Tuesday, September 7, 2010

DramaWorks takes over Cuillo Center

This press release just in:

(Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 West Palm Beach, FL)  West Palm Beach’s oldest resident professional Theatre, Palm Beach Dramaworks, is proud to announce that at today’s West Palm Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board Meeting, the CRA Board voted to conditionally approve the purchase of the landmark Cuillo Centre for the Arts and enter into long-term lease agreement with Palm Beach Dramaworks.

Once agreements are finalized, Palm Beach Dramaworks plans to renovate the interior theatre and audience chamber, with a Grand Opening in November 2011.

"This raises the curtain on an important act of the development of our theatre, and is another essential step in the revitalization of downtown West Palm Beach.  We are very thankful to Mayor Frankel, the City Commission, and the CRA for recognizing the Arts as a crucial component to the economic and social health of our community.   For me and my fellow board members, this is a momentous occasion,” stated Dramaworks’ Chairman of the Board Mark Perlberg.

"We look forward to presenting such plays that our current tiny venue prohibits us from producing.   However, the new venue must be renovated and transformed into a theatre that provides our patrons with a familiar Dramaworks experience.   We are excited about the opportunity and the challenge of expanding our artistic horizons, and accommodating our ever-increasing audience base, while carefully maintaining the powerfully intimate setting, which has become a trademark for our organization,” added Dramaworks’ Producing Artistic Director William Hayes.

"Our strong record of fiscal growth and responsibility over the last decade, demonstrates our ability to play a crucial role in the revitalization of the downtown area.  The larger venue will permit us to expand programming throughout the year, translating to a significant increase in revenue for our organization and other downtown merchants.  We anticipate drawing hundreds of our affluent and sophisticated patrons to the downtown area each week.  There will be a huge economic impact to our City," acknowledged Dramaworks’ Managing Director Sue Ellen Beryl.

“This is a wonderful move for Palm Beach Dramaworks and it will greatly benefit Downtown West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County. Dramaworks is a great example of the positive impact a cultural organization can have in a community. From attracting residents and visitors to providing cultural industry jobs and educational opportunities to students, Dramaworks is a community asset now enhanced by this new, highly visible facility,” remarked Rena Blades, President & CEO of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.                     

For over ten years, Palm Beach Dramaworks has proven itself as a pivotal component of downtown West Palm Beach. Situated on Banyan Boulevard, between Dixie Highway and Olive Avenue, the theatre has become a cultural magnet, with over 19,000 visitors each year. Its productions have been hailed by critics in South Florida, and by The Wall Street Journal as one of the country’s leading regional theatres.  Originally opened in 1999, the 377-seat Cuillo theatre is located on Clematis Street and defines a prominent location as a gateway to the newly established waterfront and West Palm’s restored downtown.

Palm Beach Dramaworks is a non-profit, professional theatre and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the South Florida Theatre League, Southeastern Theatre Conference, Florida Professional Theatre Association, Florida Theatre Conference, and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.

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