By Skip Sheffield
Everyone loves Jan McArt- especially those who have worked with her.
That’s why the alumni of Jan McArt’s Royal Palm Dinner Theatre are having a family reunion at 6 p.m. Monday, July 7 in the Funky Biscuit at Royal Palm Place. The Funky Biscuit restaurant and nightclub occupies the space that for nearly 25 years was Royal Palm Dinner Theatre. Jan McArt was the owner, producer and frequent star of her dinner theater. Hundreds, maybe thousands of actors, singers, dancers, waiters, technicians and kitchen personnel worked at Royal Palm Dinner Theatre through the years. All are invited to honor the woman who made it all happen.
“Jan gave so many actors their first start,” says Tim Bennett, who was resident set designer. “Everyone loved and respected Jan. When Lisa Robert visited last December she said why don’t we have a reunion?”
Actress-singer Lisa Robert is doing a lot of the planning and heavy lifting via e-mail from her Los Angeles home. She is creating name tags with photos attached, if available. Locally Dino Lillo, who was house manager and Jack-of-all-trades, has been coordinating plans with Tim Bennett and his actress-wife Leigh Bennett.
“Al Poliak of the Funky Biscuit is hosting the event free of charge, which is a big help,” says Lillo. “The will be a cash bar, and we are giving each attendee a free drink ticket, so Al should do a good business.”
The regular band cranks up around 9 p.m. The Royal Palm alumni committee hopes the band can play a few sing-a-long show tunes.
“We have over 100 people confirmed to attend already,” says Leigh Bennett. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
For more information on Royal Palm Dinner Theatre you can search We Worked at Royal Palm Dinner Theatre on Facebook for photos and information. The web site for Funky Biscuit is www.funkybiscuit.com.