Jupiter & Okwess

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre located in Jupiter, Florida, renowned for its dedication to performance, production, and education through collaborations with local and national artists. It is recognized as Florida's largest award-winning regional theatre and serves over 100,000 people annually in the tri-county area. The theatre operates with an annual budget of approximately $8 million, with about 40% of its funding coming from donations. Established in October 2001 by the not-for-profit Palm Beach Playhouse, Inc., the Maltz Jupiter Theatre was formed by a community rallying to revitalize theater in Jupiter. The theatre quickly garnered support, amassing a small staff and a dedicated volunteer base. In 2003, following a successful capital campaign, the 28,000-square-foot theatre underwent renovations and was rechristened the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, in honor of major benefactors Milton and Tamar Maltz. It officially opened on February 29, 2004, as a state-of-the-art regional theater with 554 seats. The theatre's reputation for excellence is partly due to its status as Florida’s only LORT B theatre, a designation by the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) based on average box office income. The theatre has a robust subscription base and serves nearly 600 students annually through its Goldner Conservatory, which offers after-school, weekend, and summer programs. The conservatory and the theatre are supported by a Board of Directors and over 400 volunteers. Under the leadership of Andrew Kato, who joined as Producing Director in 2005 and became Artistic Director the following year, the theatre has expanded its educational and artistic programs. It introduced the Emerging Artists Series in Musical Theatre Playwriting in 2008, funded by grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fund and the Roy A. Hunt Foundation. This series has led to the development and world premieres of several productions, including "Academy" and "Fanny Brice: The Real Funny Girl." The theatre has also established the Youth Artists Chair summer mentorship program, which allows high school students to direct and produce shows. In 2012, the Maltz Family Foundation helped secure a $10 million endowment for the theatre, ensuring its long-term sustainability. Over the years, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has undergone significant facility improvements, including the construction of an offsite scene shop, the expansion of the lobby, and the addition of premium seats. In 2017, the Imagine Room was renovated and expanded, enhancing the patron experience. The theatre continues to grow with the Believe Capital Campaign, a multi-phased expansion plan that includes improved production facilities, an expanded conservatory, and a second performance space. The first phase was completed in 2019, with further developments continuing in the following years. The Maltz Jupiter Theatre occupies a historic building that was once the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theater, a cultural hub from 1979 to 1996. Founded by actor Burt Reynolds, the venue hosted numerous celebrities and was associated with the Burt Reynolds Institute for Theatre Training. After a series of ownership changes and closures, the building was acquired by Palm Beach Playhouse Inc. and transformed into the current Maltz Jupiter Theatre, which opened in 2004. The Maltz Jupiter Theatre has made a significant impact on the cultural landscape of South Florida, contributing to the arts through its diverse programming and educational initiatives, while also engaging in the development of new theatrical works.