New Musical Comedy in West Palm Beach Shows There's Life After Divorce

West Palm Beach Center for Performing Arts introduces a new musical

Tuesday night the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach debuts “Divorce Party: the Musical,” a comical story of a newly divorced woman who, with the help of friends, find a new sense of self-esteem and courage to go back out into the dating world.

Linda’s sister, cousin and friend save her by turning her grief-stricken night full of crying and eating a bowl of Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream into a wild divorce party.

The musical touches on realities of divorce and ending long-term relationships like quarreling over possessions, lawyers, heartache, and topics that would make one blush. But by pairing those issues with a talented cast, popular songs with clever lyrics, and a hilarious screenplay, the audience will be sure to laugh at their misfortunes, sing and dance along.

The new musical’s creators speak from experience. Mark Schwartz, a twice-divorced veteran theater producer whose credits include “Menopause: The Musical,” teamed up with Dr. Amy Botwinick, who wrote “Congratulations on Your Divorce: The Road to Finding Your Happily Ever After,” after her own prolonged breakup, to find humor in one of life's worst events as they have.

"A lot of it, if you look back, it's funny what you went through," Schwartz told The Associated Press. "Maybe not when you're going through it."
 "This isn't Sondheim," Schwartz said.

Schwartz hopes for the show to travel to venues around the country, and become an Off-Broadway production once it has has gathered enough buzz.

About 100 producers, theater managers and the like from around the country are expected to pass through the production during its six-week run in West Palm Beach through Feb. 19.

Botwinick was aglow as she watched the first preview performance of the show this week. She was seated beside her mother, who she said heard all the tales of woe as her three-year divorce battle progressed and helped her laugh at it, the AP reported.

 "To be able to find the humor in it was a huge turning point for me," Botwinick said.
If You Go:
When: Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Where: The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach

Cost: $25-$32
 
Website and phone: Visit divorcepartythemusical.com or call 561-832-7469
Copyright AP - Associated Press
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