"How I Became A Pirate" sets sail on the high seas through November at Broadway Palm

AARRRRGH matey! "How I Became A Pirate" is playing selected performances October 25 through November 22, 2013 at Broadway Palm. 

When Jeremy Jacobs’ exceptional skills for building sand castles and digging moats earned him an invitation to join Braid Beard’s pirate crew, Jeremy thinks the pirate life is for him. Until he realizes that the simple things in life, like a kiss and a warm tucking in at night, are those that are most important. 

Ticket prices for the buffet and the show are only $18 for all ages. Call (239) 278-4422 or www.BroadwayPalm.com.

Complete press release below.

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 AHOY! BROADWAY PALM CHILDREN’S THEATRE PRESENTS “HOW I BECAME A PIRATE”!

Broadway Palm Children’s Theatre presents How I Became A Pirate playing October 25*, 27, 29* and November 1*, 2, 5*, 8*, 10, 12*, 15*, 19*, 22*, 2013.  How I Became A Pirate was adapted for the stage by award-winning composers, lyricists and playwrights Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman and is based on the best-selling children’s book written by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon.

            When Jeremy Jacobs’ exceptional skills for building sand castles and digging moats earned him an invitation to join Braid Beard’s pirate crew, Jeremy thinks the pirate life is for him. Until he realizes that the simple things in life, like a kiss and a warm tucking in at night, are those that are most important.  Set sail for a fun-filled journey as Jeremy learns that the most important things in life are worth more than buried treasure.  A story of adventure and finding one’s own heart – a path that can’t be found on any treasure map.
          
 Broadway Palm Children’s Theatre presents full-scale productions that are great for all ages.  All performances begin with a buffet at noon and show time at 1:00 pm. (except where indicated*, lunch is at 10:30am and the show is at 11:30am.) The chef’s special buffet includes children’s favorites like chicken nuggets, tacos, french fries, pizza, pasta and more.

AARRRRGH matey! How I Became A Pirate is playing selected performances October 25 through November 22, 2013 at Broadway Palm.  Ticket prices for the buffet and the show are only $18 for all ages. Group rates are available for parties of 20 or more.  Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm.com, or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

BIG ARTS early bird ticket specials end Oct. 31

Hey ya'll. "Time is running out" - their words - to save some money on BIG ARTS tickets. If you're going over the causeway, at least save some cash (and go get coffee at the Sanibel Bean!).

The Early Bird Special (which I received, or at least should have) offers a 25% discount on select BIG ARTS and Herb Strauss Theater packages and some individual tickets.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.BIGARTS.org, by calling BIG ARTS Marks Box Office at 239-395-0900 or Herb Strauss Theater Box Office (239) 472-6862 and at BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, FL 33957.

Complete press release below.

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SANIBEL, FL. (October 22, 2013) — Time is running out to take advantage of the new discounts celebrating BIG ARTS' 35th anniversary season, including the Early Bird Special which features an extra 25% discount off select BIG ARTS and Herb Strauss Theater packages as well as individual tickets. Offering savings up to 40% on select tickets, the Early Bird Special offer expires October 31, 2013. Groups of ten or more are also eligible for special discounts.

The Early Bird discount ticket offer complements another new BIG ARTS marketing initiative launched this season, a special package featuring one adult ticket to all six Herb Strauss Theater opening night performances and the pre-show receptions for just $200, a savings of more than 15%. In addition, the Starfish Grille recently signed on as a marketing partner for the 2013-2104 season and will provide the catering for all of the opening night pre-performance receptions at Herb Strauss Theater. 

The Herb Strauss Theater opening night performances:
• Saturday, November 30: Hamlet {solo}
• Thursday, December 19: Holiday Spectacular
• Friday, January 10: Into The Woods
• Thursday, February 20: Defamation
• Friday, March 7: Romance/Romance
• Friday, April 11: The Big Bang

Also new this season, tickets to all Herb Strauss Theater performances as well as the majority of BIG ARTS concerts and performances, are only $5 each for students with valid student ID and for children 17 and under.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.BIGARTS.org, by calling BIG ARTS Marks Box Office at 239-395-0900 or Herb Strauss Theater Box Office (239) 472-6862 and at BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, FL 33957. Discover more about BIG ARTS, including volunteer opportunities and membership options as well as purchase tickets or learn more about our full season lineup of exhibits, performances, classes and events today.

A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, programming at BIG ARTS is made possible through the generous support of more than 300 dedicated volunteers  and donors as well as our corporate sponsors, such as the 2013-2014 Herb Strauss Theater Season Sponsor, The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company.

Read the preview: "All My Raisins in the Son" at Theatre Conspiracy"

Post by Chris Silk.

Musical "New Wrinkles" opens Nov. 8 at Firehouse Community Theatre

Musical "New Wrinkles" opens at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8 at the Firehouse Community Theatre in LaBelle. For tickets, visit www.firehousecommunitytheatre.com or call the Box Office at 863-675-3066.

Firehouse is offering a WEB FRENZY!!!! special for the Friday, Nov. 8 show. Online-only tickets are available for just $8 - that is a $6 savings. Get 'em while they're hot!

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Post by Firehouse Community Theatre, Inc.

Artis-Naples welcomes four local non-profits with free facility rentals

Artis—Naples' CEO and President, Kathleen van Bergen with one of tomorrow's leaders, Girl Scout Ambassador Avnee Mistry, during a recent Girl Scout event in the Daniels Pavilion at Artis—Naples.

Let's take a moment to note that I totally called this back in July.

See what I'm talking about below the jump.

One-liners: Theater News Briefs (and my stories) for Tuesday, October 22

Just a note: If you don't put a "view on web" link in your promo emails, it can't go here.

• Read my preview of Theatre Conspiracy show "All My Raisins in the Son," starring none other than the fabulous Angie Koch. She's playing Florence Goldberg, the sarcastic comic relief (that's according to Angie).

• Read my review of the Let's Put On A Show production "Afterlife of the Rich and Famous." It's pretty fun, ya'll.

The Gulfshore Playhouse charity golf tournament will be Monday, Nov. 4 at The Colony Golf & Bay Club in Bonita Springs. Golf with Ian Peakes, a golf pro and cast member of "Something Intangible" for $1,500. (this may be gone by now).

Tickets on sale for the Island Theater Company show "Blame It On Beckett." $20, starts Nov. 1. Get more at theateronmarco.com.

The Marco Players will sponsor "Play With the Arts," a champagne and strawberries (Hello, Julia Roberts!) art session in the Artist's Gallery in The Esplanade. Two sessions on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2 run from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. RSVP required.

The Naples Players will hold auditions for "Black Tie" at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Rehearsal starts Nov. 25. Call 239-263-7990 for more information.

The District 18 Marching Band Assessment (Festival) will start at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 in the Edison Stadium at Fort Myers High School. Twenty high schools marching bands from three counties will perform their halftime shows.  Fort Myers High School is located at 2635 Cortez Boulevard. Tickets, $7, are available at the gate.

TheatreZone, Opera Naples and the ArtsNaples World Festival will present highlights from their upcoming seasons from 5:30 − 7:30 p.m. at Clive Daniel Home in Naples on Thursday, Nov. 14. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. For more information or to make reservations, please call the Opera Naples box office at (239) 963-9050. Clive Daniel Home is located at 2777 Tamiami Trail North in Naples.

Casting: Michael Amante to play Freddie Trumper in TheatreZone's "Chess"

Michael Amante

TheatreZone announced Monday that "The People's Tenor" Michael Amante will play Freddie Trumper in their production of "Chess" in March.

Mr. Amante has been crowned the "Prince of High C's" for his remarkable ability to hit and sustain with ease, one of the highest notes of a tenor’s voice.

The TheatreZone season opens with "Whistle Down the Wind" in January. "Chess" runs March 6-16. For more information or to purchase tickets, call TheaterZone at 1-888-ZONE-FLA, 1-888-966-3352 or purchase online at  www.theatrezone-florida.com.

AUDITION: "Bigger Than Life" at The Acting Studio of SWFL

The Acting Studio of SWFL will hold auditions for a production of "Bigger Than Life" at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 26. Performers ages 9-17 are eligible for roles in the show.

"Bigger Than Life" is a roughly 45-minute play that presents American folk tales and legends through the guise of an Old West traveling medicine show. Actors can use a huge variety of sound effects as well. Read a sample of the script here.

The Acting Studio of SWFL is located just south of San Carlos Boulevard at 19451 S. Tamiami Trail in San Carlos Park. For more information, contact Pasquale Gaeta at (239) 898-6226 or www.actingstudioswfl.com.

Edison students to present "Dead Man's Cell Phone"

"Dead Man's Cell Phone" runs for 8 performances Nov. 14-23.

Students at Edison State College will present Sarah Ruhl play "Dead Man's Cell Phone" Nov. 14-23.

I have kind of a love-hate relationship with Sarah Ruhl plays. I've seen, I think, three - including "Dead Man's Cell Phone" and read a few more.

The plays wander around in metaphysics, technology and whatever else seems to flicker across the cosmos. It can be fascinating, but directors have to have a *very* clear vision (see "The Clean House") in order to focus the show. I'm interested to see what Stuart Brown and his students do with this one.

"Dead Man's Cell Phone" runs for 8 performances Nov. 14-23. Shows are 8 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, with 2 p.m. matinees on Nov. 16 & 23. Tickets ($10, $5 students) available at the door or http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/470702. Be warned, seating is limited and in high demand.

PR: Broadway Palm lends helping paw to Animal Refuge Center

Annie Freres as Grizabella, Lily from ARC, and Sarah Nelson as Victoria

Kudos to Broadway Palm for lending some visibility to the Animal Refuge Center (ARC). During the run of "Cats," Broadway Palm is selling “paws” for $1 each and all proceeds go directly to the Animal Refuge Center. "Cats" runs through November 23, 2013 - and you really should see it! (read the reviews here)

Photos: "Blame It On Beckett" at Island Theater Company

Mai Puccio and John Moulton.

Ooooh. Goodies.

I found a couple new photos stashed back in the inbox archive of no return from the  Island Theater Company production of "Blame It On Beckett." Ya'll don't even want to KNOW how many emails are in that folder.

"Blame it On Beckett" will run for nine shows at the Rose History Auditorium, 180 S. Heathwood Drive, from November 1-16. Tickets, $20, are available at Centennial Bank, the Marco Island Historical Society Gift Shop, theateronmarco.com, 239-394-0080 and at the door. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; curtain for Sunday matinées is 2:30 p.m.

PHOTOS: "The Mystery of Irma Vep" at the Naples Players

Mike Santos and Mark Vanagas play 7 different roles
in the Naples Players production of horror story
spoof "The Mystery of Irma Vep."
"Irma Vep" runs Oct. 30 - Nov. 23.

Here's your first look at the Naples Players production of "The Mystery of Irma Vep." Mike Santos and Mark Vanagas play 7 different roles in the horror story spoof.

"Irma Vep" runs Oct. 30 - Nov. 23 in the black box Tobye Studio. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 18 and under. Call 239-263-7990 or online at naplesplayers.org/tickets.

Read my review of the Florida Rep production from May 2012 (spoilers) for another look at the show.