Palm Beach Dramaworks Stages Richard Strand's Ben Butler, Directed by Belinda Boyd, with Casting Underway for Spring 2027

Palm Beach Dramaworks is moving forward with a full production of Richard Strand's acclaimed courtroom drama Ben Butler, with rehearsals set to begin April 27, 2027, and performances running May 21 through June 6, 2027, at the company's West Palm Beach, Florida home. Casting is actively underway right now, making this an immediately relevant opportunity for stage actors and theatre professionals along the South Florida corridor and beyond.

Belinda Boyd is attached to direct. Boyd is a respected regional theatre director with a strong track record across serious dramatic work, and her involvement signals a production that will prioritize rigorous text-driven performance over spectacle. Richard Strand's Ben Butler is itself a play with considerable regional pedigree, having earned strong notices since its world premiere at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. The play dramatizes a pivotal moment from the Civil War era, in which Union General Benjamin Butler makes a landmark decision regarding three escaped enslaved men seeking refuge at Fort Monroe in 1861, a decision that would have far-reaching legal and moral consequences. It is an intimate, dialogue-driven two-hander requiring actors with serious dramatic range and command of heightened historical material. That specificity of casting need makes the current casting phase particularly active and consequential.

Overseeing the casting process is Pat McCorkle of McCorkle Casting, one of the most well-regarded and longest-tenured casting operations in American theatre. McCorkle Casting has an extensive history placing talent across Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional productions of significant scale, and their involvement here is a strong signal for actors and agents alike that this production is being pursued with professional seriousness. Talent representation with clients suited to this material should be reaching out now. The creative leadership at Palm Beach Dramaworks is provided by Artistic Director William L. Hayes and Executive Director Rudina Toro, who together have built the company into one of the most respected regional theatre institutions in Florida.

Palm Beach Dramaworks is no small regional operation. Founded in 2000, the company has established itself as a destination for serious dramatic work in South Florida, earning a reputation for polished, well-resourced productions that attract both strong local audiences and national critical attention. The company operates out of the Don & Ann Brown Theatre in West Palm Beach, a purpose-built, 218-seat proscenium house that opened in 2012 and remains one of the finest dedicated theatre facilities in the state of Florida. For theatre professionals, Palm Beach Dramaworks is known as a well-run organization with experienced production staff and a commitment to quality at every level of the craft. The company holds Equity agreements and typically produces under LORT (League of Resident Theatres) contracts, which is the standard for professional regional theatre of this caliber.

West Palm Beach sits at the heart of South Florida's growing arts infrastructure, and the region has a solid base of professional theatre talent, though productions of this scale at Dramaworks often draw actors from the broader national pool, particularly for principal roles requiring specific experience with historical drama. For local crew and production staff, the company's permanent facility means the physical production infrastructure is largely in place, with scenic, lighting, sound, and costume departments that operate on a production-by-production basis and hire both local craftspeople and specialists as needed. With rehearsals not beginning until late April 2027, the production timeline is generous, but casting conversations are happening now, and designers and other collaborators are likely being approached in the coming months.

Ben Butler is a two-character play, which means the casting net is focused but the stakes for each role are exceptionally high. Actors with strong classical or historical dramatic backgrounds, and agents representing that type of talent, should treat McCorkle Casting's involvement as the direct line of contact. For theatre designers considering their 2027 season, this is the kind of intimate but prestigious regional engagement worth putting on the radar early. The production's relatively compact performance run of just over two weeks, combined with a five-and-a-half-week rehearsal period beginning April 27, suggests a focused and well-paced schedule by regional theatre standards.

ProductionList.com maintains a full listing for Ben Butler at Palm Beach Dramaworks, including production contacts, current casting status, and key dates as they are confirmed. If this production fits your skills or your clients, this is the moment to make contact, well ahead of the 2027 season rush. Bookmark the listing and check back as the creative team fills out and additional production roles are posted.

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