Country Club Living - Palm Beach North - October 2025

O C T O B E R 2 0 2 5 | C O U N T R Y C L U B L I V I N G - PA L M B E A C H N O R T H 1 1 She emphasizes that PBD’s guiding philosophy, “Theatre to Think About,” will remain its cornerstone as well. “The mission here is so important to me, and I don’t want ‘Theatre to Think About’ touched or diluted in any way. It’s who we are.” Toro sees one of her most pressing responsibilities as broadening awareness of the company’s work. “We've already begun to do that,” Toro explained. “We think that once they get to know us, they’ll be all-in and eager to come back again and again.” She credits not only PBD’s productions but also the patron experience as a differentiator. “In addition to the exceptional quality of our productions, our box office and front-of-house personnel create a warm and welcoming atmosphere and go the extra mile for our patrons. There’s a reason we often refer to the ‘PBD family.’” Toro is also concentrating on refining the theatre’s outreach. “What we’re focusing on now is messaging,” Rudina shared. “That’s not a new concept here; our terrific marketing team has always had great ideas. But now we have more resources to devote towards creative messaging and advertising to let people know we’re here and that we offer thought-provoking theatre. We aim to deepen existing relationships and reach new audiences whom we can develop into lifelong patrons and friends.” This strategic communication, Toro believes, will allow PBD to compete more effectively in a crowded cultural landscape and ensure the organization thrives for decades to come. Rudina envisions a future where Palm Beach Dramaworks continues to challenge audiences with intellectually engaging productions while expanding its reach. The company produces five shows each season, fosters playwrights through the Perlberg Festival of New Plays, and provides robust educational opportunities for students. “Everything we do has an impact,” Toro said, “but I’m especially proud of our various educational programs. Each, in its own way, is life-changing, and studies show that students learn better through theatre. I want to highlight one of those programs, our free One Humanity Tour, which has actually saved lives. We send three age-appropriate plays to middle schools throughout Palm Beach County, all of which were commissioned by PBD and address tough issues that often confront teens. The subtext of all of them is prevention. Swagger , for sixth graders, deals with the tension between citizens and law enforcement from multiple viewpoints. Live to Tell , for students in grades seven to twelve, is about teen human trafficking, and Hungry Ghosts , for students in eighth grade and up, is about addiction. “Our goal is to encourage critical thinking; develop informed, thoughtful citizens; and guide students on how to get help if they find themselves or a friend in a dark situation,” she continued. “The three plays combined have been performed before a total of more than 35,000 students, and the feedback received by Director of Education and Community Engagement Gary Cadwallader confirms how meaningful each play is to its young audience. Swagger and Live to Tell are already published and available for production anywhere in the world, so PBD is making a difference way beyond Florida.” For Toro, the path forward is clear: build on the strengths that made PBD an institution, while using new strategies and resources to broaden its impact. “We're committed to making sure that PBD continues to be a cultural cornerstone in this community.” “RUDINA KNOWS PBD FROMTHE INSIDE OUT, LOVES THE COMPANY, AND IS COMMITTED TO ITS MISSION,” SAID BERYL, WHO IS ALSO A CO-FOUNDER OF PBD. “WE KNEW SHEWAS THE RIGHT PERSON TO STEP INTO THIS JOB, AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW SHE AND BILL CONTINUE TO GROWTHE COMPANY.”