Riverside Theatre is set to present another full season of plays and musicals, despite a renovation project that is expected to continue over the next two seasons, says Jon Moses, executive producer and CEO.
“We’re taking a lot of time and effort to coordinate so that it doesn’t prevent us from having shows as we normally do. It’s being divided up in such a way that we will have partial use of the new facilities this season and then full use of the new facilities next season.”
One adjustment is that the October opener will run for five weeks on the Waxlax Stage rather than three weeks on the Stark Stage.
After the final show in May, construction will resume, including renovations to the kitchen and bar facilities. Other than some additional refurbishments, the project is expected to be completed by January 2028.
Moses believes that the updated facilities will help to attract more A-list performers, something staff, board members and directors would like to see.
Oct. 15 to Nov. 22: “My Vaudeville Man”
Riverside opens with the Southeast premiere of the show, based on the life of tap star Jack Donahue.
Richard Stafford, who directed “9 to 5” last spring, returns to direct.
“It’s going to be a very immersive show. It’s a two-character show with lots of tap dance music,” says Moses.
“What’s unique is this show is going to be in the round. We’ll have the audience and the scenery all the way around. You’re going to be right up close to the tap dancing throughout the whole piece. You’re going to feel like you’re in it; very intimate and different.”
Moses says his goal is to present an immersive Waxlax production every fall, even after construction is complete.
“I’ll be adding additional programming. So, we’ll have a fall Waxlax and a fall Stark Stage show. And that Waxlax show is meant to always be very immersive. So, it’s an experience; something different.”
Jan. 6 to Jan. 31: “Clue: A Murder Mystery”
Inspired by the board game, the play was adapted by Sandy Rustin from the 1985 movie. Rustin also wrote “Mystic Pizza,” which Riverside produced in 2025.
Moses says “Clue” was planned for last season but, needing to “bump the rights” one more year, they instead presented “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” Hunter Foster, who directed that show, returns to direct “Clue.”
“This follows the movie very much in sync, which I personally think is what makes it so good. The movie was fantastic with the lineup cast that they had, and Sandy has captured that essence,” says Moses.
“‘Clue’ is a play that reads like a musical. There’s no singing but there’s music throughout the show; it’s very choreographed,” he explains, adding that the set will have the feel of a pop-up book.
Although the play has not appeared on Broadway, it is currently touring, and Riverside is among the few regional theaters to secure the rights.
Jan. 28 to Feb. 21: “The Mouse and The Mustache”
The world premiere of the play, written by Anthony Dodge, will be directed by his wife Marcia Milgrom Dodge, who directed “On Your Feet” at Riverside.
“This one I’m really excited about,” says Moses.
“This is the first time we’re capturing the real characters of both Walt Disney and Salvador Dali on stage and giving them a good 90 minutes of a true story.”
The play captures a post-World War II moment in Disney’s life, before Disneyland reshaped his public image.
“Prior to that, Walt wasn’t in public as much. He was definitely very foulmouthed, he loved his scotch, he smoked like a chain. But when he became very public, he hid all of that. He had a whole other image,” says Moses.
“He had a lot of similarities with Salvador Dali. Two very different people, but they both had very specific styles and standards for their art forms and were very stubborn about it too, in a positive way.”
The show follows the two men as they meet, build trust and collaborate on the surrealist, animated short, “Destino.” They worked on it for a number of years before it languished. It was rediscovered around 1999 by Walt’s nephew, Roy Disney, who refined and finished the 12-minute film, which can be viewed on YouTube.
“It’s essentially like a Latin Hispanic version of ‘Fantasia.’ ‘Fantasia’ had a very distinct art form around it and ‘Destino’ has Dali’s artwork; the melting of clocks and all of that,” says Moses.
He adds that the more they drank, the more creative they became.
“And true story, they literally defaced the hotel room. They started drawing on the hotel walls, and to my understanding, it’s still there. They preserved it because it’s Walt Disney and Dali’s artwork, writing and signatures.”
Feb. 25 to March 21: “On the Town”
This energetic musical features music by Leonard Bernstein and is based on Jerome Robbins’ ballet “Fancy Free.”
“You put a bunch of guys in sailor suits out on stage dancing. I mean, it’s just a crowd pleaser. It’s a big dance show, great peppy music. Again, it’s going to be directed and choreographed by Marsha Milgram Dodge. So, she’s doing two with us this year,” says Moses.
“I saw the revival about 10 years ago on Broadway and really enjoyed it. Big tippy-tappy numbers; a lot of fun.”
March 14 to April 11: “The Light in the Piazza”
This one is a co-production with Bill Hayes, artistic director of Palm Beach Dramaworks, which had been in the process of production when the world shut down in 2020.
“It is going to be on the Waxlax Stage, deliberately so. It could go on the main stage, but I think we’re going to be able to deliver a very intimate, sweet and heartfelt version with the audience up close and personal with these characters.”
Palm Beach Dramaworks will open the show, using scenery and props built by Riverside, before the full production, including its 14-member cast, comes to Vero.
“It’s not really a dance musical. It’s a coming-of-age kind of piece. A mother and daughter are in Italy, she falls in love and mom is trying to protect her. Very sweet and beautiful music.”
April 15 to May 9: “Hairspray: The Musical”
Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, “Hairspray” closes the season. Richard Stafford will direct this show as well.
The exuberant musical, based on John Water’s 1988 film of the same name, focuses on a teenager with big hair, bigger dreams and an even bigger heart, whose celebrity leads to social change.
“I mean truth, love, joy; that’s kind of the season theme to all of this,” says Moses.
For more information, visit RiversideTheatre.com.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
