For some, The Palm Beaches is where life can be dedicated to sand, sun, surf and relaxation. While it is true that the area has some of the finest beaches, it is also home to wonderful entertainment far away from the roar of the surf. The Palm Beaches is home to a surprisingly rich collection of playhouses and live theaters, ready to bring you old classics as well as the latest dramatic works. Here, is a partial list for you to consider and enjoy in between days in the Florida sun:

 

Delray Beach Playhouse, Delray Beach

Called “a hidden gem on Lake Ida,” this playhouse has been a part of the Delray Beach community since its start in the late 1940s. The facility, made up of a main theatre and several thousand feet of workshop space, was built on the shore of Lake Ida, offering visitors an up-close and intimate theatre experience. Shows range from plays and musicals, to workshops specifically for children.

Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center, Belle Glade

The 466-seat Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center presents a wide variety of cultural and entertainment performances in Belle Glade. The center’s seasonal calendar is packed with acts ranging from professional guest artists to family-friendly educational presentations.  

Dreyfoos Hall, Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach

As the grand concert hall of The Kravis Center, Dreyfoos Hall is a focal point for the arts community in The Palm Beaches. This 2,195-seat venue was designed with acoustics in mind, creating a performance experience that is second to none. The diverse range of programs coming to Dreyfoos hall each year is inspiring, with world class artists from every discipline entertaining audiences.

Eissey Campus Theatre, Palm Beach Gardens

The 750-seat Eissey Campus Theatre serves as a cultural hub in the northern section of The Palm Beaches. Along with quality performances every season, the theatre presents community programs, as well as the popular Arts in the Gardens series.

Florida Atlantic University Theater at the Dorothy Schmidt College of Arts and Sciences, Boca Raton

The dramatic arts are well supported at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Several different venues are available, each with its own program of seasonal shows. The Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium seats 2,389 patrons, the University Theatre seats 493, and the compact Studio One Theatre has cozy seating for 153 visitors. FAU is also home to The Theatre Lab, a professional resident company whose mission is to inspire and produce new works and train artists for the American Theatre.  

Lake Worth Playhouse, Lake Worth

An intimate stage with a long history, the 66-year old Lake Worth Playhouse offers a variety of mainstream and alternative programming, both live and on film. The playhouse also offers educational programs for adults and children, as well as year-round programming of award-winning dramas, musicals, ballets and operas in cinema. The playhouse has a never-be-dark policy, and they live up to that promise.

Maltz Jupiter Theater, Jupiter

With 617 seats and 28,000 square feet of space, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre is known for great performances and memorable entertainment. Year after year, the Maltz provides a dazzling season of shows utilizing both local and nationally known artists. The Maltz has a well-known reputation as a training facility for new talent, and often these artists will start their professional careers on this stage.  

Palm Beach Dramaworks, West Palm Beach

Since its founding in 2000, Palm Beach Dramaworks has brought productions of classic, contemporary, and little-known plays to The Palm Beaches. Strategically located at the east end of Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Dramaworks is in the middle of everything. Their programs explore new works and new artists, and their Dramalogue series brings gifted writers and technicians into intimate discussion about their craft.

Persson Hall, Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach

Known for its intimacy and flexibility as a venue, the Helen K. Persson Hall can seat up to 300 visitors in a wide variety of seating configurations. A perfect companion to the larger Dreyfoos Hall at the Kravis Center, it is an ideal space for films, comedy and any performance designed for an personal experience.  

A post shared by Wick Theatre & Costume Museum (@thewicktheatre) on Apr 21, 2018 at 10:27pm PDT

The Wick Theater & Costume Museum, Boca Raton

The vision of two sisters who found success in selling theatre garb, The Wick Theatre is a unique combination of theatre and tribute to the art of costume design and creation. Started by Marilyn A. Wick, Founder and CEO of Costume World, Inc., the theatre is perfectly suited for small, intimate productions, and the attached costume museum displays a wide variety of costume collections from stage and screen.

The Willow Theatre, Boca Raton

The 155-seat Willow Theatre in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park specializes in bringing small productions and community drama to the public stage. A children series runs in the summer, bringing the likes of Wizard of Oz, Chicken Little, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to young theater-goers. Community gatherings and celebrations round out the activities The Willow provides.

There are many stages in and around The Palm Beaches, bringing productions big and small to audiences. They add culture and art to this tropical paradise, so take the time to enjoy them.