Visual and performing arts and events in the news in December, 2024

This is who and what’s creating news in Southwest Florida’s visual and performing arts community during the month of December, 2024:

1     ART NEWS AND EXHIBITIONS

Baker Museum collaborates with Pelican Bay Foundation on outdoor sculpture trail

Long before patrons step inside Naples’ Baker Museum of Art, they’re treated to nearly a dozen magnificent works of art, free of charge. In furtherance of its commitment to outdoor sculpture, The Baker Museum has partnered with the Pelican Bay Foundation to create a sculpture walk along the sidewalk across the street from the Hayes Hall and museum entrances on Pelican Bay Boulevard. Read the full story on WGCU.

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Alex Katz exhibit at Baker Museum provides pop art slant on artist’s decades-long collaborations

Alex Katz: Theater and Dance constitutes the first comprehensive exploration of Katzʼs playful and inventive collaborations with choreographers, dancers and members of avant-garde theater ensembles over six decades. In addition to presenting a range of works by innovators across the performing arts and poetry, it spotlights 15 shows Katz produced with Paul Taylor, exploring the creative partnership that generated some of the most significant postmodern dance and art of the 20th century. Hear or read the full story on WGCU.

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Outgoing director Molly Rowan-Deckart says Alliance for the Arts has bright future

Molly Rowan-Deckart accomplished a great deal during her four-year tenure as the Executive Director of the Alliance for the Arts. But she would have likely accomplished so much more had it not been for a worldwide pandemic, three hurricanes (Ian, Helene and Milton) and Governor Ron DeSantis’ veto of art funding statewide. While Rowan-Deckart may have set the table, now it’s up to her successor to make sure the Alliance for the Arts serves up a bountiful feast. Read more about Molly’s parting thoughts here on WGCU.

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Arts Bonita hosts Fort Myers Beach Art Association’s ‘Dreams to Wings’ exhibit

On November 21, Dreams to Wings opened in Arts Bonita’s gallery in the round at its Performing Arts Center in the Hinman Auditorium on Bonita Beach Road. It’s a collection of work by Fort Myers Beach Art Association members, who lost their permanent home during Hurricane Ian. Since Hurricane Ian, the association has been without a permanent home. Its members have persevered and collaborated with Arts Bonita on a collection of uplifting artwork. Listen to or read the full story on WGCU.

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On view through December 12, Bradford Hermann solo show at Arts Bonita features found and recycled materials

The main gallery at the Arts Bonita Visual Art Center is hosting a solo show of 34 multi-dimensional mixed media works by local artist Hermann Bradford now through December 12.

“It is a feast for the eyes,” says curator Danielle Branchaud. “His work is provocative and fun, and it was just really well received at the opening reception.”

Hermann is not just a masterful painter. He’s a master craftsman, often incorporating a surprising combination of found and recycled materials into constructions on canvas, Masonite and plywood.

Read the full story on WGCU.

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Voters give go-ahead for Fort Myers to add and connect parks and green space

Thanks to approval of a $75 million bond referendum on last Tuesday’s ballot, Fort Myers is about to upgrade existing parks and recreational facilities and acquire vacant land for new parks and green spaces. There’s more involved in just upgrading and adding new parks and green spaces. The city’s recently adopted master plan places importance on connecting new and existing parks and green space to one another. “Connecting all the parks so that it’s one system as opposed to just parks all over the place, clusters you know,” said Hicks. “We want to really just connect everything and everything to be intertwined so that everybody can enjoy everything.” Read the full story on WGCU.

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New City Council member Diana Giraldo seeks to plan Fort Myers’ growth around parks, trails and art

New Ward 2 City Council member Diana Giraldo seeks to plan Fort Myers’ growth around parks, trails and art in order to enhance quality of life for citizens and visitors. With the proceeds provided by its G.O. bonds, the city has the opportunity to acquire land for parks and green space. Those places can integrate landmarks, foster placemaking and enhance local flavor. Giraldo says the city has to be thoughtful in how it goes about doing this and resist the temptation to sacrifice quality of life elements on the altar of value engineering. Hear or read the full story on WGCU.

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Naples Art Institute’s ‘Adventure in the Arts’ features Pollock, Rauschenberg, Johns and more through January 5

An Adventure In The Arts: The Guild Hall Collection opens November 9 at the Naples Art Institute. It contains 72 works by 59 artists, including George Bellows, Lynda Benglis, Chuck Close, Jane Freilicher, Adolph Gottlieb, Jasper Johns, Thomas Moran, Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollock and Robert Rauschenberg. Their work spans the period beginning 1878 and concluding in 1994. For more on the show, visit WGCU.org.

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Tomaso Albertini creating dynamic art in studio at Naples Art Institute

Tomaso Albertini is creating dynamic three-dimensional art at Naples Art Institute. In the realm of art, Albertini’s process, medium and compositions are unique. They had to be in order to stand out among the competition in New York City, where he launched his career in 2015. Read the story on WGCU.

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Three floors of contemporary art greet Sarasota museum guests

Sarasota Art Museum has no permanent collection. Instead, it stages rotating exhibitions of transformative, relevant and pioneering artists in an ongoing effort to facilitate the appreciation and understanding of the art of our times. While the art on display changes, the museum’s point of entry remains constant, and that’s where visitors discover the intriguing “28 Colors of Sarasota” mural. Read or listen to the full story on WGCU.

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Sarasota Art Museum’s ‘Contemplating Vermeer’ exhibit runs through April 13, 2025

The Sarasota Art Museum’s exhibition of miniature paintings titled “Contemplating Vermeer” will really blow people’s minds. At least that’s what  SAM Executive Director Virginia Shearer thinks. From the easel of Joe Fig, the works in the exhibition depict people looking at the Vermeers on the walls of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 2023 during its monumental exhibition of Johannes Vermeer’s masterpieces. Drawing on his own visit to this historic show, Fig created 16 paintings that not only pay homage to the 17th century painter’s mastery of light, color, and verisimilitude, but reflect on the aesthetic experience in the Rijksmuseum’s galleries. Read the full story on WGCU.

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2     ON STAGE AT AREA THEATERS

On stage the week ending December 1st

There are no turkeys on the boards this week as five new shows open at area community and equity theaters:  Another Night Before Christmas at the Off Broadway Palm, A Motown Christmas at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, A Nice Family Christmas at The Studio Players, Greetings at Players Circle Theatre and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd at Florida Repertory Theatre. Visit wgcu.org for play dates, times and a synopsis of all 12 shows on stage this week.

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On stage at area theaters the week of December 2

Live theater lovers have two dozen productions to choose from this week, including ten new shows, a holiday tradition and two different performances of the Nutcracker ballet. Visit wgcu.org for play dates, times and a synopsis of each of the 24 shows on stage this week.

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3     THEATER

Melody Lane’s production of ‘Six’ distinguished by Ladies in Waiting ensemble

Melody Lane Theatre is performing “Six the Musical” at Ter-Tini’s in Fort Myers through Dec. 8. While Cypress Lake, Canterbury, North Fort Myers High and Naples Performing Arts Center have all produced the musical in the past year, the inclusion of an ensemble of “Ladies in Waiting” coupled with Sami Doherty’s trademark choreography distinguishes Melody Lane’s production. The Queens’ Ladies in Waiting are played by Addison Smith (who also played Anne Boleyn during Thursday’s performance), Eleanor Bonds, Karrington Kennelly, Luciana Mendez and Tatiana Robinson. Collectively, they amplify the solos and harmonies sang by their Queens and enhance the dance sequences that Doherty has specially choreographed for the show. Read the rest of this review on WGCU.

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Ghostbird returns to Koreshan State Park with ‘Toad Frog’ December 6-8

Ghostbird Theatre Company returns to Koreshan State Park December 6-8. On those dates, Ghostbird will tell frog stories under the canopy of a giant oak nestled near a fancy bridge behind the bakery of the old Koreshan village where children once dressed as bumble bees and strange flowers, while parents dreamed of living inside a sphere of forever happiness. Toad Frog is a collection of songs, a poem or two and an illustrated story, told in the natural world we share with creatures we often hear but rarely notice.

Bring your own chair or blanket and join us under the tree. Written by James Brock, Barry Cavin and Katelyn Gravel, this poem-play-song for grown-ups features Alexandra Adams, Tatum Bates, Amanda Collins, Katelyn Gravel and Adrianna Martinez. Barry Cavin also directs.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair or blanket and wear comfortable shoes and clothing appropriate for the outdoors. The show is free and begins at 7:30 p.m., weather permitting. There is an entrance charge for the state park of $5.00 for cars with 2-8 individuals and $4.00 for cars with 1 individual. The production is suitable for audiences 16 and older.

Ghostbird Theatre Company remains the only theatre company in the American South devoted to site-specific productions.

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‘A Motown Christmas’ is Wescoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Christmas card to the community

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe calls its holiday offering its Christmas card to the community. This year, WBTT returns “A Motown Christmas” to the Donelly Theatre stage.

“I created it from the history of Motown, so in the show, we talk about historical facts and share the music off of the Motown artists’ Christmas albums, as well as a lot of the traditional Christmas music of the world,” said founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs, who wrote and arranged the musical.

Hear or listen to the full story on WGCU.

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4     ACTORS

Hannah Cruz is Catherine of Aragon in ‘Six the Musical’ for Melody Lane Theatre

Hannah Cruz appears in the role of Catherine of Aragon in Six the Musical for Melody Lane Theatre, which marks the milestone of being her 57th stage show. She last appeared in the ensemble of Elf the Musical at Fort Myers Theatre. Before that, the Bishop Verot senior played the titular role in Mary Poppins, Amy in Little Women and Miss Jones in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Find more of Hannah’s stage credits here.

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Lia Jaquez is Catherine Parr in ‘Six the Musical’ for Melody Lane Theatre

Lia Jaquez makes her Melody Lane Theatre debut in the role of Catherine Parr in Six the Musical. The Ida Baker high school senior and Drama Club member’s past credits include Timoune in Once on this Island (Florida Repertory Theatre), Danielle in Bring It On (The Ile Theatre ), Moana in Moana(Fort Myers Theatre), Sour Kangaroo in Seussical (Fort Myers Theatre) and Gabriela in High School Musical Junior (The Belle Theatre).

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Emma Kane is Anne Boleyn in ‘Six the Musical’ for Melody Lane Theatre

Emma Kane plays Anne Boleyn in Six the Musical. Kane is a junior at North Fort Myers High School, where she is in the theater and choir programs. Some of her favorite previous roles include dance ensemble in All Shook Up at NFMHS, Paulette in Legally Blonde at Melody Lane Performing Arts Center and work in the ensemble in Newsies also at MLPAC.

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Georgia Rainero is Katherine Howard in ‘Six the Musical’ for Melody Lane Theatre

Georgia Rainero plays the part of Katherine Howard in Six the Musical for Melody Lane Theatre. Georgia’s prior stage credits include Velma Kelly in Chicago (Melody Lane Theatre), Belle in Beauty and the Beast (Florida Repertory Theatre), Demeter in Cats (Melody Lane Theatre), Karen Smith in Mean Girls High School Version (Melody Lane Theatre), Judy in A Chorus Line (Melody Lane Theatre), work in the ensembles of Spring Awakening (Arts Bonita Center for the Performing Arts) and Les Miserables (Melody Lane Theatre in both 2023 and 2021), Elmer in Newsies (The Belle Theatre) and one of the Venus-A-Go-Go-Girls in Rock of Ages (Melody Lane Theatre).

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5     MUSIC

Opera Naples and Luciano Pavarotti Foundation expand collaboration

A couple of years ago, some influential boosters began exploring the idea of building an opera house in Naples. An integral component of the project, called Theater in the Garden, is a museum dedicated to the artistry of Luciano Pavarotti. Rather than wait for the opera house and museum to be built, Opera Naples and the late tenor’s wife, Nicoletta Mantovani, decided to begin working together immediately. This season, Opera Naples and the Pavarotti Foundation are expanding their affiliation in two important ways. Read the story on WGCU.

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Opera Naples helping new-to-opera attendees getting that Julia Roberts experience

On Nov. 21, OPERA America released a groundbreaking report titled “Understanding Opera’s New Audiences.” The yearlong study delved into the motivations, experiences and barriers faced by new opera audiences nationwide. In a nutshell, most new-to-opera attendees come for that Julia Roberts-Pretty Woman experience. That doesn’t surprise Opera Naples Artistic Director Ramon Tebar. Listen to or read the full story on WGCU.