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.