Palm Beach Dramaworks Launches Musical Theatre Masters Series With CAMELOT, 1/11-13

Palm Beach Dramaworks, West Palm Beach's multi-award winning professional theatre (201 Clematis Street), is delighted to announce the premiere of an exciting new venture, the Musical Theatre Masters Series. Modeled after PBD's very popular Master Playwrights Series, the new series will kick off on with four concert performances of Camelot, the final Broadway musical from the legendary writing team of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe on January 11 (8pm), January 12 (2pm and 8pm), and January 13 (2pm).

Directed by Clive Cholerton with Musical direction by Caryl Fantel the cast will include: Michael McKenzie as King Arthur,Margery Lowe as Queen Guenevere and Jim Ballard as Lancelot. Barrie Ingham, Michael Focus, Shane Tanner, Joshua Alan Eleazer, James Cichewicz, Leah Sessam, Renee Elizabeth Turner and Casey Butler will complete the company.

Camelot, based on T. H. White's novel "The Once and Future King," is the story of the legendary King Arthur, his Utopian vision, and the heartbreaking love triangle that destroys his enchanted kingdom. In his desire to become "the most splendid king who ever sat on any throne," Arthur establishes the Knights of the Round Table, men who will fight only to uphold honor, chivalry and civilization. Among those knights is the noble, righteous Lancelot du Lac, Arthur's best friend. When Lancelot and Queen Guenevere fall in love, their affair ends the "one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot." The splendid score includes "If Ever I Would Leave You," "I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight," "How to Handle a Woman, "What Do the Simple Folk Do?" and the title song. The original production, which opened in 1960 and ran for 873 performances, starred Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet, and was directed by Moss Hart.

Two additional shows, to be determined, will be presented in the summer, when the series will expand to two segments: a lecture on the lives and careers of the artists who created the show and, on separate days, a presentation of the musical in concert.

Clive Cholerton has had considerable success directing classic musicals in concert, having staged Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Follies and The Secret Garden at the Caldwell.

For 12 years, Palm Beach Dramaworks has brought to the Palm Beaches a distinguished roster of plays under the guidance of William Hayes. 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 Theatres Association, Florida Theatre Conference, and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.

All tickets are $35.00. Student tickets $10 and group rates for 20 or more are also available.

The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, at 201 Clematis Street. For ticket information contact the box office at (561) 514-4042, open Monday from 10AM to 5PM, Tuesday through Saturday from 10AM to 6PM, and Sunday from 11AM to 5PM, or visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.