The Lake Worth Playhouse is in downtown Lake Worth on Lake Ave. east of Rt. #1 with a small free parking lot behind. Today the Lake Worth Playhouse hosts a children's summer theater camp, movies, drag bingo, fundraisers, concerts, tribute bands ... This evening I was invited by PBS to On the Town in the Palm Beaches 'Set Jetting Screening Event with Frank Lacari. The stadium seating was very comfortable with a lot of legroom. When we walked into the historic theater we passed markers, plaques and photographs detailing the history of this 100+ theater in its 74th season. The Oakley, brothers from Illinois opened a movie and vaudeville theater in Lake Worth. They purchased this 55 ft plot on Lake Ave. In 1924, they spent $150,000, then considered a fortune & the Oakley Theater opened, screening the silent film Welcome Stranger. Four years later the theater was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane, "the largest single loss in the city", according to The Palm Beach Post. The roof collapsed with only the stage and some offices surviving the storm. They reopened in 1929 with sound only to get bankrupted by the depression. In the 1950's & 70's it was The Playtoy with pornography, being raided 10+ times. In 1974, the Lake Worth Playhouse Organization purchased the Playtoy, for $60,000. Since the theater was renovated & has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2005, Hurricane Wilma tore part of the roof, destroyed equipment, flooded dressing rooms & damaged the stage. Repairs were made in time for the 2024 centennial with a Roaring Twenties-style party. read more

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What an excellent and enjoyable evening out with my beautiful wife as we got to enjoy a performance here at the Lake Worth Playhouse! We had purchased our tickets a week earlier and were lucky enough to score some aisle seats seven rows back from the stage. When we entered the Playhouse to find our seats we were very happy with our seats. As we looked around we both noted that there are really NO bad seats in the house. It looks like excellent viewing from each area and seat. Another part of our enjoyable evening was the Play, players and the genuinely appreciative audience. So happy we came and look forward to upcoming shows and continued support of the Lake Worth Playhouse! read more

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Just loved this little theater. It was our first time here to see a show and we had no idea what to expect. You can read about its history on one of the plaques just inside the entrance (see photo). We'd walked by a couple weeks ago and Roy bought us tickets. You can also do so online, but we wanted to see the layout of the seats. Turns out we were in great ones only 7 rows back and on the aisle. But the playhouse is small enough -- with no obstructing poles -- that almost any seat would offer a good view of the stage. Plus the acoustics were very good, too. For the evening shows, they open the doors at 7 pm for seating for the 7:30 show. They have a small snack bar (cash) in the lobby. We saw "Kiss me Kate" which was excellent. The cast were wonderful singers and although the musical is long, it was enjoyable. There was an intermission half way through. It's playing here for another week, btw. Both Roy and I were active in our high school drama clubs. We appreciate the efforts of all involved in putting on a production. It was so nice here to witness the frequent and heartfelt applause for every performer. And people didn't rush out of the theater en masse, either, as they do in Fort Lauderdale. We look forward to returning in the near future. read more

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The Lake Worth Playhouse was originally built in 1924 in the Mediterranean revival style at a cost of $150,000. Patrons were treated to a silent movie on opening night. The original building was destroyed in a 1928 hurricane. It reopened in 1929. I attended a Palm Beach PBS event at the Playhouse. The theater is intimate and all seats have a good view of the stage. It is located on Lake Avenue which is very walkable and offers many good options for dinner before or after a show. read more

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Been here many many times. Very nice little playhouse, newly renovated, comfortable seats. No bad seats in this theater. They do sell wine and little snacks. We have enjoyed many shows and musical here. read more

Lake Worth Playhouse - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Worth, Florida

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01-16-2025 New! Improved! It's amazing what just a coat of paint can do to turn things around and the Lake Worth Playhouse has done a lot more than just slap on some paint... This is the most beautiful 100 year old in Lake Worth. read more

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Wonderful local theatre. Small intimate but not too small. Comfortable seats. Great view and good sound system.

Absolutely, hands down, this won't be my last show! My friend and I went to see The Sound of Music on a Saturday afternoon. This theatre is lovely! The acoustics are phenomenal, the stage sets were brilliant, and the feature features an inexplicable charm. The cast was extremely talented and the performance exceeded my expectations. Beverages to include wine along with snacks are available for purchase, but cash is the only accepted form of payment. Not to fret, there is an ATM across the street. There is limited street parking and nearby lots available. Tickets for upcoming shows may be purchased online and the schedule is posted as well. I'll definitely return to the Lake Worth Playhouse and highly recommend. read more

I just went for the first time to see their production of "Kiss Me Kate" and the cast was very talented & the set and choreography was very well done! The design of the seats in the theatre was well planned as each row is higher than the one in front of it so if you are a short person like myself you can easily see over the heads of the people in front of you so kudos to the architect! I also love that the theatre had valet parking & benches outside while waiting for the valet. The surrounding area is cute too with lots of great outdoors dining options nearby. The sound quality was also great in the theater as well and there was plenty of seating for handicapped access and plenty of leg room and comfortable seating. The major thing missing from the theater is airborne infection prevention as it seemed they have none. We are in an ongoing airborne pandemic still & while it is fun to say the show must go on, it should go on for the cast, crew & audiences safely with UL certified Far UVC Light 222nm to clean the indoor air quality to stop transmission of Airborne pathogens & this needs to be the case whether it is an Actors Equity Broadway Theatre or a theatre hosting national tours all the way to regional & community theater. All indoor public spaces need clean indoor air quality mitigations to avoid super spreading events. As a former professional AEA actor disabled from my career by Long Covid & almost losing my life from it, infections can be asymptomatic and by the time someone realizes they are infected and not masking it is already too late. Catherine O'Hara also died months after her covid infection while filming "The Studio" for Seth Rogan so whether someone is rich & famous or not airborne infections don't discriminate. Far UVC Light 222nm also prevents the spread of mold & mildew to keep air quality in buildings healthy. This needs to become the norm the same way we have seatbelts & airbags. We don't drink water with cholera in it so why are we accepting raw dogging the air? Covid affects the vascular system which is why so many famous singers had to cancel shows or die due to a "brief illness". There used to be ESSER grants from the US EPA & some representatives are trying to pass the clean indoor air quality act. It shouldn't just be the government & dept of defense & the billionaires at The World Economic Forum in Davos who have access to clean indoor air quality. The theater industry was shut down worldwide for well over a year in the beginning of the pandemic & all public bldgs should've only reopened after installing mitigations for the safety of all their staff, their actors & audiences everywhere. Don't wait for Long Covid & other airborne viruses to personally impact you to make the bldg as safe & accessible for everyone with far uvc light 222 nanometers. For the same reason you install carbon monoxide detectors is the same reason you need to install far uvc light. You can't see the CO2 but it can be measured. read more

My daughter and I went to see a show at the Lake Worth Playhouse this evening - Matilda. The show was fabulous!!! We were so impressed by the acting, humor, creativity and poise of the cast. We will definitely return for another show. read more

I can't believe I've been living in West Lake Worth for almost 20 years and I've never been to this place. I wanted to see if Christmas Carol and it was $38 per ticket. The building itself is pretty old and one can not help but look up and hope the roof does not cave in lol. The seats were pretty comfortable, the acoustics were good and we were able to hear quite well. It is in the heart of downtown Lake Worth, so it is very easy to do Lunch or Dinner depending on what time play you have. Will definitely go here again to support local actors and local community read more

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I love when historic building are saved, especially historic theaters and you can find this gem on Lake Avenue in downtown Lake Worth. The Lake Worth Playhouse started out as the Oakley Theatre and it is the oldest building on the register of the Art Deco Society of Palm Beach County. The Playhouse was built at a cost of $150,000 Lucien and Clarence Oakley, two brothers who came to South Florida from Illinois during Florida's land boom years in the early 1920's. Their plan was to build a movie palace and vaudeville house. The theatre first opened its doors on November 3, 1924. The first movie shown was a silent film based on the Broadway play Welcome Stranger. The movie was accompanied by a new $10,000 Wurlitzer pipe organ and a five-piece orchestra from Fort Lauderdale. The Hurricane of 1928 almost completely demolished the theater but the brother's rebuilt it only to lose it for good to the economic downturn of the Great Depression. The theater went on to the have a succession of owners before closing for good in the 1950's. On December 1, 1953, the Lake Worth Playhouse was incorporated by a group of Lake Worth citizens and they put on performances at the old Lake Worth City Hall. The community came out in support of the theater company and performances sold out. They were eventually able to purchase The Oakley in October of 1975 for $60,000 and they made repairs with grant money. Today the Lake Worth Playhouse is a 501c3 nonprofit community theatre offering year round programs which include dramas, comedies, musicals, Broadway and children's shows, ballets and operas in cinema, live concert series, and alternative programming. 2022/2023 is their 70th season. In addition to the main stage independent and foreign films are shown in the Stonzek Theatre. Dial "M" For Murder was recently staged earlier this month. Next up for April is Newsies the Broadway Musical. Stories have said that Lucien loved the theater so much that he never left. His ghost is said to still haunt the halls moving objects, leaving his reflection in mirrors, and stopping through the halls. For those still living, it is wonderful that this historic theater is still a vibrant part of the Lake Worth cultural scene. read more

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We were at the Lake Worth street painting festival one February and walked by the Playhouse on Lake Ave where Clue was playing. How much fun - so we bought tickets and it was amazing! The talent - all volunteers - were wonderful. The playhouse is in a building that just celebrated its 100th birthday! So sure, it's quaint but slowly updating with all brand new seats being put in this summer. Every year there is a great line up of plays-Sound of Music and The Producers this year. But there's so much more - concerts and indie movies - all for a very affordable ticket price! Check it out: LakeWorthPlayhouse.org. read more

Great small-town theatre! We saw A Christmas Carol in December and just saw School of Rock and let me tell you, they nailed it! Cast was awesome, show was great, and the kid's performance in vocals and instruments were next level. YOU'RE IN THE BAND. The theatre itself is on the smaller side in an older historic building so it makes for a more intimate show with no bad seats. Right in the center of downtown Lake Worth. So fun to watch local talent and great unique date night idea for those struggling to get out of their same ole routine. read more

Lake Worth Playhouse - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Worth, Florida

Lovely historic theatre! I love having the opportunity to support the arts so I definitely recommend coming here to see a show. I had the please of seeing Newsies tonight, five out of five stars! Truly wonderful performance. The kids have so much talent. There's so much charm in this building. Snacks are on sale for $2, water $2, and they sell some alcohol as well. read more

Lake Worth Playhouse - Inside - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Worth, Florida

Upcoming shows in playhouse what are upcoming g shows? The sound of music was very good you are well organized 5ths theatre needs painitungnred new decorations read more

Finally got around to a show here. Quaint small 1925 theater. Nice friendly ushers. Box office gal not so much but whatever. Bathroom for elder women is a definite challenge and they really should do something considering their audience. I'm a male and wasn't an issue for me. Gypsy was okay. Not sure what I expected but I've seen other community theater production that seemed better. Polite older crowd. I'd maybe come again for say an original show or music comedy things. read more

Lake Worth Playhouse - a stage with red curtains and a ladder - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Worth, Florida

Best local talent anywhere !! Every show is wonderful . Cozy friendly atmosphere ! I have been volunteering on and off for years but now on for the past 2 yrs for every show! read more

What a great theater & playhouse! Saw an excellent show "The life expectancy of a fact" I believe was the name- but it was excellent. Very well done and will keep me looking for new shows throughout the season(s)!! Thank you for a great show! Bravo! read more

A group of us saw "The Wizard of Oz" on April 10th, and it was wonderful! Intimate theatre with no bad seat in the house. A special shout-out to Emily Moreland as Dorothy and Carl Barber-Steele as the Cowardly Lion... their performances were Broadway-worthy and amazing! read more

Wonderful Pecky cypress ceilings and box seats, Grand historic doors at this once-blue movie theater turned community theater, with a repertory cast of actors. read more

Love that this 1925 playhouse is open again! Saw "Always, Patsy Cline" on the 10th and it was fabulous! The actors and band gave it their all, even though the house was barely 25% full. Box office was friendly and efficient, bottled water is still only $2 and bathrooms are tiny, but clean and serviceable. Show was high-quality with Jamie Mattocks (Patsy) belting out two dozen songs and definitely doing Patsy justice. Tracy Lee Schneider (Louise) almost stole the show with her enthusiasm and extravagance! So glad we went. Looking forward to "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grille" in May! read more

We never been to this theatre before, but it was no doubt an interesting experience. From what I read, this is a historic community theater that offers interesting productions & foreign films in an intimate theatre space. The play we had a chosen to see was the Bachelorette. In was in a theatre that seated somewhere around forty to fifty people. It was enjoyable, but unusual for a play that we normally attend in New York. The acting was very good and we overall enjoyed the evening. read more

Lake Worth Playhouse - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Worth, Florida

We have been going to the Lake Worth Playhouse for many years and have always enjoyed it. However, we, 4 adults, went this past Saturday night, to see Trailer Park. I think it would have been cute, but none of us could understand hardly anything that was said or sung. Maybe it was the audio system. But we have never had such a bad experience with this before. I am hoping you can fix this problem. I would hate not to be able to go again. Carol Hoenich read more

We enjoyed seeing a local production of Barefoot in the Park at the Lake Worth Playhouse. Although the theater is old, it has charm, the seats are comfortable, and the setting is cozy. We didn't have high expectations regarding the quality of acting at this community theater, and were pleasantly surprised. While the acting wasn't close to the level a Broadway production, for the most part the actors did a nice job of not overplaying their roles. It's nice to see that the theater offers a variety of plays and other events at an affordable price. Long live community theater! read more

An old movie theater dating back to the 30's that has been converted into a playhouse. Local productions with average talent. Since it is a small venue, all the seats are good. read more

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I came with my friend to see Francofonia, which was playing at the Stonzek Studio Theatre. You may wonder what the heck is wrong with us, traveling all the way from Miami, just to see a movie, but my friend and I were curious to see this movie and had missed the opportunity to do so in a closer location due to scheduling conflicts. The Stonzek Studio Theatre is located right next to the playhouse, and as we tried opening the doors of the playhouse, we thought we had been misled by the Fandango app, which claimed there was a showing, until I saw someone opening the door at the location next door, which said "Stonzek Studio Theatre", and that is when we realized that the theater is actually part of the playhouse. The exterior door was rather pretty, with carvings in the Art Deco style. It was a small, somewhat dated place, with only one staff member behind the counter. We bought our tickets and went inside, and saw a theater painted all black, with a small elevated section in the back. The place was incredibly simple, with office conference room chairs on top of a black wooden floor. Of course, that means you cannot recline the chairs, nor can you put drinks in them, because there are no cupholders. The bathroom means having to get up in the middle of the film and walk all the way to the front, going out through the "exit" door that is by the screen. Since there is no stadium seating, this can be incredibly distracting as people go up and down the aisle and block part of the screen while they walk to the exit door. We also had to move when an incredibly tall man decided to sit in the front row toward the middle. Since the movie was in Russian with English subtitles, it was impossible to read with his head in the way. Common sense says that if you're tall, you should sit at the very back, at least if there's no stadium seating in said establishment. Luckily, there were only about 10 people and I'd say 50 or so seats, so we were able to find a workaround, but he inconvenienced some of the other audience members into having to move as well, and some of these people are old and probably have a hard time getting up. Speaking of distractions, the creaky entrance door to the theater every time someone came in or out for a snack was annoying. It is in a great location, with no shortage of restaurants. Since it's in the heart of the downtown area, you can also walk around and look at the various stores. There are a few antique shops and consignment stores, and I even saw a Blues bar nearby! read more

Lake Worth Playhouse - Pretty entrance door! - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Worth, Florida

FANTASTIC local theater! One of the oldest buildings of the area, be certain to take note of the ceiling! NOT A BAD SEAT IN THE HOUSE! You will not have a poor line of sight in the petite venue....the mezzanine isn't more than a few degrees higher than the orchestra and the orchestra is roomy and well situated for a comfortable experience. We saw CAMELOT and it was WONDERFUL!! The leads shone bright and their voices will be in our heads for days.....TALENT IN ABUNDANCE for less than half of a Broadway ticket! Will DEF return! Support local artists! read more

Had a chance to see Footloose here. Awesome show. There isn't a bad seat in the house, it's a very intimate theatre. The building is old and maintains a lot of that character. Definitely check it out. read more

If your in the performing arts, dont audition at this theater. Everything they have here is precast and the artistic Jodie, is rude and a very intollerant person. She says she's there for the kids and community but, she's their for her own agenda. That theater is filled with cliques and attitudes. This is a community theater were people should come together and have a good time. Instead, it's a place where bad attitudes come together and you are ridiculed for having different views and cast asided for being a respectful human being. read more

This review is specific to the cinema, which is called Stonzek Studio Theatre. I recently bumped into this place on an afternoon excursion to Lake Worth. I started reading the schedule of events in the window and something peaked my interest. The Stonzek Studio Theatre was running a two-week showing of the Oscar-nominated live action and animated shorts. Additionally, it was also showing the Oscar-nominated documentaries as well. This provided me the opportunity to watch these prior to the big show on February 26. After each showing, the friendly folks at the theatre asked us to make our selections as to which productions were best in show in an informal polling. There weren't too many people in each of the shows ... Probably around six to ten bodies for each. But, I have to say it was an extremely pleasant experience each time. Very quaint. The theatre, itself, focuses on independent films. This whole area of Lake Worth, based on my observations, is very trendy and artistic, so this place fits in perfectly with the overall vibe of the neighborhood. The theatre has a smaller screen, but it's perfect for the studio that it's in. The sound system is exceptional. The chairs are a little uncomfortable (I found myself repositioning my backside - haha), but tolerable. They have some snacks and drinks, but keep in mind that you are here for the love of independent film making first and foremost. I highly recommend this place. I make special trips to Lake Worth from Fort Lauderdale specifically for this theatre, even though I have similar options closer to home. There is something to be said about that and it reflects positively on this place. read more

Nestled right in the heart of downtown Lake Worth, this theatre regularly schedules a wide variety of musicals and plays and fills the casts with some extraordinary local talent. With over 60 years in this same location, you can sense the history in the air. Some say a ghost even haunts the theatre, and I believe it! Right next to the main stage entrance you will find a single screen theatre that regularly rotates the best indie film releases of the day. These are films you will not find at your 24 screen multiplex! When they aren't showing movies, this space also doubles as a blackbox theatre to showcase experimental and other lesser known live theatre productions. Ultimately, this was an unexpectedly gorgeous find for me. If you love theatre, do not miss an opportunity to see a show here! read more

Besides the fact that this theater is older and definitely needs renovations, the show Young Frankenstein was phenomenal! The actors, singing, production, costume, stage set up, simply all of it was all terrific!!!! I would definitely see this performance again. Please have it again next year! Everyone--it is a must see and one hilarious story!Go see it...you'll be glad you did! Best money I have spent in awhile! read more

Good show, poorly kept playhouse. It's not in the age, but in the upkeep... The playhouse is right downtown Lake Worth, so if you do go, arrive early and have dinner up or down the street. read more

This review is for the Stonzek Movie theater which is right next door to the playhouse. Absolutely quaint, tiny little theater that shows independent films, shorts, documentaries and sometimes has discussions after a viewing. How wonderful this theater exsists, instead of the space being used for retail or storage. Keeps "good" movies in circulation in the area. I counted 54 seats & the screen isn't very big. But the viewing quality was fine and the sound superb. In fact, I noticed the music affecting me in the drama I watched. It cut to my soul. Small snack bar, almost feels like you're at home. Those under 30 will probably find this theater lacking, but that's okay....keeps the riff-raff out! They can have their multiplexes, I'll take a Mom & Pop shop like this any day!!! read more

Lake Worth Playhouse - This is the view of the Playhouse. The movie theater is actually the little blue building to the left - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Worth, Florida

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For a number of years I've come here for cheaper tickets and splendid theatre. I saw Annie, Carousel, and My Fair Lady here among a few other productions. All of the seats are wonderful, the staff on stage even gets into the play and interacts with the audience, and it's a friendly place. You can go to the Kravitz center, fight tooth and nail for a good seat, and still not have the same kind of feeling you get from watching this. You can feel the passion of the people working onstage, as well as get the idea that people that work here care about what they're doing, and actually like their job. Not something you get often in Florida! read more

Go! First, there is little cultural competition in the area, so that is reason one. Reason two: the place is historic and charming. Check out the painted ceiling. Reason three: all seats are good with no obstructed view. Reason four: [and this should be number one] the productions are fervent and committed, marked by showbiz savvy and gusto. The producers obviously care about what they do, and it shows, the shoe-string budgets notwithstanding. How they manage to round up the talent to make these shows so good is a mystery. Again... GO! The place is a miracle. read more

We were visiting family in the area so we went to see a movie at the Lake Worth Playhouse. I think the Playhouse is mostly an amateur theatre venue, but next to the theatre is a small cinema that shows independent films. It has a great community atmosphere, friendly volunteer staff and often movie discussions after the shows. The movies they play all look really interesting. The concession stand is modest but charming - they pop your popcorn fresh in the microwave! read more

Quaint historical playhouse with a wonderful cast of local talent...the energy in the playhouse was amazing!! Went to see Rock of Ages tonight and unfortunately I was next to a rude and selfish idiot who thought she was in the cast and insisted upon singing aloud to many of the songs in the musical. She got offended when I asked her to please stop, I'd like to listen to those on stage...she may think she can hold a note in her shower but she obviously doesn't have the talent to make it onto the stage! Notwithstanding the idiot, the show was terrific! read more

The Lake Worth Playhouse is so unique and quaint in many ways. Every play I have attended has been impressive in the acting ability as well as the stage affects and wardrobes/costumes. It is a moderate size theatre surrounded by old wood rafters and frame giving it a cozy, warm atmosphere. Check it out, you won't be disappointed. read more