It wasn’t easy finding a silver living during COVID-19, but Pompano Beach’s leaders did. They used that time to plan an ambitious rebranding of the city as an international destination with a first-class arts and culture scene. Soon they hired key employees with performing arts and local government experience.
One of the fruits of this labor is a new resident theater troupe. In October, the Cultural Affairs Department of Pompano Beach will introduce the Pompano Players. The company’s six-show season home will be the Pompano Beach Cultural Center.
The season opens with Delia Ephron’s play, “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” opening on Oct. 11, then the musical and musical revues “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” opening on Nov. 8, “Jerry’s Girls,” opening on Jan. 10, “Respect: A Musical Journey of Women” opening on March 28, “And The World Goes ‘Round, “ opening on April 25, and finally, closing out the season, “I Do! I Do!” opening on May 23. Eight performances are scheduled for each production.
The director of the Pompano Players, Jeremy Quinn, says, “City government has a lot on its plate all the time. For it to act on this shows how important the Pompano Players is going to be for the Renaissance to transform arts and culture in Pompano Beach. The city recognizes what we’ll bring and it is gratifying.”
Ty Tabing, the cultural affairs director for Pompano Beach, says that the Pompano Players are a key cultural attraction to build on the city’s long-term goal of becoming more sophisticated to attract international visitors and investors.
“It’s no secret that for 10 to 15 years ago, no one wanted to be in Pompano. It had been neglected,” says Tabing. “But the city invested in itself. Ten years ago, it rehabbed the 1923 Bailey Hotel, which is now the Bailey Contemporary Arts Center (BaCA.) The city redid the beach four to five years ago,” he added. “Pompano Beach, with a population of 120,000, is increasingly becoming an international destination. This is not your mother’s Pompano Beach anymore. At this stage, everything is a possibility.”
Pompano hired Tabing in June of 2022 and in May 2023, brought aboard Jason King as cultural programming manager. They are part of what is now a public/private team overseeing the Players. The city is partnering with Kevin Barrett, founder and owner of the ten-year-old, for-profit, Arts Center Management (ACM).
Barrett, with his company ACM, is the producer of all six shows this season. He also produces Broadway at LPAC, a series that began in January 2023, at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center. He is also executive director at the Delray Beach Playhouse and managed venues in Massachusetts including the Springfield Symphony Hall, Springfield Civic Center, and, in South Florida, Coral Springs Center for the Arts and the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center.
“The level of quality of Kevin’s productions is exceptional,” says King. “I saw his shows at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC), which made me want to start a professional residency program.”
Barrett hired two local directors who considered 200 actors and cast two dozen. The actors are mostly non-equity, according to Quinn. Equity actors belong to the Actors Equity Association, the union that negotiates wages and workplace conditions among other benefits for actors.
“We focus on casting local people first. There is a big theatrical community (in South Florida, who have been chomping at the bit to be used. They are enormously talented,” says Quinn.
Quinn, born in West Palm Beach, raised in Tequesta and a University of Miami graduate, worked 22 years in New York. Quinn will direct five of the Pompano Players musicals. (One production had already been assigned to another director Michael Ursua.)
“I grabbed the brass ring. To help launch a very important inaugural season is quite a compliment, really. The city is super excited to kick off and has put everything it has got behind this. It’s amazing to feel their energy, support and encouragement,” says Quinn.
Barrett and Quinn praised the city for providing the venue, scheduling, support staff, rehearsal space and time.
Amanda Lopez is one of the local performers. She’ll appear on stage in the April production of “The World Goes Round.” Lopez says she will also be assistant stage manager and contribute choreography for other Pompano Players productions. Born in Cuba, Lopez arrived in Florida when she was only a year old, she says. She is a graduate of the University of Miami where she studied theater
“When Kevin creates new companies, he creates work especially for non-union actors. My goal is to keep working and improve my craft and skills and he’s provided another opportunity to perform,” says Lopez.
Barrett believes that South Florida is a competitive market for theater.
“To survive and thrive, it takes a lot of resources spent on the right things, to convince people to come. The synergy comes not only from creativity but the business side.”
According to Gary Schweikhart, president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s theater awards coalition, there were 90 different productions by South Florida theater groups in last year’s season.
“There is a lot going on and there is always room for more. Any time we can expand the opportunity for professional theater and the opportunity (for performers) . . . and give audiences more choices, it’s good for everyone.
Barrett notes that the Pompano Players will handily compete with other Broward County theaters presenting similar fare. “Pompano has a nice venue with free parking out front. It’s an enjoyable experience at a great price point,” he says.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “Pompano Players Inaugural Season”
WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, 33060
WHEN: 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
TICKETS: $45, $55 and $65; Subscriptions: three performances for $99 and six for $199.
INFORMATION: Call (954) 545-7800 or
Tickets Here
