Playwright Jeff Bower debuts satirical comedy at PBSC

Actor and playwright Jeff Bower admits he has an unhealthy relationship with reality TV — one he and his wife developed during the pandemic. That habit inspired his latest play, The $ Hitshow, a satirical farce premiering April 9 at Stage West at Palm Beach State College’s Lake Worth campus. 

The $ Hitshow centers on a fake reality show that traps three strangers in a bunker and subjects them to absurd, manipulative challenges for the amusement of an unseen host. It is Bower’s first comedy. The production runs April 9-11 and April 16-18 at 7:30 p.m., alongside two of his other plays, The Wait and Gerkie and John-John. 

Although this marks Bower’s first official collaboration with Palm Beach State College, he previously worked with theater department chair David Hyland. The two reconnected after Bower returned to South Florida last summer following 15 years in Los Angeles. 

“I always tell people, when it comes to the arts, anyone can be your next co-collaborator, anyone can be your next boss,” Bower said. “That’s how I approach all my theatrical work. It’s a collaborative process.” 

Bower holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a Master of Fine Arts in theater. In South Florida, he has performed at Dramaworks, Mosaic Theatre and Promethean Theatre, and served as artistic director of Rude Mechanical Productions for five years. He was also a founding faculty member and theater department chair at G-Star School of the Arts. 

Over more than a decade in Los Angeles, Bower worked in film, television, web series, podcasts, audiobooks and improv and sketch comedy. That experience has shaped his work with the PBSC theatre students bringing his plays to life. He has attended rehearsals and offered guidance as students develop their interpretations.  

Hyland said working with Bower gives students a unique opportunity to collaborate directly with a playwright. 

“I hope students take away the realization that bringing a playwright’s words to life is an important responsibility of the actors and that it is a privilege,” Hyland said. “I also hope they realize that their work has benefited the playwright as well. Theatre is a collaborative art form, and our students are getting to experience that in its full form.” 

Chassidy Simpson, a second-year student who plays Blaze in The $ Hitshow, said she is grateful for Hyland’s support and Bower’s guidance throughout rehearsals. She said Bower’s insights have helped her better understand her character and dig deeper into the material.  

“I've learned a lot about acting because people think, ‘All I have to do is memorize the lines and say them,’ but you really do have to become the character,” Simpson said. “When we first started rehearsing, it was a very slow process, and I couldn’t envision what the final product would be. Now that we’re at a place where it’s ready to be performed, it’s very rewarding to see that it’s all come to fruition.” 

Visit the Duncan Theatre ticket page to purchase tickets.