Palm Beach Dramaworks Launches Education Initiative

Thanks to a very generous donation from a member of its Board of Directors, Palm Beach Dramaworks is establishing an education department with the goal of introducing young people to the joys of theatre and encouraging and inspiring their participation in the art form. Gary Cadwallader has been named Director of Education and Community Engagement, and joined the staff on May 2.

The donor wishes to remain anonymous. But he urges everyone who believes that arts education is vital and necessary to contribute to this new initiative.

"We are so grateful for this opportunity made possible by our generous donor," said Producing Artistic Director William Hayes and Managing Director Sue Ellen Beryl in a joint statement. "Education is and always has been part of Dramaworks' mission, but we have not had the time or money for an ongoing and sustained initiative aimed at the next generation of theatregoers. This donation fulfills a dream of ours; we can't think of a better way to give back to the community. And with Gary Cadwallader as director of education, the program will be in great hands, as he has a long and successful history in theatre education."

Cadwallader says, "I have been an enthusiastic audience member at Dramaworks for the last seven years, and have been so impressed by the artistic vision of the theatre and the quality of the productions. I knew it was a company that I would like to be a part of and share my skills, and work to support that same vision and mission that Bill and Sue Ellen have created. I am so honored and thrilled to help apply what I can to add that extra component of arts education and arts integration."

As the program gets underway, initiatives may include, but are not limited to, a youth playwriting contest and festival, in-school residency drama programs, process-based classes (in which students learn the process of acting, directing, stage managing, etc.), master classes and workshops, creation of teacher resource materials, and field trips to see a play at PBD.

Gary Cadwallader is an educator, actor, director, and the President of the Florida Theatre Conference. He was previously the director of education at Orlando Repertory Theatre (The Rep) and at Seaside Music Theatre in Daytona Beach. At The Rep, Gary directed Crazy For You, Jackie and Me, Hairspray, Anne Frank and Me, 42ndStreet, The Giver, and many others. In 20 years at Seaside Music Theatre, Gary directed Little Shop of Horrors and A Year with Frog and Toad, and performed in numerous productions. He has also directed at Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine, Orlando Civic Theatre, Atlantic Center for the Arts, and the Atlantic Shakespeare Festival. As an actor, he has performed in numerous theatres around the country; appeared in the film A League of Their Own and the television series The New Untouchables; and appeared in several national commercials, including two with Tiger Woods. Gary is on the advisory board of Working Title Playwrights in Atlanta, and a member of the Partners in Education program at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Originally from Cleveland, Gary has an MFA in acting from Western Illinois University, a BA in theatre from St. Edward's University in Austin, TX, and is a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-Aftra) and Actors' Equity Association.

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