Thank you to Our Donors
As of 12/14/2025. An *asterisk denotes individuals who are deceased.
SEASON ANGELS
Jane & Steve Akin, Patty & Jay Baker, Glenda & Rich Struthers
SEASON BENEFACTORS
Karen & Gary Gregg, Nancy G. Lauridsen, Sandi & Tom Moran, Susan Regenstein & Barry Frank, John & Carol Walter
SEASON AMBASSADORS
Anonymous, Marsha & Gary Bertrand, Grampy’s Charities - Jim & Jonatha Castle, Bev & *Art Cherry, Nancy & Tom Gallagher, Marguerite Hambleton, Barbie & Paul Hills, Jenny & *Rich Housh, George & Patricia Kraus, Laird A. Lile, Simone & Scott Lutgert, James & Brigitte Marino, Bettina McKee, Cynthia & Mike Scholl, Jane & *Dave Wilson, Debbie & Bruce Yarde
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS+
Patricia & Jim Bosscher, Kathleen Cain, Bob & Laurie Champion, Robert & Joan Clifford, Sheila & Chris Cole, Bobbi & David Drobis, Dyan Fazzone, Kathleen & Brendan Fitzgerald, The Habbershon Family, Matthew Hagan, Vicki Herche & Graeme Murray, Mitchell Hertz & Anne Carlucci, Steven & Sarah Jackson, Liz & Jim Jessee, Sarah Raup Johnson, Larry Kaye & Casey Skvorc, Pamela & Bob Krupka, Tammy & Mike Kutsch, Diane Landgren, Debra & Vince Maffeo, Geraldine Moss, F.E. & Jack Nortman, Joan & Mahendra Parekh, Gail Kern Paster, Anthony & Beverly Petullo, Melissa & David Shockley, Patricia Sweet & Bill Marsh, Patrick Trompeter & Monica Orcutt, Julie & Steve Vanderboom, Jane Walsh, Tereska & Jerry Whitson, Joanne Wyss
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Anonymous, Mary & Phil Beuth, Lee & Peter Bewley, Richard & Jane Borchers, Charlie & Elise Brown, Cheryl & Randall W. Byrnes, Michael & Judy Cheteyan, John & Patricia Cochran, Norman & Suzanne Cohn, Jim & Shirley Curvey, Kyla & Rich de Asla, Mary F. Drazan, Sandy & Bill Haack, Libby & Ed Harshfield, Ken & Karen Heithoff, Jean & *Leo Hertzog, William & Anastasia Hoeft, Catelyn Juliano & David Deutsch, Heidi & James Kargman, Barbara K. Lupient, Mary Lou & Bob Maier, Sherie Marek, Phil McCabe, Carolyn & *Don McCulloch, Gerry McGraw, Pat & Tony McMunn, Dan & Ann Meyer, Joanne & Jeffrey Miller, Kristin & John Miller, Kimberly Moss & Bob Fisher, Susan Mullin, Louise & Larry Ost, Cindy & Tony Panzica, Ann Ratner, Dottie & John Remondi, Marilyn Romeo, DeAnna & Rick Rondinelli, Kathy & Ned Sachs, Pam & Fred Sasser, Janet & Peter Swinburn, Lisa & Warren Thomson, Bruce Tomason & Susan Rosen, The Vincent Von Zwehl Memorial Fund, Kathy & Paul Weaver, Blaine & Tom Wells, Kristen & Michael Wynn
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! If you’re returning to us, welcome back. If you’re here for the first time, welcome to Gulfshore Playhouse for what will undoubtedly be a spectacular year. We’re starting strong with two incredible productions: the classic Agatha Christie mystery, The Mousetrap, on the Moran Mainstage, and the world premiere of Circle Forward by Deb Hiett in the Struthers Studio.
Circle Forward came to us through our 2023 New Works Festival. After a brief interlude while we settled into our new space, I’m thrilled to say that we are relaunching our new play development festival once again, this time rebranded as the Next Wave Festival. Join us January 31st-February 1st for an exciting weekend of new play readings. This year, we’ll be presenting staged readings of three unproduced plays, curated by us by working with agents and industry professionals. Not only will you get to play an important role in the development of these works, a Festival pass will grant you access to exclusive events where you’ll get to interact with the artists and your fellow theatre-lovers. And that’s just in January!
If you don’t have your tickets for the hilarious comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, the unforgettable Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Ken Ludwig’s heartwarming Dear Jack, Dear Louise, I’d encourage you to do that now. Each one of these productions will be a real treat.
Registration is now open for our Gulfshore Playhouse Education Conservatory spring and summer programs and productions. We have numerous after-school classes running throughout the winter and spring, as well as auditions for Six: Teen Edition on March 4th. And if the children in your life are looking for a fun, fulfilling way to spend their summer, check out our full range of summer camps and productions: Disney’s Freaky Friday and Disney’s Newsies Jr. And our Education programs aren’t just for kids! We’ve also got fitness classes, lectures, Paint ‘n Sip, and more opportunities for students of every age.
Gulfshore Playhouse continues to grow, and that is entirely thanks to you. Live theatre provides a way for humans to connect with one another in these often isolating times, as well as watch real people making art in front of your eyes. I hope that while you watch the performance and you share a collective gasp or laugh, you feel, as I do, why the theatregoing experience is so vital and exceptional. Maybe you’ll even join us at the lobby bar after the show. Either way, I hope you see Gulfshore Playhouse as your home for professional theatre. Thank you so much for being here. I hope you enjoy the show!
With gratitude,
Kristen Coury Founder, CEO, and Producing Artistic Director
CORPORATE SEASON BENEFACTOR
CORPORATE SEASON AMBASSADORS
CORPORATE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER+
CORPORATE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
GRANTS AND ENDOWMENTS
A letter from the Chairman of the Board
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome you to the 2025–2026 season at Gulfshore Playhouse. We are coming off an extraordinary inaugural year in the magnificent Baker Theatre and Education Center, and I am thrilled to welcome you back for our second season in this new home.
As Chairman of the Board, one of my greatest joys has been seeing the excitement and pride our community feels in having a theatre of this caliber here in Naples. We’ve watched our audience grow, expanded our reach through education programs, welcomed neighbors and friends into our lobby and bar, and opened our doors to events for organizations and businesses across the region. The growing awareness of the art being produced and the activities happening daily at Gulfshore Playhouse are wonderful signs for the future.
With growth comes greater responsibility. The cost of producing theatre at this level continues to rise, as does the need for expanded staff and resources. Yet the impact of this work could not be clearer. Theatre enriches our lives and strengthens our community. It takes the vision of leadership, the creativity and hard work of a dedicated staff, the guidance of an experienced Board, the generosity of donors, and the loyalty of an engaged audience to make it all possible.
This season promises many exciting productions and opportunities—far more than I can highlight here. I encourage you to discover the many ways you can take part in all that Gulfshore Playhouse has to offer. Thank you for being here. I hope this season brings you joy, inspiration, insight, and unforgettable experiences.
Thank you,
Steve Akin Chairman of the Board
Experience the 2025–2026 Season as a Member of the Director’s Circle.
Tickets for the Season
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Extra Tickets for Friends & Family
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Concierge Service & Priority Booking
Enjoy personalized assistance and early access to the best seats in the house.
Invitation to Opening Nights
Celebrate the start of each show with cast, crew, and fellow patrons.
Access to the Founder’s Lounge
Relax in style with premium amenities before the show and during intermission.
Invitation to Our ‘Art Everywhere’ Trip to London in 2026
Join us on an extraordinary journey celebrating world-class theatre in the heart of London.
Your support at this level fuels the magic on and off the stage:
• Bringing world-class professional theatre productions to Naples.
• Offering educational programming that inspires and engages audiences of all ages.
• Become a champion of the arts and help create unforgettable moments for our community.
CONTACT A MEMBER OF OUR ADVANCEMENT TEAM TO JOIN THE DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE TODAY AND BE PART OF THE MAGIC!
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Naming Opportunities
Select naming opportunities remain available at the Baker Theatre and Education Center. We welcome you to schedule a private tour to explore this extraordinary new cultural landmark and learn how a gift can create lasting impact for generations to come.
Education Wing - Exterior Canopy
$5M
Mezzanine
$2.5M
Production Center
$2.5M
Timeline Showcase
$1M
Main Lobby Pillar
$1M
Green Room
$750,000
Education Pillar
$500,000
Education Entryway
$500,000
Star Dressing Room
$500,000
Ensemble Dressing Room
$500,000
Costume Shop
$500,000
Principal Dressing Room
$250,000
Follow Spot Booth
$100,000
Lighting Shop & Storage
$100,000
Audio Shop & Storage
$100,000
AV Rooms
$100,000
Education Stairway Steps
$50,000
Laundry Room
$15,000
Seats – Orchestra Rows A-H (Sides)
$7,500
Timeline Showcase
STARRING (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
Meeghan Holaway Anne Troup Anthony Zambito Bekah Zornosa
SCENIC DESIGNER
Baron E. Pugh**
SOUND DESIGNER
Christopher Colucci**
CASTING
Michael Cassara, CSA
COSTUME DESIGNER
Kirche Leigh Zeile
COO & MANAGING DIRECTOR Joel Markus
LIGHTING DESIGNER Graham Zellers
STAGE MANAGER Danny Kuenzel
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Ray Inkel
CEO & PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Kristen Coury
DIRECTED BY Neel Keller
The Director is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union.
The actors and stage manager employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. (**) Denotes a member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
World premiere produced by Gulfshore Playhouse Founder and Producing Artistic Director Kristen Coury
COO and Managing Director Joel Markus
CAST OF CHARACTERS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
Mia ................................................................................................... Meeghan Holaway
Lexi ............................................................................................................. Anne Troup
Ethan ................................................................................................. Anthony Zambito
Calista ................................................................................................... Bekah Zornosa
RUN TIME 90 minutes.
SETTING
Present day, in a small Midwestern town.
Gulfshore Playhouse operates under agreements between the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), a consortium of regional theatres throughout the nation; Actors Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States; the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), an independent national labor union; and United Scenic Artists (USA), a union of scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers.
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre, founded in 1985, is a not-for-profit organization serving the musical theatre community. The 165 organizational members and 75 individual members, located throughout 33 states and abroad, are some of the leading producers of musical theatre in the world, and include theatres, presenting organizations, higher education programs and individual producers.
Gulfshore Playhouse is an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.
Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) was founded in 1913 as the first of the American Actor unions. Equity’s mission is to advance, promote and foster the art of theatre as an essential component of our society. Today, Equity represents more than 40,000 actors, singers, dancers and stage managers working in hundreds of theatres across the United States. Equity members are dedicated to working in the theatre as a profession, upholding the highest artistic standards. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and provides a wide range of benefits including health and pension plans for its members. Through its agreement with Equity, this theatre has committed to the fair treatment of the actors and stage managers employed in this production. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. For more information, visit www.actorsequity.org.
SPECIAL THANKS
Scenic Assistant, Jayoung Hong. Scenic Technician, Winston Henry.
From a Grateful Playwright, Deb Hiett:
Though writing is a solitary act, creating theatre (mercifully!) is not. The first draft of Circle Forward was written in February 2021, and since then the play has grown through workshops and readings at Antaeus Theatre (Los Angeles), Durango Playfest (Colorado), and here, at the magical and majestic Gulfshore Playhouse. I’m grateful for all the talented actors, directors, dramaturgs, and audience members along the way who have provided me with insights, personal stories, and encouragement, especially my friends at Playwrights Union in L.A. But loving support from my husband Matthew is the only reason this or any of my plays exist. If reincarnation is real, I pray I’m lucky enough to circle forward with him next time around, too.
Director’s Note
Circle Forward has everything I love in a play - super relatable characters, an emotionally compelling situation, and surprising plot twists. I am thrilled that Deb and Kristen invited me to direct the world premiere at Gulfshore Playhouse.
The play grabbed me the first time I read it. Its intriguing premise piqued my curiosity. Very quickly I was rooting for the characters and worried about how they would find their way through the complicated maze they were navigating. I gasped at the perfectly placed revelations. I didn’t know what was going to happen when I turned each page but I could feel the writer’s command of her story and knew that she would lead me to an exciting finale. When I put the play down it was clear to me that Deb Hiett is a talented, crafty writer, and that her play would be a whole lot of fun to work on.
Experiencing Circle Forward in the theatre is even better. Good plays share a defining trait. They were written to be performed for a live audience. While novels are meant to be read and contemplated alone, plays work best in a crowd. Hearing other audience members laugh and react at the same times you do is the secret to real theatre magic. In those moments we can simultaneously enjoy the action on stage and feel our connection to the friends and strangers sitting around us. Circle Forward definitely has that special dramatic spark.
Everyone involved with this production has been hooked by Deb’s play in much the same way I was. It has been a very happy experience working together to create this production. You are the final piece of the puzzle. We are glad you are here and we are excited to share Circle Forward with you.
Neel Keller Director
About the Playwright
Deb Hiett (Playwright) is thrilled to be back at Gulfshore Playhouse, which presented the World Premiere of her play Miss Keller Has No Second Book in 2018. Circle Forward was selected for workshop at the Gulfshore Playhouse 2023 New Works Festival, Antaeus Theatre’s “Lab Results” (Los Angeles), and the 2024 Durango Playfest (Colorado) as well as having been a Semifinalist for the 2024 O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and the Princess Grace Award in Playwriting.
Some of Deb’s full-length plays include The Super Variety Match Bonus Round! (“Ingenious”—The Los Angeles Times), Miss Keller Has No Second Book (“Grabs your heart and won’t let go”—Florida Weekly), and The Escape Thingy and The Clearing in the Jacoby, both Finalists for the Reva Shiner Comedy Award. Her newest play, This Is Crazy has been selected for the 2026 South Dakota State University Festival of New Plays.
Deb’s short film Gratitude Jar Time Capsule won Best Comedy Television Pilot at the 2020 Atlanta Comedy Film Festival and the 2021 Women’s Comedy Film Festival in Atlanta. Her film Open House won the Los Angeles Film Festival/FunnyorDie’s “Make ‘Em LAFF” Showcase, Best Comedy Short at the Women in Comedy Festival, and several others. Her comedic short film A Bit of Counseling won the Audience Choice Awards at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, the L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival, the Over the Fence Short Film Festival (Australia), and the Ojai Film Festival.
As an actress, Deb can be seen in many TV shows and films, including “Barbie,” “The Office,” “Young Sheldon,” “Parks and Recreation,” “The Good Place,” the upcoming new season of “The Comeback,” and many more. Reach her at DebHiett.com.
About the Cast
Meeghan Holaway (Mia) has performed in over seventy plays across the country. Beth in the Off-Broadway hit Dinner With Friends, Sylvia in Sylvia, Brooke in Noises Off, Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, and, recently, Pamela in Steve Yockey’s Mercury are some favorites. She originated the role of Florence Greenberg in the Broadway musical, Baby It’s You. Meeghan is a member of The Road Theatre Company in Los Angeles, where the focus is on developing new works by both young and well-established playwrights. As a teenager in Seattle, she had the honor of studying with the legendary director Stanley Kramer. After college, Meeghan lived and worked in The Berkshires as part of a repertory company. She spent a brilliant summer at RADA in London, immersed in Shakespeare’s works, before moving first to New York, then to LA to do TV and Film. TV appearances include “Bones,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Law & Order,” and “NCIS,” and recurring roles on “Criminal Minds,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Bold and The Beautiful” and “Switched At Birth.” Film work includes The Spirit, Holidate, and About Fate. Recently, she got to play a robot in Boy Makes Girl. She’s thrilled to be at Gulfshore Playhouse, and honored to be a part of bringing this wonderful play to the stage.
Anne Troup (Lexi) is an actor, teacher and producer based in NYC. Theater: Hartford Stage, Classic Stage Company, Shakespeare and Co, The Kitchen, and The Sharon Playhouse. TV credits include “Rise,” “Blindspot,” “Happy!” and “Bull.” As a producer she’s worked for The Vineyard Theater, Second Stage, HEREArts, and The Shed. Her film work can be seen on Hulu and HBOMax. Anne graduated from Brown University with an BA in Theater and NYU with an MFA in Acting. She is currently launching an artist residency in the Catskill Mountains called “The Bellows House”.
Anthony Zambito (Ethan) is an NYC/LA actor and voice artist from Long Island, New York, and a graduate from Emerson College, where he studied Musical Theatre and Comedy Writing/Performance. Anthony recently performed in the OffBroadway production of Ghost of John McCain. He voices and
stars in the Comedy Central series “Boomer Stoop” as well as other exciting Comedy Central content, including the sketches, “Covid! The Musical” and “Our Rich Friend.” More TV credits include appearances on “Law & Order: SVU,” Hallmark’s “Redemption in Cherry Springs,” and HBO’s “Girls.” He appeared with Broadway’s Brittney Johnson, Kristy Cates, and more in the NYC reading of Sleepy Hollow: A Legendary Musical. He also played Bobby Brady in the NYC reading of A Very Brady Musical with Broadway actors Gavin Lee, Kerry Butler, Troy Iwata, among others. Other theatre credits include starring as Eugene Morris Jerome in the sold-out production of Brighton Beach Memoirs at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Peter Pan at the Fulton Theatre, and Treasure Island at Maine State Music Theatre. He is thrilled to make his Gulfshore Playhouse debut alongside such a gifted and talented team, and hopes that all who have the chance to see the show can find the beautiful ways in their own lives to “Circle Forward.” Love you, Mom and Dad! IG: @anthonyzambito
Bekah Zornosa (Calista) is a NYC based actor. TV/ Film: “Trivia at St. Nick’s” (Hallmark), “The Floaters” (independent feature), “Human Theories” (upcoming feature), Broadway Workshop: The Lost Boys (dir. Michael Arden), Theatre: A Hanukkah Carol (Round House Theatre), King Lear (Shakespeare Theatre Company), ALIEN/NATION (Williamstown Theatre Festival/Dir. Michael Arden), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (North Shore Music Theatre), Pipeline (Everyman Theatre), We Declare You a Terrorist… (Round House Theatre), Sanctuary City (Arena Stage), There’s Always the Hudson (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company), West Side Story in Concert (Olney Theatre Center), She Sings Me Home (reading), Lemonade (reading), Hiareth, or When Pluto was a Planet (Breaking the Binary). Training: American University BA in Musical Theatre and Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Fiasco Theater FTI 2023. bekahzornosa.com. Representation: Stewart Talent and Kogen Management.
About the Creatives
Neel Keller (Director) has worked as a director, producer and dramaturg on many types of theatrical projects. He is especially passionate about collaborating with playwrights on new plays. His recent directing projects include the world premieres of Dael Orlandersmith’s Until The Flood and Spiritus, Kimber Lee’s to the yellow house, Eliza Clark’s Quack, Julia Cho’s Office Hour, and Jennifer Haley’s The Nether. Neel has directed at many theaters including, The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, Goodman Theatre, South Coast Repertory, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. He is excited to be working at Gulfshore Playhouse for the first time and is grateful for their partnership and support. Neel is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and the Directors Guild of America.
Baron E. Pugh (Scenic Designer) is a Providence-based scenic designer for theatre, opera, and other live performance arts. Select credits include: Gulfshore Playhouse: The Lehman Trilogy. Off-Broadway: As Time Goes By (Out of the Box), shadow/land (associate designer) (The Public Theater). NYC: An Absolute Turkey, Two Sisters and a Piano, King Lear, The Tempest (The Juilliard School, Drama Division). Regional: The Anonymous Lover (Opera Philadelphia), Million Dollar Quartet, B.R.O.K.E.N code B.I.R.D switching (Berkshire Theatre Group); Primary Trust, ABCD (Barrington Stage); Trouble in Mind (Hartford Stage); Associate designer for: The Grove, Sojourners, The Bluest Eye (The Huntington Theatre); A Raisin in the Sun, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, (TheatreSquared); Assassins, The Light, The Wiz (Lyric Stage Company of Boston). Baron received his MFA in Scenic Design from Boston University and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. @bpscenic on Instagram.
Kirche Leigh Zeile (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be returning to Gulfshore Playhouse after designing both The Lehman Trilogy and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill last season. Her Off- Broadway credits include Long Story Short, Amazons and Their Men, and The Last Word. Regionally, she has designed for the Weston Playhouse, AMAS, Syracuse Stage, Southern Rep, Rivertown Theater, Tulane Summer Shakespeare Festival, Two River Theater, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and the Sharon Playhouse. She designs for numerous companies and academic institutions both regionally and in NYC, including Columbia University, Marymount Manhattan College, Tulane University, and NYU. She is an affiliated artist with Clubbed Thumb in NYC and holds an MFA from NYU. She is a Portfolio Development Advisor for Ringling College of Art and Design and is a prolific fine artist whose paintings have shown in galleries throughout New York and New England.
Graham Zellers (Lighting Designer) is a lighting designer based out of New York and holds an M.F.A. from the School of Drama at Yale and a B.A. in Theatrical Design and Technology from Ball State University. He has worked as a lighting designer/associate on productions at numerous theaters including (NY): SoHo Rep, Theater for a New Audience, National Black Theater/Apollo Theater; (Regional): Woolly Mammoth Theater (DC), Yale Repertory Theater (CT), and Gulfshore Playhouse (FL). Outside of designing lighting, Graham works at Studio RRD as a draftsperson and has previously worked at Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, NY as Lighting Supervisor and as the Lighting Director at Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, FL. zellersdesign.com
Christopher Colucci (Sound Designer) is so excited to return to the new Gulfshore Playhouse! (Thank you Kristen Coury). Recent work in Philadelphia: The Real Thing, Macbeth, and A Christmas Carol (Lantern Theater Company) and Spinner (Delaware Theater Company). Next up in Philadelphia: A Delicate Balance (Walnut Street Theater) and many more new plays! 2016 Pew Fellowship in the Arts; Eight Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Original Music and Sound Design; Independence Fellowship in the Arts (2012, 2019); Resident Videographer (Lantern Theater Company); MA in Philosophy from Western Kentucky University. BA in Philosophy/Theology from Eastern University. Christopher’s latest recording of music for classical guitar (Contrastes II) is available on Spotify and most streaming platforms. soundcloud.com/cmsound. Instagram: @christopherm_colucci
Danny Kuenzel (Stage Manager) is back once again managing her second production of the Gulfshore Playhouse 2025-26 season having already completed the holiday favorite White Christmas. She is delighted to no end to finally experience a production in the Struthers Studio Theatre. Prior to this she’s managed GP’s Sweet Charity, Dial M for Murder, Anything Goes, Into the Breeches, Winter Wonderettes, Barefoot in the Park, Steel Magnolias, The 39 Steps, Another Revolution, and Bedlam’s Saint Joan. Other regional credits include: Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Mason Street Warehouse, Clarence Brown Theatre, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Pioneer Theatre Company, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, The Alley Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, and the Contemporary American Theatre Festival. Danny is a proud 20+ year member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union for performers and stage managers. Due to the nature of her work, she spends a lot of time circling back on things. This is the first time she’s gotten to Circle Forward.
About the Creatives
Michael Cassara, CSA (Casting Director) casts theatre and film in New York City and is thrilled to return to Gulfshore Playhouse for a 17th season, having cast over 70 productions here since 2009. Recent credits include American Eclipse (Michael John LaChiusa, dir. Bill Rauch), An American In Paris (Int’l Tour, dir Christopher Wheeldon), Spamilton (NYC/Chicago/Pittsburgh CLO/tour), Forbidden Broadway (last five editions/albums), and over 750 plays and musicals since 2003. Regional credits include Weston Theater Company, Argyle Theatre, Hangar Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Denver Center, Asolo Rep, and many more. Resident Casting Director for the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) since 2013. Michael is a native Clevelander and serves on the BFA faculty at Wright State University. Member, Casting Society of America (CSA). BFA, Otterbein University. MichaelCassara.net @michaelcassara
Joel Markus (COO & Managing Director) is thrilled to be in his eighth season as Gulfshore Playhouse’s COO & Managing Director. Joel enjoys working side by side with Kristen to produce Broadway caliber theatre while focusing on cultivating a great staff and culture. In his time at Gulfshore Playhouse, Joel has helped grow and quadruple the theatre’s budget, triple the staff, has co-managed the design and construction of the new $75M Baker Theatre and Education Center, the production shop construction project, has been instrumental in joining LORT (most recently, being on the negotiating committee for LORT and Actors’ Equity Association), and navigated and guided the organization through the pandemic and Hurricane Ian. Joel was recognized as one of the top COOs in SWFL by the Community Foundation. Joel’s thirty year career has taken him to some of our nation’s leading professional regional theatres. He most recently spent seven seasons at America’s oldest theatre, Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Joel has played integral roles in the production of hundreds of plays over ten seasons at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, four years at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY, five summers at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont, American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts. Joel is a graduate of Indiana University and originally from Miami, Florida.
Kristen Coury (CEO & Producing Artistic Director) is the Founder, CEO and Producing Artistic Director of Gulfshore Playhouse. She founded the Playhouse in 2004, and shortly thereafter started producing with no staff and virtually no funding. Under her leadership, the Playhouse has grown to a staff of 83 people with an annual budget of $14.5M with no long-term debt. Kristen led the charge to create the iconic $75M state-of-the-art Baker Theatre and Education Center at the gateway to downtown Naples, which opened on November 1st, 2024.
As part of this project, Coury ignited one of the largest public/private partnerships in City of Naples history, initiating a land-swap with the Wynn family and subsequently donating over an acre of land to the City upon which to build a public parking garage. While in New York, she worked on Broadway for Walt Disney Theatrical Productions, and for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company, The Really Useful Group, and made her feature film directorial debut with an independent film entitled Friends and Family. Kristen is also a frequent investor in Broadway productions, most recently A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. Kristen has directed nearly 50 productions for the Playhouse. Most recently, she directed the final production in the Norris Center, the musical She Loves Me, and the inaugural show in the Baker Theatre and Education Center, Anything Goes and has just completed directing Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Kristen was named one of the Men and Women of the Year by Gulfshore Life in 2013 and again in 2024. She also received the Murray Hendel Award for Civic Achievement in 2023. She served two terms on the board of Theatre Communications Group, the national advocacy group for professional theatre and is currently a member of the board of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. Kristen is very honored to have been appointed to Florida Council for arts and culture by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. She was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in Collier County by Naples Illustrated for the last four years, and, this year, was listed in the 2025 Edition of Florida Trend Magazine as one of the 500 Most Influential Business Leaders in the State of Florida.
Interested in supporting professional theatre at Gulfshore Playhouse?
Your gift ensures the success of each production by helping us hire world-class talent,by supporting our local artisans, and supporting our pre-professional education programs. These integral donations support the overall operations of Gulfshore Playhouse, a LORT theatre.
CONTACT CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER, LISA HALSEY AT LHALSEY@GULFSHOREPLAYHOUSE.ORG OR CALL AT 239.261.7529 EXT. 203.
Beth Hylton and Sam Bell-Gurwitz in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Photo by Matthew Schipper.
A Q&A with Deb Hiett
Q: HOW AND WHEN DID YOU START WRITING PLAYS?
A: I don’t remember a time I wasn’t making up elaborate stories in my head. (My poor family!) When I moved to New York City as an actor, I made money writing original monologues for my actor friends’ auditions, and wrote many short plays and one acts in the performance art scene there.
But my first proper full-length play wasn’t created until around 2014, after I moved to Los Angeles. I was invited to join a small group of writers called The Playwrights Union, and was lucky to have my first Equity World Premiere in L.A. in 2016. I remember finding it excruciating to be “only” the playwright, having to just sit in the audience while other actors embodied the many characters which had previously only been in my head.
Q: TELL US ABOUT HOW CIRCLE FORWARD CAME TO BE.
A: When I first heard of the phenomenon of children “remembering” details of other people’s lives they could not have experienced in their few years on Earth, I became a little bit obsessed. Many of the facts they recall are verified, and usually they refer to unremarkable existences. No Cleopatras or Amelia Earharts. No one immortalized in a TV show or children’s book. But a prevailing theme is the child’s urgency of unfinished business of some kind. The memories usually fade once the child is 5 or 6, the nightmares stop, and life goes on. Usually.
What the heck is that about?
That research led me down a rabbit hole about memories -- how they’re formed and what gets retained (or not), and why. Scientists are learning so much about the neural pathways of what they now call “motivated forgetting.” Fascinating.
Amidst the research of the themes of a new play, a particular story starts to form in my head, sort of like a little apartment being built. Then certain characters present themselves to me, and they move into that apartment. They bring a surprising variety of baggage with them. Sometimes these folks are supremely unhelpful, and I kick them out. Other times I must be patient until they really open up to me.
If I’ve designed the apartment well, then the characters start unpacking, and interacting. If I’ve created interesting characters, then I lean in and take dictation from them.
If nothing else, the process yields interesting conversation when my husband asks me “so how was your day today?” In this case, it yielded Circle Forward.
Q: CIRCLE FORWARD WAS FEATURED IN OUR NEW WORKS FESTIVAL SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND HAS HAD SEVERAL OTHER WORKSHOPS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PLAY’S DEVELOPMENT? WHAT HAS CHANGED? WHAT HAS STAYED THE SAME?
A: I wrote the first draft in February 2021, as part of the annual Playwrights Union New Play Challenge (where we attempt a first draft completion by the end of the shortest month of the year!). New drafts followed, and the first public reading was in June of that year -- just a few generous actors standing at music stands, reading the script from a binder, for fifty or so audience members.
For a playwright, this part of the development is incredibly valuable because you hear how it all is landing on an audience. You learn that those clever moments that really impressed your cat a few months ago might not have the same effect on strangers. You take notes, get feedback, and scurry away to re-write the whole thing. Then you submit the latest draft to several new play development opportunities around the country.
Durango, Colorado’s 2024 Durango Playfest was the next stop for this play. I spent a glorious week there (at 6500 ft above sea level!) working with a new batch of brave actors, and got more helpful feedback from the enthusiastic audiences there.
Through each stage of the re-writes for Circle Forward, neither the basic structure of the play nor the characters’ key details changed, but each new workshop brought a deepening of the conflicts and a heightening of the stakes. I refined the characters’ stories, and tightened the pacing.
A Q&A with Deb Hiett
Q: SINCE CIRCLE FORWARD IS A WORLD PREMIERE, THAT MEANS WE’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING YOU IN THE ROOM THROUGHOUT THE REHEARSAL PROCESS. WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE? WERE THERE ANY IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES YOU MADE, ETC.?
A: Gulfshore Playhouse has spoiled me rotten. To have the teams of such talented folks focused on creating the necessary environment to make this play the best it can be is a rare gift indeed. Here, I have the luxury of a full week to spend with the actors, the dramaturg, the director, the design team, and brilliant stage management before we even “get on our feet” and start staging.
That first week was really critical for me to crack open the top of my head and scoop out all the juicy bits of the world I’ve attempted to create. Our incredibly insightful, patient, and clever director Neel Keller gently guides us all through the journey of discovery.
It’s similar to the workshop process in that we all ask each other questions during rehearsals (actors: “why does my character have this reaction at this point?”, me: “does this play make sense to anyone else?” etc.), and at night I scurry off to re-write pages. It’s different in that the actors need me to stop re-writing at some reasonable point, so that they can memorize everything and the director can stage all the scenes properly.
It’s a bittersweet experience for me, because I have spent years in this world I’ve built in my head. With the workshops, I’ve let others have a peek inside. But now the doors are about to be flung open wide and everyone can traipse around inside it. Yes, it’s the ultimate goal! It’s a dream come true! Also, yoiks! It requires great trust, and a sense of creative safety, for a playwright to hand over the reins. I am supremely lucky to benefit from all of that here at Gulfshore Playhouse.
Q: SOME IN THE AUDIENCE MAY RECALL WE PRODUCED YOUR PLAY MISS KELLER HAS NO SECOND BOOK IN 2018. BOTH THAT PLAY AND CIRCLE FORWARD , WHILE VERY DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER FOR THE MOST PART, SHARE COMMON THEMES OF GRIEF AND MEMORY AND CHARACTERS WHO ARE “STUCK” IN THE PAST IN SOME WAY. WHAT DRAWS YOU TO THESE IDEAS AND CHARACTERS?
A: That’s an interesting observation, because I like to think each of my plays occupies a completely separate apartment in my head. But of course, they’re all in the same building! Grief is a terrifying topic to me, so I’ve done a lot of deep diving on the subject. I’m sure my writing is a way for me to attempt to process it. But I’ve always been fascinated with time and memory. Why do we remember what we do? How does our perception of time affect the way we live our lives? And how can we help each other become “unstuck?”
Another theme I’ve been noticing in my work is the idea of certainty. Humans want to be sure about things. Certainty equals comfort and safety. It makes sense. But the older I get, the more I appreciate when a doctor or a scientist says “to be honest, we don’t know for sure.” Because as hard as it can be to accept, there are some things we cannot know.
And actually, aren’t some mysteries the best part of the human experience? When you meet a total stranger and feel like you’ve known them all your life? The strong connections we form with each other can seem random, but are they? Maybe love is powerful enough to outlive death.
Our tangled tethers are what make life worth living, and the bonds we form are how we grow and love more deeply. So if that means we might need more time (an extra lifetime or two? who knows for sure!) to process them all, well, I believe it’s worth it.
Q: WHAT IS ONE THING YOU HOPE THE AUDIENCE WALKS AWAY WITH AFTER SEEING THIS PRODUCTION?
A: I hope Circle Forward sparks good conversations for days afterwards. I want it to elicit feelings of hope and empathy. I want people to be entertained by the surprising, ineffable thrill that can only come from seeing live theatre. And I want Gulfshore Playhouse audiences to be really proud of supporting a brand new play, so when they read about it in years to come, they can say “you know, I saw the very first production of that play, and I remember it like it was yesterday.”
Interview conducted by Audrey Zielenbach, Dramaturg
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Cassie Austin and Stacie Bono in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of White Christmas .
Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Gulfshore Playhouse Education provides programs that enhance the lives of students of all ages through transformative theatrical experiences.
THE CONSERVATORY
Pre-professional training through theatre productions, classes, and camps. Available for all ages.
THINKTHEATRE
Designed specifically for our region, this program infuses theatre-based pedagogy with curriculum standards to enhance learning.
ARTREACH
Our community partnership program strengthens the fabric of our region by bringing the transformative power of live theatre and education to communities.
Conservatory students in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of Matilda JR.
Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Youth Education Programs
Thanks to the generous support of the Baker Family Foundation, our 2026 Spring and Summer Story Explorers programs are available at half of the typical cost for all students.
BROADWAY BABIES (AGES 2-4 WITH CAREGIVERS)
Broadway fun for ages 2–4: sing, dance, play, and grow!
Saturdays in February at 10:00AM-11:00AM | Tuition: $40 per class or $150 for all four sessions.
STORY EXPLORERS: SUPERHERO ACADEMY (GRADES K-2)
Heroes Assemble! It’s time to save the world!
Monday-Friday, March 9-13 at 9:00AM-12:00PM | Tuition: $125
BROADWAY BOOTCAMP: SCHOOL’S OUT! (GRADES 3-5)
Develop a showcase featuring songs from your favorite schoolbased musicals.
Monday-Friday, March 9-13 at 1:00PM-4:00PM | Tuition: $250
STORY EXPLORERS: ROBOT ADVENTURES (GRADES K-2)
Boot up and explore a strange new world!
Tuesdays, March 17-April 14 at 5:30PM-7:30PM | Tuition: $75
BROADWAY BOOTCAMP:NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL
BROADWAY (GRADES 3-5)
Let out your inner star to Broadway’s biggest hits!
Tuesdays, April 21-May 19 at 5:30PM-7:30PM | Tuition: $150
SIX: THE MUSICAL TEEN EDITION (GRADES 6-12)
Own the stage, rule the mic. Become a queen in Six: Teen Edition!
Auditions: March 4, 2026 at 5:00PM-8:00PM
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, March 23-April 30 at 5:00PM-8:00PM
Performances: May 8-10, 2026 | Tuition: $750
VISIT GULFSHOREPLAYHOUSE.ORG TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS.
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The Lecture Series
A monthly series of insightful discussions about theatre and the arts journey led by seasoned professionals, scholars, and industry experts.
Cost: $30, Packages Available
THE CASTING PROCESS
Explore the art of casting and bringing characters to life! Thursday, February 5 at 11:00AM-12:00PM
THEATRE AND THE MIND
Explore how experiencing live performance boosts brain health and well-being in this fascinating science-based lecture. Thursday, February 19 at 11:00AM-12:00PM
THE IMPORTANCE OF OSCAR WILDE (A TWO-PART SERIES)
Explore Oscar Wilde’s legacy with literary expert Dr. Gail Kern Paster. Thursday, March 5th & March 12th at 11:00AM-12:15PM
THE ART OF SCENIC DESIGN IN THEATRE
Discover the art of stage design with Broadway’s Ann Beyersdorfer—NYC scenic designer and scenic designer for the Gulfshore Playhouse production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical! Thursday, April 16 at 11:00AM-12:00PM
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Pictured: The Cast of Anything Goes. Photo by Matthew Schipper.
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Thank you to Our Annual Donors
As a not-for-profit theatre, we rely on the generosity of donors whose support ensures our work continues to inspire, entertain, and enrich the community.
The Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence fuels the Gulfshore Playhouse Dream, supporting both our professional theatre season and our educational initiatives. Become a Dream Maker this season with a gift of $5,000 or more to the Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence. You’ll enjoy exclusive benefits such as Founder’s Lounge access, backstage tours, and the satisfaction of knowing your support makes extraordinary theatre possible.
Your support makes you a vital part of the show, transforming our region and changing lives through Gulfshore Playhouse.
HAVE QUESTIONS OR WISH TO MAKE A GIFT?
Contact Chief Advancement Officer, Lisa Halsey at lhalsey@gulfshoreplayhouse.org or call at 239.261.7529 ext. 203.
The cast of the Gulfshore Playhouse production of Sweet Charity. Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Our Board of Directors
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Steve Akin
VICE-CHAIR
Rich Struthers
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Patty Baker
Jim Bosscher
Kristen Coury
David Drobis
Gary Gregg
Tim Habbershon
Mitchell Hertz
Jason Hunter Korn
Pamela Krupka
Vince Maffeo
Sandi Moran
Gerry Moss
Jack Nortman
Tony Panzica
Gail Kern Paster
Susan Regenstein
Rick Rondinelli
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Tennille Sevigny
David Shockley
Ashley Smith
Pat Sweet
Joanne Wyss
EMERITUS
Don J. Gunther
Robert L. Harden
Dave Wilson
LIFETIME TRUSTEES
Tom Gallagher
Don McCulloch
Our Staff and Leadership
LEADERSHIP
Kristen Coury, CEO & Producing Artistic Director Joel Markus, COO & Managing Director
ARTISTIC
CEO & Producing Artistic Director ................. Kristen Coury
Associate Artistic Director ................................... Dann Dunn
Line Producer ........................................... Audrey Zielenbach
ADMINISTRATION
COO & Managing Director ................................... Joel Markus
Director of Facilities ........................................... Joe Salemme
Maintenance Manager ............................. Julian Pena-Garcia
Director of Events/Food & Beverage ................... Erin Burney
Assistant Events/Food & Beverage Manager ..... Crystal Diggs
Executive Assistant ........................................... Sydney Mixon
Administrative Assistant .......................... Hannah Schumacher
FINANCE
Chief Financial Officer ......................................... Joey Rudder
Director of Finance ........................................... Alyson McCoy
Finance Associate ......................................... Maureen Devine
IT Specialist ................................................... Drew Whitcomb
ADVANCEMENT
Chief Advancement Officer .................................. Lisa Halsey
Director of Advancement Events ........................ Sarah Owen
Chief of Staff ................................................. Brandon Horwin
Advancement Officer ............................................ Amy Talbot
Stewardship Managers ......... Mary Hackeloer, Grace Stewart
MARKETING
Chief Marketing Officer .............................. Rachel Applegate
Marketing Manager ........................................ Heidi Overman
Art Director ............................................................. Trevor List
Graphic Designer .......................................... Ashley Martinez
Web Strategist .................................................... Gaston Barua
Patron Services Managers ...................... Meghan Fitzpatrick, Ashleigh Jennings
Assistant Patron Services Manager ................... Joan Cannon
Patron Services Assistants ............................... Zoë Bradshaw, Timothy Coryell, Sara Ross, Sabina Valery
EDUCATION
Conservatory Manager ......................................... John Perine
ThinkTheatre Coordinator ...................... Meredith Singleton
ArtReach Coordinator ................................... Frances Barnett
Education Assistant ......................................... Sophie Cooper
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
General Manager ..................................................... Jim Dallas
Company Manager ............................................. Abigail Greer
Assistant Company Manager ................. Chanda Hawthorne
Front of House Manager .......................... Jeremy Bennington
Assistant Front of House Manager ................... Zachary Klein
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
Director of Production .............................................. Ray Inkel
Associate Production Manager .................................. Lila Sell
SCENERY
Technical Production Manager ......................... Brooke Oteri
Technical Director - Moran Mainstage ............... John Forton
Technical Director - Struthers Studio .................... Alex Riggs
Scene Shop Supervisor .............................. Anthony Knudson
Stage Supervisor ................................................ Andrew Geier
Carpenters ........................ Tom Gregus, Deborah Samuelson
Scenic Technicians .............. Brian Richards, Chris Williams, Josh Wood
SCENIC ART
Scenic Art Supervisor ........................................... James Allen
Assistant Scenic Arts Supervisor .................. Katherine Burns
Scenic Artists ........................ Larashleigh Wallace, Mish Fink
PROPERTIES
Properties Supervisor ..................................... Jonathan Willis
Assistant Properties Supervisor .................. Gwendolyn Rygg
Properties Artisans .................. Hunter Booth, Maxine Walby
Properties Technician ....................................... Rylee McNeal
LIGHTING
Lighting Supervisor .................................. Elizabeth Knudson
Assistant Lighting Supervisor ............................. Lynn Slutsky
Lighting Technicians ...................... Jaden O’Berry, Ray Ward
SOUND
Sound Supervisor .................................................. Owen True
Assistant Sound Supervisor ............................... Max Heyliger
Sound Technicians .................. Emily Parker, Kaleb Pecoraro
COSTUMES
Costume Shop Manager ............................. Jennifer Bronsted
Assistant Costume Shop Manager ................ Elizabeth Eaton
Drapers .......................................... Lana Grant, Sarah Greene
First Hands ................................ Mya Nunez, Gabby DePrizio
Wardrobe Supervisor ................................... Marissa Mascolo
Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor ..................... Emma Madden
Wig & Makeup Supervisor ............................... Rebecca Mack
Assistant Wig & Makeup Supervisor .................. Joan Harlow
Costume Technicians .................................. Suvonna Bynum, Sarea Kelly, Vasia Sammatova
STAGE MANAGEMENT
Stage Management Production Assistants ...... Dylan Gellett, Connor J. Reilly, Bailey Shea