Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (often referred to as the Kravis Center) is a not-for-profit, professional performing arts center in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida.

Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Exterior view of venue (c.2007)
Full nameRaymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Address701 Okeechobee Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33401-6323
OwnerPrivate not for profit corporation.
Capacity2,195 (Dreyfoos Hall)
305 (Rinker Playhouse)
291 (Persson Hall)
Construction
Broke groundMay 24, 1989 (1989-05-24)
OpenedSeptember 19, 1992 (1992-09-19)
Construction cost$55 million
($113 million in 2019 dollars[1])
ArchitectEberhard Zeidler
General contractorBlount, Inc.
Website
Venue Website

History

1978-1992

In 1978, the Palm Beach County Council of the Arts was created by Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr.. The council's goals focused on the development of local arts, and sought to create a major performing arts center following the success of the Palm Beach Playhouse. In 1986, friends of Raymond F. Kravis raised a $5 million donation in his honor, beginning construction for the eventual 1992 opening. The donation, headed by Leonard Davis and Merrill Bank, grew to $10 million before 1992, and the two remain on the Center's committee.

The center was built on the former site of Connie Mack Field, spring training home of the Kansas City Athletics until 1962 when it was replaced by West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium.[2]

The grand opening was held in September 1992, a gala that included performances and speeches from Burt Reynolds, Ella Fitzgerald, Lily Tomlin, and more.

1992-present

Since the Kravis Center's twentieth year, the facilities include four venues - the 2,195-seat Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall, the 289-seat Rinker Playhouse, and the 170-seat Helen K. Persson Hall. Additionally, the Kravis Center's facilities include the Cohen Pavilion, housing the Weiner Banquet Center and the Gimelstob Ballroom, The Elmore Family Business Center for the Arts, and The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center, which includes Persson Hall and The Khoury Family Dance Rehearsal Hall.[3]

In March 2016, the Kravis Center became the first performing arts center in the world to install a custom-designed digital organ. The project was funded by Alexander W. Dreyfoos.[4]

To date, the Center has opened the door to the performing arts for more than 2 million school children as well as thousands of economically disadvantaged senior citizens, minorities and community groups.

On March 26, 2018, the West Palm Beach City Commission approved plans for expanding the center to be completed in summer of 2020.[5]

Venues

The center is composed of a performance theater, black box theater and an events hall.

  • Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall (Dreyfoos Hall) is a 90,000 sqft concert hall that seats over 2,000 guests. The theater opened November 1992 and serves as the main venue of the complex.
  • Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse (Rinker Playhouse) is a 5,000 sqft black box theater for 300 guests. Opening in October 1994, it is frequently used for comedic performances and the residence of the MNM Theatre Company.
  • Eunice and Julian Cohen Pavilion (Cohen Pavilion) is a $31 million events hall built in 2002 and opened September 2003. The building include a series of meeting rooms and rehearsal spaces, along with ballroom and recital hall. It is divided into two floors: the Weiner Banquet Hall and the Picower Foundation Arts Education Center.
    • Helen K. Persson Hall is a 5,000 sqft recital hall that seats 291 guests.
    • Herbert and Elaine Gimelstob Ballroom is the main gala hall for events held within the pavilion. The ballroom can seat up to 800 guests.

References
  1. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. Kleinberg, Eliot (2006). Palm Beach Past: The Best of "Post Time". Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. p. 51. ISBN 1-59629-115-X.
  3. "West Palm Beach's Kravis Center marks 20 years - Historic Palm Beach". Historicpalmbeach.blog.palmbeachpost.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  4. "KRAVIS CENTER TO MAKE WORLD HISTORY ON MARCH 9". Business.palmbeaches.org. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  5. https://www.kravis.org/kravis2020/

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