So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience Program

The Neil Diamond Experience

CHRISTENSEN PERFORMANCE HALL on The Madeline Janis Courter Stage

FEBRUARY 29, 2024 8:00PM

Graciously Sponsored By GUSTAV AND VIBEKE CHRISTENSEN

A M essage for our Friends

BIG ARTS, now in its fifth decade, was created by and for the community. Time has not diminished our devotion to a fundamental purpose and principle: To provide a warm and welcoming place that celebrates the arts, and the artist in all of us, and helps remind us of our shared humanity.

Throughout the recent rough years of closures and cancellations, we never closed our doors. We flung them open to host several free gatherings, complete with entertainment, food and beverages, and to offer a space in which we can revel in the joy of being together again.

Now, a full season of great lectures, workshops, films, fine arts exhibits and performing artists is back! It is deeply rewarding for us to see the hallways, galleries, seats and classrooms filled with new and old friends enjoying all that BIG ARTS offers.

Our commitment to community extends to the stewardship of our donors’ dollars. While our foundation is strong, we took a financial “hit” during the canceled seasons. With a brand-new season up and running, we look to our loyal friends and patrons to help us weather the changes and continue to flourish.

Thank you for including BIG ARTS in your charitable giving. Every dollar is deeply appreciated. Your support signals your belief in our mission and ensures that BIG ARTS continues to be a vibrant community partner in Sanibel and Captiva’s enduring quality of life – now and for decades

Lee Ellen Harder Executive Director

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With his powerful presence, from the moment he struts on stage wearing trademark black, gray, and silver sequined jacket, Robert Neary, uncannily, resembles Neil Diamond at the height of his touring career in the ‘90s and 2000s.

SO GOOD! THE NEIL DIAMOND EXPERIENCE

Robert Neary creates a one-of-a-kind tribute to one of the most successful musical artists in history. With 40 years in the entertainment industry, Robert’s credits include three Broadway leads and more than 60 major guest starring television and film roles.

Now, with half a million fans worldwide and counting, along with thousands of reviews all over the Internet and social media, “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience” is selling out venues across the country and being hailed as the most authentic and professional tribute to Neil Diamond, ever.

ROBERT NEARY

Robert Neary was born and raised on Long Island, NY. He gained immediate success as an actor, after moving to Los Angeles, when he was 20 years old. He began his acting career with a guest star role in the television series Fame, then earned a role opposite Jason Bateman in the film, Teen Wolf Too. After a two- year stint on General Hospital, as Officer Frank Marino, Robert moved to Nashville to pursue Contemporary Gospel music. He recorded two solo projects, before returning back to his first love of acting. He has since gone on to guest star in over 50 television shows, including Criminal Minds, Sons of Anarchy, The Closer, Grey's Anatomy, Blue Bloods, Justified, The Fosters, FBI: Most Wanted, Weeds, Medium, NCIS and NCIS New Orleans. He has also done over 25 national commercials and Motion Pictures.

Robert landed his first Broadway show in 1996, starring in Smokey Joe's Café. There, he met his wife, Natasha. Together, they went on to tour in the Elton John and Tim Rice Broadway hit, Aida, in which Robert played the evil Zoser. .

In 2017, Robert returned to New York for a third time, when he understudied the lead role of Sonny in the Broadway smash, A Bronx Tale, The Musical, and got the chance to perform the famed role over a dozen times.

It has always been his dream to one day, perform a tribute show to Neil Diamond.

THE MYSTIC

The Mystic has been performing together for over 20 years. A collection of talented musicians with extensive resumes, including performing on Broadway’s Moving Out, in the television series, Rock Star Supernova, on stage with Billy Joel and Elton John and as a part of a Monday Night Jams with Richie Cannata. The band has traveled from coast to coast to perform at numerous weddings and private events. This amazing and versatile group can cover songs from every genre, perfectly.

Robert knew he found his band the very first time he ever heard them play.

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If you close your eyes and listen to him sing any of the 22 classic Neil Diamond songs with the magnificent band behind him, you will swear you are listening to the Master himself.

Save the Date!

BIG ARTS 45 TH ANNUAL BENEFIT MARCH 22, 2024

Lavish pre-show buffets & open bars followed by post-concert desserts, dancing, drinks & more in the Malone Family Sculpture Garden!

THE DOO WOP PROJECT featuring stars of Broadway’s smash hits

Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical

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Benefit Sponsors

EXCLUSIVE PRODUCERS

Gustav and Vibeke Christensen

Jim and Gaye Pigott

EXCLUSIVE CORPORATE PRESENTER Bank of the Islands

INDIVIDUAL PRESENTERS

James and Susen Berg

Jim and Carmen Courter

Barb and Tom Dunham

PACESETTERS

Edward and Catherine Anderson

Linda and Gordon Coons

JoAnn and Bob Glick

Dick and Mary Butler • Jack and Fay Chestnut

Jim and Dulce Doss

George and Susan Heisler

Susan and John Freund

Maureen and Gary Saage

Sanibel Home Furnishings, Diane, Ray and Carl Knight

Jeff and Rene Savarise

Robert and Betty Van Tassel

FANS

John and Mary Ann Boorn

Barry and Judy Bronstein

Gift Shop Team: Anni, Jan, Libby & Linda • Don and Nancy Rolley

Michael Samet & Elissa-Karasin Samet

Ed & Virginia Stringer

Charlie and Linda Adams

Law Office of Janet M. Strickland P.A

Michael and Marilee Wood

GROUPIES

Melissa and Scot Congress

Doug and Sherry Gentry

The Health Whisperer

Robin and Barbara Lee

Rob and Mindy Pierce

Mardi Glenn

Lousie Sinclair Eastman

John and Jean Halligan

Bill and Barbara Millar

John and Barbara Lies

David & Nora Mimms

Phillip and Diane Olsson

Susan Ramser and Chris Bowman

Chip and Nancy Roach

Douglas and Priscilla Viets

Cathie and Bill Thiede

Cathy and Joel Vogel

Bob and Kathy Wiesemann

Joyce and Don Rice

Tom and Linda Uhler

Molly and Ted Wiedeman

Penny Wilkinson & Dick Boehning

Gene and Margaret Zelek

COMING UP AT BIG ARTS

LATE NITE CATECHISM – SISTER’S SUMMER SCHOOL

March 2, 8:00PM

SING & SWING

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS March 9, 8:00PM

Sponsored by Mike and Marilee Wood

THE HIT MEN

March 15, 8:00PM

Sponsored by Bob and Kathy Wiesemann & Charles and Gail Sheetz

Meet Our Supporters

Thank you to our loyal donors. Your support is needed now, as never before.

PREMIERE

Gustav & Vibeke Christensen

Leslie Fleischner

Florida Department of State

Ken Nees

Jim & Gaye Pigott

Bob & Kathy Wiesemann

PACESETTER

Sanibel Captiva Trust Company

Dr. Michael & Mrs. Marilee Wood

Bank of the Islands

BENEFACTOR

James C. & Susan H. Berg

Ginny Bowen

Andrew & Ruthelen Burns

Dick & Mary Butler

Congress Jewelers

Janice Devitt

Barb & Tom Dunham

Kathleen & John Green Jr.

Dorothy & Seth Hemming

Bob & Marilyn Klaskin

Dorothy Lichtenstein

Northern Trust

Sue Pick

Jeffrey & Rene Savarise

Charlie & Gail Sheetz

Patricia Thurber

Linda & Tom Uhler

Linda & John Wulff

FRIEND

Dennis Sutherland

Al & Monica Taylor

Kathleen Taylor & Bruno Notari

Lynn Thelen

Kersti Thompson

Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Timson

Kay Trainor

Karr & Joan Van Nordstrand

Janice VanBuskirk

Kelli Vestal

Gary & Linda Vroegindewey

David Waks & Sandra Teger

Anne Walter

Bob & Roberta Washlow

James Weddell

Ina Weissblatt

Lyman & Deana Welch

Lynne Wesolowski

Berta & Carroll Wetzel

Helene Weyant

Brian & Susan White

Patricia Pombo Wilson

Elaine & Sanford Winer

Linda & Jim Winn

J Pamela Weiner & James Wittenberg

E. Blake Wood

The Dunham Children

Nancy Zeedyk

Mr. & Mrs. Jeffry Zimmer

LEGACY SOCIETY

Jack T. Bailey

Jerry Churchill

K. Ann Dempsey

Elizabeth Eagleton

Ruth F. Frank

Roni Freer

Deborah & John La Gorce

Kenneth L. Nees

Don & Joyce Rice

John Schork

Penny Wilkinson & Dick Boehning

Please remember BIG ARTS in your estate planning.

GIFTS IN HONOR OF

Chuck Bonser

Donna Leahy

The Dunham Family

Kris Gurall

Patrick Harder

David and Ann Hedges

George & Susan Heisler

Ken Nees

Dan & Gerri Perkins

Jim & Gaye Pigott

Carol Rosenberg

Elmer Stilbert

Janet M. Strickland, P.A.

Monica Taylor

Ellen Whitten

Meet Our Staff

Lena Baranova - Staff Accountant

Denise Dillon - Events Assistant

Marina Dowling - Office Manager

Barbara Freeman - Executive Assistant

Meghan Govoni - Marketing Manager

Melody Hampton - Database and Information Manager

Lee Ellen Harder - Executive Director

Charlotte Hardt - Customer Service Associate

Wendy Harriman - House Manager Aimee Harrison - Workshops Manager

Richard Jones - Technical Director

David Kolson - Chief Financial Officer

Greg LeBlanc - Facilities and Maintenance Supervisor

Kelly Lowden - Customer Service Associate

Wilson McCray - Gallery Director

Michelle Schweber - Development Director

Olga Semreen - Staff Accountant

Meet Our Board

Chair - Rene Savarise

Vice Chair - Bob Wiesemann

Treasurer/Secretary - David Lowden

Past Chair - Don Rice

Gustav Christensen

Scot Congress

Mike Wood

Great communities create great organizations – not the other way around. In 1979, BIG ARTS was created, by, and for the community, and owes its rich history to a small band of dedicated artists who drew inspiration from each other and from the breathtaking island beauty that infused their work with grace and authenticity.

They set out to create a special gathering place where artistic and educational experiences were accessible to all. Today that vision is alive and well. With the help of our loyal donors and supporters, BIG ARTS will carry that vision forward –providing joy, inspiration and a sense of community for generations to come.

Vision

To create great arts, entertainment and learning experiences that always inspire, enrich and delight.

MissionProvide an array of quality entertainment, arts and education programs that enrich and nurture the lives of Sanibel and Captiva residents and visitors through:

• professionally led arts and enrichment classes and workshops for students of all ages

• stimulating and informative lectures and group discussions with renowned national thought leaders and educators

• dynamic visual and performing arts presentations of the highest caliber

INFORMATION & TICKETS:

IN PERSON: 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, Florida 33957

BY PHONE: 239.395.0900

ONLINE: BIGARTS.org