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February Events at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Offers a Spectacular Array of Dazzling Concerts, Sizzling Shows & Amazing Special Events During February  2018

February 1 at 6 pm (Thursday)
Eleventh Annual
Palm Beach Wine Auction
Dinner & Live Auction
To Benefit the Education Programs at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Chairman: Ted Mandes
International Ambassador: Patrick M. Park
The Palm Beach Wine Auction is a multi-event benefit culminating in the main event, the Dinner and Live Auction, which features a five-course dinner prepared by an all-star line-up of local and national chefs, paired with specially selected wines from all over the world. The live auction takes place throughout the dinner and includes wines presented during the evening as well as some of the world’s most renowned and highly rated wines, travel experience and unique treasures. This elegant evening appeals not only to the wine connoisseur but also to anyone who enjoys world-class cuisine.
The Kravis Center
Tickets are $1,000 per person (by invitation)
Note: For more information, call 561-651-4320 or visit palmbeachwineauction.org.

February 2-3 (Friday & Saturday)
+ Friday at 7:30 pm
+ Saturday at 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Broadway Babies
Performed by Carole J. Bufford and Marissa Mulder
With Musical Director Eric Comstock
Devised and Narrated by Barry Day
Cabaret legend, singer and musical director Eric Comstock, along with critically acclaimed vocalists Carole J. Bufford and Marissa Mulder, channel Broadway legends performing the songs that made Broadway – Broadway. Journey through the Great White Way to the sounds of Porter, Berlin, Gershwin, Sondheim, Lerner and Loewe, Coward, Hamlisch, Harburg, Lane, and Rodgers and Hart and Hammerstein in this unforgettable, show-stopping event.
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets $40
With support from
Bob and Anne Van Giesen
Nancy Jones, Beard Foundation
Philip Geier, Jr.

February 3 at 10 am (Saturday)
Childsplay Theatre
Go, Dog. Go!
(Family Fare)
It’s canine chaos and a new leash on life lessons in Childsplay Theatre’s Go, Dog. Go! production of P.D. Eastman’s 1961 tale. Recommended for children pre-kindergarten through third grade, the one-hour pooch musical includes crazy cars, goofy hats, audience participation and a touch of vaudeville as six actors portraying Eastman’s memorable mutts hound one another and have a fetching good time.
Helen K. Persson Hall
Tickets $12 • General Admission
Sponsored by The Stiller Family Foundation

February 5 at 7 pm (Monday)
African-American Film Festival:
Sounder (1972)
Host: AnEta Sewell
(ArtSmart Continuing Arts Education)
A family of Depression-era sharecroppers struggles to eat despite the help of their hunting dog, Sounder. After father, Nathan (Paul Winfield), resorts to stealing food, he is sent to prison and his wife, Rebecca (Cicely Tyson), is left to care for their son. Though Sounder runs away, the boy never gives up hope that his dog will return, just as he believes that he will one day see his dad. (1 hour, 45 minutes)
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets: $10 per night or $25 for the entire festival

February 5 at 8 pm (Monday)
Tony Bennett
With worldwide record sales in the millions and dozens of platinum and gold albums to his credit, Tony Bennett is a musician who touches the hearts and souls of audiences with his legendary vocals and charming stage presence. His long list of achievements spans over 60 years, including 19 Grammy Awards, one of them being the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, making this artist a true international treasure.  His signature tunes, such as Steppin’ Out With My Baby and I Left My Heart In San Francisco, form part of the fabric of American music culture. Often billed as the world’s most boyish nonagenarian, Tony Bennett is a vital musical artist at the peak of his powers.
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $36
Sponsored by Rona Forstadt

February 6-11, 2018
+ Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8 pm
+ Wednesday and Saturday at 2 pm & 8 pm
+ Sunday at 2 pm
CABARET
(Kravis On Broadway)
Based on Roundabout Theatre Company’s Tony Award®-winning production, Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) and Rob Marshall’s (Into the Woods and Chicago, the films) CABARET comes to the Kravis Center. Welcome to the infamous Kit Kat Klub, where the emcee, Sally Bowles and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd – and to leave their troubles outside. But as life in pre-WWII Germany grows more and more uncertain, will the decadent allure of Berlin nightlife be enough to get them through these dangerous times? Come hear some of the most memorable songs in theatre history, including Cabaret, Willkommen and Maybe This Time. Leave your troubles outside – life is beautiful at CABARET, John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff’s Tony-winning musical about following your heart while the world loses its way. (For mature audiences.)
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $28
Kravis On Broadway sponsored by
Martin and Toni Sosnoff
Wilmington Trust
Beyond the Stage: Join us on February 6 for a free musical presentation by Matt Joy in the Dreyfoos Hall Lobby at 6:15 pm and a free pre-performance talk by Steven Caras at 6:45 pm. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

February 9-10 at 7:30 pm (Friday and Saturday)
Avery Sommers
For Sentimental Reasons
The Songs of Love
Sultry alto Avery Sommers returns to the Kravis Center with romantic selections including (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons, At Last, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and You Light Up My Life. She wowed Broadway in Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Showboat, and has appeared on Miami Vice and Burt Reynolds’ series B.L. Stryker. This hometown favorite also won a Carbonell Award in 1994 for her one-woman show But Not for Me.
Helen K. Persson Hall
Tickets $35

February 9-10 (Friday and Saturday)
+ Friday at 7:30 pm
+ Saturday at 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Contra-Tiempo
Urban Latin Dance Theater
(PEAK)
Exhilarating and expressive, Contra-Tiempo combines salsa, Afro-Cuban and contemporary urban and abstract dance theater to create physically intense and politically astute performances. The troupe’s newest work, Agua Furiosa, blends a live vocalist, water themes, explosive movements and the performers’ own multicultural stories.
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets $32
This PEAK performance is made possible by a grant from the
MLDauray Arts Initiative in honor of Leonard and Sophie Davis
Beyond the Stage: Join us for a free post-performance talk by Steven Caras immediately following the February 9 performance. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

February 12 at 11 am and 2 pm (Monday)
Broadway Live!
(Adults at Leisure Series)
Experience a nostalgic stroll down the glittering Great White Way, brilliantly brought to life by six phenomenal performers who have all starred in marquee roles in Broadway’s biggest blockbusters. This world-class revue, featuring some of New York’s top talent, captures the magic from musicals such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Jersey Boys, and The Sound of Music, among others.
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets: $29

February 12 at 7 pm  (Monday)
African-American Film Festival:
The Wiz (1978)
Host: AnEta Sewell
(ArtSmart Continuing Arts Education)
When Harlem teacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) tries to save her dog from a storm, she is miraculously whisked to an urban fantasy land called Oz. After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East, Dorothy is told about the Wiz (Richard Pryor) who can help her get home. She is joined in her search for him by the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell) and the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross). (2 hours, 16 minutes)
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets: $10 per night or $25 for the entire festival

February 12 at 8 pm (Monday)
Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason, regarded as one of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time, combines searing political satire, irreverent insights on modern life and impeccable timing. From humble beginnings to cultural icon, the former rabbi — he quit after three years because, as he says, “somebody in the family had to make a living” — continues to be a riotous and relevant equal opportunity offender. (Contains adult language.)
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $25

February 14 at 8 pm (Wednesday)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti, Conductor
Jay Friedman, Trombone
Michael Mulcahy, Trombone
Charles Vernon, Bass Trombone
Gene Pokorny, Tuba
(Regional Arts Concert Series)
+ Stravinsky/Scherzo fantastique in B Major, Op. 3
+ Jennifer Higdon/Concerto for Low Brass
+ Brahms/Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $40
Series sponsored by Leonard and Sophie Davis
Concert sponsored by Norma and Leonard Klorfine Foundation
Beyond the Stage: Join us for a pre-performance talk by Sharon McDaniel at 6:45 pm in The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center, and for a free performance by the UB Kinsey/Palmview Elementary School of the Arts Orchestra in the Dreyfoos Hall Lobby at 7:15 pm. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

February 15 at 2 pm (Thursday)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti, Conductor
Steve Williamson, Clarinet
Clémentine Margaine, Mezzo-soprano
(Regional Arts Concert Series)
+ Verdi/Overture to / Vespri Siciliani
+ Mozart/Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622
+ Chausson/Poème de l’amour et de la mer, Op. 19
+ Britten/Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op. 33a
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $40
Series sponsored by Leonard and Sophie Davis
Concert sponsored by Norma and Leonard Klorfine Foundation
Beyond the Stage: Join us for a pre-performance talk by Sharon McDaniel at 12:45 pm in The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

February 16-17 at 7:30 pm (Friday and Saturday)
Urban Bush Women
Hair and Other Stories
(PEAK)
Crafted from personal narratives from our communities, kitchens and living rooms, social media and YouTube, Hair & Other Stories debates the center of perceived American “values” and celebrates the persevering narrative of the African Diaspora. Hair & Other Stories explores disquieting perceptions of body image, race, gender identity, economic inequities and what constitutes freedom, liberation, and release in our everyday struggles to rise to our extraordinary selves in extraordinary times. This is the urgent dialogue of the 21st century.
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets $35
This PEAK performance is made possible by a grant from the
MLDauray Arts Initiative in honor of Leonard and Sophie Davis
Beyond the Stage: Join us for a free post-performance talk by Steven Caras immediately following the February 16 performance. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.
Note: The presentation of Urban Bush Women: Hair and Other Stories on February 16-17 is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

February 16 at 8 pm (Friday)
The Beach Boys
Wild Honey Tour
Wouldn’t It Be Nice to revisit the Fun, Fun, Fun summers of yesteryear as the iconic group fills Dreyfoos Hall with Good Vibrations? Founding Beach Boy Mike Love and longtime member Bruce Johnston join five other veterans for a high-energy Surfin’ Safari through 50 years of favorites, including hits that sold millions of albums and landed The Beach Boys in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $30
Sponsored by
Ann and Robert Fromer
Helene and Al Kaplan
With support from Sun Sentinel
Beyond the Stage: Join us for a free performance by the Egret Lake Elementary School Chorus in the Dreyfoos Hall Lobby at 7:15 pm. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

February 17 at 8 pm (Saturday)
George Benson
An Exclusive Evening of Classic Music and Greatest Hits
Jazz, pop and R&B legend George Benson, whose groundbreaking 1976 Breezin’ album went triple platinum, continues to woo crowds with his smooth vocals and sultry guitar with hits such as This Masquerade, On Broadway and Give Me the Night. The 10-time Grammy Award winner proves that fans should Never Give Up on a Good Thing.
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $25
Sponsored by U.S. Bank The Private Client Reserve
Beyond the Stage: Join us for a free performance by Jonah and the Whalers in the Dreyfoos Hall Lobby at 7:15 pm. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

February 18 at 8 pm (Sunday)
Ten Grands
Ten Pianos, Ten World-Class Pianists
In a lavish and breathtaking display, Ten Grands boasts 10 grand pianos on stage at the same time. Several arrangements showcase all 10 pianists playing together, and each of the artists performs a solo as well. This exceptional evening also includes a medley from Phantom of the Opera featuring the Kravis Center’s George W. Mergens Memorial Organ.
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $25
Sponsored by Norma and Leonard Klorfine Foundation
With support from Yamaha and Bosendorfer

February 19 at 11:30 am (Monday)
Lunch and Learn:
Broadway Titans: The Life of a Broadway Producer
With Fran Weissler, Roy Furman and Rodger Hess
Moderated by Lee Wolf
(A Kravis Center Cultural Society Event)
Join Lee Wolf as she interviews three successful Broadway producers who will share their unique role in bringing blockbuster shows to Broadway – Roy Furman, who took home three Tonys in 2017 for Dear Evan Hansen, Hello, Dolly! and Sweat (adding to his collection of dozens more including Evita, The Color Purple and The Book of Mormon); Fran Weissler, who with her husband Barry, has won Tonys for Chicago, Waitress, Pippin, La Cage Aux Folles, and Gypsy, among many others; and Rodger Hess, known for his Broadway, Off Broadway & Touring hits which include The Great Comet of 1812, All My Sons, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the tours of Evita, Annie and A Chorus Line.
Gimelstob Ballroom in the Cohen Pavilion
Tickets: $95
Note: Admission includes lunch prepared by Catering by The Breakers at the Kravis Center.
Sponsored by Leona F. Chanin

February 19-20 at 7:30 pm (Monday and Tuesday)
Yamato
The Drummers of Japan
(PEAK)
The high-powered pulse of Yamato, which plays traditional Japanese taiko drums made from ancient trees, resonates in the troupe’s thrilling new program, The Challengers. Clad in bold, expressive outfits created especially for The Challengers by international fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto, the passionate percussionists weave soul, spirit and psyche into a scintillating, heart-pounding performance.
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets $35
This PEAK performance is made possible by a grant from the
MLDauray Arts Initiative in honor of Leonard and Sophie Davis

February 20 – March 27
Tuesdays from 1:30 pm to 3 pm
Writers’ Launch II
Instructor: Julie Gilbert
(The Writers’ Academy at the Kravis Center)
Writers’ Launch II is the next step up in developing the craft of writing fiction. This class is for those from the previous Launch who wish to continue practicing their skills. It is also for those who have had some fiction writing experience. This class focuses on developing and building character, descriptive narrative techniques, point of view, dialogue, establishing and maintaining tenses, foreshadowing and creating flashbacks.
Cohen Pavilion
Registration $325

February 22 at 6 pm & 8:30 pm (Thursday)
You’ve Got A Friend:
Carole King, Neil Sedaka and the Music of the Brill Building
Featuring Scott Coulter
In the heart of New York City sits the Brill Building, and from the halls of 1619 Broadway – home to Carole King, Neil Sedaka, songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and more – came America’s sound in the ’50s and ’60s. Hits that defined a generation including You’ve Got a Friend, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Calendar Girl and countless others. Critically acclaimed cabaret star Scott Coulter takes you on a journey into the music from the music industry landmark.
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets $39
Sponsored by Donald and Linda Silpe

February 23 at 1:30 pm (Friday)
Performing Your Life: Storytelling Workshop
Hosted by Mike Daisey
Mike Daisey, hailed as “the master storyteller” by The New York Times, hosts a workshop on storytelling, memoir and solo performance. Using the methods employed by seasoned storytellers, participants will investigate their own lives to find their own true tales, uncovering what makes their stories unique, what makes them true, how stories combine fact and fiction and how to tell them so they illuminate the world beyond ourselves. Performers, memoirists, writers and others are welcome.
The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center in the Cohen Pavilion
Tickets $25

February 23-24 at 7:30 pm (Friday and Saturday)
Mike Daisey
The End of Journalism
(PEAK)
Monologue master Mike Daisey, whom The New York Times hails as “one of the finest solo performers of his generation,” tells the compelling story of how journalism in America ended. From the disruption of newspapers to how Facebook replaced TV as the arbiter of truth, the writer peels back layers to divulge darkly hilarious truths — and to dig deeper into new ways to make journalism relevant. (For mature audiences.)
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets $32
This PEAK performance is made possible by a grant from the
MLDauray Arts Initiative in honor of Leonard and Sophie Davis

February 25 at 7:30 pm (Sunday)
Aztec Two-Step
Performing Classic Duos
Songs of Simon & Garfunkel, The Everly Brothers and Their Own Classics
Possessing a rich musical legacy of their own, Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman of Aztec Two-Step interpret the timeless classics of Simon & Garfunkel, The Everly Brothers and more. The respected and enduring folk-rock duo, which began at a Boston coffeehouse more than 40 years ago, is defined by intelligent songwriting, dazzling acoustic lead guitar and inspiring two-part harmonies that Billboard describes as “sweet and supple.”
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets $40

February 26 at 7 pm  (Monday)
African-American Film Festival:
To Sir, With Love (1967)
Host: AnEta Sewell
(ArtSmart Continuing Arts Education)
American Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) recently received his engineering degree but cannot find work. To make ends meet, he takes a job as a teacher in a rough London East End school overrun with troublemakers. While the students at first see Thackeray as just another teacher open for ridicule and bullying, his calm demeanor and genuine desire to help them succeed gradually earn their respect. (1 hour, 45 minutes)
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Tickets: $10 per night or $25 for the entire festival

February 26 at 8 pm (Monday)
Itzhak Perlman, Violin
Pinchas Zukerman, Viola
Rohan De Silva, Piano
(Regional Arts Concert Series)
+ Bach/Trio Sonata in C Major for 2 Violins and Piano, BWV 2017
+ Mozart/Duos for Violin and Viola, K. 423 and 424
+ Wieniawski/Études-Caprices for 2 Violins, Op. 18 (excerpts)
+ Bartók/Duos for 2 Violins, Sz. 98 (excerpts)
+ Moszkowski/Suite for 2 Violins and Piano, Op. 71
+ Additional works to be announced from the stage
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $35
Series sponsored by Leonard and Sophie Davis
Concert sponsored by
Ann and Robert Fromer
Pamela and Edward Pantzer
Beyond the Stage: Join us for a pre-performance talk by Sharon McDaniel at 6:45 pm in The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

February 27 at 2 pm (Tuesday)
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
Nathan Aspinall, Conductor
Behzod Abduraimov, Piano
(Regional Arts Concert Series)
+ Rachmaninoff/Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
+ Shostakovich/Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $35
Series sponsored by Leonard and Sophie Davis
Beyond the Stage: Join us for a pre-performance talk by Sharon McDaniel at 12:45 pm in The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

February 27 at 8 pm (Tuesday)
Howie Mandel
Comedian, actor and TV personality Howie Mandel returns with riotous commentary on everything from being afraid of germs (something he can relate to) to married life and more. The America’s Got Talent judge also hosted the game show Deal or No Deal and appeared on NBC’s St. Elsewhere. His stand-up comedy, which started on a dare more than three decades ago, quick-wit audience comebacks and clever takes on everyday topics are why he’s become a mainstay of the American comedy scene. (For mature audiences.)
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $25
Sponsored by Denise and Bill Meyer

February 28 at 8 pm (Wednesday)
Michael Feinstein With
The Kravis Center Pops Orchestra Big Band
Sinatra and Friends
Tedd Firth, Musical Director
Michael Feinstein performs Frank Sinatra favorites.
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Tickets start at $30
Sponsored by Irwin and Ellen Levy
Beyond the Stage: Join us for a free performance in the Dreyfoos Hall Lobby at 7:15 pm. Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

Tickets are available for purchase online through the Kravis Center’s official website at kravis.org; in person at the Box Office, located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; or by phone at 561-832-7469 or 800-572-8471. For Group Sales please call 561-651-4438 or 561-651-4304.

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality; by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home in which local and regional arts organizations can showcase their work; and by providing an economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County. The Kravis Center is located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL. For more information, please call 561-832-7469 or visit the official website at kravis.org.