The coal miners of Ashington, England, in the 1930s had never been inside a museum or even seen a painting. Yet as depicted in Lee Hall?s recent play, The Pitmen Painters, opening tonight at Palm Beach Dramaworks, they began taking government-sponsored art appreciation courses dedicated to expanding the horizons of lower-class laborers.
Why would they sign up for such courses? "It?s like an adult education class," explains cast member Rob Donohoe. "These guys only went to school to a certain level, but they know there?s more out there. They have a thing about not being viewed as stupid, just because they aren?t. But their teacher had difficulty getting the miners to connect to art, because they have no frame of reference.
"Out of frustration he decides to let them paint something, so they?ll understand what it takes and, therefore, appreciate it more," says Donohue. Many of them find they have a talent for painting, and so began the Ashington Group, an acclaimed set of primitive artists whose work is now considered museum quality.
"Where the play ultimately focuses is whether these men are exceptional or can anyone be an artist," notes J. Barry Lewis, director of Dramaworks? production. "So it becomes a look at what is the role of art, who possesses it, what is the importance of it. What makes someone an artist?"
Hall is best known for the screenplay of Billy Elliot and its adaptation to a stage musical, a story that concerns similar miners from the same region about a decade later. Both plays share political underpinnings, as Hall sides with the downtrodden and is an advocate for the transforming power of the arts.
Among the play?s messages is "That art can come from anywhere," says Dramaworks veteran cast member Dennis Creaghan. "The urge, the talent, can come from anywhere. It can be unschooled and untaught, but given the right circumstances it emerges."
Ultimately, says Lewis, the play "is about a journey taken both individually and then collectively as a group." A journey that becomes "an entertaining discourse on the reason art exists. And why we need it in our lives."
Plaza Theatre reopens playhouse in Manalapan ? Palm Beach Gardens producer Alan Jacobson, who once ran West Palm?s Florida Jewish Theatre, has been focusing on commercial stage tours in recent years. But tonight, he inaugurates a new venture ? Plaza Theatre Company ? in the Manalapan space where Florida Stage used to perform.
Although it, too, is a not-for-profit theater, its menu will be quite different from Florida Stage?s. "There?s one niche in the professional theater market in Palm Beach County that is missing, and that?s comedies," says Jacobson. "I will be producing comedies, as well as musicals, musical revues, cabaret shows. And a drama every now and again."
He is certainly attracting attention ? and audiences ? with his opening show, A Chorus Line?s Tony Award-winning actress Donna McKechnie in her autobiographical song-and-dance revue, My Musical Comedy Life. It plays through Saturday, including a master class that McKechnie will conduct Saturday afternoon. "I felt I needed to make a splash with my opening show, and Donna is a wonderful performer," says Jacobson.
Plaza Theatre expects to operate year-round, with ticket prices well below the other professional companies in the county. Following McKechnie will be Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (March 8-25), a jukebox musical featuring songs by Neil Sedaka in a production brought over from Sarasota. Other shows on the schedule include revues of bubble-gum pop songs, the song trunk of Barry Manilow and one featuring the hits of three powerhouse women stars ? Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and Carole King.
On Oct. 25-28, Jacobson has a coup, Renee Taylor in her brand-new one-woman show, based on her book My Life on a Diet. But he is even more excited about producing the county premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Next to Normal (Jan. 15-Feb. 10, 2013), a dark look at a family coping with the mother?s bipolar mental instability. "That one will surprise people, but my goal has never been to do purely fluff," he says.
For tickets and more information on Plaza Theatre, call (561) 588-1820.
Slow Burn to stay offbeat . . . West Boca?s Slow Burn Theatre Company produces unconventional musicals and it has no plans to veer from that policy next season. It has announced plans to open in October with the adult puppet musical Avenue Q. January will usher in the cult musical Side Show, about conjoined twins, followed by Stephen Sondheim?s masterwork Sweeney Todd. The group?s summer show is merely quirky ? The Wedding Singer, the rom-com musical based on the Adam Sandler film.
You really do need to check out Slow Burn, at www.slowburntheatre.com.
THE PITMEN PAINTERS, Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Tonight through March 11. Tickets: $55. Call: (561) 514-4042.
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