VERO BEACH — Joey’s Bistro on the Miracle Mile closed suddenly on Sunday, August 5. Theatre-Go-Round, who had relocated to the popular nightspot three months earlier, was shocked to learn the news only days before their sold out performance was given that evening.
The nomad traveling dinner theatre company found themselves out on the street once again by another restaurant that had closed its doors in Vero Beach.
Artistic Producer Jon Putzke is pleased to announce that his 2012-13 season will continue uninterrupted with a move to the 14th Avenue Steak House at 2023 14th Ave.
Owners Enzio and Phyllis Vitiello welcomed Theatre-Go-Round to their recently renovated establishment that has operated as a legendary mainstay in downtown Vero for the past 21 years.
Theatre-Go-Round began in 2007 at the now defunct Coppertop Restaurant on State Road 60.
Having presented such hits as “Nunsense Jamboree,” “Jerry Finnegan’s Sister,” “Nuncrackers,” and “String of Pearls,” the group left the Best Western Hotel in the fall of 2009 when a potentially long term offer to relocate to a more intimate setting was made by LaFonda owner Geraldo Martinez.
Martinez partnered with the non-profit theatre group and moved them into his former Mexican restaurant on 34th Ave. near the airport in order to fulfill the year and a half remaining on his lease with the City of Vero Beach.
After completing the 18 month stint, Theatre-Go-Round realized that the city owned property was in disrepair beyond their financial means to continue the operation once the original terms of the agreement expired with Martinez.
Putzke staged his next three productions in the grand ballroom at the Elk’s Lodge on 26th St. between July and March of last year. Still longing for an intimate setting that would coincide with his established intimate productions of themed musical revues, the artistic producer found a new home at Joey’s Bistro on the Miracle Mile and reopened May 6 to critical acclaim.
Immediate success was evident when sold out crowds attended “The Sounds of the Seventies,” as well as “Dancing in the Street,” and when the upcoming new season of shows was announced at the beginning of the summer, audiences continued to fill the well-known nightclub week after week.
With little advanced warning, Putzke was notified that Joey’s would cease operations following the theatre’s August 5 performance.
Within days after the closing, Putzke found a new home for Theatre-Go-Round when the Vitiellos of 14th Avenue Steak House embraced his dinner theatre concept and agreed to pair their food and beverage service with the theatre’s musical productions on Sunday afternoons.
Putzke had to chuckle after the arrangements for the move were finalized. He couldn’t help looking back to when he had produced a successful year of dinner theatre at the 14th Avenue address in 1986.
Then occupied by John and Judy Kloski, The Uptown Dinner Theatre presented four of Putzke’s comedies, including “Eat Your Heart Out,” “Angel on My Shoulder,” “The Nearlyweds,” and “Educating Rita.”
The artistic producer’s life seems to be flashing before him. Putzke moved here from just outside the Chicago area in 1981 to take a job with the Musicana Dinner Theatre that was then moving from the 34th Ave. location to the Sheraton, now home of The Surf Club Hotel on the barrier island.
Over a quarter of a century later he’s back on 14th Ave. doing dinner theatre once again.
“It seems everywhere I have done dinner theatre in this town in the past, the same places keep coming back to me again,” Putzke said with a smile. “It just goes to show you that Theatre-Go-Round does indeed go around.”
Putzke is pleased to find himself back in the heart of downtown doing theatre again.
“I remember great times ‘back in the day’ when Vero was slower paced; and downtown was known for its hometown atmosphere. Everybody knew and supported everybody,” Putzke added.
Those who attended the dinner theatre at The Uptown under Jon’s direction will remember great times getting to know the company of actors who regularly performed there.
“After every performance, the cast would join the audience in the lounge, and many unforgettable memories were made,” Putzke explained.
Putzke hopes that the same will continue after the performances in the coming year.
Theatre-Go-Round will complete the announced run of its high energy musical revue “Dancing in the Street”, swinging to the songs of the’60s on selected Sundays from September 9 through November 4.
The remainder of the 2012-13 season includes “Holiday Harmonies,” the hits and highlights of the season November 18 through December 16, and “New York, New York,” a musical tribute to the city that never sleeps, will debut January 13 through March 10, 2013.
“Those Fabulous ’50s”, featuring the solid gold hits of that decade, will bring the audiences back out on the dance floor March 24 through May 19, 2013.
Performances will be given two Sundays each month.
Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. for seating, cocktails and dinner with the show following at 2 p.m.
The all-inclusive dinner theatre package, featuring a four course sit down dinner with three entrees to choose from, show ticket, tax, and food service gratuity is $45 per person.
Show only tickets, if available the day of performance, are $22.50.
A la carte bar and beverage service is offered throughout the afternoon.
Reservations are required with Visa, MasterCard, or Discover and can be made by phoning the Theatre-Go-Round box office at (772) 252-9341.
