Spotlight on the Center for Performing Arts of Bonita Springs

On this page you will find announcements, releases, articles and reviews of events sponsored by and taking place at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs.

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Three more films left in CFABS Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers series (10-29-15)

The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs (CFABS) presents Imba Means Sing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. The film is the third in the six-part Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers series. Each screening includes the opportunity to participate in fascinating and rewarding post-screening discussions with the filmmaker, discover each film’s unique details, inspiration, meaning and challenges, and enjoy complimentary light refreshments.

Upcoming films and discussions include:

• Tuesday, February 16: “Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning,” a documentary which explores, through her granddaughter’s eyes, the life of acclaimed photographer Dorothea Lange, who captured the iconic image “Migrant Mother” that personified the Great Depression. Discussion with Director/Writer Dyanna Taylor follows the film.
• Tuesday, March 8: “American Made Movie,” a documentary that looks back on the glory days of manufacturing in the United States, when there was a more balanced relationship between the goods produced and those consumed, and illustrates how technology and globalization have changed the competitive landscape for companies doing business in America and overseas. Discussion with Director/Producer Vincent Vittorio & Assistant Director Christopher Harvey follows the film.
• Tuesday, April 12: “Althea” tells the inspiring story of Althea Gibson, who grew up as a truant on the rough streets of Harlem but emerged as a most unlikely queen of the highly segregated tennis world of the 1950s. She became the first African-American to play and win at Wimbledon and Forest Hills, a decade before Arthur Ashe, only to be shunned by the tennis establishment. Discussion with Director/Cinematographer Rex Miller follows the film.

“The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers (SCTIF) is an exciting opportunity for residents and visitors of Bonita Springs to see a great independent documentary and to meet and ask questions of the filmmaker, enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the subject,” says Tom Falciglia, Chairman of the CFABS’ Films for Film Lovers Series.

The Center for the Arts Bonita Springs is just one of 18 SCTIF venues. The six SCTIF films showing at the Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs this year are all documentaries and provide glimpse into lives of the famous and not-so-famous, share stories that have historical significance and intrigue, and celebrate different cultures and diversity. The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is a program of South Arts. Southern Circuit Screenings are funded in part through a sponsorship with the National Endowment for the Arts. All screenings start at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers screenings and discussions are $15.

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More on CFABS’ upcoming screening of documentary ‘Imba Means Sing’ (10-28-15)

The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs (CFABS) presents Imba Means Sing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. The film is the third in the six-part Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers series. It has a running time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. You can view a trailer for the film at http://vimeo.com/63089658. The film’s website is located at http://imbafilm.com. You can follow the film on social media at:

• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/accfilm
• Instagram – @imbameanssing https://instagram.com/imbameanssing
• Twitter – @imbameanssing https://twitter.com/imbameanssing
• Hashtags – #imbameanssing #imbaontour #goseeimba #imbaimpact

“A moving and entertaining film shot from a unique visual and narrative perspective – that of the children themselves,” writes filmmaker and activist Kathy Eldon.

“Imba Means Sing shines light on the dignity of African children,” adds musician and activist Emmanuel Jal. “It shows that if given a chance they can save a village, empower a nation! All the people who see the film can go out and join the children in illuminating our world and putting an end to darkness.”

“The heart and soul of Imba is in its beautiful children who we hope will pay their amazing journey forward,” observes filmmaker and activist Stephen Nemeth. “It has a profound effect on us all.”

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Centers for the Arts Bonita to screen ‘Imba Means Sing’ on Tuesday, November 7 (10-27-15)

The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs (CFABS) presents Imba Means Sing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10.

Imba Mean Sing is a heartfelt character-driven story of resilience and the impact of education. The film follows three children from the slums of Kampala, Uganda who embark upon a world tour with the Grammy-nominated African Children’s Choir. The first is Moses, whose family lacked the resources for him to attend even the first grade. The choir’s drummer, Moses takes us on his one shot journey from poverty towards his dream of becoming a pilot. He is joined by two fellow Choir members, Angel and Nina, as the audience experiences Uganda and the West through their inquisitive and joy-filled eyes.

Discussion with Producer Erin Bernhardt follows the film.

Erin Bernhardt is a humanitarian journalist, filmmaker and producer who is dedicated to making movies that make a difference. A former CNN writer/producer and Peace Corp volunteer, Bernhardt now works to bring media and development together and inspire and motivate people to rally behind important issues and causes. Her goal is to leverage Imba Means Sing through audience outreach and engagement to raise awareness and support for music education locally and equal access to education as a human right globally. Bernhardt is donating 100% of film’s profits to support the Choir’s work educating thousands of children across Africa. Bernhardt and her organization are partnering with some of the most effective poverty alleviation and youth empowerment organizations in the world, including The African Children’s Choir, Creative Visions Foundation, Girl Talk, Inc., The United Nations, The House of Blues Foundation, ONE Campaign, The Hilde Back Education Fund, The Global Soap Project, The Akola Project, and choral groups around the globe. She has won an Emmy, two Peabody’s, and the IndieFEST Award of Excellence for Women Filmmakers.

Imba Means Sing is the third film in the six-part Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers series. Each screening includes the opportunity to participate in fascinating and rewarding post-screening discussions with the filmmaker, discover each film’s unique details, inspiration, meaning and challenges, and enjoy complimentary light refreshments.

“The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers (SCTIF) is an exciting opportunity for residents and visitors of Bonita Springs to see a great independent documentary and to meet and ask questions of the filmmaker, enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the subject,” says Tom Falciglia, Chairman of the CFABS’ Films for Film Lovers Series.

The Center for the Arts Bonita Springs is just one of 18 SCTIF venues. The six SCTIF films showing at the Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs this year are all documentaries and provide glimpse into lives of the famous and not-so-famous, share stories that have historical significance and intrigue, and celebrate different cultures and diversity. The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is a program of South Arts. Southern Circuit Screenings are funded in part through a sponsorship with the National Endowment for the Arts. Tickets for the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers screenings and discussions are $15.

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Facts, figures and Rocky Horror trivia (10-26-15)

The Center for Visual Arts Bonita Springs is screening The Rocky Horror Picture Show in its outdoor courtyard at 8:30 on Mischief Night, October 30. Here’s some Rocky Horror trivia you may not know:

The film’s working title was They Came from Denton High. Just before previews, director Jim Sharman suggested the title be changed to The Rocky Horror Show.

Before it was a movie, Rocky Horror was a play. It premiered in a small, 60-seat theater in London before transferring to a 500-seat facility where it ran for six years.

Playwright/screenwriter Richard O’Brien wrote most of the script during a dreary, British winter when he was an unemployed actor looking for a way to kill time. He’d previously appeared briefly in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar and decided to show the unfinished script to that show’s director, Jim Sharman, who loved what he read.

The film’s trademark ripped fishnet stockings, glitter, and colored hair were later appropriated by punk musicians and their fans.

The tank and dummy used for Rocky’s birth originally appeared in the 1958 horror picture The Revenge of Frankenstein.

Speaking of the birth scene, the laboratory scene and Rocky’s birth were filmed on October 30, 1974.

In the stage productions, the actors typically did their own make-up. For the film, the producers chose Pierre La Roche, who had been Mick Jagger’s make-up artist.

Rocky Horror is both a spoof of and homage to horror films, sci-fi flicks and muscle movies from the 1930s to ’70s. The film’s opening song makes reference to many of these, including The Day the Earth Stood Still, Flash Gordon, The Invisible Man, King Kong, It Came from Outer Space, Doctor X, Forbidden Planet, Tarantula, Curse of the Demon and The Bride of Frankenstein.

Director Jim Sharman originally intended to include clips from these films in the opening sequence but had to jettison the idea because of budgetary limitations.

For example, the entire budget for costumes was just $1,600.

The poster art for the movie features a pair of disembodied lips with the tag line, “A Different Set of Jaws,” a reference to the 1975 blockbuster that chased swimmers from the water at beaches all around the world.

Those same lips appear in the opening sequence.

They belong to actress Patricia Quinn, who plays Magenta in the film.

The film was shot at an old castle in England by the name of Oakley Court. Filming started in autumn and the weather was so damp and cold that star Susan Sarandon came down with pneumonia during production.

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Outburst by New York teacher started audience talk-back at Rocky Horror Picture Show (10-25-15)

On October 30, the Center for Visual Arts Bonita Springs will screen The Rocky Horror Picture Show in its outdoor courtyard on Old 41. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the film’s release in the U.S.

The film did not do well initially. In fact, audiences were so small that Fox withdrew the picture from its eight opening cities and cancelled its planned opening in New York City, which had been scheduled for Halloween night in 1975.

At that point, the film seemed destined for the vault when a Fox executive by the name of Tim Deegan talked distributors into midnight screenings staring in New York City on April Fool’s Day, 1976. It didn’t take long before audiences began attending showings in costume, shouting back at the screen. In some parts of the country, local performance groups began pantomining almost the entire film. These shsdow casts mimed the actions taking place on the screen, lip synching their character’s lines. Annual Rocky Horror conventions began sprouting up in various locales with names like “El Fishnet Fiesta” and “Queens of the Desert.”

But the audience shout-backs and performance groups were not a contrivance introduced by Fox or the film’s distributors to buoy flagging attendance. It was a teacher by the name of Louise Farese Jr. who saved the film. Farese went to one of those early midnight screenings at New York theater named the Waverly. In the beginning scene, a newly engaged couple by the name of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss get a flat tire on a lonely road and are forced to walk in the rain to an old castle to call for help. When Janet, played by Susan Sarandon, placed a newspaper over her head to protect herself from the rain, Farese couldn’t stop himself from shouting out, “Buy an umbrella, you cheap bitch.” The commentary caught on and by Halloween of that year, people were not only talking back to the actors on screen, they were showing up at the Waverly and elsewhere in costume. A social phenomenon had been born.

Still in limited release, The Rocky Horror Picture Show enjoys the longest-running theatrical release in motion picture history. Today, the film has a large international following. In 2005, the Library of Congress even selected it for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.

Whether you’ve seen it a dozen times or are a newbie, you can catch The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Center for Visual Arts Bonita Springs on Mischief Night, 2015. But not at midnight. Sorry, Rocky Horror fans. This screening starts at 8:30 p.m.

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Center for Visual Arts Bonita to screen cult classic ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ October 30 (10-24-15)

The Center for Visual Bonita Springs will be screening the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show in its Visual Arts Outdoor Courtyard at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, October 30. Since 1975, this campy interactive “Rock-Horror Film Musical” has been drawing devoted followers who dress up as film characters and return to watch and be part of the interactive experience time and again. Rocky Horror is the first true audience participation movie where people yell back lines at the screen during the extended pauses between dialogue, dress up in costume, act out the film, and throw props (available for purchase) during the film.

In the film, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.”  

Props will be available for purchase along with refreshments, including beer and wine. Come dressed up and you are automatically entered in a free raffle for prizes. Tickets are just $10. The Center for Visual Arts Bonita Springs is located at 26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, Fl 34135.

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Spotlight on ‘Shrek The Musical Jr.’ choreographer Angela Hicks (08-14-15)

The CFABS Teen Players will be presenting Shrek The Musical Jr. beginning tonight at the Center for the Performing Arts Bonita Springs. Angela Hicks provides the choreography for the show. A graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University with a B.A. in Art and a Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies, Hicks is well-suited to the task of staging a musical with a cast of more than a dozen young, aspiring actors and dancers.

As a dance instructor at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs since 2008, Angela teaches hundreds of young dancers ballet, point, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip hop, world dance and Broadway. “Working in the performing and visual arts allows me to connect with people of any age,” Angela maintains. “I am able to enhance student skills and help set goals to reach their fullest potential. My dance instruction incorporates history, culture, and muscular science studies. My experience as a performer allows me to showcase, inspire and pass on the drive to succeed.”

Many have seen Angela’s performance art pieces in downtown Fort Myers at the Franklin Shops on First and other venues during both Art Walk and Music Walk, as well as at cultural festivals, concerts, fundraisers and corporate events. “These performance pieces are part of a series called ‘Dancer’s Mark,’” Angela expounds. “They involve live painting, where my entire figure is covered in paint while balancing a sharp scimitar sword. The choreography of the dances showcase high skill in balance, concentration, and the direct imprint of movement on canvas. This particular performance was collaborated with digital artist Jason McDonald, illuminating my figure with neon colors and adding a silhouette dancer to the back ground.”

Angela was first enrolled at the age of five at a local dance adademy, where she learned ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern and hip hop. Later on, she also learned Polynesian dance, ballroom, and Latin. But it was her grandmother who taught her the fine art of belly dancing. Her grandmother also owned a modelling agency and etiquette school and instilled in Angela lifelong lessons about the importance of grace, poise and performance presence.

Angela’s passion passion for belly dance took off in earnest when she was 17. She began writing her own syllabus, started teaching, and began incorporating props into her own performances. That’s when she came across the idea of dancing with a sword. Her initial reaction was to dismiss the idea out of hand because of her phobia of daggers, swords and anything else that was sharp for that matter. (It’s called aichmophobia, the fear of sharp objects.) But a few days later, she resisted the notion that her fears would limit her creative output. Within a week, she had a sharp double-edged Turkish Scimitar Sword and began training herself in the discipline of sword balancing. Her grandmother’s old school etiquette technique of balancing books on her head for posture and grace came in handy yet again.

“My favorite performances are when I catch people off guard,” Angela chuckles. “My street shows downtown seem to do this best. I feed off the energy of the crowd when I break out the sword and the group begins to flood the streets. I hear cars honking because they can’t drive through. Then I notice the cars slowing down to stop so they can watch as well. It’s an honored feeling to know people appreciate what I do.”

But there’s an overarching message associated with Hicks’ performances. “My dance is a story. It is a test to show how much trust I have in myself. The sword dance counteracts the stigma of belly dancing to just be flirty and pretty. It displays that along with beauty, women have strength of body, mind, and soul.”

Through dance, Hicks has also discovered the power of visualization. “When I practice,I am literally looking into a mirror to see where my body moves and imagining where it needs to be,” Angela explains. “I apply that to my career and personal life, constantly reviewing where I am today and think what can I do to bring myself where I want to be … need to be … tomorrow.”

It’s all about self-reliance. “You are the most important person you can depend on,” she tells her students. “So make that person strong.”

Inspiring local youth through the arts is Angela’s daily aspiration. Registration is now open for Angela’s summer classes. Visit www.artcenterbonita.org to learn more.

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Spotlight on ‘Shrek Jr.’ Assistant Director Dee Betcher (08-12-15)

Shrek The Musical Jr. is coming August 14, 15 and 16 to the Center for the Performing Arts Bonita Springs. Dee Betcher serves as an assistant director on the show. Dee has been active in theater for over 30 years. “It is always a thrill to see a production come together,” says Dee, who thanks the Drama Mammas and Pappas for their endless help.

The action takes place in the Center for Performing Arts Moe Auditorium, which is located at 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. For tickets and information, please call the Centers for the Arts today 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org. Click here for more information.

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Spotlight on ‘Shrek Jr.’ Production Coordinator Eric Condit (08-11-15)

Shrek The Musical Jr. is coming August 14, 15 and 16 to the Center for the Performing Arts Bonita Springs. Eric Condit is the Production Coordinator/Set/ Light & Sound Technician for the show. Condit has worked with the Centers for the Arts on lights and sound for multiple productions at CFABS and various musical acts. He has designed and built recording studios, media systems and technical projects around the world. He is a graduate of Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts, member of the Subject Matter Experts group and Adjunct Faculty with InfoComm.

The action takes place in the Center for Performing Arts Moe Auditorium, which is located at 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. For tickets and information, please call the Centers for the Arts today 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org. Click here for more information.

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Spotlight on ‘Shrek Jr.’ Assistant Director Margot Escott (08-10-15)

Shrek The Musical Jr. is coming August 14, 15 and 16 to the Center for the Performing Arts Bonita Springs. Margot Escott is the Assistant Director for the show.

This is Margot’s seventh production with Director Craig Price at CFPABS. She has great respect for all the members of this talented cast. She wants to thank all the dedicated crew of this performance, especially Ms. Patrice, Ms. Carolann, Ms. Angela, Ms. Dee, Mr. Condit and all the dedicated parent volunteers. “It has been a great joy to watch many of these young performers grow and become such great actors over the past few years.” She wants to thank Mr. Craig for giving her the opportunity to be part of this fantastic theatre group.

The action takes place in the Center for Performing Arts Moe Auditorium, which is located at 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. For tickets and information, please call the Centers for the Arts today 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org. Click here for more information.

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Carolann Sanita serves as Musical Director of ‘Shrek The Musical Jr.’ (08-06-15)

Shrek The Musical Jr. is coming August 14, 15 and 16 to the Center for the Performing Arts Bonita Springs. Carolann M. Sanita serves as Musical Director of the production.

Sanita is excited to be the musical director of her fifth production at CFABS. She has been seen as Marian in the first national tour of The Music Man and internationally as Maria in the European and Asian tours of West Side Story. Credits include singing back-up to Linda Eder at the Palace Theatre on Broadway, Encore’s  No, No Nanette at New York City Center, Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast,  Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and most recently High Society and Mack and Mabel here in Naples.  Carolann is a member of the voice faculty at FGCU and CFABS and performs and teaches between SWFL and NYC.

The action takes place in the Center for Performing Arts Moe Auditorium, which is located at 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. For tickets and information, please call the Centers for the Arts today 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org. Click here for more information.

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Craig Price directs CFABS Teen Players in ‘Shrek The Musical Jr.’ (08-05-15)

Shrek The Musical Jr. is coming August 14, 15 and 16 to the Center for the Performing Arts Bonita Springs. Craig Price is directing the production.

Price graduated from Wittenberg University with a BA in Theatre. After training with The Second City in Chicago and the legendary Del Close at Improv Olympic, Craig spent five years performing with ComedySportz of Denver and five years on the road as a stand-up comedian. Locally, Craig performed, taught and directed with the Naples Players and KidzAct and is currently the Assistant Director of the Curious Kids TV show on WGCU. As Theatre Director for the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs, he teaches improv and acting to kids and adults of all ages and abilities. He also directs four shows a year for the Youth Theater Department and Community Theater productions for adults.

The action takes place in the Center for Performing Arts Moe Auditorium, which is located at 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. For tickets and information, please call the Centers for the Arts today 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org. Click here for more information.

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CFABS Teen Players present ‘Shrek The Musical Jr.’ August 14, 15 & 16 (08-04-15)

CFABS Teen Players Present Shrek The Musical Jr. Friday and Saturday August 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday August 15 and 16 at 2 p.m. It’s a “big bright beautiful world” for everyone’s favorite ogre in Shrek The Musical JR., based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film.

In a faraway kingdom, the green ogre Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits, runaways who’ve been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror with big ambitions. When Shrek sets off with a wise-cracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he’s handed a task – if he rescues feisty Princess Fiona from the Dragon-guarded tower, his swamp will be returned to him. But, a fairy tale wouldn’t be complete without unexpected twists and turns along the way. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek JR. is an irreverently fun show for the whole family. Directed by Craig Price, this dazzling adventure story brings to life familiar characters that prove that beauty is in the eye of the ogre.

For tickets and information, please call the Centers for the Arts today 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org. Click here for more information. ________________________________________________________________

Youth improv and ‘Improv Tonight’ on tap at CFABS Saturday, July 18 (07-14-15)

If Improv is your thing, then the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs this Saturday is where you’ll want to be.

CFABS’ youth improv group, “Little Shop of Improv,” takes place at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. These very funny improv professionals were trained through CFABS youth theater and improv classes.  Enjoy great comedy as willing audience volunteers join the troupe for guaranteed laughs. Beverages and snacks are available. Tickets are just $6 for members and $10 for adult non-members.

Then return at 8 p.m. for “Improv Tonight” when local improv groups perform short and long form improv that includes suggestions provided by the audience. “Be as involved in the show as you’d like,” invites CFABS, “whether you’re just setting a scene with your suggestions, or whether you’re on stage as a player!” Refreshments including beer, wine and snacks are available.

The action takes place in the Center for Performing Arts Moe Auditorium, which is located at 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.

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Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs announces auditions for ‘Shrek The Musical Jr.’ (05-27-15)

The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs is holding auditions from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, June 10 and 11 for Shrek The Musical Jr. The auditions are open to actors ages 10 and up by appointment only.

Auditioners will be required to sing a prepared song of their choice with or without backing tracks, learn a quick dance routine with a group, and read a scene from the script with their fellow actors that will be handed out at the time of the audition. There is no need to prepare a monologue. Auditioners should wear shoes and clothes they can dance in – no sandals, crocs or flip-flops.

Rehearsals for the production will take place from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from June 15 to August 10, and Monday through Thursday the week of the show. Shows are August 14 at 7:00 p.m., August 15 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m., and August 16 at 2:00 p.m.

The auditions for Shrek The Musical Jr. will take place at the Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34116. For more information, please telephone 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org

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Exhibition focusing on visual impact of scale opens June 12 at Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs (05-25-15)

Macro-Micro opens at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs on June 12 with a 6:00-8:00 p.m. reception. The exhibition explores the way in which we interpret and depict our world through the visual impact of scale. Bold statements of physical grandeur and close observation of minute details give artists the ability to extend the capacity of the human experience. From the Greek words for “large” and “small,” the artists participating in this show offer their conclusions on the infinite depths of the universe or the simplicity of a single blade of grass.

The exhibition runs through July 2. Gallery hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, please call 239- 495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org.

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Centers for the Arts of Bonita begins Moe Auditorium renovations in preparation for inaugural 2016 film festival (04-22-15)

The Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs unveiled plans today for renovation of 5,300 square feet of the Moe Auditorium & Film Center. The project includes expansion of the lobby area, the addition of a dedicated dance studio, a new sound and light control booth, and an exterior covered pre-function space with a versatile outdoor seating area that serves as an inviting space for gathering and allows for revolving art exhibitions to be enjoyed by artists, students and community visitors.  A new monumental entrance feature will be visible from Bonita Beach Road. The interior is scheduled for completion mid-June and exterior slated for mid-July, 2015.

“This is a tremendously exciting opportunity for both residents and visitors in Bonita Springs and across Southwest Florida,” says Susan Bridges, who serves as president of the Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs. “Renovating the Karin & Robert Moe Auditorium & Film Center means state of the art media, films and live performances all in a setting rich with beautiful, new décor, furnishings and ambience. And our live entertainment in the Moe? Well, close your eyes and think Improv, Jazz, Shakespeare, Chamber Music and everything in between.”

Bridges had another announcement to make. “You’ll want to be here this fall and winter when we screen a series of nationally touring-independent films that includes visits by filmmakers and directors,” Bridges advises. “And in February, we’ll kick off the first Bonita Springs International Film Festival featuring award-winning films from around the world, a fun and entertaining weekend complete with red carpet opening night, and scheduled and surprise visits by filmmakers, directors and actors.”

The Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs’ Moe Auditorium and Film Center has been serving the community as a performance venue for small productions, dance recitals, film presentations, youth theater and community theater and improv shows since it was acquired by the Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs from the Living Waters Church in January 2014.  The Moe Auditorium & Film Center is part of the 30,000 square foot campus which includes the 400 seat Hinman Auditorium, the  Lightner Master Artists’ Studio and classrooms for adult and youth education opportunities in art, music, dance and theater.

For over 50 years, the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs has provided first-rate visual, performing and media arts to Bonita Springs and surrounding communities.  Now, equipped with two campuses, one on Old 41 Road and the second on Bonita Beach Road, they’ll more than double what they can offer residents and visitors of all ages.

Become a member of the Art Center’s Film Society and receive advance notice of film events and screenings. Information 495-8989 or www.artcenterbonita.org.

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Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs announces April schedule of art classes and workshops (03-29-15)

The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs is conducting a number of art classes and workshops in April.

From 5:30-8:00 p.m. on April 6, it is “Great Bowls of Fire,” a workshop in which techniques will be explained and demonstrated for using brilliantly colored glazes, stamp, or slip trail designs on hand-thrown ceramic bowls of your choosing. Let your creativity flow and create a unique functional bowl while you enjoy some food and drink and then off you go! Fired bowls can be picked up the following week. Bring your friends and family for a great evening of art and fun, and the cost is just $50 per person.

At “Alla Prima, Alla Fun,” painter Patty Kane will walk guests step-by-step through the creative process of completing an artwork in one session. This means that guests will have a masterpiece to take home with them at the end of the evening. The evening includes art supplies, aprons, wine, pizza and guidance. The fun takes place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on April 9 and tuition is just $50.

Learn to make a fused glass artwork in one setting and have fun with friends at the same time on April 14 in “Get Fired Up,” the Center’s fused glass class. Sip a glass of your favorite beverage, mingle with other adventurous people, and spend an evening creating a work of art. Bring a group of friends for an evening out or come alone and meet creative folks while you make your own Daisy Bowl, Tree of Life, paint with bubble paint on glass or make a plate out of fritt or mosaics during one of our new fused glass art experiences! Let your inner artist shine through as you learn glass-cutting techniques, effective two-dimensional design, fusing practices (melting glass together in a kiln), slumping (shaping glass into molds) and creation of various effects. You will marvel at your own creations as you design and melt your ideas into form! Glass, materials, wine, food and guidance included in the $50 tuition for this class. The 3-hour course begins promptly at 5:30 p.m.

The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs offers “Raku & You” at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20. Raku is a centuries old pottery glazing and firing process. The technique produces a lustrous, often metallic, finish. “Raku & You” is an evening devoted to this ancient process. Attendees choose from a number of bisque fired pots and are given a brief history of Raku while glazing their pot in a simple or extravagant manner. While the outdoor kiln heats up to the correct temperature, attendees enjoy a picnic-style meal. Then the fun begins as red hot pottery is plunged into metal containers filled with combustible material. The containers are lidded and the pots rest for a few moments before being quickly cooled with water. The results are spectacular and everyone is invited back into the studio to view each piece. Everyone goes home with their very own raku masterpiece.  Tuition is just $50.

For more information about each of these classes, please call 495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org.

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‘Tim’s Vermeer’ sheds light on painting techniques used by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer (03-28-15)

As part of its “Films for Film Lovers” program, the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs will present “Tim’s Vermeer” at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 27. In this insightful documentary, inventor Tim Jenison seeks to understand the painting techniques used by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer.

The screening takes place in the Center’s cozy Moe Auditorium & Film Center, which is located at 10150 Bonita Beach Road (Bonita Springs, FL 34116). Refreshments are available, including wine and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks, etc. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the film beginning promptly at 7:00 p.m. and followed by a lively and entertaining discussion after each film, led by a Film Society Chairman and a Film Society Member.

The cost is just $10 for an individual ticket, with series discounts available. Become a member of the Art Center’s Film Society and receive advance notice of film events and screenings. Information 495-8989 or www.artcenterbonita.org.

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Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs hosts two Improve cafés on Saturday, April 4 (03-27-15)

The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs is hosting two Improv cafés on April 4. The first is a Youth Improv, which starts at 3:00 p.m., with an 8:00 p.m. session reserved for adults.

Make Saturday afternoon the best time of the week when you bring your family out to see CFABS’ own youth improv group “Little Shop of Improv,” at 3:00 p.m. These very funny improv professionals were trained through CFABS youth theater and improv classes.  Bring the entire family out to enjoy great comedy as willing audience volunteers join our troupe for guaranteed laughs. Snacks and beverages available. For further information call 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org.

As they do at 8:00 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month, local improv groups will perform short and long form improv that includes suggestions provided by you, the audience. Be as involved in the show as you’d like – whether you’re just setting a scene with your suggestions or getting on stage as a player! Beer and wine are available. For further information, please call 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org.

Both Improv cafés are held in the cozy Moe Auditorium & Film Center, which is located 10150 Bonita Beach Road (Bonita Springs, FL 34116).  Youth Tickets cost $6 youth/ $10 adults. Tickets for the evening café are $12 Members / $15 Non-Members / $17 Door.

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Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs present Renoir film on Monday, April 6 (03-17-15)

The Center for the Arts Bonita Springs will present “Films for Film Lovers – Renoir” at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 6. Set on the French Riviera in the summer of 1915, Jean Renoir — son of the Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste — returns home to convalesce after being wounded in World War I. At his side is Andrée, a young woman who rejuvenates, enchants, and inspires both father and son.

“Join us in our cozy space at Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs to watch films on our large screen,” states the Center in its release announcing the screening. “Refreshments are available—wine and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks, etc. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film begins at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to join our lively and entertaining film discussion after the film, led by a Film Society Chairman and a Film Society Member.”

Become a member of the Art Center’s Film Society and receive advance notice of film events and screenings. Information 495-8989 or www.artcenterbonita.org. The film airs in the Moe Auditorium & Film Center inside the Center for Performing Arts, which is located at 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs, FL 34116. The cost is $10 for individual tickets (series discounts are available).

Continue reading for more information about the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs and its events.

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‘Human Experience’ Exhibition at Bonita’s Center for Visual Arts focuses on artists’ use of figures to convey personal visions and passion (03-15-15)

Those who create figurative art are tied to a 40,000 year old tradition beginning with cave paintings and carved human and animal figures of the Ice Age. People of that period would likely find it impossible to navigate our world, yet their art, across a distance of four hundred centuries, still has the power to speak to us and tap into some essential common humanity. And, today, the figure continues to be used as a receptacle to convey experience, from self-portraiture, to personal visions and passions, to commentary on popular culture and politics, from the love of the body as a beautiful form, to the apotheosis of the grotesque.  Every artist has a unique perspective and a unique touch, and this will be the focus of Looking at Ourselves: The Human Experience Exhibition, which opens with a 6:00-8:00 p.m. reception and open house at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs on Friday, April 3. This event if free and open to the public.

The exhibition runs through April 23. The Center for the Arts is located at 26100 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. The gallery is open 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, please telephone 239-495-8989 or visit www.artcenterbonita.org.