By Bill Hirschman
Over the past quarter-century, Palm Beach Dramaworks has set artistic, social and financial benchmark after benchmark from its modest start in a tiny space on a college campus to a full-scale remodeled venue featuring some of the most acclaimed classic, contemporary and world premiere works in South Florida’s theater community.
The Carbonell Awards recognizing excellence will bestow its highest honor, the George Abbott Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, to two of the theater’s founders, married couple William Hayes and Sue Ellen Beryl.
Slated to be given at the 48th Carbonell gala Nov.7, the prize “honors an individual (or team) who has contributed significantly to the artistic and cultural development of the region. The award may be given for accomplishments within the year, or for a lifetime.”
Dramaworks’ steady upward path has combined a pursuit of artistic excellence including pioneering developing new plays with a tough business model that has always been in the black, even during COVID. Additionally, the theater has interacted extensively with social, governmental and economic facets in the development of downtown West Palm Beach.
The company is completing its 25th season this week with a world premiere Dangerous Instruments by a Florida-based playwright, dovetailing with the company’s credo “Theatre To Think About.”
Among its many honors are the 2016 Muse Award for Outstanding Major Arts & Cultural Organization from the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, and the 2024 Non-Profit of the Year from the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.
Hayes serves as producing artistic director and Beryl as managing director but they have formed an interactive team along with a growing team of residents designers and staffers now based in the remodeled and renamed Don and Ann Brown Theatre. Beryl is stepping down as managing director on September 1 but will remain active in development and endowments. She is handing over the post to long-time employee Rudina Toro.
A statement from the honorees read, “We are so thrilled and honored to have been selected to receive the George Abbott Award because of what it represents. We can honestly say that founding and building Palm Beach Dramaworks together has been one of the great joys of our lives. And we truly believe that by recognizing us, you’re really recognizing the company. We couldn’t have succeeded if we did not surround ourselves with people that were equally passionate, who brought their own strengths to the table. So, we salute all the remarkable people we’ve worked with over the years, and we extend our deepest gratitude to the Carbonell Awards for adding our names to such a prestigious list of distinguished recipients.”
The award named for the legendary Broadway director-producer-playwright has been given to a wide array of local theater leaders including the late critic Christine Dolen and the Pulitzer-winning playwright Nilo Cruz.
The awards gala is set for on Monday, November 17, at 7:30 p.m. at FAU’s University Theatre in Boca Raton, the first time the celebration has been held in Palm Beach County in many years. Tickets for the ceremony and after party are $45 and will go on public sale in mid-September.
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