There was nothing ‘staged’ about the Roast and Toast held at the Italian American Club to honor the 68-year theater career of Jon Putzke, which included memories of the many productions he has been involved with since arriving on the Treasure Coast in the early 1980s.
With faded newspaper clippings and memorabilia on display, his son, Brandon Putzke, shared highlights from the perspective of someone who has grown up in the theater’s wings.
“All of you in this room tonight have one thing in common. You are all part of making my dad’s career what it is to date. Many of you worked with him at various stages over the years and on various stages,” he said.
Many in the room had worked with Jon in various venues around town, including Riverside Theatre, where the Vero Beach Theatre Guild was first located, and at the current VBTG location. Where the Vero Beach Book Center is today was a vacant movie theater that he converted into Encore Alley, and he also performed in Musicana at the old Sheraton Resort.
Bitten by the theater bug in a production at age 7, Putzke had set his sights on becoming a director and designer by his sophomore year. With help from a group of friends and his father’s construction company, Jon converted a boat barn into a summer theater and has never looked back.
“The real hero in this room is my mom, Marg Putzke,” said Brandon, adding that his parents began dating in seventh grade.
“Mom has continued to be my dad’s leading lady, musical director, and costumer on stage and off for 58 years.”
After producing, designing and directing at numerous theaters throughout the Midwest and Southeast, Jon eventually realized his dream of building a 300-seat theater-in-the-round, equity company in New Buffalo, Mich.
The couple eventually decided it was time to seek a warmer climate and ended up in Fort Pierce, where Marg’s sister lived.
“Dad not only produced a lot of theater in Vero Beach but over the past 41 years, he was also directly involved in the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, beginning in 1984 when he appeared on the Riverside Theatre stage as Happy in ‘The Death of a Salesman’ and directed ‘Brigadoon,’” said Brandon.
“Having cast Allen Cornell in the [‘Brigadoon’] lead and Mark Wygonik in his first play ever, Dad launched two longtime theater careers – one who still leads the professional company at Riverside and one that was active as the head of the Theatre Guild for many years.”
With VBTG, Jon has been involved with 31 productions, served a three-year term as board president, and as its full-time artistic director for two years.
Among his credits, Jon directed Florida premiers of “Evita,” “A Chorus Line,” “Amadeus,” “La Cage aux Folles,” “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “The Best of Abba” (the longest running show ever produced on the Treasure Coast). He also traveled the world installing casts into shows on cruise ships.
“Critics have declared him a ‘Visionary,’ ‘An artist ahead of the time,’ and ‘One who has the ability to transform a bare outdoor stage into a dynamic setting for live theater,’” said Brandon.
“Is this a retirement party we’re celebrating tonight? Dad says, ‘No!’ He’s still got one good one left,” said Brandon, raising a glass in a toast.
“Tonight we celebrate my dad’s 68 years in the theater, over 400 productions to his credit.
He has literally touched the hearts and minds of thousands of actors, behind-the-scenes personnel and audience patrons. To those sitting here in this room tonight, especially Mom and all those who couldn’t be with us, Dad thanks you from the bottom of his heart for helping to create his legacy of live theater for the Vero Beach community.”
Photos by Joshua Kodis
