The show must go on. Even with a theater under construction or no permanent home, local theater groups are finding a way to continue to teach acting skills to children and adults and even give full performances for the community.
In April the building on Fifth Avenue in Naples that was home to The Naples Players, closed for major renovations. It won’t completely open until October 2024.
“Education station, temporary location,” said Craig Price, director of community education and wellness, as he greeted children entering one of the acting programs at a temporary location in North Naples.
Young Naples Players rehearsing at a temporary location. Photo from Naples Players.
TNP is leasing the former preschool building at the Naples United Church of Christ. The classrooms are now used for acting lessons, dance, improv, and more. They are also leasing the church’s McSpadden Hall, that they turned into a makeshift theater. The group built a stage, put in a floor and brought in seating for 175 people. This summer children and teenagers performed Beauty and the Beast and Into the Woods in the church theater.
The group also leased space at the Community School of Naples for its production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
“It has really been a partnership of Theatre Zone at the Community School and McSpadden Hall and the church,” Price explained. “We have been very lucky to be able to lease these spaces to continue with our education and our productions.”
Tucker Claremont, 16, has performed in shows at TNP in the past, and is now rehearsing and performing in the temporary locations. He calls it a good educational experience.
“In the Broadway business you are working with small spaces,” he described. “It was an adjustment, but it was a really cool experience.”
Rehearsal space at the church is much smaller than he is used to.
“It took a lot of creativeness to figure out how to use the space in the church,” Tucker said. “The biggest room there was about half the size of what we are used to, but it was a great experience.”
Tucker performed in Hunchback this summer at the Community School’s theater. He said having audience boxes added to the atmosphere of the show.
“It was wonderful,” he concluded. “Between the church and the Community School of Naples, we had plenty of resources.”
Price said these partnerships are essential for the survival of the Naples Players.
“It could have been devastating for our theater,” Price stated. “I don’t think we could survive a year. We survived COVID by doing everything online. We made it work during COVID, so we are making it work during construction.”
Next year TNP will move back into its building after a $21 million restoration and expansion. The new 44,000-square-foot facility will have three theaters; it previously had two.
Students from Gulfshore Playhouse rehearsing in a temporary location. Photo by Gulfshore Playhouse.
The Gulfshore Playhouse is also in a temporary location while it constructs its first building. The group currently practices and performs at the Norris Center and holds rehearsals in the Fleischmann Field House. During the 2022-23 season, the group worked with more than 6,300 students and expects to double that number this year.
Construction is underway on a new building that will have two theaters, a production studio, rehearsal studio and education wing. Its new Baker Theater and Education Center is expected to open in October 2024.
“It is going to be a beautiful one,” said Rachel Applegate, chief marketing officer. “We are building an entire new theater from the ground up.”
Teens perform at Arts Bonita. Photo by Arts Bonita.
Arts Bonita is expanding outward with plans to bring more activities beyond its two campuses. The group just changed its name from Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs to Arts Bonita.
“Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs was such a mouthful,” said Alyona Ushe, executive director.
While its buildings are not under construction and all programs are going on inside, Ushe also wants to move things outside.
“We are going to do a lot more in the community,” Ushe said. “We want to invite as many artists as we can accommodate to come to our buildings, but in addition to that we want to spill onto the streets. We want to do art walks, more art shows. We want to do a show in December to give people the opportunity to buy unique gifts. We want to do more festivals and events. We want to see how we can get much more engaged and offer a greater variety.”