Palm Beach’s new performing arts center, under construction in the historic Royal Poinciana Playhouse building, has been renamed GLAZER HALL.
Originally named The INNOVATE, the waterfront arts center has been rechristened GLAZER HALL in honor of Jill and Avie Glazer, who have given more than $15 million toward the new facility.
Jill and Avie Glazer are longtime Palm Beach residents and founders of the non-profit organization that will be responsible for the arts and cultural programming for GLAZER HALL.
The new performing arts center is set to open during the 2025-26 season, according to a news release announcing the name change.
Construction began in 2022 on the redevelopment of the playhouse building into a mixed-use site with upscale retail, a 200-seat waterfront restaurant and the new arts center with 400 retractable seats.
The historic building, which was landmarked by the town in 2008, will continue to be known as the Royal Poinciana Playhouse, according to Alexandra Patterson, chief operating officer for WS Development, which manages the Royal Poinciana Plaza under a long-term lease.
Architect John Volk designed the Regency-style Royal Poinciana Plaza and playhouse, which opened in 1958. The venue became a social center for the island during the 1960s and 1970s when it featured Broadway tours of plays, ballets and musical performances and attracted A-list celebrities including Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
The playhouse has been dark since 2004, when its last tenant, Clear Channel Communications, pulled out.
The Glazers embraced the opportunity to transform the vacant, long-neglected theater into a vibrant, state-of-the-art cultural center in the heart of Palm Beach.
Spanning 24,000 square feet and estimated to cost more than $30 million, the theater, cultural center, and event space will be a premier destination, Jill Glazer said.
“GLAZER HALL will be Palm Beach’s first new nonprofit arts organization in more than 60 years,” she said. “We are thrilled to support this special place that will bring individuals of all ages together through dynamic performances, inspiring programs, vibrant cultural events, and more, including dance, film, music, and fascinating lectures and conversations.”
Palm Beach residents since 2002, the Glazers have supported educational, medical, and cultural organizations across the United States. Jill Glazer has been a Palm Beach Civic Association director since 2023.
Avie Glazer said the Royal Poinciana Playhouse has languished in the dark for far too long.
“We felt it was time to turn on the lights and bring this jewel box back to life,” he said. “GLAZER HALL will be a thriving cultural hub – fostering community, inspiring innovation, and serving as a force for social good through the power of the performing arts.”
Michael Pucillo, chairman and chief executive officer of the Palm Beach Civic Association, said the renaming is an appropriate recognition of the Glazer family’s commitment to restoring the performing arts venue.
“Palm Beach has been without a performing arts venue on the island for a very long time, and the Glazers’ commitment to restoring and bringing back this venue will greatly benefit our community,” Pucillo said. “I believe GLAZER HALL will be an important addition to our community that Palm Beachers will enjoy for decades to come.”
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