Actors, artists, directors, filmmakers and events in the news March 22-31, 2022

Grouped under headings that include art openings, film, outdoor art fairs and festivals and theater are advances, announcements and articles about the actors, artists, filmmakers and events making news in Southwest Florida this week:

1      ACTORS (alphabetically)

Emilie Baartman part of the ‘Head over Heel’s ensemble at New Phoenix

Emilie Baartman will next appear in the ensemble of Head over Heels the Musical for New Phoenix Theatre. The actor/singer/dancer’s stage credits include flight attendant Gloria in Boeing Boeing for The Naples Players, Macbeth: The Murder Mystery for the CFABS Players, Pam Lukowski in The Full Monty (New Phoenix Theatre, 2020), Heather in Getting Sarah Married (Mighty Corson Art Players, Brandon, South Carolina 2019) and Emily in Twas the Night Before Christmas (Mighty Corson Art Players, Brandon, South Dakota 2018). Go here to view here extensive stage and other credits.

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Robert Barner appears in role of Gary Coleman in Lab’s ‘Avenue Q’

Robert Barner appears in the role of Gary Coleman in Avenue Q. Broke and the butt of everyone’s jokes, Different Strokes Gary Coleman bemoans being a superintendent on Avenue Q, but Barner’s is one of the performances you’ll most remember when all is said and done. He last appeared as Adrian/Boatswain for Lab Theater in Shakespeare’s magical play, The Tempest, after making his theatrical debut as Mister in the Southwest Florida premiere of Marsha Norman’s The Color Purple.

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Gerrie Benzing plays Lee in ‘Tale of the Allergist’s Wife’

Gerrie Benzing is a local stage and film actor, director, musical theatre instructor and the owner and creative director of Monologues4kids.com. She has graced numerous stages throughout Southwest Florida. She plays the part of Lee for New Phoenix Theatre in Charles Busch’s The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife. She recently starred as Jinx in The Naples Players’ production of The Savannah Sipping Society after making her TNP debut in 2021 in the role of Rule in Calendar Girls.

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Gregg Birr delivers the goods for Studio Players in ‘Barefoot in the Park’

Gregg Birr appears in the role of delivery man for The Studio Players in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. Previous stage credits include The Same Time Next Year, An Evening of Ten Minute Plays, Emotional Baggage and High Noon in Boom and How They Talk in South Boston. He has been a frequent participant in The Marco Players Reader’s Theater, including Words, Words, Words, Silver Alert, What the Dickens, Buford and Leroy, Biff and Blanche, The Story of a Very Good Catch, and Matterhorn and the Wedding Story.

For more on Gregg, please read here.

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Steven Coe plays the rakish Vicomte de Valmont in Lab’s ‘Dangerous Liaisons’

Steven next appears as the impudent, bitingly witty rake Vicomte de Valmont in Lab Theater’s production of Dangerous Liaisons. His evolving body of work includes Chris in Killer Joe, Jim Fingal in Lifespan of a Fact for Players Circle Theatre, Joe Gillis in Lab Theater’s summer spoof Sunset Schmoulevard, Sandro Botticelli in the regional premiere of Jordan Tannahill’s Botticelli in the Fire, John Proctor in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Thomas Novachek in David Ives’ Venus in Fur for The Studio Players, Andri in Andorra, The Boy in Veronica’s Room, and Doug in Neil LaBute’s The Way We Get By. But there’s so much more. Go here to view Coe’s extensive theatrical credits.

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Amanda Collins is Bad Idea 1 in Lab’s ‘Avenue Q’

Amanda Collins is an aspiring young actor. She plays Bad Idea 1 for Lab Theater in Avenue Q. Her stage credits include Stephanie in The Tempest and Allie/Lizzie in Let Nothing You Dismay for Lab Theater as well as shows for Florida Repertory Theater, Lehigh Senior High and Fort Myers Theater. She is currently studying theater at Florida Gulf Coast University.

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Rosie DeLeon plays Corie Bratter for Studio Players in ‘Barefoot in the Park’

Rosie DeLeon plays Corie Bratter for The Studio Players in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. DeLeon has appeared often on the boards at various Lee County venues. Her credits include the role of P.B. in One Slight Hitch and Lauren in Circle Mirror Transformation for The Studio Players, Officer Pudney in Neil Simon’s Rumors for New Phoenix Theatre, Linda Johnson in Lab Theater’s production of Deborah Lake Fortson’s Body & Sold, Feste in Lab’s production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Elaine in Calendar Girls.

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Carolyn England plays foul-mouthed, anal-retentive Frieda in ‘Tale of the Allergist’s Wife’

Carolyn England appears in the role of foul-mouthed, anal-retentive Frieda in New Phoenix Theatre’s production of Charles Busch’s The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife. Carolyn’s previous stage credits include Dorothy Tree Hapgood in Daniel Sullivan’s Inspecting Carol (also for New Phoenix Theatre), Rose in Engagement Rules and Lucy Stickler (the long-suffering wife of a septuagenarian with a roving eye) in Murderers, both for Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts.

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Karen Ezrine plays the mother of the bride in ‘Barefoot in the Park’

Karen Ezrine appears in the role of Corie Bratter’s mother for The Studio Players in their production of Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. Karen’s previous credits include Savannah Disputation at The Studio Players; Clean House, Readers Theater and Always a Bridesmaid at The Naples Players; and  Steel Magnolias, 2 Across, Come Blow Your Horn and Heaven Help Me at The Marco Players.

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Ruthgena Faraco plays Kate Monster in ‘Avenue Q’

Ruthgena Faraco plays Kate Monster for Lab Theater in Avenue Q. She just portrayed Topsy Washington in The Colored Museum at the Alliance for the Arts and Celie in The Color Purple. Some of Ruthgena’s other stage credits include Mary Warren in Lab Theater’s production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, and Molly Cunningham in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (for Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance). Go here to see everything Ms. Faraco has done.

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Giszelle Girton appears as Penny in ‘When We Were Young and Unafraid’

Giszelle Kirton appears in the role of Penny in The Naples Players’ production of Sarah Treem’s When We Were Young and Unafraid. Her character is a defiant 16-year-old who, like many teenage girls, finds herself at odds with her socially-obtuse mother. As card-carrying member of the nerd clique bound for Yale, she has no purported interest in boys until a physically-abused woman by the name of Mary Anne takes refuge at the B&B Penny’s mom runs. Kirton plays the part with convincing edginess, and her transformation into a boy-crazed teen intent on snaring the high school football star is a wonder to behold.

Go here for the rest of Girton’s theatrical credits.

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Shelley Gothard plays Hannah in ‘When We Were Young and Unafraid‘

Shelley Gothard lays Hannah in When We Were Young and Unafraid, on stage in the Tobye Studio Theater at The Naples Players March 30 through April 24th. Shelley Gothard has been involved in many productions at The Naples Players and other local theaters. She was last seen as Mrs. Marchmont in TNP’s production of An Ideal Husband and in the Ensemble of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.

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Amy Hughes plays Mary Anne in ‘When We Were Young and Unafraid

Amy Hughes appears in the role of Mary Anne in The Naples Players’ production of Sarah Treem’s When We Were Young and Unafraid, which comes to the Tobye Studio Theatre at The Naples Players March 30 through April 26. Previous credits at TNP include Chicago, Legally Blonde and Music Man. However, this is her first show back after becoming a mother.

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Ken Johnson plays Rod for Lab Theater in ‘Avenue Q’

Ken Johnson plays Rod for Lab Theater in Avenue Q. His local acting credits include the happy hunchback Igor in Young Frankenstein for New Phoenix Theatre, Jerry Lukowski in The Full Monty for New Phoenix Theatre, editor Richard Ehrlich in Time Stands Still, Milford, Ivan and Oscar Saperstein in Topher Payne’s Let Nothing You Dismay, a high-spirited Cagelle in La Cage aux Folles for New Phoenix Theatre, Pastor Greg in Hand to God, Earl “Brother Boy” Ingram in Sordid Lives for Lab Theater and Noli Timeri (Don’t Be Afraid) for Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance. For more, go here.

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Steven Michael Kennedy is Princeton in ‘Avenue Q’

Steven Michael Kennedy is a Cape Coral actor whose acting credits include Leonardo da Vinci in Botticelli in the Fire, Grumpy Old Men for Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, the role of Dan Anderson in the first U.S. licensed production of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man and Elvis-impersonator-turned-drag-queen, Casey, in The Legend of Georgia McBride. He appears in the role of Princeton in Avenue Q for Lab Theater. Go here to view the rest of Kennedy’s theatrical credits.

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Gabrielle Lansden plays Lucy for Lab Theater in ‘Avenue Q’

Gabrielle Lansden plays the part of Lucy in Avenue Q for Lab Theater. Her acting credits include Janet Weiss in New Phoenix Theatre’s production of Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show, Tina from Trilla in Ghostbird Theatre Company’s production of Barry Cavin’s Boxes Are for What We Keep, and three shows under Stuart Brown’s direction at Florida SouthWestern State College, Paragon Springs, Sonnets for an Old Century and She Kills Monsters (in which she played Agnes Evans, the lead). Please go here for more on this rising star.

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John Matusicky plays the part of Ira Taub in ‘Tale of the Allergist’s Wife’

John Matusicky makes his theatrical debut in New Phoenix Theatre’s production of The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife. He plays Ira Taub, an upstanding Manhattan physician whose wife is grappling with clinical depression and a breakdown that played out publicly in a Fifth Avenue toy store. But his near-saintly patience is put to an even greater test when Marjorie plays host to a childhood friend who leads the life that Marjorie always wished had been hers. John’s background includes radio, work as a sales and management training facilitator for a large retail jewelry company and, most recently, auctioneer for his own auction business.

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Sonya McCarter plays Marquise de Merteuil for Lab in ‘Dangerous Liaisons’

Sonya McCarter will appear in the role of master manipulator Marquise de Merteuil for Lab Theater in Dangerous Liaisons. McCarter’s acting credits include Confusions (which consisted of three one-act plays, The Still Alarm by George S. Kauffman and Alan Ayckbourn’s Between Mouthfuls and A Talk in the Park), Camae in Katori Hall’s Mountaintop, Louise Parker Neese in Steven Dietz’s Rancho Mirage, Corryn Fell in Gideon’s Knot, Ntozake Shange’s choreopoem For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, and as a grieving mother in the virtual presentation of For Black Women Who Experienced Genocide When The Police Murders of Their Sons Was Too Much by Keith A. Wallace for The Best Seats in Your House. Please go here to see all of McCarter’s theatrical credits.

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Aimee Naughton part of ‘Head Over Heels’ ensemble

Aimee Naughton appears for New Phoenix Theatre in the ensemble of Head over Heels the Musical. Her previous stage credits include the roles of Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Sister Mary Amnesia in both Nunsense and Nunsense II for Cultural Park Theater. Aimee holds a Bachelor of Music Education (BME) from Florida State University.

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Paulette Oliva plays the part of Agnes in ‘When We Were Young and Unafraid’

Paulette Oliva plays the part of Agnes for The Naples Players in Sarah Treem’s When We Were Young and Unafraid. Oliva has performed Off-Broadway and at numerous regional theaters. Some of her favorite shows and roles include Gypsy/Mama Rose, Sister Act/Mother Superior, Master Class/Maria Callas, Carrie/Mother, The King and I/Anna, Sweeney Todd/Mrs. Lovett, and the East Coast regional premiere of Next to Normal/Diana. The rest of her bio is here.

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Samantha Pudlin in ‘Head Over Heels’ ensemble

Samantha Pudlin  is a resident Southwest Florida thespian. She is appearing in the ensemble of Head Over Heels for New Phoenix Theatre. Pudlin’s recent stage credits include the roles of the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, all for Cultural Park Theatre. Her other credits include playing a social worker and mom in Body and Sold at Laboratory Theater, Nurse Kelly in Harvey, Protean in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, a dancer and member of the ensemble in Sweet Charity and Boylan Sister and a member of the ensemble in Annie, all for CPT. Samantha also appeared in the ensemble at Florida Repertory Theatre in 13: A New Musical.

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Cassie Sampson plays Queen Gynecia in ‘Head over Heels The Musical’

Cassie Sampson appears next in the role of Queen Gynecia for New Phoenix Theatre in Heed over Heels the Musical. Sampson has been involved in over 20 productions at Cultural Park Theater, both on and off stage, since making her CPT debut in Godspell in 1996. Her credits include Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense 2: The Second Coming, Leann in A Piece of My Heart, Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors, Gwendolyn Fairfax in The Importance of Being Earnest, Becky Two Shoes in Urinetown, Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense, Chelsea in On Golden Pond, Annas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Red in Into the Woods and Chiffon in CPT’s 2004 production of Little Shop of Horrors. Go here to view the rest of Cassie’s stage and other credits.

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Bernardo Santana plays Paul in TNP’s ‘When We Were Young and Unafraid’

Bernardo Santana appears in the role of Paul in Sarah Treem’s When We Were Young and Unafraid, which runs from March 30 through April 24 in the Tobye Studio. A Naples-based SAG-AFTRA actor, Bernardo’s local stage credits include Bernard in Boeing Boeing, Principal Harry Clark in Footloose, Eddie Brock in Born Yesterday, Peter Shaw in Silent Sky, George Wilson in The Great Gatsby, Eddie Kurnitz in Lost in Yonkers, Don Harper in Rapture Blister Burn and Phil in Dead Account, all for The Naples Players. Go here to see the rest of his stage and film credits.

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Stacy Stauffer plays Marjorie Taub in ‘Tale of the Allergist’s Wife’

Stacy Stauffer is a talented character actor who lives and performs in Fort Myers. Stacy appears for New Phoenix Theater in the role of Marjorie Taub in Charles Busch’s The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife. Her credits include Hall in Men on Boats for the Alliance for the Arts, Sarah Goodwin in New Phoenix Theatre’s production of Time Stands Still, Sheila in Joe Simonelli’s The Ghost in the Meadow (Cultural Park Theatre) and various roles including the mayor in Lab Theater’s world premiere production of Zalman Velvel’s DMV. Go here for more on Stacy’s theatrical accomplishments. 

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John Strealy plays Paul Bratter in ‘Barefoot in the Park’

John Strealy will appear next in the role of Paul Bratter in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. His other stage credits include the role of Ryan for The Studio Players in Lewis Black’s One Slight Hitch, Wayne Wellcare in Inspecting Carol for New Phoenix Theatre, klepto-director Sir Frank Finger in It’s Only a Play, Jason Shelburne in Body & Sold and Malvolio in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for Lab Theater. Go here for more on John’s theatrical credits.

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Cassy Terwilliger in ‘Head Over Heels’ ensemble

Cassy Terwilliger is in the Head Over Heels ensemble. The role marks her New Phoenix Theatre debut. Terwilliger has been active at Cultural Park Theater as both a performer and musical director for the last four years. Some of her most recent notable roles include Mary Sunshine in Chicago, Diana in Lend Me a Tenor, Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown, Sister Mary Regina in Nunsense and Nunsense 2: The Second Coming, and Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

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Jay Terzis in cast of ‘Barefoot in the Park’

Jay Terzis appears next in The Studio Players’ production of Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. Nominated by Broadway World as Southwest Florida Performer of the Decade, Jay has performed with The Naples Players, The Studio Players, The Marco Players the Island Theater Group and the CFABS Community Players. He has studied drama with Diane Davis in Naples. In New York City, he has studied drama at the Sedgwick Russell Studio and appeared in a number of Off Broadway readings. Go here to see his most recent stage credits.

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Madelaine Weymouth in the role of Jen in ‘The Cake’

Madelaine Weymouth plays the part of Jen in Theatre Conspiracy’s production of The Cake with an open, raw, heart-on-her-sleeve vulnerability that endears her to the audience from the start. “Jen takes a lot of hits emotionally in this show,” Weymouth concedes. “She is trying to serve as this mediator or diplomat of viewpoints, a go-between with Della and her and Maci, with her trying to play mediator from both sides. The reward that she gets for that for a significant amount of the play is rejection.” Weymouth has extensive stage and other theater credits, which you can view here.

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David Whalley is the idiosyncratic attic dweller in ‘Barefoot in the Park’

David Whalley plays the idiosyncratic upstairs neighbor Velasco in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. And he plays the part with panache and savoir faire. His previous Studio Players’ credits include The Cocktail Hour and Bakersfield Mist. His most recent appearance was as Caversham in An Ideal Husband for The Naples Players, with whom he has also appeared in Shakespearean productions on the Baker Stage, and as Pickering in My Fair Lady. His career in theater follows 40 years practicing medicine.

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2     DIRECTORS

Scott Carpenter directs ‘Head over Heels the Musical’ for New Phoenix

Scott Carpenter directs Head over Hees, the jukebox musical based on the Go-Gos’ songbook, that’s coming to New Phoenix Theatre April 7th through May 1. Scott has directed numerous productions, including the Florida premiere of the spoof Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody,  Rumors, Same Time, Next Year, Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical, South Pacific, Mame, and Steel Magnolias. He is also a consummate actor. Go here to view all of Scott’s theatrical and other credits.

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Paula Keenan directs Neil Simon’s ‘Barefoot in the Park’

Studio Players’ Paula Keenan directs Barefoot in the Park. It is the fourth of Neil Simon’s plays that she’s had the pleasure of directing. This is also the seventh show Paula has directed for The Studio Players, having previously directed The Waverly Gallery, One Slight Hitch, The Cocktail Hour, Bakersfield Mist, Agnes of God and Over the River and Through the Woods.  She also directs for The Marco Players, where she just directed and acted in The Hallelujah Girls.

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3     ARTISTS

For Elise Gold Sewall, ‘Transparency and Reflection’ is all about color and shadow

Bookended by flowers from Berlin and New Jersey, Elise Gold Sewall enjoyed the opening of her first solo show at the Alliance for the Arts on March 4. Transparency and Reflection consists of a collection of still life oils-on-linen so colorful and luminous that it instantaneously brightens your spirit and calms your frayed nerves.

Still Life painting marks a relatively new adventure for Sewall, who once travelled widely as a high-end jewelry designer. Where she once bounced between New York, Rome and Hong Kong creating pieces for the likes of Harry Winston and Zales, nowadays she’s ensconced in scripted scenes featuring ordinary objects from her kitchen, dining room and the Alliance GreenMarket, like cake plates, turquoise bowls, flowers and a wide assortment of fresh fruit ranging from cherries (black and red) to lemons and mouth-watering orange slices. In fact, her treatment of color and texture is so adroit that you’d swear you can smell the fragrance of citrus the moment you enter the cozy confines of the Foulds Theatre gallery.

The rest of this post is here.

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4    ART SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS

All Florida Exhibition engages viewers in dialogue about world in which we live

The Alliance for the Arts’ annual All Florida juried exhibition is one of Southwest Florida’s most anticipated art shows of the year. This year’s iteration contains 62 pieces in a variety of mediums representing some of Florida’s finest contemporary artists.

Admission into the show is far from automatic. This year, the Alliance received 600 submissions. The show’s juror, Dr. K.C. Williams, winnowed that field to the five dozen works of art that are currently on display in the Alliance’s main gallery.

Go here for the full story.

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A look at All Florida Exhibition Best in Show ‘Into the Maze’

Of the 62 pieces selected from the 600 submissions received by the Alliance for the Arts’ for the 36th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibition, German/American fine art photographer Hilda Champion’s image Into the Maze was chosen as Best in Show. The juror, Dr. K.C. Williams, selected this piece because of its composition. “The gorgeous composition and the use of color photography with a stark field of water,” was instrumental in Dr. Williams’ estimation. The full review is here.

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‘Obsessive Ruminations’ proves that thoughts are things

Obsessive Ruminations is on view in the grand atrium of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center now through March 25.

The exhibition ties together the works of Alvaro Labanino and Miguel Saludes. The artists were brought together by bonds of friendship and comradery that date back to their adolescence, when they first met. Their link is bolstered by a common passion for the medium of painting which they both practice, as well as an appreciation for its rich history. But perhaps their mutual understanding of how daily introspection ultimately affects and defines their life and work is what unites them most.

Go here to read more.

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DAAS’ March show simultaneously features two guest exhibitions

In the month of March, DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is showcasing two guest exhibitions simultaneously. The first is the art of visually-impaired artist Arnold Plasencia, who brings awareness through his art to Stargardts, the rare degenerative condition with which he struggles. The second is a group show of work in a variety of mediums produced by members of the Lee Art Education Association (LAEA) is composed of art teachers from private and public institutions in Lee County.

The dual opening reception is scheduled for 6:00-10:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2022 in conjunction with Fort Myers Art Walk.

Arnold Plasencia’s condition began in childhood, but it went misdiagnosed for several years.

“The [Stargardts] disease is a form of macular degeneration which causes cells in the macula to die off causing loss of central vision and in some cases, like in mine, color blindness,” Plasencia explains. “Due to the lack of good medical insurance, I was never properly diagnosed until three years ago, at the age of 35. By that point, my vision loss acuity was 20/500 and I had lost full central vision and most color.”

Plasencia was declared permanently disabled. He struggled with the diagnosis. But with the help and support of loved ones, Plasencia started using art as a way to cope with his depressive state of mind. The first piece painted after his diagnosis was a portrait of his recently passed grandmother.

“A dear friend told me to not focus on what I could no longer do, but rather focus on what I could still do, and to simply change the way I did things. Those words resonated with me.”

For this exhibition, Plasencia is focused on his life while living with Stargardts disease. His intention is to portray an artistic view of how he sees the world. He hopes to inspire everyone with this collection, especially those with any form of disability.

“I want [people] to realize that our disabilities are not death sentences. The human body is amazing and the way it adapts is nothing less than incredible. We can do amazing things despite our disabilities.”

LAEA celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021. Its talented member artists and educators are excited to share some of their personal and professional artworks with the community. A wide variety of mediums and subject matters will be represented in this show, but the common theme will be the love and passion of educating and inspiring our local youth to take pride in the arts.

Two of the members participating in the show are art educators Scott Guelcher and Angel Elza. Guelcher has been teacher for 15 years and spent his last 12 years as the 2D art teacher and Art Department Head at Island Coast High School. Elza has also been teaching elementary art at River Hall Elementary in Alva since 2019 and is very passionate about spreading her love of art to her over one thousand students there. Since moving to Southwest Florida in 2014, her artwork has been on display in several shows at Howl Gallery and the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.

The exhibition will be on display through March 27.

DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is located at 1815 Fowler Street, in the Butterfly Estates complex in Fort Myers, FL.

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DAAS’ April show features the art of Whitney Hackett

DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is showcasing the art of visual artist and local business owner Whitney Hackett during the month of April.

Hackett’s paintings are full of vibrancy, with a vintage feel. She explores memory and nostalgia through her body of dreamy and celebratory paintings. Her innocent appreciation for everyday life encourages a childlike playfulness in her work. Through the enshrinement of simple things, she elevates the ordinary to extraordinary. The juxtaposition of her imagery speaks to the interconnectedness of all life, the way we assign meaning to the material world, and the honoring of our existence.

Whitney grew up in Fort Myers, where she currently lives and works as an artist. She is currently the owner of Quartz and Clover, an eclectic store in the heart of downtown.

The opening reception is scheduled for Friday, April 1, 2022, from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. in conjunction with Fort Myers Art Walk. The artist will be in attendance and is eager to engage viewers about her art and their own memories.

The exhibition will be on display through Sunday, May 1, 2022.

DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is located at 1815 Fowler Street, in the Butterfly Estates complex in Fort Myers, FL. The gallery’s business hours are 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. More information about the venue can be found at daascoop.com or by calling 239-590-8645.

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5    THEATER

‘The Cake’ gives theater-goers a lot to sink their teeth into

Playwright Bekah Brunstetter’s poignant comedy The Cake recently completed and extended run at The Naples Players. Now it’s Fort Myers’ chance to see what the fuss is all about. As you’ll happily discover, there’s a lot in this play for theater-goers to sink their teeth into.

Bekah Brunstetter drew her inspiration for The Cake from a 2012 court case that originated in Lakewood, Colorado when Masterpiece Cakeshop baker Jack Phillips refused to bake a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple because it “expressed messages that contradict his religious beliefs.” Brunstetter’s play neither recreates nor parodies the facts or people involved in that case. Rather, Brunstetter uses this premise to delineate the price that’s paid on both sides when love is sacrificed on the altar of religious principle.

At the center of the story is an amiable North Carolina baker named Della and her best friend’s daughter, Jen, who lives in New York City.

Read the rest of this review here.

OR listen to the review of WGCU.

And go here for remaining play dates, times and ticket information.

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‘Escape to Margaritaville’ plays on Broadway Palm main stage through April 2

Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville opens on the Broadway Palm main stage on February 18.

Here’s the storyline: Rachel takes best friend Tammy on a bachelorette getaway to Marley’s less than stellar Margaritaville resort, their arrival unexpectedly upending the world of bar headliner Tully and best friend Brick who are used to wining and dining the revolving door of single women arriving on the island each week. It’s a classic case of boy meets girl, girl is unimpressed, and boy does everything he can to win her over, while their two best friends fall for each other. And it’s all told through the music of Jimmy Buffett including Cheeseburger in Paradise, Fins, Volcano, Margaritaville and more.

Escape to Margaritaville plays through April 2. More than a musical, it’s a way of life.

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‘Greater Tuna’ plays in the Off Broadway Palm through April 30

Greater Tuna began as a simple party skit based on a cartoon in Austin, Texas. By 1985, it became the most produced play in the United States, finding an instant audience coast to coast.  A successful New York run led to an HBO special produced by Norman Lear.  And through the end of April, the Off Broadway Palm brings the laugh-a-minute comedy to Southwest Florida.

Greater Tuna is a comic satire that the Washington Post calls “a [hilarious] tribute to the art of acting.” Just two actors portray 20 men and women (and a dog) in a tour de farce of quick-change artistry during which they treat audiences to all the glorious quirks, foibles, and downright insanities of the citizens of the fictional South Texas town Tuna.

Directing Greater Tuna is Off Broadway Palm’s artistic producer, Paul Bernier. Portraying the over 20 roles will be Michael Santora and Michael Weaver, who will have many quick costume changes, use inventive voice work, and pull off some very creative timing.

Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees.

Ticket prices range from $45 to $65, with discounts available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, visiting BroadwayPalm.com or in person at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

So, if you’re looking for Texas-size laughs, join the Off Broadway Palm for Greater Tuna.

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Laugh-out-loud musical ‘Avenue Q’ makes SWFL premiere at Lab Theater

The Southwest Florida premiere of Avenue Q by Jeff Whitty, Robert Lopez, and Jeff Marx opens at The Laboratory Theater of Florida on February 25. Winner of the 2004 “Triple Crown” of Tonys for Best Book, Best Score, and Best Musical and featuring puppets and human actors, this is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the story of recent college graduate Princeton as he struggles to find his purpose. Though inspired by Sesame Street, these are R-Rated puppets with warnings for adult language and situations. The rest of this advance can be found here.

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‘Avenue Q’ on WGCU

More than 20 million people quit their jobs in the last half of 2021 leading to chronic supply chain problems and long wait times at local eateries. Whether you call it The Great Resignation or The Big Quit, it has economists and sociologists scratching their heads to understand why. But there’s a fun-loving group of puppets and their human counterparts on Avenue Q at Lab Theater that just may have an explanation for your COVID blues. Here’s the link.

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‘Tale of Allergist’s Wife’ a sassy, sophisticated metropolitan comedy

Up next at New Phoenix Theatre is The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, which had a 777-performance run on Broadway following its opening on November 2, 2000. Since then, the show has played around the country and now it plays locally, opening at New Phoenix Theatre on March 10 for twelve performances.

The rest of this advance is here.

Go here for play dates, times and ticket information.

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Using Go-Gos songbook, ‘Head over Heels’ musical preaches unconditional love

The jukebox musical Head over Heels opens at New Phoenix Theatre on April 7^th. Featuring the songs of The Go-Go’s and a storyline adapted from Philip Sidney’s 16^th century romance The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia, Head Over Heels preaches unconditional love and acceptance of yourself and everyone you know, no matter their gender or sexual identity. With a plot promising a usurped kingship, unlikely lovers, and gender-fluid disguises, Head Over Heels uses some of the greatest pop rock hits of the late 20th century to create a hilarious, exuberant celebration of love. Go here for the rest of this advance.

And you will find the show’s play dates, times and ticket information here.

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Studio Players’ ‘Barefoot in the Park’ at Golden Gate Community Center March 18-April 10

The Studio Players’ production of Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park is on the Joan Jenks stage at Golden Gage Community Center now through April 10. The play follows newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter as they begin their life together in their new apartment in Manhattan. It may be small and a six-flight climb, the heating may be busted and snow may be falling through the skylight, but nothing can quash their newlywed bliss …. until free-spirited Corie decides to set up her conservative, widowed mother with their eccentric, bohemian attic-dwelling neighbor. As the foursome ventures to Staten Island for a night out, the young couple learns accepting and embracing their differences is no walk in the park. Go here for play dates, times and ticket information.

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Heart of 60s-era ‘Barefoot in the Park,’ says Director Paula Keenan, is timeless

On stage in the Joan Jenks Auditorium at Golden Gate Community Center through April 10 is The Studio Players’ production of Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. Neil Simon was the Grand Master of American Comedy, says Studio Players’ Paula Keenan in her Director’s Notes for Barefoot in the Park, which is the fourth of his plays that she’s had the pleasure of directing. You can read the full story here.

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Mary Poppins takes flight at TNP in March – for real

The Naples Players is performing Mary Poppins March 2 through April 3. In this production, everyone’s favorite nanny really does fly!

To accomplish the feat safely, TNP is working closely with ZFX, a complete provider for all flying effects. But flying two volunteer actors 20 feet in the air is certainly a tall order, and there will be two to three trained staff manning the flight process to ensure that the actors are safe.

Still, TNP’s Director of Production, Trevor Long, says the responsibility is mentally taxing.  “You’re constantly thinking, ‘I know I checked it but …. I better do it again,’ and you’re more aware of everything than with a normal backstage responsibility. [Technical Director] Chase [Lilienthal] will be intimately involved with the installation and rehearsals.”

The balance of this advance is here.

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Sarah Treem’s ‘Young and Unafraid’ examines life before Roe v. Wade

When We Were Young and Unafraid is in the Tobye Studio Theater from March 30 through April 24.

Sponsored by Terry Libby and Larry Siegel, the story, set in the 1970s, examines the harsh realities of life before Roe v. Wade, before the Violence Against Women Act, and before women had places to turn in times of distress. Smart and exciting, it will leave you on the edge of your seat with a renewed appreciation of a woman’s rights.

Sarah Treem (writer of the edge-of-your-seat Netflix series House of Cards) created this powerful play about an unassuming, cozy bed and breakfast that moonlights as a battered women’s shelter.

The rest of this advance is here.

Go here for play dates, times and other info.

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‘When We Were Young and Unafraid’ most consequential SWFL play this season

When We Were Young and Unafraid opens on March 30^th Tobye Studio Theatre in Naples. It is perhaps the most significant play to be produced anywhere in Southwest Florida during the 2021-2022 season.

What makes Young and Unafraid so consequential is the light it shines on the tremendous strides we’ve made in the level and quality of care and support we now provide to survivors of domestic violence. House of Cards writer Sarah Treem does this by taking us 50 years back in time to a bed and breakfast in the Pacific Northwest that doubles as a safe house for women fleeing domestic violence. It is run by a woman named Agnes with the help of her 16-year-old daughter, Penny.

Go here for the rest of this review.