UPWARD bound

Vital Arts Education Builds The Next Generation

A core component of The Naples Players is KidzAct, Southwest Florida’s premier youth performing arts program. Hundreds of local kids take part each year, earning valuable life skills like self-confidence and collaboration, while building technique. A variety of year-round educational and performance opportunities are designed to include children from preschool through high school. At the youngest ages, kids are exposed to core ideas through highly interactive classes that are grounded in age-appropriate activities. Building into skills-based classes, and culminating in performance-focused work, these initiatives have had a clear impact.

When Chris Campbell hit the stage in Puerto Rico in January as an ensemble member in the national tour of Hamilton: An American Musical, it was the culmination of years of theater experience which started with The Naples Players.

“Without my experiences at The Naples Players, I don’t think I would have known this career path was a tangible option for me, just because there is no other program like it here in our community,” he said.

Chris first got a taste of acting as a young boy when he played the part of Dandy Dan in KidzAct’s Bugsy Malone Jr. His talent and work ethic were always apparent, but during his first production on The Naples Players main stage as Warner in Legally Blonde the Musical, it became obvious he was destined for success. “We all turned into this big, crazy family and it just kept growing and growing over the years,” he said. “This is where I got my passion and my love for performing.”

Daniella Flom, a KidzAct veteran who, since joining the program in 2014, has taken the stage in Aladdin Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., Annie Jr., and Elf the Musical Jr., among others, has benefited in many vital ways. Melissa, Daniella’s mother, notes that her daughter’s improved self-confidence and self-esteem have served her well on and off the stage, and having “made amazing friendships… I really can’t imagine what her life or our family’s life would be like without The Naples Players.” Daniella continues to shine, and while she still has many years before college, her theatre training is helping her succeed today.

A former KidzAct star, Whitney Winfield is now a star on the national stage – cast in the national tour of Broadway’s Shrek the Musical. She performed that character for a year before taking up several other notable roles, including Off-Broadway in Prospect Theatre Company’s The Underclass- man, and most recently as Katherine in Newsies. She’s been hooked on her passion since she first watched The Sound of Music at The Naples Players when she was just 8 years old.