After 35 years of theatergoing, Ruth Richter and Florence Levine are still putting on their fancy duds and heading out for entertainment.

But instead of going to Shubert Alley or Lincoln Center in Manhattan, N.Y., these lifelong friends and their husbands meet often at the new Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in downtown West Palm Beach.

This week they took in the first show of the popular Adults At Leisure Series at the new center. The series, which is sold out, features five diverse offerings for $40 per person — a mere $8 per show.

“We bought tickets as soon as we received the brochure in the mail,” said Richter, of Delray Beach. “We love show biz.”

The reasonably priced afternoon series has been such a hit that the initial series was expanded to three to keep up with the demand. Many people at the first performance noted that the tickets cost just a few dollars more than movie tickets.

“The series has sold like hot cakes. We had 6,600 requests for 2,200 seats,” said Kravis Center spokesman Frank Keel. “We immediately set about adding two new series. We are thrilled and delighted with our biggest selling event.”

The first show of the five this week was Ethel Merman’s Broadway starring singer/actress Rita McKenzie, who belted out Merman’s Broadway and movie hits.

The audience members said they enjoyed humming along to songs from Gypsy, Anything Goes and Annie Get Your Gun.

Subsequent shows are the American Ballroom Theater, pianist Jose Feghali, famed soprano Roberta Peters and the Frula Dance Company’s gypsy dancers.

Richter said they bought the series because it was a steal. “This appealed to me. The price was right and the time was right.”

The friends used to organize monthly theater parties from Little Neck, a neighborhood in Queens, N.Y., to Manhattan. They had lunch or dinner in the theater district and saw Cats, Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden and other Broadway shows.

Three years ago, after life in South Florida as snowbirds, they became permanent residents and began seeking out entertainment in Broward and Dade counties.

Now, they said they have the culture they crave in their own back yard.

While they were at the theater, they looked around at the snack and drink offerings, the valet parking, parking garage and the box office.

Many patrons were disappointed to discover many shows are sold out, including Dionne Warwick & Burt Bacharach, Ella Fitzgerald and Julio Iglesias. They said they plan to mail in their orders early for the spring shows.

An announcement of a similar spring Adults At Leisure series and the rest of the spring season will be announced in early November, Keel said.

Doris Smith of Wellington bought a cup of coffee for her husband, Leonard, during intermission. She bought a flute of champagne for herself. Smith said she does not drive at night, so the afternoon series is ideal.

“The price is terrific; it’s very reasonable,” Smith said.

Richter and her friend Levine will be ready to buy the spring series as soon as it goes on sale because they are pleased with the current one.

“It gives us seniors a break in the price,” Levine said.

KRAVIS CENTER TIDBITS

— ADDRESS: 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in downtown West Palm Beach.

— PARKING: Garage parking is free because a surcharge is added to each ticket.

Valet parking on the west side of the theater is $5.

— SNACKS: Coffee and tea $1.50, espresso $2.50, soft drinks $2, sparkling cider $2.25, juices $2.25, mints $2, fancy chocolates $2.50, sparkling water $2.25, imported beer $3.75, domestic beer $3.50, cognac and brandy $5.75, mixed drinks $5.25, Grandon Champagne $5 and Mumm Champagne $9.

— BOX OFFICE: 832-7469 (832-SHOW). Located on the west side of the complex. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

— SOLD OUT: Both shows on Nov. 29 of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Jan. 3 show of Twyla Tharp and Mikhail Baryshnikov (additional shows may be added), Nov. 24 and 25 shows of Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach, Jan. 14 and 15 shows of Julio Iglesias, Dec. 6 Boston Pops, Dec. 2 Ella Fitzgerald, Dec. 1 Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Nov. 27 Shanghai Acrobats, Dec. 16 A Christmas Carol and all three Adults At Leisure Series. The Leontyne Price concert on Nov. 20 has about 200 seats remaining.

— NEXT OFFERINGS: The next program brochure is due out the second week of November. It includes the premiere season from Jan. 3 to May.

— WHAT’S NEARBY: Several restaurants in the town of Palm Beach, area Palm Beach hotels like The Breakers, The Ritz Carlton and the Ocean Grand.

— DIRECTIONS: From the south, take Interstate 95 north to the Okeechobee east exit. Head east, and the Kravis Center will be on the left. The parking garage is on the northwest corner beyond the main theater building.

— OVERALL INFORMATION: 407-833-8300.