Director’s Note
I am excited to present the Gulfshore Playhouse Teen Conservatory Cabaret, a performance that embodies the dedication and passion of our talented students.
At Gulfshore Playhouse, we believe that pairing high-quality training with mentorship from professional teaching artists makes all the difference for young artists. This cabaret gives our students a chance to take what they’ve learned in our classes and bring it to life on stage, turning practice into real-world experience. Plus, getting to perform on the stunning set of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill is such a cool opportunity! It lets them connect with the audience in a truly immersive and professional setting. This is actually the second time this season our students have had the chance to perform on one of our incredible sets!
Each song in tonight’s program was thoughtfully selected through a collaborative process between the students, our Teen Cabaret Stage Manager and Education Associate Mary Hackeloer, and myself. By assessing the students’ unique voices, personalities, and stories they wanted to tell on stage, we crafted a setlist that not only entertains but also feels incredibly personal and meaningful to each performer. Every lyric and melody you’ll hear tonight has been selected with heart, and it truly reflects who these amazing young artists are. I’m so proud of what they’ve created, and I can’t wait for you to experience it right alongside us!
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the hard work and artistry of these remarkable Gulfshore Playhouse Conservatory students.
Steven Calakos Director of Education
Starring (in alphabetical order)
Maddy Benner
James Corliss-Rivero
Samantha Craparo
Samantha Dooney
Scenic Designer
Marcelo Martínez García
Lighting Designer Lynn Slutsky
River Inskip
Arianna Joy
Taylor Polly
Ava Williams
Stage Manager Mary Hackeloer
Music Director Jeremy Franklin Goodman
COO & Managing Director Joel Markus
Sound Designer Max Heyliger
Director of Production Ray Inkel
CEO & Producing Artistic Director Kristen Coury
Directed by Steven Calakos
Show Sponsor:
TEEN CONSERVATORY CABARET CABARET
Musical Numbers
Mamma Mia! Medley arranged by Jeremy Goodman .................... Ensemble
“Gimme, Gimme” from Thoroughly Modern Millie .................... Ava Williams
“I Love Play Rehearsal” from Be More Chill ............................... River Inskip
“Monster” from Frozen ................................................................. Arianna Joy
“I Love Betsy” from Honeymoon in Vegas ..... James Corliss-Rivero, Ensemble
“Hopelessly Devoted to You” from Grease .............................. Maddy Benner
“Taylor the Latte Boy” by Kristen Chenoweth ............................... Taylor Polly
“Watch What Happens” from Newsies ................................ Samantha Craparo
“Stupid With Love” from Mean Girls ................................ Samantha Dooney
“Defying Gravity” from Wicked ........................................................ Ensemble
About the Cast
Maddy Benner is an actor/singer with nine years of experience. She has performed with Gulfshore Playhouse, The Naples Players, Naples Performing Arts Center and The Village School. Most recent & notable roles include Heather McNamara in Heathers Teen, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes: Youth Edition, Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka Jr., Mother Superior in Sister Act Jr. & Cinderella in Into The Woods Jr. Maddy is a well known local soloist singing the National Anthem at events for the Boston Red Sox, FC Naples and others. She attended the Berklee College of Music summer program last year with an awarded scholarship from The United Arts Collier Foundation. Maddy was nominated this year to attend the Honors performance series at Carnegie Hall. Thank you Steven for being an amazing and supportive director. Enjoy the show.
James Corliss-Rivero is excited to be back at Gulfshore Playhouse after playing Horton in Seussical Jr. last summer. Some of his previous roles include Wayne Hopkins in Puffs, Pulitzer in Newsies, and Mr. Green in Clue. He has enjoyed working with the cast and he hopes you enjoy the show.
Samantha Craparo is so excited to be back at Gulfshore Playhouse again! She has been in 18 shows. Some of her previous roles include Angel #3 in Anything Goes: Youth Edition, Les in Newsies, Flounder in The Little Mermaid Jr., and more. She also just finished directing Clue at her school this year! Samantha would like to thank the amazing creative team at Gulfshore Playhouse.
Samantha Dooney is a Junior at The Village School and is thrilled to take part in the Gulfshore Playhouse Teen Cabaret. Favorite credits include, Into the Woods/Witch, Anything Goes: Youth Edition/Angel/US Hope, Matilda/Miss Honey, Beauty and The Beast/Madame de la Grande Bouche, Godspell/Ensemble, Frozen Jr./Oaken and The Wizard of Oz/ Dorothy. Samantha also runs Cross Country, plays Soccer and Track and Field. She wants to thank everyone for coming! Enjoy the show!
River Inskip is so grateful to have this opportunity to perform with Gulfshore Playhouse once again. She is a Junior who is Dual Enrolled at Golden Gate High School and FGCU. Previously at Gulfshore, you might recognize her as Sally Perks/Xavia Jones (Puffs!), Grimsby (The Little Mermaid Jr.), and Bird Girl (Seussical Jr.). As always she loves working with her friends here and the amazing team and hopes you enjoy the show!
About the Cast
Arianna Joy a homeschooled senior, has been performing since age six. Some favorite roles include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky); The Addams Family Musical (Wednesday Addams); The Lightning Thief (Clarisse La Rue); Jekyll & Hyde (Nellie/ Lucy U/S); and most recently Puffs (Megan Jones). She hopes you enjoy! www.ariannajoy.com
Taylor Polly is excited to be back with another show with Gulfshore Playhouse in the new theatre! Her past performances include Annie (Pepper), Clue (Cook/Chief of Police), Chicago (Harrison/Ensemble), Frozen (Olaf), and Puffs (Various Characters), to name a few. She’s also participated in shows at Gulfview Middle School and Barron Collier High School, such as Annie (Ms. Hannigan) and Fame! (Ensemble).
Ava Williams is excited to return to Gulfshore Playhouse where she last performed in Anything Goes: Youth Edition. Recently, you may have seen her in Hadestown (TNP) or Grease (NPAC). Some of her favorite credits include the Princess/Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, Romeo/ Romeo and Juliet, Cruella/Descendants and The Evil Queen/Ever After. Ava has performed with Opera Naples for the past six years including on the professional stage in The Magic Flute, La Boheme (twice) and Carmen. Ava also has performed as a soloist in numerous Galas, Cabarets, Recitals and with the “Sing for Smiles” program. With over 10 years of ballet, she performed extensively with The Naples Ballet, Moscow Ballet and NDC. Ava would like to thank Steven, Mary and Jeremy for this wonderful opportunity and their amazing direction and for her family’s endless love and support.
About the Creative Team
Steven Calakos (Director) earned his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Elementary Education and Theatre: Child Drama from Rowan University. An award-winning educator and theatre director, he taught in Vineland Public Schools in New Jersey for over 11 years and served as artistic director for several school theatre programs. In 2014, Steven co-founded his own theatre production company. He is a proud recipient of the 2022 and 2023 Tony Award® Honorable Mention for Excellence in Theatre Education, the Greek America Foundation Forty Under 40 Award, and is a Gulfshore Business 40 Under 40 Honoree. As a professional actor and singer with national credits, Steven is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and has produced and performed in three solo concerts, and starred in numerous television commercials and feature films. Learn more at www.stevencalakos.com.
Jeremy Franklin Goodman (Music Director) is a composer, pianist, conductor, music director, arranger, and orchestrator. He holds a M.M. in Film Scoring and a B.M. in Music Composition from NYU. Goodman’s arrangements have been
TEEN CONSERVATORY CABARET CABARET
About the Creative Team
played by numerous orchestras across the country, including the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and recently with the Chicago Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. He won a 2021 Gold Telly Award for Best Music Video for his work on “Project 9” starring Glory Crampton & Robert Cuccioli. Jeremy served as the music director and pianist for Annie Turns 40: Back to the Orphanage starring Andrea McArdle and Sarah Jessica Parker which was filmed for CBS’s “Sunday Morning” series. As a pianist, Jeremy has played forty-one different musicals in addition to his chamber music compositions in Florida and New York City. His original Latin jazz music can be heard on his CD The Jeremy Franklin Goodman Project: An Evening of Live Latin Jazz. Jeremy brought this sold-out standing-room only concert to Harmony in the Woods to close their 2023 summer music festival in the Poconos. He coaches several performers in New York City to help prepare them for their Broadway and touring auditions. Jeremy is involved with many creative teams on new musicals including Under the Overture, the Assisted Living: The Musical® touring franchise, and Torch: A Musical Tale. He is a member of ASCAP, The American Federation of Musicians, and The American Composers Forum. For more information, visit jeremyfgoodmanmusic.com.
Marcelo Martínez García (Scenic Designer) is a proud Mexican Scenic Designer and Architect. Off-Broadway: Manahatta (The Public Theater), The Wind and The Rain (EnGarde Arts & Vineyard Theater). Regional: Dial M for Murder (Alley Theater & CPIP), Sandra (TheaterWorks Hartford), The Garbologists (TheaterWorks Hartford), Torera (Alley Theater), The Woman in Black (Weston Theater Company), Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles (Yale Repertory Theater). Associate/Assistant Credits: SUFFS (Broadway), Lempicka (Broadway), Scene Partners (Vineyard Theater). Upcoming: AZAD (Golden Thread & Hakawati NGO), Fools’ Paradise (Thrown Stone). Martínez holds a degree in Architecture from ITESM MTY, a specialization in Scenic Design from CENTRO CDMX, and an MFA in Theater Design from Yale School of Drama. www.marcelomg.com / @marcelomgdesigns
Lynn Slutsky (Lighting Designer) is a New Jersey native and a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh. Outside of theatre she can be found bookbinding, making powerpoint presentations, and listening to audio dramas. She is excited to be joining the community here in Naples, and to be beginning her career with Gulfshore Playhouse!
Max Heyliger (Sound Designer) is excited to return to Gulfshore Playhouse after being the lighting/sound intern in the ’22-’23 season. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Theatre at Radford University. Max’s interests outside of theatre include Dungeons & Dragons, watching/ reading long running series (Survivor, One Piece, etc.), and spending time with his cats Arthur (Miller) and Bert (olt Brecht).
Mary Hackeloer (Stage Manager) is a passionate theatre educator who holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from the Dobbins Conservatory at Southeast Missouri State University. She has extensive experience working with children as a director, tutor, music teacher, choreographer, and theatre camp counselor. Her most cherished experience was helping coordinate the inaugural Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival, which brings to life new plays for young actors. Mary also toured with Missoula Children’s Theatre in 2023, teaching and performing with hundreds of young performers around the country. At Gulfshore Playhouse, she has loved developing educational programs and making an impact in the community through the arts. She hopes you enjoy this amazing performance featuring the most talented teens in Naples!
About the Creative Team
Joel Markus (COO & Managing Director) is thrilled to be in his seventh 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 $72M 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’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 CEO and Producing Artistic Director of Gulfshore Playhouse. She founded the Playhouse in 2004, after moving to Naples from New York City. Under her leadership, the Playhouse has grown to a staff of nearly 100, an annual budget of $12M with no debt. She led the charge to create a $72M state-ofthe-art Theatre and Education Center at the gateway to downtown Naples. As part of this project, Coury ignited a public/private partnership with the City of Naples, donating an acre of land upon which to build a public parking garage. While in New York, she worked on Broadway for Walt Disney Theatrical’s production of Beauty and the Beast , both nationally and internationally, and for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company, The Really Useful Group, working on Sunset Boulevard and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . Kristen made her feature film directorial debut with Friends and Family a comedy starring Tony Lo Bianco, Anna Maria Alberghetti, and Tovah Feldshuh, which was released around the US and Europe. Kristen has directed several new works, produced a CD, and worked on a variety of musicals in various stages of development. Kristen is also a frequent investor in Broadway productions, most recently The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise. Kristen has directed over 40 productions for the Playhouse. Including a ten person, 2 piano My Fair Lady, world premieres, the world premiere of The God Game by Suzanne Bradbeer and The Butcher by Gwydion Suilebhan. Kristen was named one of the “Top 40 Professionals Under 40” by Gulfshore Life Magazine in 2008, a “Star in the Arts” by the United Arts Council of Collier County in 2011, and was named one of the Men and Women of the Year twice by Gulfshore Life in 2013 and 2024. She served two terms on the board of Theatre Communications Group, the national advocacy group for professional theatres. She is a member of the board of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, and was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in Collier County in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Most recently, she received the Murray Hendel Civic Achievement Award and was appointed to the Florida Council for Arts and Culture by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo.
SUMMER CAMPS
Story Explorers: Inside Out (Rising 1st-3rd grade)
Monday-Friday, June 2-6, 2025
1:00PM-4:00PM
Tuition: $250
Broadway Bootcamp: Trolls (Rising 4th-6th grade)
Monday-Friday, June 2-6, 2025
9:00AM-12:00PM
Tuition: $250
Story Explorers: The Jurassic Era (Rising 1st-3rd grade)
Monday-Friday, June 9-13, 2025
1:00PM-4:00PM
Tuition: $250
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Through productions, classes, and camps, students of all ages experience professional training and theatrical experiences that encourage self-expression, build confidence, and inspire artistic growth.
Broadway Bootcamp: Descendants (Rising 4th-6th grade)
Monday-Friday, June 9-13, 2025
9:00AM-12:00PM
Tuition: $250
Broadway Bootcamp: Matilda JR. (Rising 1st-2nd grade)
Monday-Friday, July 14-25, 2025
1:00PM-4:00PM
Tuition: $600
Students will learn select music and choreography from our summer production of Matilda JR. and join the performance on the Moran Mainstage!
Appropriate for audiences 8 and up.
Featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief is an action-packed mythical adventure “worthy of the gods!”
Performances: Friday, June 27, 2025 at 7:00PM Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 2:00PM & 7:00PM Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 3:00PM
Appropriate for audiences 5 and up.
The children are rising up. Join the revolt in this Tony Award®-winning hit!
Performances: Friday, July 25, 2025 at 7:00PM Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 2:00PM & 7:00PM Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 3:00PM For more information, contact
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Board of Directors
Steven Akin, Chairman of the Board | Rich Struthers, Vice-Chair
Patty Baker, Jim Bosscher, Kristen Coury, David Drobis, Tim Habbershon, Mitch Hertz, Jenny Housh, Jason Hunter Korn, Pamela Krupka, Vince Maffeo, Sandi Moran, Gerry Moss, Jack Nortman, Tony Panzica, Gail Kern Paster, Susan Regenstein, Rick Rondinelli, Cynthia Scholl, Tennille Sevigny, Pat Sweet, Ashley Smith, Joanne Wyss, Don J. Gunther, Emeritus, Bob Harden, Emeritus, Dave Wilson, Emeritus, Tom Gallagher, Lifetime Trustee, Don McCulloch, Lifetime Trustee
Leadership
Kristen Coury, CEO & Producing Artistic Director | Joel Markus, COO & Managing Director
Artistic & Education
CEO & Producing Artistic Director ........................................... Kristen Coury
Associate Artistic Director ............................................................. Dann Dunn
Director of Education .............................................................. Steven Calakos
Line Producer ..................................................................... Audrey Zielenbach
Education Associates ......................................... Mary Hackeloer, John Perine, Meredith Singleton
Education Assistant ................................................................. Emilie Baartman
Advancement
Chief Advancement Officer .............................................................. Lisa Halsey
Advancement Officer: Events & Donor Engagement ...................... Sarah Owen
Advancement Officer ............................................................. Brandon Horwin
Donor Stewardship & Events Coordinator ....................................... Dave Blount
Marketing
Chief Marketing Officer ......................................................... Rachel Applegate
Marketing Manager ................................................................. Heidi Overman
Graphic Designer ...................................................................... Ashley Martinez
Patron Services Manager ............................................................. Luke Matlock
Assistant Patron Services Managers .... Meghan Fitzpatrick, Ashleigh Jennings
Patron Services Assistants ................................... Zoë Bradshaw, Joan Cannon, Timothy Coryell, Sara Ross, Sabina Valery
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Finance & Administration
COO & Managing Director .................................................................... Joel Markus
Director of Finance .......................................................................... Alyson McCoy
General Manager ..................................................................................... Jim Dallas
Facilities Manager ............................................................................... Joe Salemme
Maintenance Manager .............................................................. Julian Pena-Garcia
Director of Events/Food & Beverage ................................................. Erin Burney
Assistant Events/Food & Beverage Managers ....................................... Crystal Diggs, Jeanette Persails
IT Specialist ........................................................................................... Drew Whitcomb
Finance Associate ......................................................................... Maureen Devine
Front of House Manager ........................................................ Jeremy Bennington
Assistant Front of House Manager ................................................... Zachary Klein
Company Manager ............................................................................. Abigail Greer
Assistant Company Manager ................................................. Chanda Hawthorne
Office Manager/Bookkeeper ................................................................... Taylor Ho
Administrative/Company Management Assistant ................. Hannah Schumacher
Production
Director of Production ............................................................................ Ray Inkel
Assistant Production Manager ................................................................... Lila Sell
Technical Director .............................................................................. John Forton
Assistant Technical Director ................................................................. Alex Riggs
Scene Shop Supervisor ........................................................... Anthony Knudson
Carpenters .................... Nicholas Cardenas, Tom Gregus, Deborah Samuelson, Josh Wood
Stage Crew ........... Hunter Booth, Jonathan Jensen, Bobby Julga, Maxine Walby
Scenic Technicians ................................................ Jonathan Jensen, Bobby Julga
Stage Supervisor ............................................................................... Andrew Geier
Scenic Art Supervisor ......................................................................... James Allen
Scenic Artists .................................. Katherine Burns, Olivia Murphy, Bryan Perez, Samantha Swasso, Larashleigh Wallace, Jonathan Willis
Assistant Properties Supervisor ................................................. Gwendolyn Rygg
Properties Artisan ................................................................................ Caleb Brown
Properties Technicians ........................................... Hunter Booth, Maxine Walby
Lighting Supervisor ................................................................. Elizabeth Knudson
Assistant Lighting Supervisor ............................................................ Lynn Slutsky
Lighting Technicians .......................... Dennis Cheeks, Laura Swygert, Ray Ward
Sound Supervisor .................................................................................... Owen True
Assistant Sound Supervisor ................................................................ Max Heyliger
Sound Technicians ................................................ Kaleb Pecoraro, David Walters
Costume Shop Manager .............................................................. Jennifer Bronsted
Lead Draper .................................................................................. Elizabeth Eaton
Draper .................................................................................................... Lana Grant
First Hand .......................................................................................... Carolyn Schar
Costume Technicians ......... Jazzy Jane Armstrong, Anna Cagle, Dyna DeMerritt
Wardrobe Supervisor ................................................................... Marissa Mascolo
Wardrobe Technicians ................................... Jazzy Jane Armstrong, Anna Cagle, Hope Chellman, Dyna DeMerritt
Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor ..................................................... Emma Madden
Wig & Makeup Supervisor .............................................................. Rebecca Mack
Stage Management Production Assistants .............................. Kelly Jean Edwards, Dylan Gellett
