Naples Players facts for kids
The Naples Players (TNP) is a fun community theatre group in Naples, Florida. They started way back on January 19, 1953. Their home is the Sugden Community Theatre. It's located at 701 5th Avenue South in downtown Naples. People in Southwest Florida have voted TNP the "Best Live Theatre" many times. This shows how much people love their shows!
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History of The Naples Players
The Naples Players organization began on January 19, 1953. Their very first play was I Remember Mama. It was performed on March 20, 1953. This first show took place in the auditorium of what is now Gulfview Middle School. In 1958, the group put on its first musical, HMS Pinafore.
For the first 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 to the Kon-Tiki movie theatre. They changed it into a playhouse. Over the years, more and more people joined TNP. Their audience also grew a lot. By the mid-1990s, the Kon-Tiki Playhouse was getting old and falling apart. It was clear they needed a new place.
So, TNP started a huge fundraising effort. They worked with the City of Naples to find a good spot. They raised over $6 million to build the Sugden Community Theatre. The city provided the land. The new theatre was finished in 1998. It is only two blocks from Gulfview Middle School, where TNP started!
Today, TNP puts on shows all year long. They have over 500 members. Volunteer actors, directors, designers, and crew from all over Southwest Florida share their talents. The theatre welcomes over 65,000 audience members and season subscription holders every year.
What Shows Does TNP Perform?
TNP puts on many shows each year. Their main season includes six big stage productions. They also have three smaller studio productions. In total, they perform over 260 shows a year!
TNP also presents six KidzAct productions annually. They have special events too, like Readers Theatre. This is where actors read plays aloud. They also host their annual Front & Center Gala. This special event happens outside the Sugden Theatre on Baker Plaza.
KidzAct Youth Theatre Program
KidzAct is the amazing youth theatre program at The Naples Players. It teaches kids and teens about theatre. KidzAct 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. It offers classes to help children and young adults learn theatre skills. Kids from 4 to 18 years old can join.
KidzAct puts on six productions every year. Children can audition for these shows. The production classes help students use the skills they learn. KidzAct has a full-time staff. They also hire artists who are experts in voice, dance, improvisation, and acting. These experts teach nearly 1600 students! If families need help, Scholarships are available based on financial need.
In 2007, KidzAct started an Outreach program. This program works with local businesses and donors. They help bring plays to schools that don't have their own theatre programs. This way, more kids can experience theatre.
Theatre Spaces at Sugden Community Theatre
The Sugden Community Theatre building has two main performance spaces. It also has two sprung floor rehearsal halls. A sprung floor is special because it "gives" a little when you jump. This helps prevent injuries for dancers and actors.
The building also has a music room and a library. There are shops where they build scenery and costumes for the shows. Plus, it has offices for the staff. The theatre is located at 701 5th Avenue South.
Blackburn Hall: The Main Stage
Blackburn Hall is a large theatre with 318 seats. It is a proscenium theatre. This means the audience sits facing the stage, like looking through a picture frame. The aisles are on the left and right sides of the auditorium.
The theatre has an orchestra pit for musicians. It also has a tall "fly tower" that is 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 from above the stage. 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 special floor helps prevent foot and leg injuries for dancers. Blackburn Hall is where most of the big shows happen for TNP and KidzAct.
Tobye Studio Theatre: A Flexible Space
The Tobye Studio Theatre is a smaller theatre with 100 seats. It's called a "Black Box" theatre. This means it's a flexible performance space. The theatre's layout can be changed. This allows for different seating arrangements and performance styles.
The Tobye Studio lets the company perform "edgier" plays. These might not be right for the main stage. Examples include The Goat or Who is Sylvia? and The Laramie Project. It's also used for more personal versions of classic plays. These include The Lion In Winter and The Glass Menagerie.
The Tobye Studio is also used for KidzAct shows. It hosts staged play readings through the company's Readers Theatre program.
