AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, NIGHT OF STARS with Patti LuPone and More Set for Kravis Center's 25th Anniversary Season

Curtain's up. Light the lights. Strike up the band. Roll out the red carpet - the upcoming 25th anniversary season of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts will offer a nonstop series of audience-dazzling performances by show biz legends and super-hot headliners throughout the upcoming 2016-2017 season - an exciting and unforgettable array of International Artists and stage shows, from every discipline from rock to pop to classical music, from Broadway to Hollywood to Nashville, from your TV screen and iPhone, and from some of the world's hippest nightclubs and most impressive concert halls.

"It is with great delight and deep gratitude that we embark on our 25th anniversary season at the Kravis Center, says Chief Executive Officer Judith Mitchell. "Just over a quarter-century ago, building a major performing arts center in Palm Beach County seemed an uphill challenge. Today, a thriving cultural complex, which serves as a gateway to downtown West Palm Beach, not only serves the community but also is gaining a worldwide reputation as a premier entertainment venue and arts education facility."

"From the start our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers have remained focused on and faithful to our mission, which includes presenting diverse, world-class entertainment; offering arts education programs for all-ages; providing a home for local and regional arts organizations to showcase their work; and offering a comfortable, safe and state-of-the-art gathering place for our community," she adds.

"The challenge of the Kravis Center in our 25th annual season is how do we surpass the already lofty expectations of our entertainment-savvy Audience members, whether they be longtime donors or first time guests," asks Mitchell. "Well, we are going to do so by offering performers and shows that will appeal to audiences of all ages and every entertainment preference, from Broadway to offbeat musical sensations to delightful shows for children."

"As we have done for the last quarter-century, the Kravis Center is once again providing superior programming as sophisticated, as diverse, and as family-friendly as the community we serve, with an extraordinary line-up of show biz super stars, award-winning shows and amazing musicians and orchestras from all over the world," she concludes.

"The best of everything, that's what audiences expect when they come to the Kravis Center, and that is what we will be presenting during our brightest season yet," promises Lee Bell, Senior Director of Programming at the Kravis Center. "For example, people can expect the best from Manhattan's Great White Way with award-winning shows like Kinky Boots, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, An American in Paris, The Phantom of the Opera, Pippin and The Sound of Music."

"In addition, Kravis Center audiences can revel in memorable performances by such international headliners as Itzhak Perlman, Patti LuPone, Kristin Chenoweth, Melissa Etheridge, Jay Leno, Lang Lang, Chaka Khan, and Smokey Robinson, plus the return of Michael Feinstein conducting the Kravis Center Pops Orchestra," he says.

In addition to performances in the 2,195-seat Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall with the Bernard and Chris Marden Stage, the Kravis Center will present a diverse array of drama, music and dance in the intimate 300-seat Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse, and the flexible 300-seat Helen K. Persson Hall.

Note: Two shows in Dreyfoos Concert Hall - Black Violin on December 1 and The Hot Sardines Holiday Stomp on December 12 - will have a custom-seating chart that includes only the Orchestra and Grand Tier sections.

Kravis Center Series:

Among the popular Kravis Center series that are returning for our silver anniversary season are:

+ Kravis On Broadway

The 2016-2017 Kravis On Broadway season is a powerful line-up that includes a record seven spectacular shows straight from the Great White Way, with subscriptions on sale now for as little as $209 for all seven musicals:

+ November 15-20 THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

+ December 6-11 AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

+ January 3-8 DIRTY DANCING - THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE

+ February 1-5 BEAUTIFUL - THE Carole King MUSICAL

+ March 23-April 1 THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

+ April 18-23 KINKY BOOTS

+ May 9-14 THE SOUND OF MUSIC

The Kravis Center is pleased to have a service called Live Performance Captioning (or Open Captioning) that allows deaf or hard of hearing Audience members to more fully enjoy Kravis On Broadway performances at our venue. Open Captioning occurs at the first Saturday performance at 2 pm. Sign language interpreters are provided at the first Sunday matinee performance.

Note: Certain Broadway productions contain themes and/or language that may be unsuitable to some Audience members. Viewer discretion is advised.

+ PEAK Series

PEAK is a series of innovative presentations featuring groundbreaking artists from around the globe. Now in its fifth season, this captivating collection focuses on ethnic diversity and contemporary themes, and seeks to elevate the creation and understanding of artistic expression.

Guests attending performances in the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse will receive a ticket voucher for one complimentary beverage. (Underage guests will be offered a non-alcoholic selection.)

+ November 10-11 Basetrack Live

+ November 18-19 Ron McCurdy's Langston Hughes Project, Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz

+ December 1 Black Violin

+ December 2-4 Absolute Brightness

+ December 9-10 The Other Mozart, Written and Performed by Sylvia Milo

+ January 17-18 Compagnie Hervé KOUBI, What the Day Owes to the Night

+ February 3-4 Balé Folclórico da Bahia, Bahia of All Colors

+ February 23-24 Blackbird, Fly: A Concert for Voice, Body and Strings, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Spoken Word, Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), Violin, Piano

+ March 1 Taj Express, The Bollywood Musical Revue

+ April 7-8 Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater

+ May 5-6 Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group

PEAK is made possible by a grant from the MLDauray Arts Initiative in honor of Leonard and Sophie Davis

+ Regional Arts Concert Series

MUSIC "At Eight" & MUSIC "At Two"

Regional Arts, now in its 42nd Anniversary Season, continues to feature the world's finest classical recitalists, chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras. Subscriptions for our popular Regional Arts series - MUSIC "At Eight" and MUSIC "At Two" - are available now through December 3. Individual tickets will be available at the Kravis Center Box Office on October 1. Kravis Center donors have priority on individual ticket purchases now. To become a donor, call 561-651-4320 or visit kravis.org/membership.

+ December 3 at 8 pm & December 4 at 2 pm / Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg

+ December 14 at 8 pm & December 15 at 2 pm / Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio

+ January 10 at 8 pm / Prague Philharmonia

+ January 16 at 2 pm / Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

+ February 7 at 8 pm & February 8 at 2 pm / Philadelphia Orchestra

+ February 12 at 8 pm / Bamberg Symphony

+ February 20 at 2 pm / St. Petersburg Philharmonic

+ February 21 at 8 pm / Lang Lang, Piano

+ February 26 at 8 pm / Orchestre National de Lyon

+ March 14 at 8 pm & March 15 at 2 pm / Royal Scottish National Orchestra

+ March 19 at 8 pm / Academy of St Martin in the Fields Orchestra

Regional Arts Concert Series is sponsored by Leonard and Sophie Davis

+ Michael Feinstein Conducts

The Kravis Center Pops Orchestra

Widely considered to be the Ambassador of the Great American Songbook, master showman Michael Feinstein returns for the third season of this extraordinary three-concert series. Presented in Dreyfoos Hall, each concert will include songs personally selected by Mr. Feinstein with original orchestrations. Larry Blank, associate conductor for the series, will conduct the concert on March 13.

+ February 19 Michael Feinstein: Big Band Swing

+ March 13 Michael Feinstein: The Crooners: Bing, Frank, Sammy

+ April 12 Michael Feinstein: To Nat and Ella with Love

For the 3-concert series on February 19, March 13 and April 12, Premium seating is $411; Orchestra, Grand Tier and Loge is $231; $168 for Mezzanine, $108 for Front Balcony and $78 for Rear Balcony. Beginning January 20, individual tickets, which start at $30, will be available through the Kravis Center Box Office. Please visit kravis.org/pops for more information.

+ Beyond The Stage

Designed to enhance the entire experience of visiting the Kravis Center, Beyond the Stage activities complement the main attraction and are free to ticket holders. These activities include:

Beyond the Stage - Pre-concert and performance talks: A talk, offering insights into the music and musicians will precede each Regional Arts concert. For the seventh season, these explorations for the classically curious will be hosted by Sharon McDaniel, Regional Arts Programming Associate, and former music critic for The Palm Beach Post.

For select Kravis On Broadway and dance related shows, the Beyond the Stage pre-performance talks will be hosted by Steven Caras, the well known former dancer and dance photographer, who also co-chairs the Kravis Center's popular Lunch and Learn series with Lee Wolf.

These Beyond the Stage talks start at 6:45 pm (for 8 pm concerts and shows) and at 12:45 pm (for 2 pm concerts and matinee performances) in The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center.

Beyond the Stage - Musical presentations: Some 8 pm concerts will be preceded by music in the Dreyfoos Hall lobby performed by schools, community groups, or Florida artists 45 minutes before the concerts or performances.

Beyond the Stage is sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker.

+ Adults at Leisure Series

Presented in Dreyfoos Hall, this affordable series offers convenient show times, captivating entertainers and options ranging from sultry soloists to swinging big bands. All performances are at 11 am and 2 pm, which makes for a wonderful daytime theater experience, offering something for everyone, whether they feel more at home in the Catskills, on Broadway, a classical concert hall or a rock club. Tickets for the six-show package is $99, a savings of $75 off individual ticket prices. Beginning November 19, individual tickets will be available at $29 each.

+ December 19 The Battle of the Broadway Comedians, Starring Steve Solomon & Dick Capri

+ January 12 Golden Dragon Acrobats

+ February 12 Neil Berg's 108 Years of Broadway

+ February 27 The Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber

+ March 14 The Jive Aces

+ April 13 Piano Battle

+ Young Artists Series

The Young Artists Series introduces exceptional classical musicians who have earned critical acclaim and whose concert careers are ready for take-off. Catch each rising star of this series and be inspired by performances of passion and drive. All concerts are held in the intimate Rinker Playhouse. The series is offered at $80 for all four performances - a savings of $40 off the individual ticket price. Beginning October 22, remaining individual tickets are available at $30 each.

+ November 21 Chelsea Chen, Organ

+ December 12 Alexandre Moutouzkine, Piano

+ March 1 In Mo Yang, Violin

+ April 3 Lysander Piano Trio

Young Artists Series sponsored by Harriett M. Eckstein New Art Fund Florida/South Florida Debut performances are made possible through the generous support of The Raymond and Bessie Kravis Foundation

+ Persson Hall

Designed as a fully flexible and intimate theater space, Persson Hall, which is located in the Cohen Pavilion, can accommodate various seating configurations. Guests attending these performances may arrive up to an hour before show time to enjoy a full-service bar with snacks (not included in the ticket price). Most shows this season will have cabaret-style seating. All seats are reserved.

+ December 21-22 Eric Yves Garcia and Carole J. Bufford in Bing & Rosie

+ January 5-6 Louise Pitre in Chasing Rainbows: The Music of Judy Garland

+ January 20-21 Downton Abbey Road: The Best of Britain

Starring Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano

+ March 10-11 Steve Ross in To Wit: Funny Songs Through the Ages

+ March 19 I'm a W-O-M-A-N! The Music and Unbelievable Life of Miss Peggy Lee

+ March 25 Mountainfilm on Tour

+ April 6-7 Marissa Mulder in Marilyn in Fragments

+ April 9 Swell Party: A Celebration of Cole Porter, Starring Spider Saloff

+ April 20-21 Anna Bergman in You're All the World to Me

+ Family Fare

The Kravis Center's whimsical and educational Family Fare events incorporate wholesome and culturally relevant selections to stimulate the curiosity of young minds. Appropriate for the entire family, Family Fare offers affordable ticket prices and convenient times. Join us for a fun and engaging way to expand your child's interest in the arts!

+ October 1 Justin Roberts Trio *

+ October 8 Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny *

+ October 29 Where the Wild Things Are *

+ November 6 B - The Underwater Bubble Show *

+ November 19 The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare

+ December 23 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical

+ March 25 Mountainfilm On Tour

* The first four Family Fare shows of the 2016-2017 season and the accompanying post-performance pre-K workshops are sponsored by The Stiller Family Foundation.

+ ArtSmart

Continuing Arts Education at the Kravis Center

The Kravis Center's Continuing Arts Education offerings include Kravis Center Cultural Society Lunch & Learn Events chaired by Lee Wolf and Steven Caras, the African-American Film Festival, the Kravis Film & Literary Club, and Lectures.

** Lunch & Learn

This popular ArtSmart Continuing Arts Education series is co-chaired by Lee Wolf and Steven Caras. The $89 ticket includes lunch prepared by Catering by The Breakers at the Kravis Center.

+ January 5 Sexual Healing: An Intimate Conversation with Dr. Ruth Westheimer

+ January 23 Judy Garland: You Made Me Love You

+ February 22 The Unassuming Brilliance of Audrey Hepburn: A Presentation by Pamela Fiori

+ March 22 A Conversation with Leonard Lauder

** African-American Film Festival

This is the Kravis Center's 12th annual African-American Film Festival. The Film Festival was founded by James Drayton and hosted by AnEta Sewell. AnEta Sewell will do an approximately 20-minute talk to set up each film and will host a question-and-answer session afterward. Tickets are $10 each or $25 for all three films.

+ February 13 St. Louis Blues

+ February 20 Carmen Jones

+ February 27 A Great Day in Harlem

** Kravis Film & Literary Club

The Kravis Film & Literary Club features discussions about movies and literary works that highlight critical issues faced by our country today. Join Lee Wolf, noted author, lecturer and Kravis Center Board member; Naomi Levine, chairman emeritus and professor of the NYU School of Professional Studies Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising; and Julie Gilbert, Pulitzer Prize-nominated biographer, novelist, playwright and teacher for The Writers' Academy at the Kravis Center, as they discuss the cultural impact of leading literary and cinematic figures. Films will be shown, and a boxed lunch (included in the $49 ticket price) will be served.

+ January 9 Bonfire of the Titans, Moderated by Lee Wolf and Naomi Levine

+ March 13 Tennessee Williams: Timeless Art from a Tortured Soul, Moderated by Lee Wolf and Julie Gilbert

** Lectures

+ January 19 Normandie: The Tragic Story of the Most Majestic Ocean Liner

Lecturer: Richard René Silvin

+ February 2 The World of Raymond Chandler ... and a Man Called Marlowe

Lecturer: Barry Day

+ February 15 Rubbing Shoulders: My Life with Popes, Princes, Moguls, and Movie Stories

Designer/Author Marc Rosen interviewed by Pamela Fiori

+ March 7 A Salute to Great Women Vocalists and Their Performances

Lecturer: Dr. Roni Stein-Loreti

+ March 16 Capitalists and Communists, America in Russia Part II: 1933 to 1999 - FDR and Stalin to Clinton and Yeltsin

Lecturer: Dr. Stephen R. de Angelis

+ The Writers' Academy at the Kravis Center

Conducted by novelist, biographer, playwright and teacher Julie Gilbert, The Writers' Academy encourages, nurtures and develops creative writing skills in most genres of expression.

+ January 3 Kickstart Your Writing Ability

Lecturer: Julie Gilbert

+ January 9-April 17 Writers' Circle

Instructor: Julie Gilbert

+ January 10-February 21 Writers' Launch

Instructor: Julie Gilbert

+ February 28-April 18 Writers' Launch II

Instructor: Julie Gilbert

+ April 7 Showcase the Writing

Host: Julie Gilbert

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Casual Dining by the Breakers

Bistro Teatro offers the perfect casual pre-theatre dining experience, serving light fare in the Center's Mezzanine level lobby during most Dreyfoos Hall performances. For more information, call 561-651-4444. Open before and during intermission of Dreyfoos Hall performances only.

How to Purchase Tickets:

The Kravis Center will hold its Public Ticket Sale Day for most 2016-2017 season presentations (excluding individual tickets for certain Kravis On Broadway shows, individual performances for Adults at Leisure Series, Young Artists Series and Kravis Center Pops Orchestra) beginning 9 am on October 1 at 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Guests may order their tickets at the Kravis Center's official website at kravis.org, by phone at 561-832-7469 or 800-572-8471; in person; or Kravis Center donors have the privilege of ordering tickets in advance of Public Ticket Sale Day.

The Kravis Center offers priority seating to donors according to their level of giving and by the date orders are received within each donor level. Membership begins at $100. For more information about becoming a donor, call 561-651-4320 or visit www.kravis.org/membership.

Stay Connected for Promotions and Updates:

Starting at 9 am on August 2, 2016, visitors to the Kravis Center's official website at www.kravis.org will be able to view our entire 25th Anniversary season, as well as join our e-list. Become a fan at www.facebook.com/kraviscenter or follow us on www.twitter.com/kraviscenter and on the Instagram app under the name kraviscenter. When you are on the go, you can access kravis.org from your mobile phone with the Kravis Center's App.

Performance Notes:

+ Premium Seating is available for select performances in Dreyfoos Hall and is as follows: Rows AA - E; Rows F-N Seats 1, 3; 2, 4; 101, 102 and 113, 114.

+ Premium Seating includes complimentary champagne (underage patrons will be offered a complimentary non-alcoholic refreshment) served 45 minutes prior to curtain in the Ellen and Robert M. Jaffe Windsor Room located on the orchestra level of Dreyfoos Hall and a 15 percent discount at the Kravis Center's Gift Shop in the east end of Dreyfoos Hall Orchestra lobby.

+ All performances take place at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets are available at the Kravis Center's official web site www.kravis.org, by phone at 561-832-7469 or 800-572-8471 or at the Kravis Center box office.

Ways To Save:

+ Visit the Kravis Center's official website when purchasing online by visiting www.kravis.org to be sure you pay face value for your ticket, not expensive brokers' prices.

+ Group Tickets Are Available

Group discounts are available for most Kravis Center presentations. For more information, call Group Sales at 561-651-4304 or 561-651-4438 or visit www.kravis.org/groupsales.

+ Student & Educator Rush Ticket Program

By presenting a student or educator ID at the Kravis Center box office one hour prior to select Kravis Center self-initiated presentations, students/educators will receive up to 50% off any section ticket (excluding Premium Seating and Kravis On Broadway presentations) from orchestra to rear balcony, based on availability. Rush Ticket.

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