New seats worthy of a standing ovation!

The Lake Worth Playhouse's new $112,000 vintage-style seats, installed last week, will be unveiled at a Sept. 18 ceremony

Aug 27, 2025

Executive Director Shoshana Davidowitz and Board President Michael McKeich relax Aug. 25, 2025, in the newly installed seats at the Lake Worth Playhouse in downtown Lake Worth Beach.

A LANDMARK PRODUCTION at the Lake Worth Playhouse wrapped up a three-week run on Aug. 22.

The rare behind-the-scenes performance was put on by a crew of carpenters. Except for a few playhouse staffers, no one saw it.

When the show ended, the undisputed stars shined bright red — 296 new plush seats, a $112,000 belated birthday president, paid for by donors, celebrating the theater’s 2024 centennial.

Installed by Nashville-based Steve Ward & Associates, the individual mini thrones match the auditorium’s red velvet curtains and feature Victorian-style wrought iron sides.

The theater’s previous 300 seats were a hodgepodge installed in the 1940s’, ‘50, ‘70s and ‘80s, said Michael McKeich, the playhouse’s board president.

The Lake Worth Playhouse had had these seats, shown Aug. 4, 2025, for at least 50 years. (MICHAEL MCKEICH)

One by one, they started to disappear on the morning of Aug. 3, less than a day after the musical “Hair” wrapped a successful run.

“They’ve had their life,’’ McKeich said.

The new seats — each is a bit wider than the old ones — will get a test drive of sorts this Saturday, Aug. 30, when the playhouse hosts a drag bingo event.

Kyle Gibson, a carpenter with Three Sixty Inc., removed all 300 seats Aug. 4-5, 2025. In the background are Quinn Doyle and Mia Karrh, cast members from “Hair,” which ended a two-week run at the Lake Worth Playhouse on Aug. 3, 2025. (JOE CAPOZZI)

Their official unveiling is scheduled for Sept. 18 at a two-part ceremony with donors, city officials and community leaders.

The first part kicks off outside with a plaque dedication in honor of Clarence and Lucien Oakley, the Illinois brothers who in 1924 built the building that houses the playhouse, the Oakley Theater, for $150,000, (about $2.8 million today).

The second part takes place a few minutes later inside with a toast the new seats.

The first big production to host the new seats: “Little Shop of Horrors” Oct. 3-19.

Visitors will also notice new blue carpeting, matching the walls.

Some of the seats will get one final bit of work done soon when the installation on the wood arm rests of individual name plates honoring donors, their loved ones and businesses.

The small name plates can still be purchased for $1,500 each. Click here for more information.

As for the old seats, 10 went to the Historical Society of Palm Beach County’s Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum in downtown West Palm Beach. They will be used by visitors watching short films at the museum’s “Sunshine Cinema: Florida in Film” exhibit from Nov. 14 to May 30, 2026.

The rest went to the dump.

Continue scrolling for photos and videos of the playhouse’s seat transformation.