News

By Scott Simmons

The Plaza Theatre has jumped into the ring to help patrons of Boca Raton’s beleaguered Caldwell Theatre.
The Manalapan theater, which opened in February, will honor tickets to Caldwell’s production of Our Lady of Allapattah, which first was postponed, then canceled, as Caldwell struggled amid foreclosure proceedings on its $10 million Count de Hoenle Theatre in Boca Raton.
The 37-year-old company has been unable to make payments on its $5.9 million mortgage. A court-appointed receiver is monitoring the theater’s business operations.  Options include reorganization, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection or shutting down.
Alan Jacobson, one of the founders of the Plaza Theatre, said the ticket exchange will help Caldwell and help introduce audiences to his theater, which opened in the former Florida Stage space at Plaza del Mar.
“We’ve gotten a few calls about the Caldwell tickets,” Jacobson said. “We’re glad to do it. I’ve asked the box office to track the calls.”
Plaza Theatre will exchange Caldwell tickets for tickets to the shows I Am Music — The Songs of Barry Manilow (May 10-27) or Don’t Rain On Our Parade, a tribute To Barbara Streisand, Bette Midler and Carole King (June 7-17).
Palm Beach Dramaworks also has agreed to honor Caldwell tickets.
Ticketholders may exchange Our Lady tickets for tickets to the downtown West Palm Beach company’s production of David Auburn’s Proof (May 25-June 17) or the theater’s production of The Fantasticks (July 13-Aug. 5).
At the time Dramaworks made its offer, Caldwell artistic director Clive Cholerton issued a statement of gratitude, saying, “As much as we wanted to personally honor our ticket holders, it simply wasn’t feasible. We continue to explore all of our options and will make a formal announcement when all of the facts have been addressed.”
Subscribers and ticketholders were to have been contacted by Caldwell, the theater said.
Telephones at Caldwell have been disconnected, and Cholerton did not return a call to his personal line for comment on the Plaza Theatre offer.
For information on Plaza Theatre, call 588-1820 or visit www.theplazatheatre.net.