Actors, artists, directors, filmmakers and events in the news June 22-30, 2022
1 ACTORS
Lucas Campero plays Mike Costa in ‘A Chorus Line’
Lucas Campero plays the part of Mike Costa for Fort Myers Theatre in A Chorus Line. Zach, the director who is casting a brand new Broadway musical, begins with Mike, who replies, “Don’t you wanna start at the end?” But once he gets untracked, he reveals that he’s the youngest of 12 siblings and he reveals in his solo number “I Can Do That” that he took his sister, Rosalie’s, place when she stopped going to dance lessons. You can read the rest of this Spotlight here.
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Theater community loses talented actress Erin Coleman
Erin Coleman died at 8:43 p.m. on June 16th from injuries she sustained when a southbound driver on I-75 lost control of his pickup truck, crossed the median and struck her head on. She had just left rehearsal at Fort Myers Theatre, which included a workshop by Michael Blevins, the longtime Broadway veteran who played the part of Mark Anthony in the 1985 film adaptation of A Chorus Line starring Michael Douglas. The loss to our local theater community is immeasurable. It wasn’t just that Erin was a true talent.
Please go here to read this tribute.
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Steven Coe is Mitch Brenner in Lab’s ‘The Birds: A Parody’
Steven Coe portrays Mitch Brenner in Lab Theater’s spoof of the iconic Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds. His evolving body of work includes the impudent, bitingly witty rake Vicomte de Valmont in Lab Theater’s production of Dangerous Liaisons, 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 and Andri in Andorra. You can view Steven’s full profile here.
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Parrish Danesh is director/choreographer Zach in ‘A Chorus Line’
Parrish Danesh is local actor. He is playing the part of director/choreographer Zack in A Chorus Line. His previous stage credits at Fort Myers Theatre include the roles of Gomez Addams in The Addams Family musical, Teen Angel & Johnny Casino in Grease (March 2022), Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol the Musical (December 2021) and Reverend Shaw Moore in Footloose the Musical (September 2021). You can view the rest of Danesh’s theater credits here.
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Sydney DiBiase plays Val Clark in ‘A Chorus Line’
Sydney DiBiase plays the part of Val Clark in A Chorus Line for Fort Myers Theatre. Val is featured in a number of scenes in the musical, but is front and center in the song “Dance 10; Looks 3,” in which she describes being passed over at auditions even though she danced circles around the other girls. Then one day, she got a glimpse of the casting director’s dance card, which rated her dancing abilities a 10, but her looks just a 3. So she had her boobs and nose done, and “tightened the derriere,” and ever since her life has turned into an endless medley of “Gee, it had to be you!”
Please go here to read the rest of this Spotlight.
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Luke Francis plays Larry in ‘A Chorus Line’
Luke Francis play Larry in A Chorus Line. Larry is Zach’s dance captain and assistant, and it’s apparent from the context that he’s worked with Zach before and has history with several of the dancers. He joins the other dancers during The Montage, but when Paul injures his knee, Larry helps take him to the hospital and is not seen again until the finale. Francis is currently enrolled at FSW, where he participates in the FSW Blackbox Theatre. A Chorus Line represents Luke’s Fort Myers Theatre debut.
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Dave Goldberg plays Mark Anthony in ‘A Chorus Line’
Dave Goldberg plays the part of Mark Anthony in A Chorus Line. Goldberg’s character has one of the more memorable stories in the play. When he was 11, he came across a medical textbook in his father’s library and diagnosed his own appendicitis. But his career as a diagnostician abruptly ended two years later, when he mistook his first wet dream as the symptoms of gonorrhea. Fortunately, his parish priest set him straight in the confessional when Mark admitted he hadn’t been with anyone. The rest of this Spotlight is here.
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Bry Grant plays Sheila Bryant in ‘A Chorus Line’
Bry Grant plays Sheila Bryant in A Chorus Line for Fort Myers Theatre. Grant’s character is a stand-out in the show within the show. Haughty and naughty, she cops an attitude with the director, Zach, with whom she apparently has history, for good or ill. But her “A” seems to come from her personal, family history. Growing up, she watched her father denigrate her mother, on whom he cheated from at least the time Sheila was five. Placing her fate in the hands of a man, any man, including Zach, 
runs counter to her sense of self-worth and independence. With the expiration date on her career as a performer fast approaching, the 29-year-old is thinking about trading in her dance shoes for a dance studio of her own. Originally portrayed on Broadway by Kelly Bishop (who won a Supporting Actress Tony for her performance), the character’s background is largely drawn from her own life story.
Go here to view Bry’s stage credits.
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Heather Johnson appears for Lab in ‘The Birds: A Parody’
Heather Johnson appears for the Laboratory Theater of Florida in its summer spoof of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic 1963 American horror, The Birds. Heather’s stage credits include Sharla in the Southwest Florida premiere of Killer Joe, Jane in the Florida premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s How to Transcend a Happy Marriage, Rebecca Nurse in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, an aggrieved soccer mom (and the only adult cast member) in The Wolves, Andre’s mother in Max Frisch’s Andorra, multiple roles in Every Christmas Story Ever Told and the dip-spittin’ sheriff in Hush Up Sweet Charlotte. You will find the rest of Heather’s stage and other credits here.
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Steven Michael Kennedy portrays Melanie Daniels in Lab’s spoof of ‘The Birds’
Steven Michael Kennedy portrays Melanie Daniels in Lab Theater’s summer spoof of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 American horror movie The Birds. At Lab, Steven previously played Princeton in Avenue Q, Leonardo da Vinci in Botticelli in the Fire, 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. But go here for all of Steven’s stage and film credits.
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Mark King plays multiple roles for Lab in ‘The Birds’
Mark King appears in various roles (Sholes, Harry, Bird) in Lab Theater’s summer spoof of the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock horror film The Birds. Mark has previously appeared as Major Domo in Dangerous Liaisons, as Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q and comedian Eddie McCuen in The Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940s. Go here for the rest of Mark’s stage credits.
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Guin Kiniry plays Maggie Winslow in ‘A Chorus Line’
Guinevere Bortnicker Kiniry plays the part of San Mateo auditioner Maggie Winslow in Fort Myers Theatre’s production of A Chorus Line, who the audience meets “At the Ballet.” Her parents supposedly had her to fix their strained marriage, but it didn’t work, leaving her to be raised by her mother and grandmother. She would dance around her living room with her arms raised as if dancing with her father, who she imagined as “an Indian chief.” Please go here to see Guin’s theatrical credits.
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Wedler Lordeus plays Richie Walters in ‘A Chorus Line’
Wedler Lordeus is a beatboxer, singer , actor , and dancer from the University of Houston majoring in BFA Acting. He portrays Richie Walters in A Chorus Line for Fort Myers Theatre, a terrific dancer from a small town in Missouri with a quick smile and a great deal of enthusiasm who’s opted to pursue a career as a professional dancer for life in a kindergarten classroom.
Go here for Wedler’s theatrical credits.
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Todd Lyman appearing in ‘The Birds: A Parody’
Todd Lyman is appearing for Lab Theater in its summer spoof The Birds: A Parody. Todd Lyman is a Fort Myers actor whose credits include the roles of Nicky in Avenue Q, Antonio in The Tempest, Assemblyman Paul Gordon, Dr. Tim and Mr. Yarmowich in Topher Payne’s Let Nothing You Dismay, Thomas Putnam in The Crucible, multiple roles (Customers 3, 6 and 9) in Lab Theater’s production of Zalman Velvel’s farce D.M.V., and Teddy LaPetite in Mitch Albom’s And the Winner Is … Go here to see all of Todd’s stage credits.
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Jenna Mazzoli plays Bebe Benzenheimer in ‘A Chorus Line’
Jenna Mazzoli plays the part of Bebe Benzenheimer in A Chorus Line. Mazzoli does an exceptional job with the character, who wears her low self-esteem on her sleeve. Her lack of self-confidence emanates from tapes her mother planted in her head when she told her daughter that she is “different … with a personal flair.”
Bebe wasn’t buying that shade.
Go here for the rest of this Spotlight.
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Adrial McCloud appearing in ‘The Birds: A Parody’
Adrial McCloud appears in Lab Theater’s summer spoof, The Birds: A Parody. McCloud has been a performer from the age of 4 and has a passion for all aspects of theater. Her performances have ranged from church plays to Broadway reviews to Shakespeare and more. In her most recent performance, she played Cecile de Volanges in Dangerous Liaisons.
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Jake Raterman is Paul San Marco in ‘A Chorus Line’
Jake Raterman plays Paul San Marco in A Chorus Line. He panics when director/choreographer Zack asks him about his life. The musical is set in 1975, and coming out was considerably more difficult and risky than it is today (not that it’s exactly easy now). As Paul, Raterman has one of the longer monologues in the musical. Please go here for Jake’s stage and other credits.
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Anna Reed is Kristine Urich in ‘A Chorus Line’
Anna Reed plays the part of Kristine Urich in A Chorus Line. Reed’s character is actually married to another of the auditioners, Al DeLuca (played by Noah Lynch). But whereas Al is confident and outgoing, Kristine is hesitant, tense and almost introverted. She stands by her husband for constant support and is so flustered that he often has to complete her sentences. You will find the rest of Anna’s profile here.
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Jo Reed is Kathy Brenner in Lab’s parody of ‘The Birds’
Jo Reed plays Kathy Brenner (and a bird) in the Laboratory Theater of Florida’s spoof of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 iconic horror film The Birds. This is Jo’s first production at the Lab, but expect to see her in more shows going forward. Reed is a student at Bonita Middle.
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Daniel Sabiston has funny costumes, hilarious scenes in ‘The Birds: A Parody’
Daniel Sabiston appears in various roles for Lab Theater in its summer spoof, The Birds: A Parody, including a beleaguered and exasperated clapperboard tech who identifies takes and scenes to facilitate film and audio post-production synchronization. His scenes and costumes are some of the funniest in the show.
Go here to see Daniel’s previous roles and other credits.
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Sue Schaffel playing role of Lydia Brenner in Lab’s spoof of ‘The Birds’
Sue Schaffel never misses a Lab Theater summer spoof, so in June she’s portraying Lydia Brenner in Lab Theater’s parroty of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 horror film The Birds. “I remember seeing this movie, The Birds, years and years and years ago, and it scared the daylights out of me,” says Schaffel. “I thought, well at least it’s a parody. It’ll be funny … dada dada da.” Schaffel’s stage credits include The Complete Story of America (Abridged), White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, Norma Desmond in the Lab Theater parody Sunset Schmoulevard, Blanche DuBois in Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody and Velma in Hush Up Sweet Charlotte for Lab Theater. Go here to read up on all of Schaffel’s stage and film credits.
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Charlotte Thiessen plays Judy Turner in ‘A Chorus Line’
Charlotte Thiessen plays Judy Turner in A Chorus Line. Charlotte describes her character as “a scatter-brained 26-year-old,” but Bebe is definitely driven to be more than just “the second girl from the end.” Her motivation isn’t really given, but it appears she wasn’t close to her mother (who’d embarrass her by wearing enormous curlers in her hair when she picked Bebe up from school) or her sister (who she describes as “a little brat”), but she does speak
fondly of her father, who enjoyed watching her dance. Originally portrayed on Broadway by Patricia Garland, whose life story (along with that of her sister, Jacki) provided much of the background from which the character was drawn, Bebe is one of the eight chosen by Zach for his Broadway show. You can find the rest of this Spotlight here.
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Hazel Tracey plays cut dancer, understudies three roles in ‘A Chorus Line’
Hazel Tracy is cast as a cut dancer in A Chorus Line. In the original Broadway musical, there were three, Lois Dilettente, a ballerina who could not make it through the jazz combination, Tricia, who was in a touring company but not a Broadway show, and Vicki Vickers, a pretty California blond who hasn’t had any ballet training or done any Broadway shows. In A Chorus Line, cut dancers have another important role. Go here for the rest of this Spotlight.
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Julian Viacava plays Greg Gardner in ‘A Chorus Line’
Julian Viacava plays Greg Gardner in Fort Myers Theater’s production of A Chorus Line. In answer to the director’s questions, Greg relates one of the funnier stories in the entire show. It seems that when he was called on in school by the teacher, he’d invariably have an erection. To avoid humiliation, he’d tell the teach he couldn’t due to a pain in his side. When walking down the hall, he’d have to have to pile his books in front of him to hide the bulge in his pants. The rest of this Spotlight is here.
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Marianna Young plays Medda Larking in ‘Newsies’
Marianna Young plays the part of Medda Larking in Newsies Jr. for the Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs. Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. An astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice. Go here for Marianna’s stage credits.
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Holly Zammerilla plays Mrs. MacGruder and Bundy for Lab in ‘The Birds: A Parody’
Holly Bogert Zammerilla plays multiple roles (Mrs. MacGruder, Mrs. Bundy and, of course, a bird) for Lab Theater in its 2022 summer spoof of The Birds. She made her stage debut in Lab Theater’s 2019 Christmas Show Let Nothing You Dismay, where she played Noreen, Charlotte and Bubbie.
Go here to view the rest of Holly’s stage credits.
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2 ART & ART EXHIBITIONS
SWFL arts organizations launch survey to quantify economic impact of the arts
On Wednesday, the Alliance for the Arts and dozens of local arts organizations launched the Arts & Economic Prosperity survey. It’s part of a nationwide study by Americans for the Arts of the contribution made by arts organizations to their local economies. This is the sixth such study and involves 387 participating communities in all 50 states and the District 
of Columbia. In Lee County, the Alliance for the Arts is spearheading the effort to collect the data needed for the study. Within the Alliance, Jennifer Falk functions as the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) Project Coordinator. Go here to hear why you should participate in the study if you are asked to complete a survey.
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DAAS hosts black-and-white show in July
During the month of July, DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is exhibiting Black and White, an open call show consisting of work in multiple mediums by Southwest Florida artists.
The magic of the exhibition inheres in its cohesiveness. Regardless of the themes or subjects, mediums and dimensions, the pieces’ monochromatic scheme collectively transform the gallery into a unified space. The exhibition has been curated by member artist and DAAS co-owner Xavier Brignoni, who is also participating in the 
exhibition.
“When the artwork is well finished and balanced, it is easy to display,” Brignoni observes. “When there are multiple strong pieces together, from various artists, it is important to find a connection and display them in a way that it makes sense for the viewer – even if these pieces were never meant to be next to each other.”
The opening reception is scheduled for Friday, July 1, 2022, from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. in conjunction with the 
monthly Fort Myers Art Walk event. The exhibition will be on display through July 31, 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 Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. More information about the venue and/or how to become a member can be found at daascoop.com or by calling 239-590-8645.
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3 PUBLIC ART
Spotlight on Fort Myers’ Ward 1 art hub at Billy Bowlegs Park
The Fort Myers Public Art Committee has been establishing art hubs in each of the City’s six wards using in the 23 Edgardo Carmona sculptures that the City purchased in August of 2018. One such art hub is Billy Bowlegs Park and Sports Complex in Ward 1. This past November, it became the permanent home of Al Galope or The Horse at the request of Councilperson Teresa Watkins Brown.
The term art hub refers to a location that is already or which is intended to become either a cultural, business or residential destination. Billy Bowlegs Park and Sports Complex is unquestionably a residential destination. Go here for the rest of this story.
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Spotlight on Fort Myers’ Ward 2 art hub at Urban Community Farm
The City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee has been establishing art hubs in each of the City’s six wards using the 23 Edgardo Carmona sculptures that the City purchased in August of 2018. One such art hub is the Urban Community Farm which is located in Ward 2 a block south of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard between Barden and Flint Streets.
It may seem 
strange at first blush to establish an art hub at a farm, but Urban Community Farm is actually the perfect choice. The term art hub refers to a location that is already or which is intended to become either a cultural, business or residential destination. Urban Community Farm is all three.
Go here for the rest of this report.
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Spotlight on Fort Myers’ Ward 4 art hub at the Collaboratory
The City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee has been establishing art hubs in each of the City’s six wards using the 23 Edgardo Carmona sculptures that the City purchased in August of 2018. One such art hub is the Collaboratory, which is located in Ward 4 at 2031 Jackson Street adjacent to the Fort Myers Fire Department’s main station. At the behest of City Councilman Liston Bochette and the request of the Collaboratory, the PAC relocated Carmona’s Ribbon Routine (Ena En La Plaza) to the plaza facing west toward the Lee Tran/Greyhound Bus Station. Go here to read more.
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Spotlight on Fort Myers’ Ward 4 art hub at The Franklin Shops on First
The Fort Myers Public Art Committee has been establishing art hubs in each of the City’s six wards using in the 23 Edgardo Carmona sculptures that the City purchased in August of 2018. One such art hub is The Franklin Shops on First in Ward 4. On April 25th, the Committee moved Nagacion A Baco or Two Drunks on a Bench in front of The Franklin Shops on First, which is an ideal art hub partner. You will find the rest of this Spotlight here.
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‘Fire Dance’ in need of a sponsor
The 
City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee is looking for a sponsor for Fire Dance.
Since its installation in Centennial Park West in March of 2011, the 25-foot-tall aluminum sculpture has been relatively maintenance free. But after baking in Southwest Florida’s searing sun for more than a decade, its signature Dupont red paint is finally fading even though Ohio sculptor David Black had the manufacturer’s include UV protection in the paint.
On top of that, Fire Dance has been tagged in several places. Because the paint has faded, painting over the graffiti is not a realistic option. Here’s the rest of this article.
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‘Rachel at the Well’ in need of a sponsor
The City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee is looking for a sponsor for The Spirit of Fort Myers. Popularly known as Rachel at the Well, she’s the Grecian maiden pouring water from an urn who greets residents and visitors entering Edison Park from McGregor Boulevard. The maiden turned 96 this past April 8th. While most, if not all other sculptures created a century ago were chiseled from a block of granite, marble or some other stone, Rachel is made of stone substitute applied in layers over a skeleton frame. You will find the rest of this story here.
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4 THEATER PRODUCTIONS
‘Wizard of Oz’ at Broadway Palm July 1 through August 13
The Wizard of Oz opens at Broadway Palm Dinner Theater on July 1.
Fly over the rainbow with Dorothy as she rides a twister into The Merry Old Land of Oz and learns that no matter how far our journeys take us, there’s no place like home. Along her journey, you’ll meet the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and a witch or two. You’ll hear the songs from the 
delightful score you know and love such as “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard.”
Shows run through August 13, with performances on Wednesdays through Sundays, including matinee, twilight and evening shows. Please call the box office at 239-278-4422 for days, times and tickets.
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‘Newsies JR. on stage at Center for the Performing Arts Bonita July 1-3
Disney’s Newsies JR. is playing at the Center for Performing Arts in Bonita Springs from Friday, July 1 through Sunday, July 3. Designed for middle school-aged performers, this inspiring 60-minute musical is based on the 1992 Disney film Newsies and the 2012 Broadway production of the same 
name.
You’ll be doing flips for the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of young Manhattan newsies. When publishing titan Joe Pulitzer raises distribution prices at the newsies’ expense, Jack rallies young workers from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right. Featuring a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and book by Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, Newsies JR. includes rousing songs like “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day” and “King of New York.” Newsies JR. is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless 
message perfect for the whole family and every audience.
The CFABS cast includes 28 students led by Director Kody C Jones, Choreographer Megan Jimenez Leonard, Assistant Choreographer Sophia Gurule and Music Director Joseph Brauer. Danica Murray provides the stage management.
Tickets are $17-$23. For reservations or information please visit artcenterbonita.org or call 239-495-8989. A 20 percent discount is available through June 27 by entering the promo code NEWTOWN at checkout.
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‘A Chorus Line’ plays at Fort Myers Theatre June 18-26
Fort Myers Theatre brings A Chorus Line to Southwest Florida June 18th through the 26th. A brilliantly complex fusion of song, dance, and compellingly authentic drama, this stunning concept musical captures the spirit and tension of a Broadway chorus audition.
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Cast of ‘Chorus Line’ receives insights from ‘Chorus Line’ film actor Michael Blevins
A Chorus Line opens at Fort Myers Theatre on June 18 for ten performances ending June 26. Under the direction of Michelle Kuntze, the cast is now in rehearsal and this past Saturday and Sunday, they had the rare privilege of receiving instruction from Broadway veteran Michael Blevins, who portrayed Marc Anthony in the 1985 Richard Attenborough 
film that starred Michael Douglas.
If anyone in the cast was nervous about performing in front of Broadway royalty, they didn’t show it as they ran through their lines, songs and dance numbers as Blevins watched intently from a seat in the second row.
You can enjoy the rest of this story here.
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‘A Chorus Line’ goes forward after death of lead actress
Fort Myers Theatre is creating ‘one singular sensation’ with their production of the multi-Emmy-winning Broadway show A Chorus Line, and introducing a new generation of performers and audiences to the ground-breaking show. The company is forging ahead, even after the show lost its star, actress Erin Coleman, in a fatal car accident that occurred just a week before opening night. Go here to listen to insights shared with WGCU just hours before the crash that took her life.
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Lab Theater’s eagerly-anticipated June parody is Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’
The Laboratory Theater of Florida Season 14 summer season opens June 3 with the world premiere of The Birds: A Parody. This laugh-out-loud spoof of the classic Alfred Hitchcock horror-thriller film features the inhabitants of Bodega Bay, California who inexplicably fall prey to violent attack by thousands of rampaging birds.
You can read the rest of this advance here.
And go here for play dates, times and ticket information.
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Peep thrills are coming to the Laboratory Theater with a ‘parroty’ of ‘The Birds’
The Laboratory Theater of Florida celebrates the coming of summer each year by spoofing a famous Hollywood movie. This year, it’s Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 horror film “The Birds.” Naples actor Sue Schaffel plays Lydia Brenner, who was portrayed in the movie by Jessica Tandy. She had misgivings when artistic director Annette Trossbach told her that Lab’s doing a take off on “The Birds“ in June.
“I 
remember seeing this movie, “The Birds,” years and years and years ago, and it scared the daylights out of me,” said Schaffel. “And I thought, omigosh, when Annette comes up with this idea of we’re going to do a parody of “The Birds.” I thought, well at least it’s a parody. It’ll be funny … dada dada da.”
Listen to the story on WGCU here. Or go here to read the full story.
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‘Something Rotten’ on stage in Blackburn Hall at The Naples Players through July 24
Something Rotten is on stage in Blackburn Hall at The Naples Players now through July 24. Sponsored locally by Stock Development, Something Rotten was hailed by The New York Times as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years!”
Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick Bottom (Mark Vanagas) and his brother, Nigel (Eduardo Marin) are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel
set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.
“Something Rotten has something for everyone” says Director/Choreographer Dawn Lebrecht-Fornara. “If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love it. If you love Shakespeare, you’ll love it. If you hate musicals, you’ll love it. If you love musicals, you’ll love it.”
Lebrecht-Fornara is joined by Music Director Charles Fornara to lead an all-star ensemble cast of Naples favorites, many of whom have become regular staples 
of The Naples Players’ most popular shows. The cast includes (in alphabetical order): Brad Brenner, Jamielynn Bucci, Joe Byrne, Adam Fasano, Jeremy Giovinazzo, Ralph Krumins, Eduardo Marin, Erica Sample, Mark Vanagas and Jack Weld in the principal roles, with Gaby Alezard, Santiago Alezard, Leonard Allen, Brian Boland, Mckenna Cloud, Jillian Cossetta, Luke Danni, Maxine Danni, Frankie Federico, Jacob Feltman, Naphtailda Jean-Charles, Jillian Keith, Kelsey Lafrenais, Thomas Richardson, Sophia Rissi, Kenny Tran, Preslie True, Lorelai Vega, and Ciaran Welch in the ensemble.
Performances are Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Both general public and season tickets are on sale for $47 at the TNP Box Office. Those interested can visit NaplesPlayers.org anytime or call the TNP Box Office at (239) 263-7990.
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The Studio Players produce Yasmina Reza’s ‘Art’ July 22 through August 7
The Studio Players’ production of Art by French playwright Yasmina Reza opens July 22 in the Joan Jenks Auditorium at Golden Gate Community Center.
This comic masterpiece revolves around three long-time friends whose seemingly inseparable bond is torn when one of them decides suddenly to purchase a 4×5 foot abstract painting, which is entirely white except for a few faint diagonal lines running through it.
Since it premiered in France in 1994, Art has been translated into numerous languages and has won many awards for best comedy, including the Olivier Award for its premiere production in London (starring Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Ken Stott) and the Tony Award for its Broadway premiere (starring Alan Alda, Alfred Molina and Victor Garber).
Directed by John Kirman, The Studio Players cast includes Danny Cancio, John Strealy and Nathan Eichhorn, with stage management by Rosie DeLeon.
Art runs through August 7. For tickets, please visit www.thestudioplayers.org or telephone 239-398-9192.
About the Author
Tom Hall is both an amateur artist and aspiring novelist who writes art quest thrillers. He is in the final stages of completing his debut novel titled "Art Detective," a story that fictionalizes the discovery of the fabled billion-dollar Impressionist collection of Parisian art dealer Josse Bernheim-Jeune, thought by many to have perished during World War II when the collection's hiding place, Castle de Rastignac in southern France, was destroyed by the Wehrmacht in reprisal for attacks made by members of the Resistance operating in the area. A former tax attorney, Tom holds a bachelor's degree as well as both a juris doctorate and masters of laws in taxation from the University of Florida. Tom lives in Estero, Florida with his fiancee, Connie, and their four cats.