The Waterfront Playhouse, in its 73rd season, opens with a touching comedy, “Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks,” by Richard Alfieri. A popular play, it was produced worldwide. It comes to the Waterfront starring two Key West popular performers, Joy Hawkins and Denis Hyland. Opening night (January 31) includes after-party sponsored by Nikki McCausland. The production is sponsored by KEY TV and 2012-13 season sponsors Digital Island Media, Royal Furniture and Wodu Media.

Directing “Six Dance Lessons” will be guest director Stuart Meltzer, who is the artistic director of Zoetic Stage based at the Arsht Center in Miami.  Meltzer comes off critically-acclaimed hits from the South Florida theater scene including “I Am My Own Wife” and the recent “All New People.” “Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks” is about a formidable widow living in a Florida condo who decides to hire a dance instructor to give her private lessons. Unfortunately, it’s hate at first sight. Through the language of dance, these two somewhat lost souls eventually move beyond their differences to find a meaningful friendship.

Joy Hawkins plays Lily, a retired school teacher who is attempting to move beyond the loss of her husband and reconnect with life. Hawkins is the artistic director of The Red Barn Theatre where she recently directed “Oil City Symphony.” She scored an acting triumph last season as Violet in the Waterfront’s “August: Osage County.”

Denis Hyland plays Michael, a former Broadway chorus boy who has moved back to Florida for family reasons and is barely keeping his head above water. Hyland is well-known as a brilliant dancer having performed with major ballet companies. At the Waterfront he has appeared as Nugget in “Equus” as well as the villainous Jack in “Reefer Madness.” On Broadway, the two performers were Polly Bergen and Mark Hamill (“Star Wars”). Subsequent productions include runs in Berlin, Tel Aviv, Helsinki, Tokyo, Paris, Madrid, London and the states.

Michael Boyer will create the Florida condo setting. David Bird will do moodsetting lighting. Carmen Rodriguez is in charge of costumes and props. Luigi Ritarossi choreographed the ballroom dance routines. Annie Miners acts as stage manager.

INFO: (305) 294-5015, WaterfrontPlayhouse.org