Florida Keys Stages Come Alive With Theater Performances

FLORIDA KEYS — The 2023 performing arts season in the Florida Keys & Key West offers audiences lively musicals, comedies, dramas and other first-class offerings. Here are some upcoming highlights.

Started as a small community group in 1944, the Marathon Community Theatre at 5101 Overseas Highway has grown to perform memorable and popular shows with a talented group of local residents.

From April 27 through May 13 “Scapino!” — set in Naples, Italy — presents a fun-filled and hilarious musical adaptation of Moliere's comic tale of “Les Fourberies de Scapin (Scapin’s Deceits).” Visit marathontheater.org or call 305-743-0994 for more information.

Originally built in 1829 as a carriage house, the building that is home to Key West’s Red Barn Theatre at 319 Duval St., rear, has hosted modern-era performances since 1981. All curtain times are at 8 p.m.

This season’s standouts include a Red Barn Theatre favorite, “Short Attention Span Theatre,” set to run April 4-29. Filled with pertinent and hilarious short plays, the production is helmed by a group of directors guiding a handful of favorite Key West actors. For more information, visit redbarntheatre.com or call 305-296-9911.

Entertaining audiences for over 80 years at its 310 Wall St. location beside Key West’s renowned Mallory Square, the Waterfront Playhouse presents Edward Albee's “Three Tall Women” (April 5-22) and the comic mystery “Arsenic and Old Lace” (May 10-27). Visit waterfrontplayhouse.org or call 305-294-5015. 

Dedicated to art-house theater shows presented in intimate settings and featuring Key West talent, Fringe Theater Key West is set to stage most of its series of upcoming performances at the Armory, 600 White St.

The spring roster includes a haunting drama about a successful neurologist on the brink of revolutionizing brain research (April12-22). Visit fringetheater.org or call 305-731-0581.

Located on the Key West campus of the College of the Florida Keys at 5901 College Road, the Tennessee Williams Theatre presents exciting musical and theatrical entertainment. Spring standouts include “R.E.S.P.E.C.T: A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin” (April 1), and “On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan” (April 5). Visit keystix.com or call 305-295-7676.   

Situated at 512 Eaton St. is the Key West Theater, an all-around performing arts center that presents national touring artists, concerts, local songwriter showcases and more. Upcoming productions include the Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers,  perennial Billboard chart-toppers and frequent collaborators of the renowned banjoist (and occasional comedian) Steve Martin, and comedian Ryan Hamilton (April 29). Visit thekeywesttheater.com or call 305-985-0433.

Comedy Key West is devoted entirely to local and visiting standup comedians, many of whom appear on television’s Comedy Central and live stages nationwide. A full slate of acts is scheduled at 218 Whitehead St., Unit 5. View a monthly performance calendar at comedykeywest.com.

The Studios of Key West, located at 533 Eaton St., uses the arts to build friendships and supports the advancement of Keys’ creatives through studio space, lectures, workshops and artist residencies. In addition, Studios offers a season of performances at Hugh’s View, a rooftop terrace, and the Helmerich Theater.

Chantal Pavageaux’s “The Dinner Party” is to be staged March 22-25 and March 29 through April 1. The campy play-within-a-play explores the intersections of women’s experiences, art, truth …  and dinner theater? For more special events, visit tskw.org.

Florida Keys cultural information: fla-keys.com/culture