Actors, artists, directors, filmmakers and events in the news September 15-21, 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

Dana Alvarez is Jack’s mom in Belle Theatre’s ‘Into the Woods’

Dana Alvarez is a gargantuan talent as Jack’s non-nonsense mom in Belle Theatre’s production of Into the Woods. A storied theater veteran, Alvarez is intimately familiar with both sides of the footlights, so it’s a special treat to watch her perform. On the acting side, she has appeared in the roles of Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Gertrude in Seussical, Marian in Music Man, Emma in Jekyll and Hyde and Nellie in South Pacific, all at Cultural Park Theater, where she will appear next in the part of Olive Ostrovski in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Go here for all of Dana’s theatrical credits. And listen on WGCU to hear how she was one of just six theater educator to be honored recently with a Freddie G Fellowship.

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Kathleen Barney conjures her inner spiritualist as Madame Arcani in TNP’s ‘Blithe Spirit’

Southwest Florida theater veteran Kathleen Barney makes her Naples Players debut in the role of local spiritualist and medium Madame Arcati in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit. The seer is no fraud, and what starts out as a parlor game done as research for novelist Charles Condomine’s new book gets very, very real when she conjures his late wife Elvira from the other side. One teeny tiny little problem. Elvira stays and Madame Arcati can’t quite figure out how to send her back! Among Kathleen’s stage credits are Patty in Walter Cronkite Is Dead, Aida in Over The River and Through The Woods and Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, all for The Studio Players. But there’s more here.

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Spencer Barney is the Baker for Belle Theatre’s ‘Into the Woods’

Spencer Reese Barney stars in the role of the Baker in Belle Theatre’s production of Into the Woods. His credits include struggling documentarian Mark Cohen in Fort Myers Theatre’s production of the rock opera Rent, Mr. Kraler in The Diary of Anne Frank for Fort Myers Theatre, Ms. Trunchbull in Matilda for Creative Theater Workshop, Horton (the Elephant) in Creative Theater Workshop’s production of Seussical the Musical, and the hot Latin lover Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone for Creative Theater Workshop. Go here to access the rest of Spencer’s stage credits.

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Katae Boswell is Little Red Riding Hood in ‘Into the Woods’

Katae Boswell is a North Fort Myers High School theater major. She plays the part of Little Red Riding Hood in Belle Theatre’s production of Into the Woods. Her stage credits include Bea Bottom in Something Rotten at NFMHS, Frances in Burnt Part Boys for the Alliance Youth Theatre and Fantine in Les Miserables for Melody Lane Theatre. She appears next in the role of Bea Bottom in Something Rotten at NFMHS.

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Cantrella Canady sizzles in ‘Broadway Palm Thru The Decades’

Cantrella Canady is one of the best young actors in Southwest Florida today. She appears regularly in productions at Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts, Laboratory Theater of Florida, Cultural Park Theatre, The Naples Players and Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, where she currently appears in Broadway Palm Thru The Decades, a revue celebrating 30 years of musicals produced by Broadway Palm. Go here to see all of Cantrella’s theatrical credits.

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Danielle Channell plays Sandra/Florence Collymoore in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’

Naples-based actor Danielle Channell resumes her reign as comedic royalty in the roles of Sandra and Florence Collymoore in Lab Theater’s production of The Play That Goes Wrong. The Queen of Farce’s previous stage credits include vodka-guzzling middle sister Melanie in Lewis Black’s One Slight Hitch, Mae Flynn Pollitt in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for The Studio Players and trophy wife Kaitlyn Gordon, brainiac neurosurgeon Angela Saperstein-Koplan and caustic Bohemian author Brianna in Let Nothing You Dismay. You will find Danielle’s theatrical profile here.

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Kiana Cintron part of the ensemble of ‘Broadway Palm Thru The Decades’

Kiana Cintron is a stand-out as a member of the ensemble of Broadway Palm Thru The Decades. Her previous credits include work in the ensemble of In the Heights,  Wanda in Escape to Margaritaville (Prather Entertainment), Sonia in Godspell, Dance Captain in Newsies! (Florida Repertory Theatre), Nina Zarechnaya in Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull (FSW Theatre Program), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, (in which she portrayed seven different characters (FSW Theatre Program)), Tilly in She Kills Monsters (FSW Theatre Program), the Assistant Choreographer Lara in A Chorus Line (Florida Rep Conservancy) and Claire in This Random World (FSW Theatre Program). For more on Kiana, go here.

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Miguel Cintron plays dual roles in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ for Lab Theater

Miguel Cintron plays the dual roles of Robert and Thomas Colleymoore in Lewis, Sayer and Shields’ farce The Play That Goes Wrong at Lab Theater. Miguel’s theater career is denoted by many highlights, but perhaps none as lofty as playing a sarcastically irascible Almighty in Lab Theater’s An Act of God. Other stage credits include Usman in The Chechens for the Alliance for the Arts, Palomo in Anna in the Tropics and Yvan in Yasmina Reza’s Art. Please go here to view Miguel’s other theatrical credits.

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Louise Cornetta makes Studio Players debut in ‘Beer for Breakfast’

Louise K. Cornetta makes her Studio Players debut in Beer for Breakfast, where she plays the wife of one of four middle-aged buddies who plan a “guys weekend” to reclaim their youth and masculinity. He doesn’t make it to the lodge, but she does, and then gets snowed in overnight with her husband’s besties, sparking an epic struggle to determine who’s the superior sex. Although she graduated cum laude with a degree in theater from the University of Southern California, she didn’t initially go into acting but instead began a 25-year career ESPN that has taken her to every major sporting event. But Cornetta found her way back to the stage seven years ago. Go here for the rest of Louise’s profile.

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Carmen Crussard gets witchy for Belle Theatre’s ‘Into the Woods’

Carmen Crussard portrays the Witch for Belle Theatre in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. A multi-talented and multi-dimensional actor, director and fledgling playwright, Crussard’s stage credits include Conchita in Anna in the Tropics, Pocahontas in The Lab’s SoDis Theatre filmed theatrical production of Disenchanted, A New Musical Comedy and Seneca Howland in Men on Boats for Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts. To view all of Carmen’s theatrical accomplishments, please go here.

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James Duggan is Charles Condomine in ‘Blithe Spirit’ at The Naples Players

James Duggan plays Charles for The Naples Players in Blithe Spirit.  James previously directed Boeing Boeing this past January and appeared in Don’t Dress for Dinner, Making God Laugh and Maple and Vine, to name a few. James serves as the Director of Patron Services for The Naples Players.

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Matt Flynn appears in ‘Beer for Breakfast’ for Studio Players

Matt Flynn appears in Beer Before Breakfast for The Studio Players September 23 through October 9. Matt’s stage credits include The Bare Truth for The Marco Players, The Waverly Gallery for The Studio Players, America’s Sexiest Couple, Born Yesterday and The Farce Before Christmas for The Marco Players and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Gooper), Saved by the Bell, Where Is Man? and The Zoo Story (all part of An Evening of One Act Plays) for The Studio Players. Many years ago Matt did several shows at The Naples Players including Humble Boy, Neil Simon’s Rumors, and Regrets Only.

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Mitch Frank in Studio Players’ cast of ‘Beer for Breakfast’

Mitch Frank appears for The Studio Players in Sean Grennan’s Beer for Breakfast. A recent transplant from New Jersey, Mitch performed in community theater there for more than 30 years. He made his Florida debut and first appearance with The Studio Players in the role of Art Kirk in Nuts. He last appeared in the role of Peter in Slow Food. Go here to see what else Mitch has appeared in.

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Shelley Gothard plays Mrs. Bradman for TNP in ‘Blithe Spirit’

Shelley Gothard portrays Mrs. Bradman in The Naples Players’ production of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit. She has been involved in many productions at The Naples Players and other local theaters. Shelley was last seen as Hannah in Sarah Treem’s When We Were Young and Unafraid. Other stage credits include Mrs. Marchmont in TNP’s production of An Ideal Husband and work in the ensemble of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.

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Nikki Hagel plays prostitute Nellie in ‘Jekyll & Hyde the Musical’

Nikki Hagel appears in the role of a prostitute by the name of Nelly in Jekyll & Hyde the Musical, which opens October 13 at New Phoenix Theatre. Previous roles included Pamela in Head over Heels, Frederick Frankenstein fiancee Elizabeth Benning in Young Frankenstein, Georgie Buckatinsky in The Full Monty, and the memorable role of sax-playing Magenta in Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show, all for New Phoenix Theatre.

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Heather Johnson plays Annie in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ at Lab

Heather McLemore Johnson appears in Lab Theater’s Henry Lewis-Jonathan Sayer-Henry Shields comedy The Play That Goes Wrong, where she’ll play Annie. Heather’s stage credits include various roles in Lab Theater’s summer spoof of The Birds, 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, and an aggrieved soccer mom (and the only adult cast member) in The Wolves. Go here to view the rest of Heather’s theatrical credits.

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Erica Jones plays dead in ‘Blithe Spirit’

Erica Jones plays Elvira Condomine in Blithe Spirit.  In life, Elvira was spirited, outgoing, wild and carefree. In death, she’s no different, regularly having cocktails with Genghis Khan, among others. It’s a terrific role for Jones, who is highly spirited in real life as well. “Her comedic chops and energy are worth the ticket price alone,” comments cast mate and Assistant TNP Artistic Director Jessica Walck. Erica She was last seen as Gabriella in Boeing Boeing. 

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Jenna Mazzoli tugs at audience’s heartstrings as Rapunzel in ‘Into the Woods’

Jenna Mazzoli plays the part of Rapunzel in Belle Theatre’s production of Into the Woods. Her character is truly one of the story’s most tragic figures. Her mother, the Witch, locks her in a tower without doors to protect her but, instead, condemns her to a world of isolation and loneliness. Mazzoli’s portrayal tugs at the audience’s heartstrings.

Go here to view all of Jenna’s stage credits.

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Trace Meier plays Sir Danvers Carew in ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ for New Phoenix

Trace Meier appears in the role of Sir Danvers Carew for New Phoenix Theatre in their October production of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical. Trace’s stage credits include Quartet, multiple roles in Young Frankenstein and Dr. Scott in Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show for New Phoenix Theatre; and the priest in Andorra and roles in A Clockwork Orange and Chekhov’s The Bear for Lab Theater. He previously appeared in the role of Simon Stride in Jekyll & Hyde for Cultural Park Theater.

Go here for all of Trace’s theatrical credits.

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Matt Michael shines in ‘Broadway Palm Thru The Decades’

Matt Michael plays multiple roles in Broadway Palm Thru The Decades, the commemorative revue that features song-and-dance numbers from the top-selling musicals produced by Broadway Palm since its opening in 1993. Matt’s previous credits include various roles for Players Circle Theatre in Night and Day, The Dining Room and Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Matt’s other credits can be viewed here.

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Danica Murray plays multiple roles in touring production of ‘Lion, Witch and Wardrobe’

From September 27, 2022 through May 31, 2023, Danica and Cameron Rogers will play multiple roles in the Naples Performing Art Center’s Theatre for Young Audiences production of CS Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. She has already amassed an impressive resume, thanks in large measure to her participation in Florida Repertory Theatre’s Conservancy program. Her acting credits include CFABS Youth Theatre’s bold reimagining of Thorton Wilder’s Our Town, Caitlin O’Hare in Over the River and Through the Woods at Off Broadway Palm, The Woman in Woman in Black and Cloe in Bulletproof Backpack. Go here for all of Danica’s stage credits.

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Ellie Roddy special in ‘Broadway Palm Thru The Decades’

Ellie Roddy is a featured singer in Broadway Palm Thru The Decades. While her Mezzo Soprano is crazy good, no argument, it’s the quality of her acting that ratchets up the vocals and makes her delivery so special, particularly in numbers with an internal sense of humor like “Real Love of My Life” from Brigadoon and “Miss Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls.

Go here for the rest of this Spotlight.

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Daniel Sabiston plays Jonathan and Charles Haversham in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’

Daniel Sabiston appears in the roles of Jonathan and Charles Haversham in The Play That Goes Wrong. Daniel’s previous credits include various roles for Lab Theater in its summer spoof, The Birds: A Parody, Azalon in Dangerous Liaisons, Trinculo in The Tempest, Alan in Torch Song for The Studio Players, various roles in the summer spoof Sunset Schmoulevard, and Poggio di Chullu in the regional premiere of Jordan Tannahill’s Botticelli in the Fire. Go here to see the rest of Daniel’s stage credits.

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Cassie Sampson plays Cinderella’s stepmother for Belle Theatre in ‘Into the Woods’

Cassie Sampson plays Cinderella’s stepmother for Belle Theatre in Into the Woods. A ruthless social climber, she’s mean, demeaning and demanding and Sampson does a terrific job in a role the audience loves to hate. 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. She has also graced the stage at New Phoenix Theatre and Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts and will be in the ensemble of Jekyll & Hyde at New Phoenix in October.

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Cassie Sampson in ensemble of ‘Jekyll & Hyde’

Once New Phoenix royalty, Cassie Sampson will now appear as one of London’s street people as a member of the ensemble of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical for New Phoenix Theatre, where she was last seen in the role of Queen Gynecia in Head Over Heels. She also played Melissa in Lives of the Great Waitresses for Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts, as well as Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense 2: The Second Coming and Leann in A Piece of My Heart for Cultural Park Theater. Go here to view her full and formidable profile.

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Adriana Scheer reminds Amy McCleary of herself at that same age

Adriana Michelle Scheer is an NYC-based musical theatre performer and aspiring film actor. She sizzles in Broadway Palm Thru The Decades, a revue that celebrates the top-selling musicals produced by the theater since its inception in 1993. She was previously seen at Broadway Palm in Rock of Ages.

Whether she’s the featured principal or occupies a spot in the ensemble, Adriana is a stand-out in each of the song-and-dance numbers in which she appears. She receives especially high marks from Broadway Palm Director/Choreographer Amy Marie McCleary, who recently had this to say about Adriana in the context of the Hernando’s Hideway number in Thru The Ages:

“[She] reminds me a lot of myself as a young dancer, so that was a very special moment for me to choreograph Adriana in that role, a role that I played.” Go here for the rest of this Spotlight.

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Cassy Terwilliger plays Jekyll fiancee for New Phoenix in ‘Jekyll & Hyde’

Cassy Terwilliger plays the role of Emma Carew in New Phoenix Theatre’s production of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical. Her character in the show is Dr. Jekyll’s increasingly troubled fiancee who, in one of the show’s many highlights, sings a beautiful, soulful duet titled “In His Eyes” with a prostitute by the name of Lucy Harris, who becomes involved with both Jekyll and Hyde. Terwilliger was last seen in New Phoenix Theatre’s production of Head Over Heels, which marked her New Phoenix debut. Go here for all of Cassy’s theatrical credits.

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Jessica Walck plays part of Ruth Condomine in TNP’s ‘Blithe Spirit’

Jessica Walck appears in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit for TNP in the role of Charles Condomine’s second wife, Ruth. Witty and sophisticated, stuffy and predictable, Ruth is quite the society matron. Understandably, she is concerned, then convinced that her husband has lost his mind when Charles tells her that the medium, Madame Arcati, has not only made contact his deceased first wife, Elvira, but has brought her over from the other side. It is precisely the type of role that plays to Walck’s comedic talent and dramatic flair.

Go here to view all of Jessica’s theatrical credits.

2      DIRECTORS

Scott Carpenter directs ‘Jekyll & Hyde the Musical’ for New Phoenix Theatre

Scott Carpenter directs a star-studded cast in Jekyll & Hyde the Musical for New Phoenix Theatre.

Scott’s previous directing credits include last Spring’s production of Head over Heels for New Phoenix Theatre, as well as the Florida premiere of the spoof Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody,  Rumors for Lab Theater, Same Time, Next Year, Jekyll & Hyde the Musical, South Pacific, Mame, and Steel Magnolias.

Go here to view all of Scott’s theatrical credits.

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Spotlight on ‘Thru The Decades’ writer and director Victor Legarreta

Victor Legarreta wrote, directed and stars in Broadway Palm Thru The Decades, a show that celebrates the start of Broadway Palm’s 30^th season by featuring song-and-dance numbers from the top-selling Broadway musicals produced on the Broadway Palm mainstage since the theater’s inception in 1993. And Legarreta has been affiliated with Broadway Palm for 26 of those 29 years. In fact, Victor’s first show at Broadway Palm was the first show ever staged in the Off Broadway Palm theater. Over that span Victor has written, directed and choreographed 45 other original plays and/or musicals, and directed or choreographers a hundred others.

Go here for more on Victor’s theatrical credits.

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Spotlight on ‘Thru The Decades’ choreographer Amy Marie McCleary

Amy Marie McCleary is a multi-faceted musical theater artist who works as an actor, director and choreographer in local and regional theater. Most recently, she choreographed Broadway Palm Thru the Decades, a revue of the top-selling musicals produced by the theater since its inception in 1993. With song-and-dance numbers from 30 disparate shows and the need for her troupe to change their dance vocabulary from one to the next, choreographing Thru The Decades was no mean feat. But, no surprise, McCleary was up to the challenge, which she credits to the quality of the cast. Go here to listen to Amy talk about the show on WGCU.

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Director Danica Murray confident cast can handle ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ content and score

Danica Murray is branching out. She’s directing a production of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical at the Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs in October that features students ages 13 to 21.

“It’s a great pop rock gothic musical,” says Danica. “For people who haven’t seen it, it’s a really fun horror kind of retelling of Jekyll & Hyde.”

The musical is loosely based on Robert Louise Stevenson’s 1886 gothic horror novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

“While the cast is 13 to 21, it’s going to appeal to adults as well as kids,” Murray continues. “Everyone will get their kicks in this horror show. It’s going to be fun.”

You will find the rest of this story here.

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Artistic Director Kimberly Suskind directs ’13 the Musical’ for Gypsy Playhouse

A recent transplant from Greater Philadelphia, Kimberly Suskind is an actor, singer, dancer and the Artistic Director of Robin Dawn Academy’s Gypsy Playhouse. In that capacity, she is directing 13 the Musical, which runs at the Playhouse September 30-October 2. Kimberly has worked at many professional regional theatres across the country, including Walnut Street Theatre (PA), Cape May Stage (NJ), Delaware Theatre Company (DE), The Theatre Barn (NY), Eagle Theatre (NJ), Bucks County Playhouse (PA), Nightcap Cabaret (PA), Metro Stage Company (MA) and Village Theatre & Civic Light Opera (WA). Go here to view her impressive (and extensive) theatrical credits.

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Carling Witt provides choreography for New Phoenix musical ‘Jekyll & Hyde’

Carling Witt provides the choreography for New Phoenix Theatre’s production of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical. Witt distinguished herself with her portrayal of Mopsa in Head Over Heels. Other acting credits include Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Penny in Hairspray and Vivienne in Legally Blonde. Carling is employed as a musician and vocalist and has performed for Disney, Warner Bros, and Universal Studios.

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Belle Theatre’s Dana Alvarez honored with Freddie G Teaching Fellowship

Home to more than 20 equity and community theater companies, Southwest Florida is gaining national, if not international recognition for producing tomorrow’s stars of the stage and silver screen.

One of the theater educators doing this important developmental work is the Director of Theatre Education at Cape Coral’s new Belle Theatre, Dana Alvarez. In July, Alvarez was one of just six theater educators from around the world who was invited to take part in the 11^th Annual Freddie G Fellowship in New York City.

Listen to the story on WGCU.

Go here for Dana’s full theatrical credits and accomplishments.

‘True Likeness’ at Baker Museum through September 25

True Likeness opened June 25 at The Baker Museum. This fascinating exhibition explores the reasons people make and record images of each other, a subject that was brought into sharp focus by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from seeing the full faces of others while in public spaces over much of the past two years,” observes Museum Director and Chief Curator Courtney McNeil. “This exhibition gives us the opportunity to engage with the broad range of subjects represented in these portraits and to reflect on our profound similarities as humans, a notion which many of the artists included in True Likeness address through their art.”

The rest of this story is here.

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‘Recent Acquistions: 2019 to Present’ at Baker Museum through January 8, 2023

Recent Acquisitions: 2019-Present opened at The Baker Museum on June 25. This exhibition features more than 50 works that have been added to the museum’s permanent collection since 2019.

The Baker Museum’s permanent collection has grown steadily over the past two decades. With generous gifts and promised gifts from numerous individuals coupled with museum purchases, the art collection has continued to expand in both breadth and quality within the museum’s clearly defined scope, which encompasses American, Latin American and European art from the 1880s to the present day.

Go here for the rest of this spotlight.

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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’ September show features works on paper

During the month of September, DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery is showcasing an array of artworks created by various Southwest Florida artists who responded to the gallery’s recent invitational call challenging them to create artwork using paper as the main material or surface that imitates or honors the beauty of flowers and/or plants. Titled The Paper Garden, the exhibition not only features works on paper depicting flowers and plants, but a beautiful and cohesive presentation of work by many of the talented artists who live and work throughout Southwest Florida.

The opening reception is scheduled for 6:00-9:30 p.m. on Friday, September 2nd in conjunction with Fort Myers Art Walk. The exhibition will be on display through Sunday, September 25th, 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 can be found at daascoop.com or by calling 239-590-8645.

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4     PUBLIC ART

Art Committee launches mural project that will turn river basin into outdoor museum

A 54-panel mural project is coming to the downtown Fort Myers river basin. Depicting portraits and scenes that recount Fort Myers’ historic relationship to the Caloosahatchee River, the murals will be installed beginning this November on the concrete stanchions that anchor the decorative railing which encircles the detention basis that is overlooked by the Luminary Hotel.

When they drew up the plans for the detention basin in 2011, the architects who designed Phase 1 of the Riverfront Redevelopment Plan intended to include art on the face of each stanchion. That’s why each stanchion includes a one-inch deep illuminated inset.

Go here for the rest of this story.

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Spotlight on Fort Myers’ Ward 1 art hub at Roberto Clemente Park

The Fort Myers Public Art Committee is 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 Roberto Clemente Park in Ward 1. On November 19, 2021, the Committee moved two sculptures there – Cadencia or Bongo Drummer and Mambeo or Coco Leaf Chewer.

The term art hub refers to a location that is already or which is intended to become either a cultural, business or residential destination. With pavilions, picnic tables, beautifully-landscaped walking trails, a playground, tennis and basketball courts that are open seven days a week from dawn until dusk, thousands of local residents visit Roberto Clemente Park each month for picnics, family gatherings, community events and to visit the Williams Academy Black History Museum and the Lee County Black History Society. Special community events such as Juneteenth (which replaced the Mancipation Day Celebration), Holiday in the Park, and Black History Month are celebrated in the park.

Bongo Drummer and Coco Leaf Chewer join What Dreams We Have and How They Fly, a brightly colored 5×10 foot plasma-cut steel sculpture with mosaic elements that was installed in October of 2014. Another half dozen outdoor artworks are located a short drive from the park, as well.

The rest of this Spotlight is here.

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Spotlight on Fort Myers’ Ward 3 art hub at IMAG

For more than a year, the 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 IMAG History & Science Center in Ward 3. On April 25th, the Committee moved Duo Sinfonica or Man Playing Flute and Utopia or Boy Fishing from a Bucket to IMAG, which is an ideal art hub partner.

Go here for the full story.

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‘Fire Dance’ to be repainted in late September

One can’t help but notice all the activity that’s been taking place in Centennial Park so far this year. A stately new amphitheater. An expanded playground with brand new orange, blue and purple slides, swings and other equipment. A renovated pavilion and new sidewalks.

And there have been changes to the public artworks on display in the park as well. Gone are the big trees that once surrounded the Uncommon Friends fountain, keeping Parks & Beautification employees busy fishing out leaves, twigs and branches on a weekly, sometimes even daily basis. To make way for the bandshell, the USCT 2^nd Regiment and Buckingham & Page Army Air Field monuments were given new homes to the west of Uncommon Friends. And during the waning weeks of summer, the red modernist sculpture known as Fire Dance will get a make-over too.

The rest of this story is here.

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Audio for Collaboratory’s ‘Ribbon Routine’ now live on Otocast

A new audio has been added to Otocast, the free mobile app that shares stories about the City’s public artworks.

One of the artworks included on Otocast is the Cor-Ten steel sculpture known as Ribbon Routine (Ena En La Plaza) that sits outside the main entrance into the Collaboratory. Located at 2031 Jackson Street adjacent to the Fort Myers Fire Department’s main station and across from the Trailways.

The rest of this story is here.

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5     THEATER PRODUCTIONS

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CFABS Youth Players perform ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ musical October 14-16

The CFABS Youth Players will perform Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn’s re-imagining of Robert Louise Stevenson’s 1886 gothic horror Jekyll & Hyde October 14-16. The musical tells the gripping tale of a brilliant mind gone horrifically awry.

The story begins with Dr. Henry Jekyll’s quest to cure his ailing father’s mental illness by separating “good” from “evil” in the human personality. But in the effort, the good doctor inadvertently creates an alternate personality of pure evil dubbed Mr. Hyde. As Hyde wreaks murderous havoc on the city of London, Jekyll’s fiancée Emma grows increasingly fearful for her betrothed. Struggling to control Hyde before he takes over for good, Jekyll must race to find a cure for the demon he has created in his own mind.

The rest of this advance is here.

Go here for play dates, times and ticket info.

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Director Danica Murray confident cast can handle ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ content and score

Danica Murray is branching out. She’s directing a production of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical at the Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs in October that features students ages 13 to 21.

“It’s a great pop rock gothic musical,” says Danica. “For people who haven’t seen it, it’s a really fun horror kind of retelling of Jekyll & Hyde.”

The musical is loosely based on Robert Louise Stevenson’s 1886 gothic horror novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

“While the cast is 13 to 21, it’s going to appeal to adults as well as kids,” Murray continues. “Everyone will get their kicks in this horror show. It’s going to be fun.”

Although some of the members of her cast may be young, she’s not softening the edgier parts of the dialogue or characterizations.

The rest of this story is here.

Noel Coward comedy ‘Blithe Spirit’ puts new spin on vow ‘Till Death Do Us Part’

Noel Coward’s smash comedy hit Blithe Spirit plays in Blackburn Hall at The Naples Players September 28th through October 23rd. First produced in Britain in 1941, this timeless farce puts a new spin on “Till Death Do Us Part” when a local medium conjures a writer’s first wife from the beyond and she decides she’s not leaving. Listen on WGCU as Director Emma Canalese and actor Jessica Walck provide the details.