Naples Players facts for kids
The Naples Players (TNP) is a fun community theatre group in Naples, Florida. It started on January 19, 1953. TNP performs at the Sugden Community Theatre, located at 701 5th Avenue South in downtown Naples. Many people in Southwest Florida have voted TNP the "Best Live Theatre" fifteen times in a poll by The Naples Daily News.
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The History of The Naples Players
The Naples Players began on January 19, 1953. Their very first play was I Remember Mama. It was performed on March 20, 1953, in the auditorium of what is now Gulfview Middle School. In 1958, they put on their first musical, HMS Pinafore.
For 22 years, TNP performed in many different places. They used local schools, storefronts, and even homes. In 1975, they found a more permanent spot. They opened a small 40-seat playhouse at 2363 Davis Boulevard. This was their home for the next ten years.
In 1985, TNP moved again. They changed an old movie theater, the Kon-Tiki, into their new playhouse. As the years passed, more and more people joined TNP. Their audience also grew. By the mid-1990s, the Kon-Tiki Playhouse was getting old. It needed many repairs.
So, TNP decided they needed a new home. They started a big fundraising effort. With help from the City of Naples, they raised over $6 million. This money was used to build the Sugden Community Theatre. It was finished in 1998. The new theater is only two blocks from Gulfview Middle School, where TNP first started.
Today, The Naples Players put on shows all year long. They have over 500 members who pay dues. Many talented volunteers from Southwest Florida help with the shows. These volunteers are actors, directors, designers, and crew members. The theater welcomes over 65,000 audience members and season subscription holders every year.
Performance Schedule and Shows
TNP has a busy schedule of performances each year. They put on six main stage shows. They also have three studio productions. This adds up to more than 260 performances annually.
The Players also present six KidzAct productions each year. They offer Readers Theatre, which are plays read aloud. There are also showcase classes and special events. One big event is their annual Front & Center Gala. This party is held outside the Sugden Theatre on Baker Plaza.
KidzAct Youth Theatre Program
KidzAct is The Naples Players' special program for young people. It focuses on youth theatre and theatre education. KidzAct was started in 2002.
Before KidzAct, TNP usually put on one youth musical in the summer. But in the early 2000s, they wanted to do more. They created a year-round program. This program teaches children and young adults, aged 4 to 18, many theater skills. It also includes production classes where students can use what they learn.
KidzAct puts on six shows every year. Children can audition to join the production classes. These classes help students apply their skills. KidzAct has a full-time staff. They also hire artists who are experts in voice, dance, improvisation, and acting. These instructors teach nearly 1600 students at the theater. If families need help with costs, Scholarships are available.
In 2007, KidzAct started an Outreach program. This program works with local businesses and donors. They help bring plays to schools that do not have their own theatre programs. This program adds to the school's activities. It does not replace any existing teachers.
Performance Facilities at Sugden Community Theatre
The Sugden Community Theatre building has two main performance areas. It also has two sprung floor rehearsal halls. There is a music room and a library. The building also has shops for building scenery and costumes. Plus, it has offices for the full-time staff. The theater is located at 701 5th Avenue South.
Blackburn Hall: The Main Stage
Blackburn Hall is a large theater with 318 seats. It is a proscenium theatre. This means the stage is like a picture frame. The aisles are on the left and right sides of the auditorium.
The theater has an orchestra pit for musicians. It also has a tall fly tower, about 66 feet (20 meters) high. This tower has 29 lines of rigging. These lines are used to "fly" scenery and lights up and down. Four lines are for lights, and 25 are for scenery.
The stage floor is a sprung floor. It is made of plywood and pine strips with rubber cushions. This type of floor "gives" a little when stepped on. This helps prevent foot and leg injuries for dancers. Blackburn Hall is the main stage for The Naples Players. It is also used for the KidzAct program.
Tobye Studio Theatre: A Flexible Space
The Tobye Studio Theatre is a smaller space with 100 seats. It is called a "Black Box" theatre. This means it is a very flexible performance space. The layout of the theater can be changed. This allows for different seating arrangements and performance styles.
The Tobye Studio lets the company perform plays that might be different. These plays might not be suitable for the main stage. Examples include The Goat or Who is Sylvia? and The Laramie Project. It is also used for more personal performances of classic plays. These include The Lion In Winter and The Glass Menagerie. The space is also used for KidzAct shows. It hosts staged play readings through the company's Readers Theatre program.
