Tony Awards® and won four, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Choreography. The show was so successful that it recouped its $10 million investment after 10 months, with a cast recording of its infectious hip-hop score that won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. A film adaptation of the musical is set for release in summer 2020.

The New York Times raved that “when this musical erupts in one of its expressions of collective joy, the energy it gives off could light up the George Washington Bridge for a year or two,” while Variety called the show an “uncalculated charmer” with high praise for its “depth of feeling, together with the wit of Miranda's lyrics, the playful dexterity of his rhymes, his dynamic score and a bunch of truly winning performances.”

International performer and Conservatory faculty member Ricky Nahas will direct and choreograph the production. Seen onstage in the Theatre’s professional productions of Les Misérables, The Wiz and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Nahas has served as a Conservatory faculty member for the past six years, teaching voice and dance. He previously directed and choreographed the Conservatory’s productions of Madagascar JR., Sister Act, Guys and Dolls, Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, Jr., Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr., SEUSSICAL™ and Little Shop of Horrors, and also choreographed all three years of the Theatre’s productions of Through the Looking Glass. Notable roles include Radames in Aida, Mungojerrie in CATS, a swing and dance captain in the National Tour of Altar Boyz and Double J in Saturday Night Fever. Currently based in West Palm Beach, Nahas has performed throughout Europe, with TV credits that include Burn Notice and Guiding Light.

“I’m delighted to be directing and choreographing such a powerful, high-energy musical on the Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s stage,” Nahas said. “In The Heights is a driving Broadway hit filled with fresh Latin dancing, an unforgettable score and pure uninhibited joy. I’d like to encourage everyone to come see our area’s talented local students perform in this wonderful musical.”

Nahas is currently spending the three weeks of camp guiding students through the process of auditioning for a Broadway show, a fast-paced rehearsal schedule and the opportunity to showcase all that they’ve learned onstage, complete with costumes, sets, professional lighting and a professional theater orchestra.

“The Senior Conservatory is an excellent annual opportunity for local teens to have the chance to experience what it's like to work in professional theatre and perform on that Theatre’s stage in a full musical,” said Julie Rowe, director of education for the Conservatory. “A fun-filled summer evening is in store at the theatre with In The Heights!”

The musical features design elements from a host of industry professionals, including assistant direction by longtime Conservatory faculty member Lea Roy, scenic and props design by the Theatre’s properties master Casey Blanton, sound design by the Theatre’s resident sound designer Marty Mets, lighting design by Michael J. Burris, costume design by Brittani Seach, music direction from Conservatory faculty member John Mercurio and stage management from Noelle Dibble.

Showtimes for the Conservatory’s upcoming production of In The Heights are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29. Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for children. For tickets, call the Theatre’s box office at (561) 575-2223 or visit www.jupitertheatre.org.

About the Conservatory
Drawing nearly 600 students per year, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts is a premiere professional Conservatory that offers a challenging, innovative and quality theatre experience to students of all ages and abilities. In addition to a full schedule of classes, the Conservatory's hands-on workshops and master classes offer students an opportunity to learn first-hand from nationally known directors and Broadway performers, agents and local instructors. More than 25 percent of the Conservatory’s students receive scholarships. For more information about the Conservatory including a full schedule of classes, visit www.jupitertheatre.org/education.

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida’s preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state’s largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 8,560 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence. For more information about the Theatre’s upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.   

###
Media Contact:
Linnea Bailey (561) 713-0673
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Calendar item:

In the Heights – Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29
Music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Book by Quiara Alegría Hudes
In the Hispanic community of Manhattan's Washington Heights, bodega owner Usnavi dreams of saving enough money to return to his home country, the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, the people in Usnavi’s neighborhood face the challenge of sustaining their tight-knit community. Featuring students in grades 6 and up, including candidates in the Professional Training Program. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for students and $25 for adults.

BROADWAY MEGAHIT
CATS
SET TO ROAR AT THE
MALTZ JUPITER THEATRE

Sixty-five students from the Theatre’s Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts will perform the Tony Award-winning musical on the Theatre’s stage, led by a team that includes three performers from the original Broadway cast

May 6, 2019 (Jupiter) – The groundbreaking song-and-dance spectacular CATS is coming to the Maltz Jupiter Theatre stage!

With performances slated for Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, the fantastical musical will feature 65 local students in grades 6-12 and members of the Theatre’s college-level Professional Training Program.

Directed by longtime Conservatory faculty member and performer Lea Roy, the musical will feature the work of three cast members who performed together in the original smash hit Broadway show, starring Betty Buckley: choreography by Broadway veteran Brian Andrews, assistant choreography by Becky Timms and makeup by Anna McNeely.

Based on the universally popular poetry of T.S. Eliot, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s whimsical masterpiece tells the story, in song and dance, of personified cats as they gather for the biggest night of the year, the Jellicle Ball. Filled with iconic dance numbers, CATS takes audiences on a journey with unforgettable songs like “Jellicle Cats” and “Memory.”

With twice as many cast members as in the Broadway production, Andrews said he and Timms have been focused on honoring, recreating and expanding the work of the show’s original famed choreographer, Gillian Lynne, who passed away last year at age 92.

“CATS is entirely danced and choreographed, so it really is about telling the story through movement,” Andrews said, who spent 10 years performing in the Broadway production. “We’ve been trying to recreate as much as we can based on the abilities of our cast members and have truly been focused on immersive staging to accommodate so many performers. It’s taken quite a bit of creativity and we’ll have dancers all over the place: in the house of the theatre, on the stage, everywhere. Our production of CATS will be an experience people won’t soon forget.”

As the show’s original Jennyanydots, McNeely will use her extensive knowledge of CATS to make sure that all of the makeup is Broadway caliber. 

“It’s been such an honor to work on this production with three original Broadway cast members, and such a gift for the kids to receive their guidance,” Roy said. “Our production of CATS has been challenging because of the sheer size of the cast, but it’s also what makes it so exciting; we’ve really been focused on creating a ‘tribe’ of cats where the audience will feel like they’re truly part of the cats’ lives. Many of our performers have been part of the Conservatory since kindergarten, and it’s been amazing to watch them grow and rise to the challenge of dancing and singing at a Broadway level. This show is wonderful fun for the entire family!”

One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, CATS premiered in London in 1981 and ran for 21 years and nearly 9,000 performances, winning both the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. Two years later, the Broadway production became an instant hit, winning seven Tony Awards® (including Best Musical) and running for 18 years. Both the original London and Broadway cast recordings won Grammy Awards for Best Cast Album.

Since its debut, CATS has been presented in over 30 countries, has been translated into 15 languages and has been seen by more than 73 million people worldwide, including a 2016 Broadway revival.

The production will take place on the Theatre’s professional regional stage, complete with stunning costumes, a fantastical junkyard set, spectacular lighting and accompaniment by the same orchestra that accompanies the Theatre’s season musicals.

The musical features design elements from a host of industry professionals, including music direction from John Mercurio with music assistant Kerry Rocks, scenic and properties design by the Theatre’s properties master Casey Blanton, sound design by the Theatre’s resident sound designer Marty Mets, lighting design by Michael J. Burris and costume design by Brittani Seach.

Performances of CATS will take place at 7:30 p.m. on May 17 and 18 at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students. Call (561) 575-2223 for tickets or visit www.jupitertheatre.org.

About the Conservatory
Drawing nearly 600 students per year, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts is a premiere professional Conservatory that offers a challenging, innovative and quality theatre experience to students of all ages and abilities. In addition to a full schedule of classes, the Conservatory's hands-on workshops and master classes offer students an opportunity to learn first-hand from nationally known directors and Broadway performers, agents and local instructors. More than 25 percent of the Conservatory’s students receive scholarships. For more information about the Conservatory including a full schedule of classes, visit www.jupitertheatre.org/education.

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida’s preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state’s largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 8,560 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence. For more information about the Theatre’s upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.   

###
Media Contact:
Linnea Bailey (561) 713-0673
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Calendar item:

CATS – Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by T.S. Eliot
Additional lyrics by Trevor Nunn and Richard Stilgoe
Based on the book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s whimsical masterpiece tells the story of personified cats as they gather for the biggest night of the year, the Jellicle Ball. Filled with iconic dance numbers, CATS takes you on a journey with unforgettable songs like “Jellicle Cats” and “Memory.” Featuring students in grades 6 -12 and the Professional Training Program. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for students and $25 for adults.

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF
MADAGASCAR – A MUSICAL ADVENTURE JR
AT THE MALTZ JUPITER THEATRE

Students from the Theatre’s Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts will perform the
junior stage version of the DreamWorks beloved blockbuster on the Theatre’s stage

April 24, 2019 (Jupiter) – Bring the whole family on a spectacular and unexpected journey to the zany world of King Julien’s Madagascar with Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR, onstage May 10 and 11 at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.

With performances slated for 7:30 p.m. on both Friday (May 10) and Saturday (May 11), the musical will feature 36 local children in grades 3 – 5 who have been preparing for the production since January.

Directed and choreographed by Ricky Nahas, the musical will feature music direction from John Mercurio and design elements from a host of industry professionals, including scenic and properties design by the Theatre’s properties master Casey Blanton, sound design by the Theatre’s resident sound designer Marty Mets, lighting design by Michael J. Burris and costume design by Brittani Seach.

Based on the 2005 smash hit DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. tells the tale of Alex the lion, king of the urban jungle and the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends — Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo — have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape — with the help of some prodigious penguins — to explore the world.

Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!”

“Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. is a heartwarming, funny and inclusive story that focuses on the power of friendship and the lengths friends will go to help each other,” said Julie Rowe, the Theatre’s director of education. “Against all odds, these friends who would be natural enemies in the animal kingdom stick together to save each other and their friendship.”

The one-hour production is open to all ages and will take place on the Theatre’s professional regional stage, complete with costumes, sets, lighting and accompaniment from by the same orchestra that accompanies the Theatre’s season musicals.

“Our Conservatory productions are unique because all ages are welcome,” Rowe said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce theatre to younger patrons because it’s a concise show and features performers closer to their age, yet contains all of the magic seen in a professional production.”

Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. features a book by Kevin Del Aguila with original music and lyrics by George Noriega and Joel Someillan.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students for each of the performances. Call (561) 575-2223 for tickets or visit www.jupitertheatre.org.

About the Conservatory
Drawing nearly 600 students per year, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts is a premiere professional Conservatory that offers a challenging, innovative and quality theatre experience to students of all ages and abilities. In addition to a full schedule of classes, the Conservatory's hands-on workshops and master classes offer students an opportunity to learn first-hand from nationally known directors and Broadway performers, agents and local instructors. More than 25 percent of the Conservatory’s students receive scholarships. For more information about the Conservatory including a full schedule of classes, visit www.jupitertheatre.org/education.

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida’s preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state’s largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 8,560 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence. For more information about the Theatre’s upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.   

###
Media Contact:
Linnea Bailey (561) 713-0673
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Calendar item:

Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR – Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11
Based on the DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR.. follows the animals of New York’s Central Park Zoo on an unexpected journey to the zany world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Featuring students in grades 3 – 5. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for students and $25 for adults.