Thank you to our Supporters
Season Angels
Jane & Steve Akin
Patty & Jay Baker
Glenda & Rich Struthers
Season Benefactors
Karen & Gary Gregg
Nancy Lauridsen
Sandi & Tom Moran
Susan Regenstein & Barry Frank
Ralph & Shelly Stayer
Season Ambassadors
Bev & Art Cherry
Mary F. Drazan
Christine & Terrance Flynn
Nancy & Tom Gallagher
Marguerite Hambleton
Jenny & Rich Housh
George & Patricia Kraus
Pamela & Bob Krupka
James & Brigitte Marino
John & Carol Walter
Jane & Dave Wilson
E xecutive Producers
Anonymous
Mary & Phil Beuth
Lee & Peter Bewley
Rich & Jane Borchers
Patricia & Jim Bosscher
Cheryl & Randall W. Byrnes
Grampy’s Charities – Jim & Jonatha Castle
Bob & Laurie Champion
Joan & Robert Clifford
John & Patricia Cochran
Norman & Suzanne Cohn
Margaret Cox
Jim & Shirley Curvey
Kyla & Rich de Asla
Bobbi & David Drobis
Dyan Fazzone
Kathleen & Brendan FitzGerald
The Gialamas Family
The Habbershon Family
Matthew Hagan
Ken & Karen Heithoff
Vicki Herche & Graeme Murray
Mitchell Hertz & Anne Carlucci
Jean & Leo Hertzog
Steven & Sarah Jackson
Sabrina & Craig Jensen
Jim & Liz Jessee
Sarah Johnson Catelyn Juliano & David Deutsch
Heidi & James Kargman
Diane Landgren
Dolly & Jenny Lenz
Laird A. Lile
Jody & Gerald Lippes
Barbara Lupient
Simone & Scott Lutgert
Debra & Vince Maffeo
Phil McCabe
Carolyn & Don McCulloch
Gerry McGraw
Bettina McKee
Pat & Tony McMunn
Dan & Ann Meyer
Kristin & John Miller
Joanne & Jeffrey Miller
Geraldine Moss
Kimberly Moss & Bob Fisher
Larry & Louise Ost
F.E. & Jack Nortman
Joan & Mahendra Parekh
Gail Kern Paster
Anthony & Beverly Petullo
Ann Ratner
Dottie & John Remondi
DeAnna & Rick Rondinelli
Kathy & Ned Sachs
Pam & Fred Sasser
Cynthia & Mike Scholl
Alice & Charles Simons
Sharon & Paul Stein
Pat Sweet & Bill Marsh
Janet & Peter Swinburn
Roberta & Rodger Taylor
Julie & Steve Vanderboom
The Vincent Von Zwehl Memorial Fund
Julie & Phil Wade
Kathy & Paul Weaver
Tereska & Jerry Whitson
Michael Wilens & Carolyn Longacre
Julie Wyman
Kristen & Michael Wynn
Joanne Wyss
Debbie & Bruce Yarde
Dear Friends,
It is with enormous joy in my heart, and more than just one tear in my eye, that I bid you WELCOME to the new Gulfshore Playhouse at the Baker Theatre and Education Center! This dream come true has been a long time coming. When I moved to this city twenty years ago and saw there was not a professional self-producing theatre, I decided to start one. Even as the idea was forming there were already questions: where to start, what to produce, and how could we possibly build a state-ofthe-art cultural center as our permanent home? The application for the 501(c)3 required I state my short and long-term goals. Short term: put on a play. Long term: THIS. I still possess the twenty-year-old ink-jet printed, water-stained piece of paper. Ask me and I’ll show you. What I envisioned back then and the reality of the building we’re in now are strikingly similar, only off by a few seats here and there. I had no idea how it would happen, when it would happen, or where it would happen…although I kept stepping out on the balcony of my apartment across the street in Bayfront and visualizing a theatre coming out of the land right – exactly where we are now. Here’s what I did know. I knew that if I kept the dream alive in my heart, and put one foot in front of the other day after day, the dream would one day be realized.
That’s where you came in.
We produced our first play. You came. We produced another play. You came and you brought more people with you. We asked for help, and you contributed. We told you about the big vision, and you supported this theatre in grand fashion. Together, we made this dream come true.
The goal has always been to build something beautiful, grand, artful, and fierce. To create an icon that would serve the city with engagement and rental spaces, peaceful gardens, and beautiful architecture, as much as it would serve up ART. Every choice we made was in service of the theatre and education we are here to produce. Every day my team and I are working tirelessly to serve you and all those in our region with world-class theatre at the highest level and incredible unique educational opportunities - a place to gather, meet friends, have drinks and great conversation…a place for you to call YOUR home for professional theatre.
Here we are! The stage is set and it’s time to shine. I sincerely hope you enjoy the show.
With gratitude,
Kristen Coury Founder, CEO & Producing Artistic Director
Thank you to our Supporters
C orporate Season Ambassadors
Corporate Executive Producers
Grants and Endowments
Dear Friends,
As the Chairman of the Board, I am honored to welcome you to the 20242025 season on behalf of the entire Board of Directors. Whether you are a long-time supporter or a first-time patron, I am thrilled you are joining us for this most auspicious season, our first in the Baker Theatre and Education Center.
Thank you for being an essential part of our community. We look forward to sharing more magic with you in the seasons to come!
From attending performances to spreading the word about our productions, your enthusiasm and passion inspire us every day. It is your belief in the power of professional theatre that drives us to push boundaries and strive for excellence.
Gulfshore Playhouse has accomplished an incredible feat both locally and nationally with the construction of this building. It is a stunning reflection of the dedication and support of this community. I look forward to seeing how its presence shapes our entire region in the years to come.
Producing theatre of this magnitude is no simple task; it has required significant growth of the budget, staff, and resources of the organization. Everyone at Gulfshore Playhouse works tirelessly to create exceptional theatrical experiences. All of it is made possible through the excellence of the organizational leadership, the knowledgeable, generous, and engaged Board of Directors, the incredibly talented and ever-growing staff, the generous donors, and the curious and dedicated audience who make it all happen.
You may also notice that this building’s name is the Baker Theatre and Education Center because it is home to not only staged productions but also an expansive and growing education department. Gulfshore Playhouse Education serves thousands of people both in our community and nationally each year, through a variety of theatre-based programs. If you are curious about opportunities for yourself or the children in your life, I would encourage you to see what is being offered this season.
This is a difficult time for the arts in our nation, so it is especially incredible to see Gulfshore Playhouse thriving, and that is thanks to your continued support. The arts are a vital part of a flourishing community both culturally and economically. The impact of the Baker Theatre and Education Center will be felt across Southwest Florida and our nation as the organization continues to grow.
I hope you find this season inspiring, entertaining, and healing. Thank you for your continued support of Gulfshore Playhouse.
Enjoy the show!
Sincerely,
Steve Akin Chairman of the Board
Aiden Thayer as Billy Crocker in the Gulfshore Playhouse Conservatory production of Anything Goes:Youth Edition Photo by Matthew Schipper.
2024-2025 SEASON
368 SEATS | BROADWAY-SIZED STAGE
The Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence
2024-2025
SEASON
February 27 - March 16, 2025
Previews: February 23, 25 & 26
By Michael Frayn
Directed by Peter Amster
An evening of rib-aching laughter and feel-good entertainment from start to finish.
April 10 - May 4, 2025
Previews: April 6, 8 & 9
Book by Neil Simon
Music by Cy Coleman
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Directed and Choreographed by Dann Dunn
A sparkling Tony®Ⓡ- winning musical comedy about seeking love in the Big Apple.
125 SEATS | INTIMATE AND FLEXIBLE THEATRE
March 20 - April 19, 2025
Previews: March 16, 18 & 19
By Lanie Robertson
Directed by Marshall Jones III
Starring Tracey Conyer Lee
An unforgettable play about Billie Holiday’s ability to mine humor from hardship.
Don’t Miss Out!
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As a not-for-profit organization for the greater good, Gulfshore Playhouse relies on the support of generous donors.
With your support and passion, we hire exceptional talent to perform on our stage, foster new voices, and enhance the lives of the 80,000 patrons we welcome each year. Over 16,000 children engage in the art of theatre each year through our robust and ever-growing education department.
You play a vital role. By supporting Gulfshore Playhouse, you are transforming a region and transforming lives.
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.
Donor Spotlights
We thank you for your continued passion, generosity and support.
Susan Regenstein & Barry Frank Season Benefactors
Gulfshore Playhouse commends the remarkable generosity and commitment of Susan Regenstein and Barry Frank, two individuals whose philanthropic impact extends across a diverse array of causes and institutions. Susan and Barry have been active supporters of Gulfshore Playhouse since 2010.
Susan, a dedicated member of the Gulfshore Playhouse Board of Directors, has profoundly impacted the organization and is currently an active member of the Advancement Committee. Susan and Barry chaired the 2021 Loverly Gala, and she also served as the co-chair of the Capital Campaign Committee. Her leadership and vision have been instrumental in driving the Playhouse’s growth and commitment to the arts in our community.
Susan’s support of the arts, education, the environment, and animal welfare is a testament to her leadership and deep commitment to making the world a better place for future generations. Her partner, Barry Frank, is equally committed to advancing charitable causes. Together, they share a passion for giving back and making a lasting difference in their community and beyond.
We are deeply grateful for Susan and Barry’s extraordinary support and leadership. Their generosity and vision are vital to Gulfshore Playhouse’s continued success and to our region’s vibrant cultural and philanthropic life.
Bobbi & David Drobis Executive Producers
David and Bobbi Drobis have been deeply involved as generous donors and dedicated patrons of Gulfshore Playhouse since its inception, proudly holding the title of the very first ticket buyers to Gulfshore Playhouse. This title is a testament to their early support and enthusiasm for Gulfshore Playhouse as a growing organization aiming to serve this community and region through the arts.
David currently serves on the Board of Directors and leads the Marketing Committee, where his strategic insights and leadership have been invaluable. David’s career as a Marketing Executive, combined with his and Bobbi’s deep love of theatre, continues to drive their constant support and devotion to the mission of Gulfshore Playhouse. David has also taken on pivotal roles as gala co-chair, showcasing his commitment to fostering the arts and ensuring the continued growth and success of Gulfshore Playhouse. From the first tickets on sale to the Opening of our new home and beyond, David and Bobbi remain cherished members of our Gulfshore Playhouse family, and we are deeply grateful for their support.
Roberta & Rodger Taylor Executive Producers
Roberta and Rodger Taylor have had a remarkable journey with us that reflects true dedication and love for the arts. Starting as volunteer ushers, the Taylors spent many years creating a welcoming atmosphere for patrons—a testament to their belief in community and the power of theatre to transform lives. Their exceptional tenure as ushers set the stage for their continued involvement with Gulfshore Playhouse.
Since retiring from ushering, Rodger and Roberta have deepened their support by becoming valued members of our Director’s Circle. Their generous contributions to both the Next Stage Capital Campaign and the Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence have helped fuel Gulfshore Playhouse’s growth and commitment to excellence.
We are proud to support Gulfshore Playhouse. After meeting thousands of patrons over the years, we gained an insight into the value theatre provides to so many people. Contributing either time or money will ensure the success of this vital community asset. - The Taylors
The Playhouse is truly blessed to have Rodger and Roberta as part of the Gulfshore Playhouse family. Their generosity and dedication inspire us every day, and we are honored to count them as supporters and friends. Thank you, Rodger and Roberta, for your steadfast belief in the power of the arts and your incredible contributions to our theatre.
Show Sponsors: Bruce Tomason & Susan Rosen,
The Lehman Trilogy was first presented by the National Theatre and Neal Street Productions Ltd, that jointly commissioned the English adaptation of the original play, Lehman Trilogy, at the Lyttleton Theatre on Thursday 12th July 2018 and transferred to the Piccadilly Theatre, West End.
The National Theatre and Neal Street Productions Ltd presented the US premiere of The Lehman Trilogy on 27th March 2019 at the Park Avenue Armoury, New York and first presented the production on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on 14th October 2021.
Cast of Characters
The director is a Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. Henry Lehman & Others ..............................................................................................................
The actors and stage manager are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. (**) Denotes member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
Runtime
3 hours and 30 minutes, including two intermissions: 15 minutes and 10 minutes
Special Thanks
The Producers wish to thank Goodspeed Musicals Costume Collection & Rental for its assistance in this production.
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.
Director’s Note
When I began work on The Lehman Trilogy, my mind immediately wandered to 2009, when with my little bit of disposable income I bought some shares of Lehman stock as the price was plummeting and the markets were panicking. With the surefooted business sense of a person who chose the arts as his career path, I was certain that, in time, when everything righted itself, and the market crawled back into the black after a year or two of turbulence, I was certain that I would be swimming in the financial windfall and lighting my Cuban cigars with twenty dollar bills, smugly rewarding myself for my whipsmart business acumen. Yes, it was in freefall, but these people were geniuses! In the worst case, surely the government would intervene… provide a secure umbrella under which Lehman could restructure, reorganize, and rise again. It was simply too important, too integral to our economy… too big to fail.
Dear Patrons… never take my investment advice.
What makes The Lehman Trilogy so fascinating is not that we know the tragedy of the ending, but that we’ve never been privy to the beauty of the beginning. For all of the cold corporate veneer of the great financial institution that made headlines in the catastrophic collapse of its final days, how it grew to this hungry, world-shaking monstrosity began with the stuff great drama is based on… Family. Struggle, Love. Loss. Tradition. Ritual. In the vibrant, brilliant text of The Lehman Trilogy, we get to watch a family grow to become an institution. We experience the personal transform into the commercial, the sparks of individual ingenuity that, over generations, coalesce into a cold financial juggernaut. The story is told in a kind of null space – a purgatorial place where you, the audience, may sit in consideration or even judgment as the storytellers ground us in the world of family and finance, and where you can act as witnesses to the choices that saw the rise and fall of a family and its ambitious enterprise.
The script’s genius is that it invites three actors to tell the story of generations as they inhabit dozens of characters. The core of the story and its foundation are told from the perspective of three brothers, but the expansion of this very modest beginning narrative (immigrants come to America to find success in the land of opportunity) grows in scale and complexity as it is experienced through the lens crafted by these three wonderful, transformational actors. We are drawn into a world that starts simply but builds in complexity and complication until we see how three brothers impacted the entire world. Through the play, watch as the tools the actors use to tell the story change over time, where the tactile feel of wood, the personality of things crafted by hand, and the warmth of candlelight on the stage slowly sink into a world of plastic, the anonymity of manufacturing, and the cold, severe blue of fluorescent lighting.
Add to this the strength of a performance space like the Struthers Studio – a theatre that invites storytelling in its most fundamental sense. I’m so excited that The Lehman Trilogy is one of the plays Kristen chose for the inaugural year in the new Struthers Studio. Without a proscenium to hide sets and props in the wings and force your eye to a particular place, the Struthers draws us to the most fundamental aspect of theatre—the connection between the actor and the audience through the story. The closeness of the space allows something subtle and personal to occur in a way that The Lehman Trilogy benefits from. We are in the midst of the story, and it can surround us and pull us along or crash over us like a wave.
As for Lehman Brothers, you already witnessed the crash, but I hope you enjoy watching these talented actors and designers unfold how the ripple of this story’s beginning grew into the wave that helped sink the American economy.
Jeffrey Binder Director
About the Playwrights
Stefano Massini (Playwright) is an internationally renowned novelist and playwright, the first Italian author to receive a Tony Award®. He regularly contributes to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, and for several years he has served as artistic consultant at Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa. His works, including The Lehman Trilogy, have been translated into 30 languages, and his plays have been performed in more theatres around the world than those of any other living Italian writer, produced as far afield as Iran and Korea, and staged by directors such as Luca Ronconi and Sam Mendes. His most acclaimed works, beyond The Lehman Trilogy, include: Intractable Woman, a decades-long international success; Ladies Football Club, which premiered to wide acclaim in Spain; and 7 Minutes, hailed by Le Monde as a “masterpiece” at the Comédie Française. He has won numerous Italian awards, including the Premio Vittorio Tondelli and the Premio Ubu, as well as the Tony Award®, the Drama Guild Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award. Qualcosa sui Lehman (The Lehman Trilogy) was among the most acclaimed novels published in Italy in recent years and won the Selezione Campiello Prize, the Super Mondello Prize, the De Sica Prize, the Prix Médicis Essai and the Prix Meilleur Livre Étranger. In 2022 he completed his ten-year writing work on the birth of the atomic bomb in a play entitled Manhattan Project, already requested in many theatres around the world. His rewrite based on Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf will debut in 2024.
Ben Power (Playwright) is a writer for theatre and the screen. For the last 12 years he has worked at the National Theatre as associate director and deputy artistic director and was responsible for the temporary theatre The Shed. Work for the screen includes “Munich: The Edge of War” and “The Hollow Crown” (BAFTA nominations for Best Single Drama and Best Mini-Series). Work for the stage includes adaptations of DH Lawrence’s Husbands & Sons, Euripides’ Medea, and Ibsen’s Emperor & Galilean, all for the National; A Tender Thing for the RSC and Complicite’s A Disappearing Number (Olivier and Evening Standard Awards). He was associate director of Headlong where he adapted Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author and Marlowe’s Faustus. He is currently creating a television series for Working Title and is published by Faber & Faber.
Peter Chapman (Author) is the author of The Last of the Imperious Rich: Lehman Brothers, 1844-2008, a leading reference on the history of the Lehman family.
About the Cast
Geoffrey Cantor (Emanuel Lehman & Others) is excited to be making his Gulfshore Playhouse debut. Stage work includes Side Man (Broadway), My Parsifal Conductor, Warren Leight’s Sec 310, Row D, Seats 5&6, Dinner With Friends, Death of a Salesman with Judd Hirsch, Julie Taymor’s Titus Andronicus, Saturday Sunday Monday, Talley’s Folly, Romeo and Juliet, and Lone Star. Best known as Ellison in Marvel’s “Daredevil” series, Geoffrey has well over 100 TV, and film credits including “Zero Day,” “Maniac,” “FBI,” “Bull,” “Madam Secretary,” “House of Cards,” “Blacklist,” “The Tick,” “The Americans,” “Damages,” “Sopranos,” and all of the “Law & Order’s.” Films include Hail, Ceasar!, Creep Box, Hot Air, Man on a Ledge, Fair Game, and Public Enemies. He can also be heard on a number of Audio-books, including Jonathan Letham’s Motherless Brooklyn, and David Laskin’s The Family. As a director for the screen, his credits include the multi-award-winning short film EnSuite and the documentary Talking OutLOUD: Teens & Suicide Loss, A Conversation (Best of the Fest at the NYC Chain Film Festival). For the stage, his most recent directing work includes the critically acclaimed New York City debut production of October 7 at the Actors Temple Theater (a play he helped craft from testimonies of survivors from the NOVA festival), and the semi-immersive NewYork.Circa.1909. which he both co-wrote and directed at the Soho Playhouse. Geoffrey graduated with honors from Amherst college, and went on to train at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
Cody Nickell (Mayer Lehman & Others) Cody is thrilled to return to Gulfshore Playhouse and to be a part of this amazing season in the brand-new Baker Theatre and Education Center. Cody was the Artistic Associate at Gulfshore Playhouse for 2 seasons where he acted in and directed several productions, including Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Constellations, All My Sons, Blithe Spirit, The Whipping Man, Art, God of Carnage, Something Intangible, Body Awareness, and The Liar. Most recently Cody has been seen in Prayer for the French Republic at Theater J, The Winter’s Tale at the Folger Theater, and Ink at Round House Theatre (Helen Hayes nomination for Best Performance in a Lead Role). Other regional credits include work at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth Theatre (Company Member), Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Portland Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, Playmakers Repertory Company, San Jose Repertory Theatre, The Wilma Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, and Capitol Repertory Theatre. Cody is a 5 time Helen Hayes Award nominee and the recipient of the Connecticut Critics Circle Award. Cody is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.
Ian Merrill Peakes (Henry Lehman & Others) Gulfshore Playhouse: Maytag Virgin, Something Intangible; Philly (home): People’s Light: Company Member, Scrooge in Christmas Carol; Lantern Theater: Faith Healer, Molly Sweeney, The Craftsman; Arden Theatre: Equivocation, Macbeth, La Bete, Something Intangible (Barrymore Award), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, All My Sons (Barrymore Award), Three Days of Rain; Wilma Theater: Body of an American, The Invention of Love; Philadelphia Theatre Company: Side Man (Barrymore Award); Theatre Exile: Red Light Winter and Invisible Hand (Barrymore Award nominations); Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival; Walnut Street Theatre: Matilda, Woman of No Importance, Peter and the Starcatcher. Regional: ACT, Seattle Rep and Shakespeare Theatre: Charles III; Folger Theatre: Amadeus, Timon of Athens, R and G are Dead (Helen Hayes Award), Henry VIII, Macbeth, The Game of Love and Chance (Helen Hayes nominations); Denver Center for the Performing Arts: The Catch and Glengarry Glen Ross (Best of Denver Awards), When Tang Met Laika; Actors Theatre of Louisville: The Crucible, Twelfth Night; Shakespeare Santa Cruz: Much Ado About Nothing, Winter’s Tale; Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre: The False Servant. Film and TV: Task (with Mark Ruffalo); Knock at the Cabin; Goldfish; Lebanon, PA. Karen and Owen are the best humans.
About the Creative Team
Jeffrey Binder (Director) is thrilled to be directing in the new Struthers Studio for the first time with The Lehman Trilogy. Jeff is an actor, playwright, and director. He has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regionally, and London’s West End as well as on television and in film. Additionally, he served as Associate Artistic Director of Gulfshore Playhouse for six seasons. Acting: Broadway: The Lion King, Lieutenant of Inishmore (Original Broadway Cast), Mary Poppins, Side Man (Original Broadway Cast). West End: Side Man (Premiere). NYC: Music Hall (US Premiere 59E59th), Romance/The New Testament (NY Premieres/Neil LaBute, 59E59th), Dr. Faustus (Classic Stage Company), Birth and After Birth (Atlantic), Princess Turandot (Blue Light) Regional: Ride the Cyclone (McCarter Theatre), The White Chip (Merrimack Rep, World Premiere), The God Game (Premiere Gulfshore Playhouse/Capital Repertory Theatre), Love in the Wars (Premiere, Bard Summerscape), The Master and Margarita (Bard Summerscape), Bob (Humana 2011), Tartuffe (NJSF), Gulfshore Playhouse: Numerous productions including Every Brilliant Thing (the inaugural production here in the Struthers Studio), the one person Higher (filmed, also playwright), An Iliad, Scapino (World Premiere, also playwright), My Fair Lady, Holmes and Watson, Hound of the Baskervilles, The Price, The Refugees, Television’s “Damages” (recurring), “Law and Order,” “L&O: Criminal Intent,” “Guiding Light,” “All My Children.” Directing: Maytag Virgin, The Lady Demands Satisfaction, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play, Camelot, and last year’s A Sherlock Carol at Florida Rep. MFA, NYU.
Baron E. Pugh (Scenic Designer) is a Boston-based scenic designer for theatre, opera, and other live performance arts. Recent credits include: Off-Broadway: shadow/land (associate designer) (The Public Theater). NYC: King Lear, The Tempest (The Juilliard School, Drama Division). Regional: The Anonymous Lover (Boston Lyric Opera), Three Mothers, Henry Johnson: The Lost Hero (Capital Rep), 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); Sojourners (associate designer), K-I-S-S-I-N-G (associate designer), The Bluest Eye (associate designer) (The Huntington Theatre); Tiny Beautiful Things, Radio Golf (Trinity Rep); A Raisin in the Sun, Detroit ‘67, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, School Girls (TheatreSquared). Baron received his MFA in Scenic Design from Boston University and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. @bpscenic on Instagram
Graham Zellers (Lighting Designer) is a lighting designer based out of New York and holds an MFA from the School of Drama at Yale and a BA in Theatrical Design and Technology from Ball State University. He has worked as a lighting designer/associate on productions at many different theatres 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 has worked at Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, NY as Lighting Supervisor and as the Lighting Director at Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, FL. zellersdesign.com
Kirche Leigh Zeile (Costume Designer) Off-Broadway credits include Long Story Short, Amazons and Their Men, and The Last Word. Regionally, she has designed for Gulfshore Playhouse, Weston Theatre Company, AMAS, Syracuse Stage, Southern Rep, Rivertown Theater, Tulane Shakespeare Festival, Two River Theater, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and the Sharon Playhouse. She designs for academic institutions both regionally and in NYC, including Columbia University, Marymount Manhattan College, Tulane University, and NYU. She holds an MFA from NYU and is a Portfolio Development Advisor for Ringling College of Art and Design. Kirche is also a prolific fine artist whose paintings have shown in galleries throughout New York and Connecticut.
Lindsay Jones (Sound Designer) is a sound designer, audio producer, and educator living in New City, NY. He is a founding member of Daniel Baker & Co., an audio production company that creates sound designs and music for theatre, film, dance and other endeavors across the media spectrum. He also teaches sound design at Barnard College, BerkleeNYC, and Fordham University at Lincoln Center. Broadway credits are The Parisian Woman, Eclipsed, American Son (asst. sound design), and Purlie Victorious (asst. sound design) Selected OffBroadway credits include Toni Stone at Roundabout Theatre Company; The Lying Lesson, The Great Leap, The Jammer, and These Paper Bullets! at the Atlantic; The Four of Us and When We Were Young and Unafraid at MTC; Bull in a China Shop at LCT3; The Good Negro and Eclipsed at The Public; A Winter’s Tale at TFANA. Daniel has designed sound for over 150 productions at 25 regional theaters across the country. He holds an MFA in sound design from the Yale School of Drama.
Madelyn Hawver (Stage Manager) is so excited to be back at Gulfshore Playhouse. This is where Madelyn began her career as an intern, and she could not be happier to be returning to where she learned so much from the incredible staff of artists. She would like to thank the GP production staff for their patience and kindness in teaching her how to be a theatre technician, and she would especially like to thank Danny Kuenzel, Kelli Karen, and Jamie Eckhold for training her, believing in her, and showing her how to be a great stage manager. Much love to her family, Brittany, Hunter, and her fiance, Daniel, who is a source of endless encouragement and love.
Gary Logan (Vocal Coach) is currently the Professor of Speech & Dialects at Carnegie Mellon University and Resident Dialect Coach at Everyman Theatre, he’s coached over 200 productions for stage, TV, and film, including Sense & Sensibility, Cry It Out, Murder on the Orient Express, and Dancing at Lughnasa. His last engagement for Gulfshore Playhouse was Steel Magnolias. Other regional credits include the Kennedy Center: Master Class; Signature Theatre: Westside Story, I Am My Own Wife; Arena Stage: A Raisin in the Sun, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Studio Theatre: Belleville, Tribes, The Real Thing, Venus in Fur; Ford’s Theatre: Shenandoah, State of the Union; Folger: Henry V, Othello, Henry VIII, Much Ado About Nothing; Shakespeare Theatre Company: The Tempest, The Importance of Being Earnest, As You Like It, The Way of the World, Julius Caesar; Chautauqua Theater Company: Henry V, Clybourne Park, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale; Denver Center Theatre Company: Romeo and Juliet, Misalliance, Wit, The Winter’s Tale, Valley Song, The Tempest. Internationally: Royal Shakespeare Company’s Tantalus (Sir Peter Hall, director); Stratford Festival of Canada: Twelfth Night, The School for Scandal, and The Miser. Recently, he was the dialect coach for the Broadway premiere of The Lucky Star.
Michael Cassara, CSA (Casting Director) casts theatre and film in New York City and is thrilled to return to Gulfshore Playhouse for a 16th 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 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, new production shops 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 56, an annual budget of $8.15M with no debt, and led the charge to create a $72M state-of-the-art Theatre and Education Center at the gateway to downtown Naples, which will be open to the public in late 2024. 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 she was named one of the Men and Women of the Year 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 was appointed to Florida Council for arts and culture by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo.
Thank you to our Supporters
With your support and passion, we hire exceptional talent to perform on our stage, foster new voices, and enhance the lives of the 80,000 patrons we welcome each year. Over 16,000 children engage in the art of theatre each year through our robust and ever-growing education department.
You play a vital role. By supporting Gulfshore Playhouse, you are transforming a region and transforming lives.
To find out more about how to make an impact, please contact Lisa Halsey, Chief Advancement Officer at 239.261.7529 ext. 203 or Lhalsey@gulfshoreplayhouse.org.
Michael Martinez-Melara as Lord Evelyn in the Gulfshore Playhouse Conservatory production of Anything Goes:Youth Edition
Photo by Matthew Schipper.
The Lehman Trilogy is a play with epic ambition in the most Homeric sense. According to the Poetry Foundation, an ‘epic’ is a “long narrative poem in which a heroic protagonist engages in an action of great mythic or historical significance.” When Italian playwright Stefano Massini first wrote I Capitoli del Crollo or Chapters of the Fall in 2010, just two years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, he wasn’t attempting to craft a historical record of the rise of the men who founded the eponymous firm. Rather, he wanted to craft a modern epic.
The epic tradition is one of our oldest forms of storytelling, predating even the invention of writing. Epic stories were performed by bards who used complex rhetorical and metrical schemes (dactylic hexameter, also known as ‘heroic hexameter,’ being the most commonly associated with the form) both to help memorize the poem as it was passed through the oral tradition and to make alterations as they saw fit. The versions of epics like the Iliad and the Odyssey that we are familiar with today were very likely written dictations of just one version of the unknown number of versions that would’ve been performed all across Ancient Greece.
So while the subject matter of an epic story might feel more appropriate for a multi-million blockbuster film, it is when they are performed in a dark theatre by a solo performer (or in the case of The Lehman Trilogy, three performers) that we are the closest to how a person would’ve experienced an epic thousands of years ago and there is something truly magical about that, isn’t there?
There are two ‘versions’ of epics. “Primary” or “Folk” epics, such as Beowulf and the Iliad, were written down after centuries of oral transmission. They were usually composed during or about times of great tension and/ or upheaval (i.e. the Trojan War) and feature larger-than-life heroes who embody important cultural values and ideals. Scholar Martin Coyle wrote that primary epics were the “artistic culmination of a civilization.”
“Secondary” or “Literary” epics are works composed by a single author imitating the form of a primary epic. Virgil’s Aeneid and Milton’s Paradise Lost are prominent examples. These epics are primarily intended as works of literature, not as performance. They typically reflect upon the traditions—mythical or historical—and values of the highly structured cultures and societies that produced them. For instance, the Aeneid was penned during a time of major political and social change in Rome. Virgil’s epic in many ways reflect the values the new emperor Augustus Caesar hoped to instill and many contemporaries saw it as an attempt to legitimize his rule.
The Lehman Trilogy builds on the tradition of both folk and literary epics to create something new. A traditional epic begins in media res, meaning “in the middle of things.” The Lehman Trilogy, on the other hand, takes us all the way back to the beginning. From there, Massini spins an epic not just about three brothers and the dynasty they built, but also about the values upon which America was built.
An epic has always taken something enormous and complex in scale and turned it into a story that helps us make sense of it all. The Lehman Trilogy does just that. In reality, the Lehmans are a piece of a much bigger puzzle that is the history of wealth in America. There were a myriad of other enterprising individuals, companies, and political institutions who played significant roles in the increasingly complex economic systems that evolved during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Lehmans were inheritors, instigators, participants, and innovators, certainly, but it would be historically inaccurate to state they were solely responsible for what this play gives them credit (or blame) for. So while The Lehman Trilogy (and all of the epics that came before it) may not always factual, does that mean it isn’t truthful?
The Iliad helps us understand that honor was a high value in ancient Greek society. Similarly, Beowulf tells us about the heroic code that shaped Anglo-Saxon culture. Dante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy after he ended up on the losing side of warring political factions and was exiled from Florence. His fictional journey through hell not only informs us about 14th century views on Christianity, but it is also an intensely human story of redemption that still speaks to us. There is profound truth to be found in all of these stories even if the events depicted are entirely fictional.
So what is The Lehman Trilogy telling us about our nation’s own history? How have our values changed over time, given that they’ve changed at all? Power said that the play dramatizes a movement from the literal to the abstract, an idea that pertains both to the Lehmans themselves and to America at large. If you look for it, you’ll see this movement weaving itself throughout this rich tapestry of an epic story.
Enjoy the show!
Lehman Brothers: A Timeline
by Audrey Zielenbach, Line Producer & Dramaturg
1844
Hajum Lehman migrates from Rimpar, Germany to Montgomery, Alabama, becoming Henry Lehman, and opens a general store.
1847 1850
Emanuel Lehman arrives in Baltimore and joins his brother in Montgomery.
The youngest brother, Mayer, joins his brothers and Lehman Brothers is officially founded. Capitalizing on the Antebellum South’s most important crop, the brothers accepted cotton as payment from plantation owners for their goods and eventually became cotton brokers.
1887
Lehman Brothers becomes a member of the New York Stock Exchange.
1880s
The Lehmans invest in railways, primarily in the South. Philip Lehman becomes a partner at the company in 1885. Lehman Brothers transition to investment banking.
1878
Mayer’s son Herbert is born.
1854
The Lehmans purchase a 14-year-old enslaved girl named Martha. The 1860 census identified Mayer Lehman as the owner of seven enslaved people.
1855
Henry Lehman dies of yellow fever at age 33.
1873
Lehman Brothers expands their business from just agriculture to also invest in iron and steel.
The Lehmans help found the New York Cotton Exchange. 1870
1858
Emanuel establishes the Lehman’s first office in New York. Mayer marries Babette Newgass of New Orleans.
1859
Emanuel marries Pauline Sondheim in New York.
1868
Mayer and the Lehman Brothers main office move to New York.
1861-1865
Within months of President Lincoln’s inauguration, 11 Southern slave states secede and form the Confederate States of America. In April, the South attacks Fort Sumter and marks the beginning of the Civil War. The movement of cotton is severely restricted, so Mayer and Emanuel keep their business alive by smuggling cotton through the blockade. In 1865, the war ends, Lincoln is assassinated, and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishes slavery.
1867
Lehman Brothers is appointed by the state of Alabama to serve as its fiscal agent, sell state bonds, and manage the state’s debt.
1891
Bobby Lehman is born.
Mayer dies aged 67.
Philip becomes president of Lehman Brothers, serving as head until 1925.
Emanuel, the last of the three original brothers, dies aged 79.
After serving as a commissioned office in Europe during World War I, Bobby joins the company. 1924
The first non-Lehman becomes a partner in the firm. 1925
Bobby takes over leadership of Lehman Brothers until 1969. 1928
Herbert leaves Lehman Brothers to join Franklin D. Roosevelt’s gubernatorial ticket and is elected lieutenant governor of New York. 1929
Bobby Lehman, the last family member to lead Lehman Brothers, dies aged 77.
Lehman Brothers invests in new technology companies, bringing the company into the computer age.
Herbert is elected to the U.S. Senate.
Philip dies aged 85.
Lehman Brothers continues to diversify its investments, veering into alcohol, film, and television, and eventually into companies that supply the war effort.
Herbert is elected governor of New York.
The stock market crashes in late October 1929, an event that contributes to the Great Depression and a global economic collapse. 1932-1942
2008
Pete Peterson becomes CEO of Lehman Brothers. Ten years later, he leaves after receiving a big payout, leaving Lew Glucksman, formerly the head of Lehman’s trading division, in charge.
Glucksman sells Lehman Brothers to American Express.
American Express then spins off from American Express into Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. with Richard ‘Dick’ Fuld as CEO.
Lehman Brothers relocates operations from Wall Street to Midtown Manhattan.
Lehman Brothers buys five mortgage lenders and becomes heavily invested in mortgage-backed securities.
The financial crisis begins to unfold with the sale of two Bear Stearns hedge funds in mortgagebacked securities.
On September 15th, Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy. On the 16th, Barclays agrees to buy their U.S. operations. It takes 14 years to fully liquidate the company. The Great Recession begins as a result of a lack of regulation and oversight over financial firms offering risky mortgages to people with poor credit, among other reasons.
Gulfshore Playhouse Education provides programs that enhance the lives of students of all ages through transformative theatrical experiences.
Pre-professional training through theatre productions, classes, and camps. Available for all ages.
Designed specifically for our region, this program infuses theatre-based pedagogy with curriculum standards to enhance learning.
Our community partnership program strengthens the fabric of our region by bringing the transformative power of live theatre and education to communities.
ThinkTheatre pairs core curriculum with performing arts education. By introducing theatre-based pedagogy, our professional teaching artists engage students’ creativity, encourage teamwork, and boost selfconfidence while enhancing their understanding of curriculum content. If you are seeking ways to energize your classroom through fun, creative, and learningfocused residencies, be sure to check out our offerings.
John and Mary were very vested in their teaching and I as a teacher truly appreciated their enthusiasm as well as knowledge of what they were teaching!
Melissa Zizzo, Kindergarten, St. Ann School
Students always enjoy a break from the normal routines in their schedules. The work did not seem like work for them and some students really enjoyed working in groups.
We currently offer ThinkTheatre residencies for grades K-12 in the following subject areas:
• English/Language Arts
• Social Studies
• Science
• Mathematics
• Theatre
If your organization is interested in creating a partnership with Gulfshore Playhouse, contact Director of Education, Steven Calakos at 239.261.7529 ext. 207 or scalakos@gulfshoreplayhouse.org.
Sarah Anzuelda, Eighth Grade, ICA
The cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Are your kids passionate about being on stage?
At the Conservatory at Gulfshore Playhouse, we offer pre-professional training through exciting theatre productions, engaging classes, and fun-filled camps for students of all ages.
Broadway Babies (Ages 9 months-2 years)
Classes: Saturdays, February 1-22, 2025
10:00AM-11:00AM Tuition: $150
A Year with Frog and Toad KIDS (Ages 8-13)
Rehearsals: Monday-Thursday, February 10-28, 5:30PM-7:30PM Performances: February 27 - March 1
Location: Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples Tuition: $300
Story Explorers: On the Farm (Ages 5-7)
Monday-Friday March 10-14, 2025
9:00AM-12:00PM Tuition: $250
The Playbuilding Experience (Ages 13-18)
Monday-Friday, March 10-14, 2025
1:00PM-4:00PM Tuition: $250
Teen Directors (Ages 13-18)
Mondays, March 24-May 5, 2025
5:30PM-7:30PM Tuition: $300
Broadway Bootcamp: Jukebox Musicals (Ages 8-13)
Monday-Friday, March 10-14, 2025
9:00AM-12:00PM Tuition: $250
Story Explorers: Pirates! (Ages 8-13)
Monday-Friday, March 10-14, 2025
1:00PM-4:00PM Tuition: $250
Young Actors (Ages 8-13)
Mondays, March 24-May 5, 2025
5:30PM-7:30PM Tuition: $300
Adult Classes
Through acting classes, painting classes, vocal lessons, and lecture series, lifelong learners experience professional training and theatrical experiences that expand horizons and inspire artistic growth. Broaden your understanding of the work we do on stage while getting to know Gulfshore Playhouse and fellow theatre lovers.
Paint ‘n Sip
Held once per month: February 7, March 7, April 4, 2025
6:00PM-8:00PM
Tuition: $100 (includes 3 drink tickets)
Founder Friday
Offered once per month: February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, 2025
10:00AM-11:00AM
Tuition: $25
Wellness Offerings:
Yoga
Monday - Thursday, Saturday at varying times
Flow, Sculpt, and Beginner Yoga Tuition: $20
Broadway Zumba!
Every Monday through May 26, 2025
9:00AM-10:00AM
Tuition: $15 drop-in, 10-class package for $135
Teen Conservatory Cabaret (Ages 13-18)
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays April 15-May 9, 2025
5:00PM-8:00PM
Performances: May 12 & 13 7:00PM Tuition: $300
The Lecture Series
Explore the world of theatre with The Lecture Series at Gulfshore Playhouse – a monthly series of insightful discussions about theatre and the arts.
Unveiling Classics with Dr. Gail Kern Paster (A Three-Part Series)
February 12, 20, & 27, 2025
11:00AM-12:00PM
Producers on Producers
March 20, 2025
11:00AM-12:00PM
Songwriting for the Stage with David Cohen (A Three-Part Series)
March 27, Apr. 3, Apr. 10, 2025
10:30AM-12:00PM Tuition: $135
Directing the Stage April 17, 2025
11:00AM-12:00PM
Chair Fitness: Move & Groove
Every Monday starting January 20
10:00AM
Tuition: $15 per class
Scan here to see our Adult Classes
Stage Stories: Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage in Theatre with Dan Bacalzo May 15, 2025
11:00AM- 2:00PM
To register and for more information, Call our box office 239.261.7529 or visit our site at gulfshoreplayhouse.org
Gulfshore Playhouse Education is proud to forge community partnerships with other local cultural institutions such as the Holocaust Museum, Artis—Naples, and the Collier County Public Schools to bring unique theatrical experiences to thousands of students across Collier and Lee Counties.
Remember: The Story of Abe Price
Remember: The Story of Abe Price by Jeffrey Binder, an original play based on a true story, is brought to you in partnership with The Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center.
At just 16-years-old, Abraham Piasecki’s life is uprooted by the Nazi invasion of Poland. From living in the ghetto of Kielce to imprisonment at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Remember brings to life the harrowing true story of a Holocaust survivor who escaped Nazi captivity five times.
So Much Drama: Midsummer
So Much Drama is a collaboration between Gulfshore Playhouse, the Naples Philharmonic, and Collier County Public Schools, offering free musical adaptations of Shakespeare classics to over 3,000 eleventh-grade students. This partnership enhances students’ understanding of Shakespeare’s work while providing them the rare opportunity to experience performances by professional actors and musicians.
Drama-Based Corporate Training
Led by skilled facilitators, our tailored sessions infuse dynamic drama techniques into corporate settings, enhancing team building, communication, leadership, and creative problemsolving. Unleash the power of drama in your workplace, equipping your team with practical skills through engaging, customizable workshops.
• Presentation Skills: The Art of Public Speaking
• Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace
• The Power of Teamwork: Ensemble Building
Student Matinee Series
Gulfshore Playhouse creates special student matinee performances for each of our mainstage productions so students in our region can experience live professional theatre free of charge.
Noises Off
Date: Friday, March 7th from 10:00AM-12:30PM
Genre: Comedy - Play
Themes: Chaos, Backstage Theatrics
Recommended Audience: High School
Join us for the rest of the shows in our Student Matinee Series
These educational opportunities are made possible thanks to the Anthony and Beverly Petullo Endowment for Student Matinees and VIP Experiences.
Sweet Charity
Date: Friday, May 2nd from 10:00AM-12:30PM
Genre: Romantic Comedy - Musical
Themes: Love, Hope, Career Aspirations
Recommended Audience: High School
Calakos
Jim Corsica, Victor Caroli, and Sue Schaffel in Remember: The Story of Abe Price Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Carolina Miranda, Brian Nelson Jr., and Angie Janas in Midsummer Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Group Sales
Create a memorable experience for your group with discounted theatre tickets* for groups. The bigger the group, the bigger the savings!
• Groups of 200 or more people, contact Patron Services for tailored pricing.
• Groups of 100-199 people, save $15 per ticket
• 50-99 people, save $10 per ticket
• 20-49 people, save $7 per ticket
• 10-19 people, save $5 per ticket
How
It Works
• Elect a group leader who will reserve a block of seats. Seats may be booked in advance and approved by the Group Leader.
• For medium groups and larger (20 or more people), a deposit of 50% of the total is due at the time of the reservation to hold your seats.
• For small groups, payment is due in full at time of reservation to secure your seats.
• For medium/large groups, if the number of seats in your group changes, we can add/ subtract tickets up to one month prior to your chosen performance, depending on availability.
• For medium/large groups, the remaining balance is due one month before your performance date.
• The Group Leader arranges payment for the group:
• For medium/large groups, original deposit: 50% of the total due at booking
• For medium/large groups, the second payment: Remaining balance due one month prior
• For small groups, payment: due in full at time of reservation
By reserving your group tickets now, you lock in your discounted price for any future additional tickets for the performance, protecting against any price increases due to demand!
*Group discounts not valid on previews, Opening Night performances, or Value seating.
A place to Breathe, Unwind and Refresh.
Bayfront Inn: Where mornings start with sunrise views and breakfast at Bambu Tropical Bar & Grille, followed by a day of poolside relaxation, marina adventures, and tropical escapes.
Playhouse production of She Loves Me
Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Gregory A. Otis, Lisa A. Drescher, Curt Edwards -
We are thrilled to announce our new Dining Partnership!
Enjoy an elevated evening pairing a stellar dining experience at handselected restaurants with a visit to Gulfshore Playhouse, your new home for professional theatre.
For a list of our Dining Partners with links to their websites, scan here
*Please visit our Dining Partner’s websites for any special offerings they may be crafting for Gulfshore Playhouse ticket holders.
Kathy Abrams
Frank Agitali
Jackie Aldridge
Elizabeth Allen
Larry Allen
Pam Ammar
Ruth Anderson-Zabre
Maria Lane Arends
Lisa Auclair
Kim Babcock
Teresa Bacchi
Dianne Bacon
Doris Balconi
Gary Balconi
Melody Bales
Angela Barris
Anne Barongo
Lori Beckworth
Maria Bello
Jeanette Benfante
Monique Berlinger
Howard Bernie
Kay Bernie
Ron Bieganek
Jodie Birch
Shawn Blackley
Judi Bloom
Cate Bonielle
Tammy Bower-Yorty
Pat Bradford
Alice Brady
Jeanine Brakefield
Marlene Bridge
Katie “KT” Brill
Joseph Buhain
Frank Caccamise
Vivian Calis
Onetia Cameron
Tony Cancelliere
Pat Carl
Lori Carr
J Carroll
Connie Carter
Maureen Casey-Coe
Nancy Castonguay
Bob Castonguay
Donna Caughman
Cynthia Chandler
Myah Charlton (Lee)
Danielle Chapman
Gail Chazanovitz
Melanie Chiani
Corinne Cione
Lorraine Clark
Art Collins
Bonnie Cousineau
Fran Coyle
Laureen Coyne
Maureen Crichton
Stuart Crichton
Helen Cuda
Leona Curzi
Nancy Daras
Shirley Day
Elizabeth Dean
Sherry Dean
Wanda Debella
Rich Debella
Cathy DeMartis
Zeke DeMartis
Alyce Demma
Cindy Deschenes
Daniel Doczi
Michele Doczi
Bruce Dolin
Sandra Dolin
Kathleen Donelli
Lora Donia
John Donohue
Barbara Donohue
Moira Dougherty
Rich Dougherty
Janine Dowdle
Janet Dubeau
Linda Duggan
Dot Dunbar
Robert Dunbar
Beverly “Bev” Duncan
Katie Ekker
Debbie Elliot
Jan Ellis
Greg Ellis
Celene Evans
Karen Evans
Carrol Ewert
Larry Ewert
Carol Fahl
Steve Fapka
Joanne Farwell
Betsy Fellers
Vasiliy Finley
Gail Fitch
Karen Forberg
Natalie Frakenburg
Linnea Fraser
Linda Friis
Steve Fuller
Claudia Fuller
Suzanne Fundingsland
Marie Gannatti
Alivia Gardner
Joe Gargiulo
Jerry Gargiulo
Bunny Gartner
Anneke Geldenhuys
Maureen Gerrity
Matthew Giagnorio
Kathie Gilginas
Deborah Giso
Carole Glowacki
Nathan Goebel
Craig Goeske
Cheryl Goldberg
Chris Goldhorn
Thomas Golonksi
David “Dave” Golya
Hector Gonzalez
Charlene Gould
Nancy Greener
David Greener
Mrs. Ray Grimmon
Diane Hackem
Lori Hajec
Holly Hamilton
Tammy Harris
Nancy Harrison
Laraine Herbst
Pamela Heringhaus
Alexandra Hernandez
Cliff Hogen
Steve Holtz
Linda Horwitz
Peggy Hunt
Bob Huffman
Linda Icenogle
Ariella Irizarry
Linda Johnson
Lori Joyce
Shelagh Joyce
Keven Joyce
Sarah Jurney
Rose Kalba
Sue Kaplan
Gloria Kas
George Kas
Barbara Kay
Beth Keenan
Cathy Kelley
James Kelley
Carlyn Kelly
Robin Kennedy
Carolyn Kerl
Mary Jo Killoran
Mary Beth King
Billie Kirkpatrick
Linda Knight
Liese Kolb
Eileen Komanecky
Jackee Krauss
Mary Ellen Kucharik
Peter Kucharik
Frances (Fran) Lang
Karen Lang
NancyLee Langerman
Ron Lanning
Dale Leibowitz
Helane LePort
Robert Leverte
Michael Levine
Jane Levine
Gabriel Lewis
Joe Libertelli
Betty Liming
Dan Liming
Shirley Lopes
Faith Lopez
Rashida Loya
Nancy Lucey
Pam Lugo
Heather Mackenzie
Angela Maguire
Andrea Maldegan
Sandy Maggiacomo
Renee Marino
Rita Maroldo
Lorel Martens
Daniel Martin
Mary Martini
Lisa Mash
Leslie Mason
Lola Mason
Marybeth Mastrianni
Lisa Mathe
Carol Matyniak
Brenda Maxey
Irene McAllister
Victoria McCally
Teresa McCallum
Debron McCartney
Harry McCartney
Connell McGeehan
Cindi McKnight
Dave McKnight
Nancy McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
Kathryn McMullen
Bob McNulty
Layza Medina
Elizabeth Mellon
John Minerva
Ken Moffat
Kathy Monti
Laurie Mountford
Nancy Moylan
John Murphy
Deborah Musiol
David Mario Nal
Craig Nayhouse
Catherine Nelson
Rich Nemerson
Allison Newman
Debra Noons
Helena Novak
Nancy Oakes
Rod Oakes
Leslie O’Connell
Laura Odette
Maureen O’Keefe
Nancy O’Leary
Kathie O’Leary
Deborah (Debbie) Olsen
Michele Olsen
Nora Ousley
Ray Palmer
Linda Palmer
Julie Panagakos
Mary Parelli
Doris Parker
Jean Paskalides
Karen Patrico
Maria Pentakis
Bob Phelan
Barbara Picardi
Amy Picotte
Bob Picotte
Gerry Pierce
Mike Pietrucha
Elaine Pilver
Susan Polastri
Angelo Polizzi
Ashley Pollard
Orest Poluch
Joanne Poluch
Steve Popp
Cynthia (Cindy) Popp
Cecelia Price
Dolores Pytlik
Tom Quinn
Bob Ray
Linda Ray
Kriki Read
Randy Read
Jean Rechenmacher
Gail Reifsnyder
June Reeves
Susan Reville
Lynda Reymann
Suzanne Rhea
Wendy Rieger
Kaitlyn Rispoli
Cheryl Ritchie
Gail Riva
Samuel Roberts
Kathy Rogers
Marie Roosendaal
Tracy Rosen
Maggie (Margaret) Ross
Debbie Rough
Maria Rozo
Carol Ruset
Wyatt Russo
Sharon Sabo
Charles Sabo
Donna Santamarina
Alicia Schwartz
Mary Scioscia
Neil Scioscia
Diane Scribner
Nancy Sekulich
Jully Seybert
Randy Seybert
Pat Shea
Mike Shea
Robbie Short
Carol Simpson
Sharon Slack
Tom Smillie
Hollie Smillie
Beverly “Bev” Smith
Jeannie Smith
JoAnne Sottile
Christine Spangler
Lyn Spinella
Michael Stanek
Bonnie Stedronsky
Mary Steffan
Sandra Stephens
Karen Stone
Leslie Strauss
Maureen Sullivan
Sharon Sutton
Dave Sutton
Sharon Swinton
Judy Switzky
Peter Szafir
Kimberly Szymanski
Deb Taylor
Rich Taylor
Sharon Thoemke
Calvin Thomas
Candi Tipton
Ann Todd
Dorothea “Dottie” Tormey
Amy Toussaint
Rob Toussaint
Patrick Trapp
Suzanne Trevors
Fran Tucker
Stan Tucker
Sue Turner
Janis Upton
Eric Uthus
Jackie Uthus
Lynne Vannelli
Marilyn Varcoe
Barbara Vegter
Susan Vigliante
Lucinda VonRomer
Margaret Walos
Margaret Walrod
MJ Wann
Eileen Warren
Joanne Weber
Julie Weber
Karen Weinman
Eric Weinstein
Anne Welton
Daphne Whitman
Kate Wilde
Rob Wilde
Libby Wiliams
Nancy Willis
Sharon Wilson
Nancy Woodward
Nancy Woolf
Suzanne Worthington
Sharon Yeske
Natalie Younger
Yelena Yurinets
Patricia Zicht
Paula Zipfel
David Zipfel
Season Angels
($250,000+)
Jane & Steve Akin
Patty & Jay Baker
Glenda & Rich Struthers
Season Benefactors
($100,000-$249,000)
Karen & Gary Gregg
Nancy Lauridsen
Sandi & Tom Moran
Susan Regenstein & Barry Frank
Ralph & Shelly Stayer
Season Ambassadors
($50,000-$99,999)
Bayfront Inn
Bev & Art Cherry
Dentons Cohen & Grigsby
Mary F. Drazan
Christine & Terrance Flynn
Nancy & Tom Gallagher
Marguerite Hambleton
Jenny & Rich Housh
George & Patricia Kraus
Pamela & Bob Krupka
James & Brigitte Marino
Moran Wealth Management
Porsche Naples
John & Carol Walter
Jane & Dave Wilson
Executive Producers
($25,000-$49,999)
Anonymous (x4)
Aielli Group
Mary & Phil Beuth
Lee & Peter Bewley
Bigham Jewelers
Richard & Jane Borchers
Patricia & Jim Bosscher
Cheryl & Randall W. Byrnes
Grampy’s Charities - Jim & Jonatha Castle
Bob & Laurie Champion
Ciccarrelli Advisory Services
Robert & Joan Clifford
John & Patricia Cochran
Norman & Suzanne Cohn
Margaret Cox
Jim & Shirley Curvey
Kyla & Rich de Asla
Bobbi & David Drobis
Dyan Fazzone
First Horizon
Kathleen & Brendan FitzGerald
The Gialamas Family
Matthew Hagan
The Harold Alfond Foundation
The Habbershon Family
Gulfshore Life / Naples Press
Ken & Karen Heithoff
Vicki Herche & Graeme Murray
Mitchell Hertz & Anne Carlucci
Jean & Leo Hertzog
Steven & Sarah Jackson
Sabrina & Craig Jensen
Liz & Jim Jessee
Sarah Raup Johnson
Catelyn Juliano & David Deutsch
Heidi & James Kargman
Diane Landgren
Dolly & Jenny Lenz
Laird A. Lile
Jody & Gerald Lippes
Barbara K. Lupient
Simone & Scott Lutgert
Debra & Vince Maffeo
Phil McCabe
Carolyn & Don McCulloch
Gerry McGraw
Bettina McKee
Pat & Tony McMunn
Dan & Ann Meyer
Joanne & Jeffrey Miller
Kristin & John Miller
Geraldine Moss
Kimberly Moss & Bob Fisher
Naples Illustrated
F.E. & Jack Nortman
Louise & Larry Ost
Joan & Mahendra Parekh
Gail Kern Paster
Anthony & Beverly Petullo
Quality Enterprises USA Inc.
Ann Ratner
Dottie & John Remondi
DeAnna & Rick Rondinelli
Sarah Bowden as Reno Sweeney and Josh Canfield as Billy Crocker in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of Anything Goes Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Kathy & Ned Sachs
Pam & Fred Sasser
Cynthia & Mike Scholl
Acadia Wealth Management - Tennille & Aaron Sevigny
The Shubert Foundation Inc.
Alice & Charles Simons
Sharon & Paul Stein
Patricia Sweet & Bill Marsh
Janet & Peter Swinburn
Roberta & Rodger Taylor
The Dock at Crayton Cove - Mimi & Doug Traina
Julie & Steve Vanderboom
The Vincent Von Zwehl Memorial Fund
Julie & Phil Wade
Kathy & Paul Weaver
Tereska & Jerry Whitson
William C. Huff
Michael Wilens & Carolyn Longacre
Wilmington Trust
Julie Wyman
Kristen & Michael Wynn
Joanne Wyss
Debbie & Bruce Yarde
Spotlight Sponsors
($10,000-$24,999)
Barron Collier Companies
The Betsey Harris Fund, Collier Community Foundation
The Calleja Group - Gisselle & Jorge Calleja
Collier Community Foundation
Scott & Rebecca Curvey
Davies Duke
Janine & Timothy Dowdle
Fidelity Wealth Management
Gilbane Building Company
Janet & Blake Gable
Kathleen Glass
Mary & Robert Hoyer
Judith & Martin Isserlis
Jack Miller Family Foundation
Jay & Stuart Kaye
Lisa & Patrick Kelly
Nancy Marriott - The Nancy Peery Marriott Foundation
Jennifer & David Miller
Moorings Park Group
Susan Mullin
Karen Nally
Naples, Marco Island, Everglades
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Beth & Bill Reid
Robert Simpson
Karen & F. Samuel Smith
Julie & Steven Smith
State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs
Bruce Tomason & Susan Rosen
Gulf Coast International Properties, Tim & Stephanie Savage
Enid & Jerry Weygandt
$5,000 - $9,999
Robin Bache Gray
Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation
Susan & William Brock
Brown and Brown
Dee & Dickson Brown
Erica & James Buchweitz
Megan & Matthew Chionis
Landen Collins
Joyce & Patrick Coughlan
Jerry Coury
Hannah & Andy Cummins
Richard Cuneo
Judith Davis & Kim Gordon Davis
District
Dougherty Family Foundation
Kathleen & William Farley
Jeanie & Tony Figg
Jane & Neal Gelfand
Dave Gibbons
Mary Graham
Florida Blue
Carole & Tom Guyette
Myra Hackel
Stephan Hall
Johanna & Tony Hess
MPM Wealth Advisors
Bruce Kirchhofer
Marc Kozin
Mary & James Lande
Kristine C. Lenrow
Ken Love
Florean & Ed Mader
Rebecca & Robert McLennen
Ned & Elvy Milenkovich
Laura & Leo Montgomery
Myfifident Foundation
Nick & Linda Penniman
Marcus Peperzak
Timothy Petersen
Laurie & Ric Phillips
Penny & Stephen Pomeranz
Maureen A. Raub
Betty & Leo Schwartz
Leslie Schwartz
Laura Scott
Cherry Smith
Soluna
Jeffrey Binder in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of Every Brilliant Thing. Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Create an indelible legacy
Join the Standing Ovation Society
We understand that the choice to designate a planned gift is a deeply precious and personal one, and we thank you for your consideration. When you become a member of the Standing Ovation Society, you are joining an ensemble of thoughtful and imaginative visionaries who believe, as you do, in the transformative power of world-class professional theatre and educational opportunities in our region. Your gift will touch the lives of all who walk through our doors and ensure our ability to carry out our mission.
Benefits of Joining:
Annual recognition in the Gulfshore Playhouse playbill
Invitation to periodic events honoring members of the Standing Ovation Society
Invitation to other Gulfshore Playhouse special events
Mary & Phil Beuth Kristen Coury
Glenda
Ms. Patricia Sweet & Mr. Bill Marsh
Jane & Dave Wilson
Standing Ovation Society Members By including Gulfshore Playhouse in your estate plan, you are supporting Gulfshore Playhouse’s
If you would like to notify us of your intent or discuss your options, please contact Lisa Halsey at 239.261.7529 ext 203. or lhalsey@gulfshoreplayhouse.org
February 27 through March 16
William Parry as Angus and Maureen Silliman as Abigail in Gulfshore Playhouse’s production of Morning After Grace. Photo by Matthew Schipper.
Board of Directors
Steven Akin, Chairman of the Board
Rich Struthers, Vice-Chair
Patty Baker
Kristen Coury
David Drobis
Tim Habbershon
Mitch Hertz
Jenny Housh
Jason Hunter Korn
Pamela Krupka
Sandi Moran
Gerry Moss
Jack Nortman
Tony Panzica
Gail Kern Paster
Susan Regenstein
Rick Rondinelli
Cynthia Scholl
Tennille Sevigny
Pat Sweet
Ashley Smith
Dave Wilson
Joanne Wyss
Don J. Gunther, Emeritus
Bob Harden, Emeritus
Don McCulloch, Lifetime Trustee
Leadership & Staff
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
Executive Assistant to the CEO .................... Mackenzie Caraballo
Education Associates ...................... Mary McGough, 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
Advancement Coordinator ................................ Ashleigh Jennings
Marketing
Chief Marketing Officer ....................................... Rachel Applegate
Marketing Manager .................................................. Heidi Overman
Graphic Designer .................................................... Ashley Martinez
Patron Services Manager ............................................ Luke Matlock
Assistant Patron Services Manager ................... Meghan Fitzpatrick
Patron Services Associate ................................................... Lauren Carr
Patron Services Assistants ...................... Timothy Coryell, Sara Ross Finance & Administration
& Managing Director ........................................... Joel Markus
of Finance .................................................. Alyson McCoy
Manager ............................................................ Jim Dallas Facilities Manager ........................................................ Joe Salemme Director of Events/Food & Beverage ............................. Erin Burney Assistant Events/Food & Beverage Managers ........... Crystal Diggs, Jeanette Persails
Specialist .................................................................. Drew Whitcomb
Associate .................................................. Maureen Devine
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 Assistant/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
Stage Crew ................................... Hope Chellman, Miguel Flores, Karli Knepfler
Scenic Technicians ......................... Jonathan Jensen, Bobby Julga
Stage Supervisor ........................................................ Andrew Geier
Scenic Art Supervisor ................................................... James Allen
Scenic Artists ............................... Katherine Burns, Olivia Murphy, Samantha Swasso, Larashleigh Wallace, Jonathan Willis Properties Supervisor ............................................. Lora McIntosh
Assistant Properties Supervisor .......................... Gwendolyn Rygg Properties Artisan ...................................................... Caleb Brown Properties Technicians .................... Hunter Booth, Maxine Walby
Lighting Supervisor ........................................ Elizabeth Knudson
Assistant Lighting Supervisor .................................... Lynn Slutsky
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Lighting Technicians ............................. Dennis Cheeks, Ray Ward Sound Supervisor .......................................................... Owen True Assistant Sound Supervisor ..................................... Max Heyliger Sound Technicians ........................ Kaleb Pecoraro, David Walters
Costume Shop Manager ..................................... Jennifer Bronsted
Assistant Costume Shop Manager ................... Maya Faye Gordon
Lead Draper ........................................................... Elizabeth Eaton
Draper ............................................................................. Lana Grant
First Hand ................................................................... Carolyn Schar
Costume Technicians ..................... Jazzy Armstrong, Anna Cagle, Dyna DeMerritt
Wardrobe Supervisor ........................................... Marissa Mascolo
Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor ............................. Emma Madden
Wig & Makeup Supervisor ....................................... Rebecca Mack
Stage Management Production Assistants .... Kelly Jean Edwards, Dylan Gellett, Laura Swygert