Key West a Haven for the Creative Arts

(You can visit the Tennessee Williams House, pictured above, in Key West and enjoy many of his plays produced in local theatres. The Tennessee Williams Theatre at Florida Keys Community College in Key West is the largest and best-equipped theater facility south of Miami)

Best known for its favorable climate, relaxed atmosphere and unparalleled watersports, Key West also is a haven for creative spirits that add a tremendous cultural dimension to the island's appeal.

Performing arts, music, quality films, art galleries and literary venues provide a variety of cultural resources.

The performing arts flourish in Key West, which has three theaters offering regular productions and a new festival celebrating the work of emerging playwrights.

The Intimate Red Barn Theatre

The intimate and charming Red Barn Theatre, 319 Duval St., was originally a carriage house and became a playhouse in the 1940s. The Barn's season runs from December through June, with offerings ranging from searing dramas to musical comedy revues. The 88-seat theater recently completed a $500,000 renovation and rebuilding project.

Season subscriptions and tickets to individual shows can be purchased by calling the box office at 305-296-9911. For more information about current offerings, visit www.redbarntheatre.com.
The Waterfront Playhouse, located adjacent to Mallory Square, has been the home of the Key West Players for decades. Its season runs December through June.

Enjoy Tennessee Williams' Works

Recent productions have included works by Tennessee Williams, award-winning dramas, thrillers and classic comedies. The playhouse also holds children's theater workshops and offers "Second Stage" play readings and minor productions for new directors, actors, writers and technicians. For season subscriptions or individual tickets, call 305-294-5015. For more information, visit www.waterfrontplayhouse.com.

Located on the campus of Florida Keys Community College at 5901 College Road, the 480-seat Tennessee Williams Theatre is the largest and best-equipped theater facility south of Miami. In recent years, productions have included Porgy and Bess, La Cage Aux Folles, Carnival and Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, as well as appearances by the New York City Ballet, the Irish Rovers, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Cleo Laine and José Greco.

Plenty of Music, Too

Home to the Key West Pops, Florida Keys Chorale and the Key West Symphony Orchestra, the theater also provides a range of arts education opportunities. The Tennessee Williams Theatre's productions, many presented in conjunction with the venue's active Founders Society, generally take place during the winter-spring season. Season subscriptions and single tickets are available by calling 305-296-1520 or can be purchased online at www.twfac.com.

Key West's multifaceted cultural calendar expanded in December 1998 when the Key West Symphony Orchestra took its world-premiere bow. Under the musical direction of award-winning conductor Sebrina Maria Alfonso, the orchestra features more than 70 of the United States' pre-eminent classical musicians and soloists.

Alfonso, a Key West native, worked tirelessly to support the orchestra's creation and subsequent growth with the assistance of a board of enthusiastic local supporters. The symphony has earned national and international praise since its inception and has been called "a world-class symphony orchestra" by CBS National Radio.
In addition to its performance schedule, the symphony conducts an ongoing educational outreach program.

Each season it provides 3,000 Florida Keys students the opportunity to hear and explore the world of classical music through programs and free concerts.

The Key West Symphony performs at the Tennessee Williams Theatre. Subscription tickets and tickets to individual performances are available from the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center box office at 305-296-1520, or on-line at www.keystix.com.

For more information about the Key West Symphony and its performances, call 305-292-1774 or visit www.keywestsymphony.com.

As well as theatrical and musical performances, Key West residents and visitors can view an extraordinary variety of quality films presented by the Key West Film Society. The society's showings include independent productions, first-run features, repertory films, classics and directors' series. For more information and a schedule, call 305-294-5857 or visit www.keywestfilmsociety.com.

When it comes to the visual arts, virtually every medium is represented in Key West's many galleries - from oils and watercolors to sculpture, metalwork, pottery and more.

Art Galleries Abound in Key West

Be it tropically themed exhibit halls, artist cooperatives or working studios where visitors can watch the creative process, galleries abound in Key West, particularly in the 700 to 1200 blocks of Duval Street.

In addition to galleries, a number of arts and crafts shows - ranging from juried exhibitions of fine art to colorful crafts extravaganzas - draw participants from around the country looking for unique pieces of art. One of the more popular events is the Old Island Days Art Festival which takes place in February during the annual Old Island Days celebration of the city's culture and heritage.

At the heart of Key West's creative atmosphere is its literary legacy. Tennessee Williams maintained a home on the island from 1949 until his death, Robert Frost was a frequent visitor, and Ernest Hemingway produced some of his finest work during his decade-long residence in the 1930s.

Every July, Key West hosts a festival celebrating Hemingway's life and work, which includes a respected short story contest for emerging writers. Hemingway's home also is open for tours.

Today, Key West's literary community, which can claim 11 Pulitzer Prize winners, continues to thrive. Each January, the island's place in the world of letters is commemorated in the widely recognized Key West Literary Seminar, with presentations by some of the country's top writers.

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