Palm Beach Dramaworks’ 2024 Gala:

“The Roaring Twenties”

14th Annual Shelly Award Given to

Nancy Beard

(Tuesday, March 26, 2024) West Palm Beach, Fla. – The 1920s came roaring back to life for one night only at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion, when Palm Beach Dramaworks held its annual gala on March 18. The theme of the company’s biggest fund raising event of the season was – what else – The Roaring Twenties, a nod to PBD’s upcoming twenty-fifth anniversary season. Marsha and Stephen Rabb were the Gala Chairs.  

Upon entering the lobby, guests were greeted by displays of mannequins decked out in 1920s attire, courtesy of PBD Costume Shop Manager/Resident Costume Designer Brian O’Keefe. Guests looked equally nifty: many women revealed their inner flapper, wearing dresses full of fringe and sporting long strands of pearls and other period accoutrements, including feathers in their hair, feathered boas, fans, and endless cigarette holders. Men were the cat’s pajamas in pinstriped suits, double-breasted jackets, fedoras, and Panama hats.

Each table in the elegantly decorated ballroom sported lace gold placemats that captured the essence of an Art Deco starburst. The 1920s theme extended to the centerpieces, which were different from table to table but all period, such as a vintage typewriter, or radio, or telephone. There was a special performance by the great dancers of Glitter Productions, and revelers were entertained by and danced to the music of the beloved Jill and Rich Switzer Band, who performed songs from the ’20s through today in their inimitable jazz style. You might say they were the bee’s knees.        

The Honorable Ann Brown, Board Vice-Chair, began the opening remarks by expressing her passion for PBD and discussing why the company is essential to the fabric of the community. Other speakers were Producing Artistic Director William Hayes and Managing Director Sue Ellen Beryl, Chairman of the Board Carlton Moody, and Gala Chairs Marsha and Stephen Rabb. 

Following dinner, the focus was on some of PBD’s most vital programs. Director of Education and Community Engagement Gary Cadwallader talked about a few of the student programs that have literally changed lives, with a special emphasis on the One Humanity Tour. The tour travels to Palm Beach County middle schools, bringing commissioned plays about complex subjects that use storytelling to develop informed, thoughtful, and compassionate citizens. Board Treasurer Mark Perlberg shined a light on the Perlberg Festival of New Plays and the key role it can play in helping to develop the future of theatre. And former Board Chair Louise Snyder had the honor of presenting Nancy Beard with the 2024 Shelly Award, which is given to an outstanding individual for his or her exceptional commitment to, support of, and advocacy on behalf of PBD. The award is named in honor of the late Shelly Gross, theatre impresario and Broadway producer, who had a profound effect on the company.

Generous supporters of the evening included Dinner Sponsors Nancy & Gene Beard, Nancy Goodes/Goodes Family Foundation, Toni & Martin Sosnoff; Decorations Sponsor Hon. Ann Brown; Entertainment Sponsors Esther & Sid Dinerstein, Sally Nathanson, Louise & Barry Snyder; Table Sponsors Penny Bank, Tina & Jeff Bolton, Susan & Larry Goldfein, JP Morgan Securities, Judy & Lew Kramer, Diane & Mark Perlberg; Cocktail Reception Sponsors Stephen Brown & Jamie Stern, Lisa Koza – Northern Trust; Gift Bag Sponsors Roe Green, Pamela McIver; Photography Sponsors Beth Alcalde - Akerman LLP, Suzanne Holmes, Priscilla Leslie, Sid Lesowitz & Peter Rogers, Dan Sampson - Milestone Mortgage Corporation, Judy Lewent & Mark Shapiro, Bernard Perry; Creative Sponsors Jackie D’Onofrio - Metamorphic Media Design, Preferred Printing. 

The Gala Committee was made up of Beth Alcalde, Penny Bank, Sue Ellen Beryl, Tina Bolton, Hon. Ann Brown, Stephen Brown, Esther Dinerstein, Hermine Drezner, Susan Ellerin, Edith Hall Friedheim, Jim Fuld, Susan Goldfein, William Hayes, Lisa Koza, Carlton Moody, Cynthia Nalley, Mark Perlberg, Bernard Perry, Ed Ricci, Jennifer Sardone-Shiner, Louise Snyder, and Rudina Toro.



As they would have said back in the day, a swell time was had by all.

“We are so grateful to everyone who helped make our biggest fund-raising event of the season a huge success,” said Beryl. “Proceeds from the evening support PBD’s annual fund, and education and community engagement programs; in other words, they play such a crucial role in sustaining the company. Thanks so much to our chairs, sponsors, and committee for all the meticulous work that produced such a terrific evening; it’s something we’ve come to expect, but never take for granted. I also want to thank Glitter Productions and our old friends Jill and Rich Switzer for the wonderful entertainment. To borrow a phrase from the Roaring Twenties, you were the cat’s meow. Last, but never least, I want to extend congratulations to Nancy Beard on receiving the Shelly Award. Nancy has been a devoted, tireless supporter of PBD for years, and we’re thrilled to recognize her great work on behalf of the company.”

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Jennifer Sardone-Shiner

Marketing Consultant

(561) 891-7278

jshiner@palmbeachdramaworks.org 

www.palmbeachdramaworks.org