Joan O'Dowd stars as Shirley ValentineLocal British-born actress Joan O'Dows pictured in her hugely successful tour-de-force performance in the Tony Award winning comedy by Willy Russell at the Red Barn.
The laid-back tropical town of Key West has had a long tradition of presenting fine dramas, comedies and musicals starting in mid-1800's, and today serves as a home for five diverse venues, which offer locally produced creations as well as hosting guest artists and road companies from around the world.
The first and oldest of these theatres is the San Carlos Institute at 516 Duval St. which was built in 1884, and became a stopover for the great touring ballet, opera and theater companies. The land on which it sits is owned by the Cuban government. It was magnificently restored over fifteen years and now plays host to various concerts and benefits and theatrical events. Phone (305) 294-3887
In 1940, a group formed the Key West Players, the beginning of "contemporary theatre in the city, at Harris School on Southerd St. In 1944, the Players moved into an old carriage house behind the Woman's Club, transforming it into the Barn Theatre. In 1960 the Players acquired a more permanent home at Mallory Square when city money was approved for the conversion of an old warehouse to the Waterfront Playhouse. They present a variety of shows from late fall through spring. Phone (305) 294-5015.
The Red Barn Theatre, at 319 Duval St.(rear) rose like the phoenix from the remains of a group that preformed as the Greene St. Theatre for a short time. This crew looked at the long neglected property that had housed the Waterfront Players years before and recognized the possibilities. In the Fall of 1980, a spirited team of actors and artists renovated the edifice, installing old seats from the Navy Base and adding a new stage and risers. A fresh coat of paint inspired a new name... The Red Barn Theatre. They produce an exciting series of professional theatre from late fall through June. Phone (305) 296-9911.
The largest addition to local theatre is the state-of-the-art Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center located on the campus of Fla. Keys Jr. College at 5901 W. College Rd. on Stock Island. This spacious playhouse was built to honor our most famous literary resident and opened in the early eighties with the world premiere of Williams' "Will Mr Merriweath Return From Memphis?" Local productions of "Lost in Yonkers"; and the hit musical "How to Succeed in Business" were among the shows staged here in 94-95. Call (305) 26-1520.
For information on any of these theaters, or on our annual Key West Theater Festival which is held in October, call the Festival office at (305) 292-3725.
Joan O'Dowd stars as Shirley Valentine
Local British-born actress Joan O'Dows pictured in her hugely successful tour-de-force
performance in the Tony Award winning comedy by Willy Russell at the Red Barn.
The Cast of "Falsettoland" Broadway veteran
and star Danny Weathers (holding banner) is pictured with the cast in the final moments of
the funny and heartbreaking modern musical, "Falsettoland" by James Lapine and
William Finn.
