Key West Loves Theater
Not surprisingly, artsy, eclectic and beautiful Key West has a thriving theater scene. From the highbrow Tennessee Williams Theater to the amateur community playhouse, all audiences are catered to.
Key West, the southernmost point in the continental US, is a place of legend. Tucked away at the tip of the Florida Keys beyond the 7-mile Bridge, it is a magical place with beautiful sunsets, storybook mansions, and an invigorated nightlife. Key West was also the home of Ernst Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, sportsman Lou Gehrig, and president Harry Truman.
Because Key West's artsy uniqueness is so inspirational to its millions of visitors, it's not surprising that it has a healthy dose of live theater.
Key West theatres offer audiences edgy, challenging work that caters to a highbrow clientele, as well as good old-fashioned singing and laughter. But whatever your taste, live theater is an important component of Key West, a place that relentlessly entices the creative spirit.
Live Theater: Tennessee Williams
Highbrow performances are found at the Tennessee Williams Theater, located at the Florida Keys Community College. With 480 seats, the Tennessee Williams Theatre is the largest theater in Key West.
Because of its size, many of Key West's larger arts organizations, like the Island Opera Theater, or the Founders Society, host their events at the Tennessee Williams.
One of the biggest events in the theater's year is the Tennessee Williams Festival, which takes place in February. Theatre world luminaries from all over participate or perform in the yearly celebration of the playwright's life and work.
Theater at the Red Barn
Smaller scale performance can be found at the 88 seat Red Barn Theatre, which more closely resembles the type of theater you would expect to find in an arts community.
Like Key West in general, the 25-year-old Red Barn Theatre mixes its reparatory between broad entertainment (Meshuggah-Nuns!) featuring local residents in addition to more serious plays that may have run recently in New York. The 2005 schedule promises Frozen, a serious Irish drama that had a run on Broadway in 2004.
Waterfront Playhouse
The 176-seat Waterfront Playhouse follows a similar strategy to the Red Barn. Home to Key West's longest running acting troupe, the Key West Players, the Playhouse plans to perform The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, the Tony award nominated play, during the 2004 holiday season. That will be immediately followed by musical favorite, Pippin, in February 2005.
A few islands away is the busy amateur theater group - the Marathon Community Theater. Around since 1944, the theatre group is popular local institution. Like all beloved community theatres, the Marathon holds open auditions for most of their performances, which range from big musicals like The Music Man, to more esoteric fare like this season's Proof.
Key West Is Theater!
But finally even if you decide not to enjoy conventional live theater, some would argue that Key West, in its entire Eden-like splendor, is itself theater.
With its legendary sunset celebrations (just outside the Waterfront Playhouse) and eclectic locals, Key West's theater life will eventually find its way to you.
About the Author
Alex Russel is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Lucky enough to grow up in Europe with family all over the world, he has been a consummate traveler his whole life. Since graduating from Syracuse University he has worked at many different media companies in fields as diverse as film, TV, advertising, and journalism. He holds a dual bachelor's degree in English and History.
