Actors, artists, directors, filmmakers and events in the news December 1-7, 2021

Grouped under headings that include art openings, film, outdoor art fairs and festivals and theater are advances, announcements and articles about the actors, artists, filmmakers and events making news in Southwest Florida this week:

1      ACTORS

Rachael Endrizzi plays Barbara in Off Broadway Palm’s ‘Social Security’

Rachael Endrizzi is an Off Broadway Palm stalwart. She’s on stage in the role of Barbara now through November 6 in Social Security, a hilarious comedy is about a happily married couple whose idyllic Manhattan art world existence is upended when Barb’s goody-two-shoes sister, uptight brother-in-law and aging mom arrive for a visit. Rachael’s extensive acting resume includes both theater and film, and Broadway Palm patrons will recall her as Bridget in Nana Does Vegas and Anna in ‘Til Death Do Us Part. Go here for the rest of her stage and other credits.

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Madelaine Weymouth is ‘Nuts’ over role of Claudia Faith Draper

Madelaine Weymouth portrays Claudia Faith Draper for The Studio Players in Nuts, a divorcee turned high-class call girl who is charged with manslaughter after she kills a violent “john” in self-defense. When her mother and rich stepfather try to have her declared mentally incompetent to avoid a publicly embarrassing trial, Claudia launches a fierce battle to convince the court that she is sane. It’s a part for which Weymouth seems particularly suited in light of her performances as Vandy Jordan in Venus in Fur, Clarice Orsini in Botticelli in the Fire and Jolene in Darlyne Franklin’s short film Florida Couple. To see what else Weymouth has been in, please go here.

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Tom Rex is Franklin MacMillan in ‘Nuts’

Tom Rex will play Franklin MacMillan for The Studio Players in Nuts. After training extensively with The Studio Players, Tom has gone on to play Schultz in The Studio Players’ production of Annie Baker’s Circle Mirror Transformation and Joe Foster in The Naples Players’ virtual performance of Becky’s New Car. Other credits include TNP’s Escanaba in da Moonlight, Don’t Talk to the Actors for The Studio Players and West Side Story for TNP’s Readers Theatre. 

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Daniel Cancio is Aaron Levinsky in ‘Nuts’

Daniel Cancio will play the part of Aaron Levinsky for The Studio Players in Nuts. An FGCU theatre grad, Daniel Cancio is an emerging talent in the local theater scene. A fan favorite among Studio Players patrons, his post-graduate credits include The Waverly Gallery, Jerry in The Zoo Story, the bartender in Speed Dating, the owl in Where is Man?, Senator Charles Whitmore’s campaign aide in Church & State, and Jerry in Don’t Talk to the Actors. You will find the rest of Daniel’s stage credits here.

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Paul Graffy portrays writer John D’Agata in ‘Lifespan of a Fact’ for Players Circle

Paul Graffy portrays writer John D’Agata in Lifespan of a Fact for Players Circle Theatre. D’Agata has penned an essay for a leading U.S. magazine, but it turns out that he made up much of the information contained in the piece. Graffy is at his absolute best when he plays the temperamental, self-righteous, officious type, as he did in The Dining Room, The Crucible (where Lab Theater patrons are still haunted by his narrowed, scathing, impatient eyes in the role of Judge Thomas Danforth) and The Best Man (where he played amoral, power-hungry Senator Joe Cantwell). But he’s equally adept at displaying an unexpected sentimental side. His depth and versatility explain why he is always in high demand.   Since 2001, Paul has appeared in more than 30 productions and directed over a dozen others at such theaters as The Naples Players, Artis Naples, TheatreZone, The Studio Players, The Naples Dinner Theater, the Laboratory Theater of Florida and, of course, The Players Circle.

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Steven Coe plays factchecker Jim Fingal for Players Circle in ‘Lifespan of a Fact’

Steven Coe plays factchecker Jim Fingal for Players Circle in Lifespan of a Fact. Coe plays opposite Paul Graffy, who portrays writer John D’Agata. The two faced off in The Crucible, and to a lesser degree in How to Transcend a Happy Marriage. Coe originally cut his theatrical teeth doing comedy, but of recent he has wowed area audiences with such dramatic roles as Sandro Botticelli in Botticelli in the Fire, Thomas Novacheck in Venus in Fur and Andri in Andorra. He’s best at playing the put-upon, under-fire character who refuses to be anyone’s victim, so he seems perfectly suited to the role of Jim Fingal.

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Carrie Lund plays publisher Emily Penrose in ‘Lifespan of a Fact’ for Players Circle

Carrie Lund plays publisher Emily Penrose in Lifespan of a Fact for Players Circle. Lund’s on-stage career spans more than 35 years. She has performed regionally in theaters in New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. In Southwest Florida, Carrie has starred in more than 100 productions. As a member of the Actor’s Equity Association, she acted 451 weeks over 21 years. In Florida Rep’’ 19th season, she acted in the one-woman show Erma Bombeck, At Wit’s End, and all nine Wall Street Journal reviewed shows. Some of her favorite credits include Private Lives, Talley’s Folly, August Osage County, God of Carnage and Becky’s New Car. She was named Best Actress by Florida Weekly in 2011. She’s a force in any role and every production. She was also one of the women ARTSWFL honored during Women’s History Month in March.

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Melissa Whitworth stars as Maria in ‘Sound of Music’ at Broadway Palm

Melissa Whitworth stars as Maria in The Sound of Music, on the main stage at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre now through November 20. Her local stage credits include Winter Wonderettes for Off Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre), Grace Farrell in Annie for Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre (2018), Vera in Odd Couple: Female Version (Off-Broadway Palm, 2017), Mary Poppins in the Disney musical of the same name (for Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 2017), and Karol in Another Night Before Christmas (for Off Broadway Palm, 2016). As the lead in Mary Poppins, Whitworth received rave reviews from Broadway World’s Emily Yorgey, Florida Weekly’s Nancy Stetson and The River Weekly’s Di Saggau. She has received Broadway World Best Actress nominations for her roles in 1776 and Shrek. Go here to see what else Melissa has been in.

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Kat Ebaugh part of ensemble cast of ‘Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ at TNP

Kat Ebaugh is part of the ensemble cast of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder performing at The Naples Players in November. In addition to performing with Stage 2 Improv troupe, she has appeared in numerous stage productions at The Naples Players, including TNP’s virtual production of Comedy Night on August 22, 2020 as well as Kay O’Connell’s outdoor horror Projekt Grotesquerie, The Little Mermaid in Lab Theater’s filmed production of Dennis Giacino’s Off-Broadway smash Disenchanted: A New Musical Comedy [Stay-At-Home Version] and a woman trapped between parallel universes in Laura Lorusso’s short film Multiverse Anomaly for the 2021 Lab Theater 24-Hour Screenwriting Project. Go here for Kat’s full profile.

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F. Scott Davis part of ensemble cast of ‘Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ for TNP

F. Scott Davis is part of the ensemble cast of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, which performs at The Naples Players in November. Davis a local actor who was active in theater in Michigan before locating to Southwest Florida. His area stage credits include Ed in The Studio Players’ production of Torch Song, Vicomte de Nanjac/Phipps in An Ideal Husband for The Naples Players, Girolamo Savonarola in Botticelli in the Fire, Michael in the Florida premiere of How to Transcend a Happy Marriage (directed by Steven Ditmyer), and the roles of Dennis Gordon, Jerry and Rich in the Florida premiere of Topher Payne’s comedic farce Let Nothing You Dismay for Lab Theater. For more on Scott, please go here.

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Isabel Isenhower is Miranda in Lab Theater’s production of ‘The Tempest’

She showed her dramatic chops as Betty Parris in The Crucible. She tweaked them a little as a girl victimized by a homicidal roommate in Stephen Hooper’s Boxed In for Lab’s inaugural 24-Hour Screenwriting Project. Now Isabel Isenhower is taking on The Bard. She’ll play Miranda in The Tempest for Lab Theater in November. Go here for all of Isabel’s stage and other credits.

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Justin Larsche plays the monster Caliban in The Tempest

Justin Larsche plays the monster, Caliban, in Shakespeare’s The Tempest for Lab Theater. This is not his first time performing Shakespeare. He also played Count Orsino in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for The Lab. Justin’s other acting credits include Mark in The Shadow Box for New Phoenix Theatre, Sheriff of Nottingham in Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance’s production of Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood, and lovestruck lawyer Burnette Lloyd in Beth Henley’s Southern Gothic tragi-comedy Crimes of the Heart. You can view Justin’s full profile here.

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Art Keen plays Alonso for The Lab in ‘The Tempest’

Art Keen plays Alonso for Lab Theater in its production of Shakespeare’s magical play The Tempest. A certified theater arts and social studies teacher with a B.S. in Theater Arts from SUNY Oneonta, Art’s theater resume is wide and varied. His most recent work includes The Crucible, portraying Jimmy Rogers in Lab Theater’s world premiere of Zalman Velvel’s D.M.V. and playing Manolo Costazuela in Del Tura Repertory Company’s production of The Odd Couple: Female Version. 

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Todd Lyman plays Antonio for Lab Theater in ‘The Tempest’

Todd Lyman will play the part of Antonio for Lab Theater in The Tempest. A Lab Theater favorite, Todd’s other roles for The Lab include Assemblyman Paul Gordon, Dr. Tim and Mr. Yarmowich in Topher Payne’s Let Nothing You Dismay, Thomas Putnam in The Crucible, multiple roles (Customers 3, 6 and 9) in Lab Theater’s production of Zalman Velvel’s farce D.M.V., Teddy LaPetite in Mitch Albom’s And the Winner Is … and theater critic Ira Drew in Terrence McNally’s It’s Only a Play (which marked Todd’s Lab Theater debut).

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Dr. Ken Bryant plays Francisco/Master for Lab in ‘The Tempest’

Dr. Ken Bryant plays Francisco/Master for Lab Theater in The Tempest. This is not Ken’s first time playing Shakespeare. Ken holds a Master’s degree in Shakespeare and a Doctoral degree in Dramatic Criticism, so it should come as no surprise that his acting credits include Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night, the Ghost of Hamlet’s father in Hamlet and Brabantio in Othello, all for Lab Theater.

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Daniel Sabiston tackles the role of Trinculo for Lab Theater in ‘The Tempest’

Daniel Sabiston tackles the role of Trinculo for Lab Theater in The Tempest. Sabiston is a local actor whose stage credits include Alan in Torch Song for The Studio Players, various roles in the summer spoof Sunset Schmoulevard, Poggio di Chullu in the regional premiere of Jordan Tannahill’s Botticelli in the Fire, an oh-so-mean bully (not bunny) rabbit by the name of Serling Hunter in Kayleigh O’Connell’s Projekt Grotesquerie, Ezekiel Cheever in The Crucible and the Journeyman in Andorra, all for the Laboratory Theater of Florida.

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Renee Freeman is Gonzala in ‘The Tempest’

Renee Freeman is Gonzala in The Tempest. A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Renée Freeman made her Southwest Florida theatrical debut in the role of Madre Maria in the regional premiere of Jordan Tannahill’s Botticelli in the Fire. She studied in the Alliance for the Arts CHANGE program, where she performed a monologue by the character Mame Wilks for Radio Golf written by August Wilson.

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Cassie Sampson plays Leann in ‘A Piece of My Heart’

Cassie appears in the role of Leann in A Piece of My Heart for Cultural Park Theater. A local stage actor, Cassie Sampson has been involved in over 20 productions at Cultural Park Theater, both on and off stage, since making her CPT debut in Godspell in 1996. Her credits include Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors, Gwendolyn Fairfax in The Importance of Being Earnest, Becky Two Shoes in Urinetown, Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense, Chelsea in On Golden Pond, Annas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Red in Into the Woods and Chiffon in CPT’s 2004 production of Little Shop of Horrors. The rest of her profile is here.

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Chantelle Bloise-Elmahmoudi plays Martha in ‘A Piece of My Heart’

Chantelle Bloise-Elmahmoudi will be playing the role of Martha in Cultural Park Theater’s production of A Piece of My Heart. Her previous credits include Doris in The Owl & the Pussycat, Ms. Luce in Little Shop of Horrors, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Zombie Prom, Vera in She Kills Monsters and the bird seller in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street– all at Cape Coral High School.

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2     DIRECTORS & PLAYWRIGHTS

Bianca ‘JustBee’ Russell provides choreography for ‘The Tempest’

An all-around artist, Bianca “JustBee” Russell dances, sings and paints. She is also a pre-eminent choreographer, as her work for Lab Theater in The Color Purple amply demonstrated. Now she is turning her attention to the Bard, providing the choreography for The Tempest. Yes, The Tempest is not just about magic. It includes dance too. Besides Color Purple, her choreography credits already include such noteworthy productions as Subzero, The MAAFA, Ophelia, Thesis, Raw Impulse, Legends Who Rock and Inspire and The Soul Train Experience. Judges Laurieann Gibson, Chriss Judd and Mia Michaels gave her high marks and a performance scholarship for her choreography on So You Can Think You Can Dance, and she was also awarded a performance scholarship from Americas Best Dance Crew. Her work in The Color Purple is another tour de force. For more on Ms. Russell, please go here.

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3    THEATER

‘Sound of Music’ on Broadway Palm main stage through November 20

On stage through November 20 at Broadway Palm is The Sound Of Music. This endearing musical is based on the book The Story of the Trapp Family Singers and the 1965 film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound Of Music has touched the hearts of audiences around the world for decades. Follow Maria, the high-spirited, aspiring nun as she is sent from her convent to be the governess to seven unruly children of a strict father, Captain von Trapp. The children eventually come to like Maria and she finds herself falling in love with the captain.  The timeless score includes Do-Re-Mi, My Favorite Things, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, Edelweiss and The Sound of Music.

Andrew Fehrenbacher and Melissa Whitworth star as Capt. von Trapp and Maria.

Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Beginning November 2, performances are Tuesday through Sunday with selected matinees. Tickets are $50 to $75 with children and group prices available. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, visiting BroadwayPalm.com or in person at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

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‘Social Security’ on stage in Off Broadway Palm through November 6

On stage in the Off Broadway Palm Theatre through November 6 is the laugh-out-loud comedy Social Security. The production was originally produced on Broadway by David Geffen and the Schubert Organization at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City on April 17, 1986.

The hilarious comedy is about a happily married couple who live in the art world of New York. Their domestic tranquility is shattered upon the arrival of the wife’s goody-goody sister, her uptight brother-in-law, and her aging mother. The comedic sparks really begin to fly when the mother hits it off with an elderly minimalist artist who is the art dealers’ best client!

The cast features all Broadway Palm alumni including Rachael Endrizzi, Kay Francis, Megan Orlowski, Ken Quiricone, Christopher Russell and Michael Weaver. Directing Social Security is the Off Broadway Palm’s Artistic Director Paul Bernier.

The Off Broadway Palm is an intimate theatre, located in the main lobby of Broadway Palm.

Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees.

Ticket prices range from $45 to $65 with discounts available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, visiting BroadwayPalm.com or in person at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

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‘A Piece of My Heart’ opens on Veteran’s Day at Cultural Park

Cultural Park Theater is bringing Shirley Lauro’s A Piece of My Heart to the stage in November. This striking drama is a salute to the men and women who served our country during a tumultuous, deeply divisive period in American history.

The play tells the powerful true-life story of six women who went to Vietnam – five medical nurses plus a country-western singer booked by an unscrupulous agent to entertain the troops for the USO. Each of these exceptional women is revealed before, during, and after her stressful experiences in the ravaged, war-torn nation.  Go here for the rest of this advance.

Go here for play dates, times and ticket information

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Ghostbird’s ‘Sitting Ducks’ to be performed at abandoned Buckingham Center

Ghostbird Theatre Company breaks quarantine on November 5 & 6 with its first production in two years, the world premiere of Sitting Ducks on the Sitting Dock, an absurdist comedy written by first-time playwright and recent FGCU grad Dane Futrell.  It follows two loading dock workers, Louis and Ricky, who love their daily routine only to find everything uprooted as they eagerly await the owner of the dock. Ghostbird is known nationwide for site-specific experimental productions, and Sitting Ducks on Sitting Dock will be performed on an actual loading dock – located in the rear of the cafeteria at Florida Gulf Coast University Buckingham Center.

The rest of this advance is here.

Go her for play dates, times and ticket info.

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Lab’s production of Shakespeare’s ‘Tempest’ nothing short of magical

The Laboratory Theater of Florida will present William Shakespeare’s The Tempest from November 5 to 20, with two half-priced preview nights on November 3rd and 4th. Shakespeare’s classic comedy about betrayal and family will lead you on a magical journey. Trapped on an island by a jealous sibling, and aided by a variety of spirits, Prospero plans to avenge his banishment and provide for his daughter, Miranda. The rest of this advance is here.

Go here for play dates, times and ticket information.

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New Phoenix joins Music Theatre Int’l’s global celebration of local theater

On November 15, New Phoenix Theatre will join thousands of theatrical organizations around the globe by producing its own local production of Music Theatre International’s All Together Now!: A Global Event Celebrating Local Theatre. Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) created this revue for theaters across the globe to use as a local fundraising event performed over the weekend of November 12, 2021.

All Together Now! features songs from MTI’s beloved catalogue of musicals including Annie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Godspell, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, My Fair Lady, Once on This Island and many more. Performers include (alphabetically) Lee Blackston, Cantrella Canady, Jason Drew, Kay Francis, Nikki Hagel, Evie Hennessy, Tricia Hennessy, Kenneth Bradley Johnson, Lauren Redeker Miller and Bill Shideler.

Tickets are $20.00 and are available at NewPhoenixTheatreFortMyers.org.

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With ‘Lifespan of a Fact,’ Players Circle jumps into the fray of the alternative facts debate

In an interview he gave The New Yorker several weeks ago, filmmaker Morgan Neville remarked that that he had blended AI-generated voiceovers with clips from Anthony Bourdain’s television shows, radio and podcast appearances, and audiobooks in his documentary about the late travel-chef titled Roadrunner. The disclosure triggered a debate among documentarians and film critics about the ethics of employing “expansive storytelling techniques” in order to dramatize a seemingly fact-based biopic. Indeed, we are all buffeted with a constant stream of “fake news,” “alternative facts” and manipulative algorithms in the content we view in media outlets ranging from broadcast and cable news to social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And with its upcoming production of Lifespan of a Fact, Players Circle Theatre jumps into the fray with this dramedy based on the true story of John D’Agata and Jim Fingal.

The rest of this advance is here.

Go here for play dates, times and ticket information.

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‘Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ denoted by catchy music, hilarious comedy

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder opens in Blackburn Hall at The Naples Players on Wednesday, November 23 with a red carpet gala from 6:30-7:30 that features local vendors, food, drinks and live music by Chariot.

Nominated for ten Tony Awards, this comedic romp is filled with unforgettable music and non-stop laughs. The show follows Monty Navarro (Luke Jaconis) who finds out he is ninth in line to inherit an earldom and a large family fortune.  He decides he must eliminate the other eight heirs standing in his way. But the plot thickens as Monty tries to win the heart of Sibella Hallward (JamieLynn Bucci) until he finds himself drawn to Phoebe D’Ysquiths (Elizabeth Feins).

The rest of this advance is here.

Go here for play dates, times and ticket information.

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Naples Players teams with Naples Therapeutic Riding Center to create new program

The Naples Therapeutic Riding Center (NTRC) and The Naples Players (TNP) have teamed up to present a unique program to Southwest Florida. It is so unique in fact that it is the only one of its kind in the United States.

Called Expressive Theater Therapy with Horses, it is a free program offered to those who are eager to

• reduce and manage stress,
• deal with grief and loss,
• ease symptoms of trauma, depression, or anxiety,
• create healthier relationships, and
• improve communications and increase self-awareness and trust.

Go here for the rest of this story.

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‘Nuts’ is so much more than best courtroom drama since ‘Witness for the Prosecution’

For several years now, America has been divided over pop star Britney Spears’ struggles to end the conservatorship that a California court ordered in 2008 at the behest of her father. While there is growing sentiment to “Free Britney,” there are those who point to instances of bad behavior as evidence that the singer/entertainer is “nuts” and needs to have every aspect of her personal, professional and public life managed and controlled. Claudia Faith Draper knows exactly how Britney feels. In The Studio Players’ production of Tom Topor’s Nuts, Claudia too struggles for control of her life when her mother and stepfather seek to have her declared mentally incompetent after Claudia kills a violent “john” in self-defense and is charged with manslaughter in the first degree. The rest of this advance is here.

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4     ARTISTS

Fort Myers’ Grant Recipient Show opens November 5 at Langford Kingston Home 

The Uncommon Friends Foundation and Fort Myers Public Art Committee will be hosting the Biennial Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show during the month of November at the historic Langford Kingston Home in the downtown Fort Myers River District. Opening on Friday, November 5 in conjunction with Art Walk, the exhibition showcases the work of visual and performing artists who received grants from the City of Fort Myers in 2018 and 2019. Go here for more on the show.

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Lily Hatchett to perform ‘Paper Grotto Live’ at opening of Grant Recipient Show

Performance artist Lily Hatchett will be performing her nationally-renowned Paper Grotto Live at the opening of the Fort Myers Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show at the Langford Kingston Home on Friday, November 5. Incorporating principles of Butoh, Hatchett projects video imagery onto tall free-standing white paper sculptures that resemble a hidden cave or grotto as performers dressed in white clothing and dog heads move about this environment to musical accompaniment interacting with each other while performing seemingly random movements and improvisational tasks. If you haven’t seen the performance, “It’s like singing in the shower or hiding in plain sight … you haven’t seen anything like it … bedazzles the brain ….” Go here for more.

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Actor Trace Meier turns Techno Dog at Grant Recipient Show

Trace Meier is a local actor who just completed a run in the ensemble of Young Frankenstein for New Phoenix Theatre. He previously portrayed Dr. Scott in Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show. Meier has also been featured in the inaugural seasons of Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts and FGCU’s TheatreLab. Also a founding dancer with Gulfcoast Dance, Trace next appears as a Techno Dog in Lily Hatchett’s Paper Grotto Live, performing beginning at 8:00 p.m. in the historic Langford Kingston Home on Friday, November 5. It’s all part of the Fort Myers Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show, which opens at 6:00 p.m. in conjunction with Art Walk.

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Artist Rosaline Young exhibiting in Grant Recipient Show at Langford Kingston Home

Fiber artist Rosaline Young will be exhibit samples of her work in Fort Myers’ Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show, which is taking place at the historic Langford Kingston Home during the month of November. Young utilizes weaving, quilting, spinning and fabric manipulation to create artworks and installations for both indoor settings and outdoor venues. Her medium includes cotton, wool, linen, mohair and raw, unspun fleece, some of which she obtains from friends who raise sheep and grow their own cotton. Young creates tapestries, installations and community weavings for display in public spaces. Many of these artworks and installations express environmental concerns relating to water quality and climate change. You can find out more about Rose and her art here.

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Lambertus ‘Berry’ van Boekel exhibiting Top 100 List paintings at Grant Recipient Show

Portrait and figurative painter Berry van Boekel will be exhibiting selections from is Top 100 2019 and The Top 100 2021 series in Fort Myers’ Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show opening Friday, November 5 in the historic Langford Kingston Home. The works in the Top 100 series document the musicians and bands that van Boekel listens to each year, dating back to 1991. Recently van Boekel opened The Top 100 Archive and Studio, a space near downtown Fort Myers dedicated to the history of his Top 100 project. Go here to learn about Berry and his art.

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Tim Smith bringing mapping projection phenomenon to Langford Kinston Home

Artist and art educator Tim Smith will be bringing the evolving genre of projection mapping to the historic Langford Kinston Home on November 5. He’s part of the Fort Myers Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show that opens at 6:00 p.m. in conjunction with Art Walk. Not only will Tim project a computerized video light show onto the facade of Walter Langford’s 1919 residence, he will also have a digital display in one of the home’s four upstairs bedrooms. At the same time, Lily Hatchett will be projecting her own imagery onto a grotto she’s made out of paper that is populated by Techno Dogs that include not only herself, but local thespian Trace Meier, David Hatchett and even audience members who wish to immerse themselves in the exhibition. For more on Tim Smith and the art of projection mapping, please read here.

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Artist Terry Lynn Spry exhibiting in Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show

Terry Lynn Spry is one of a dozen 2018-2019 grant recipients who is exhibiting work at the historic Langford Kingston Home during the month of November as part of the Fort Myers’ Fort Myers Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show. Her medium being oil on canvas, Terry Lynn loves to create paintings that tell stories. She considers painting the same as breathing and better than chocolate. Spry’s paintings have been exhibited in both local and national juried shows. In 2019, she took first place in Mirrors and Reflections at Arts for ACT Gallery and second place in Dia de Muertos at the Alliance for the Arts. You can see her collection weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. by calling 239-337-9505.

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Patricia Collins exhibiting work in Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show

Patricia Collins is one of a dozen artists who is exhibiting work during the month of November at the historic Langford Kingston Home as part of Fort Myers’ Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show. Collins creates mixed media works, with a focus on painting & printmaking. Many of her works comment on current issues and human rights, and her print for the show led to an interactive series culminating in Voting Priority 2020, presented at Florida Southwestern State College and Florida Gulf Coast University campuses to engage students in the voting process. Go here for more on Collins’ body of work.

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Krista Johnson exhibiting work in Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show

Patricia Collins is one of a dozen artists who is exhibiting work during the month of November at the historic Langford Kingston Home as part of Fort Myers’ Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show. Johnson has spent her life in the lush nature of Southwest Florida and her paintings are spirited expressions that capture the color, abundance and mystery of the world she loves. Johnson’s work has been exhibited locally and nationally. She enjoyed solo shows in 2002 at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, in 1999 at Syzygy Gallery, in 1998 at Liquid Café and in 1997 at Broadway Palm, all in Fort Myers. Group shows include Forever Friends at Watson MacRae Gallery in Sanibel (2020), Edison’s Jungle in the Caretaker’s Cottage at Edison Ford Winter Estates as part of the Thomas Edison Invitational (2019), Dia de los Muertos at the Alliance for the Arts (2018) and the Fort Myers Individual Artist Grant Recipient Show at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in 2017. Go here for more on Krista and her body of work.

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5     ART SHOWS, EXHIBITIONS & ARTS ORGANIZATIONS

Alliance ‘Arts on Tap’ fundraiser set for November 12 & 13

The annual Alliance for the Arts fundraiser, Arts On Tap, returns November 12 & 13 with an exciting mash-up of Southwest Florida’s burgeoning craft beer and vibrant arts scenes and a performance by two-time Grammy-nominated hip hop group the Nappy Roots.

On Friday, November 12, guests will mingle, play, sip and savor as local craft brewers pour award-winning, rare and brand new artisan brews, play twisted pub games, rub elbows with craft brewers and Grammy-nominated hip hop group the Nappy Roots, bid on silent auction items and enjoy live music. Participating crafters include Bone Hook Brewing, Coastal Dayz Brewery, Crazy Dingo Brewing,  Eight Foot Brewing, Fort Myers Brewing, Hopsized Brewing, LaBelle Brewing, Millennial Brewing Company, Palm City Brewing, Point Ybel Brewing and Riptide Brewing. Restaurant partners include The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen and The Standard.

The celebration continues on Saturday, November 13 with a night of food trucks, beer, art, VIP lounge experiences and a once-in-a-lifetime performance by the Nappy Roots.

Tickets go on sale in September. Sponsorships and visibility opportunities are available at ArtInLee.org/OnTap or by contacting Jessica Wisdom at Jessica@ArtInLee.org or calling 239-939-2787.

Arts On Tap is a fundraising event for the Alliance for the Arts, a nonprofit visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers. Since 1975, the Alliance has been transforming lives and improving community through the arts. Event proceeds support a creative hub that spurs self-expression, imagination and individuality. The event is sponsored by GMA Architects, Nice Guys Pizza, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank and Priority Business Solutions.

For more information, call 239-939-2787 or visit ArtInLee.org/OnTap.

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Wegman & Massing ‘Two Clever by Half’ at Rauschenberg Gallery through December 4

Florida Southwestern State College is exhibiting William WEGMAN & Jack MASSING: TWO CLEVER BY HALF – A Call & Response Project at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery from September 2 through December 4, 2021.  Described by the artists as “an experimental visual discussion in a studio setting within the Gallery,” this site-specific exhibition will premiere newly-commissioned collaborative works in a frequently evolving installation.

With the artists-in-residence often creating work in “full-view” during regular/public Gallery hours, this exhibition will provide an unprecedented opportunity to experience the “work-in-progress” of internationally-renowned (yet, first-time) collaborators, Jack Massing and William Wegman.

Go here for the rest of this summary.

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DAAS featuring Rodney Acosta’s ‘Theater of the Absurd’ in November

Throughout the month of November, DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery will showcase the artwork of Puerto Rican artist Rodney Acosta. Acosta’s works in mixed media on board and canvas, utilizing found objects, oils, spray paint, and textiles. He has titled this exhibition Theatre of the Absurd.

In this collection, Acosta aims at expressing the strange side of what most call “normal” or maybe the inexplicable – from alien scenarios with strange plants to abandoned sites with melancholic glimpse of better and happier times. Some pieces are inspired in the artist’s experiences while others belong strictly to the unconscious.

“I like to play with the Easter egg concept of hiding social protest or mischievous hints in my work,” says Rodney, whose technique consists in dramatic contrasts of light, adding a tridimensional effect, combined with aggressive surface scratching in a constructive and destructive manner. “To me, this is the cycle of life in itself.”

Acosta is native of Puerto Rico who migrated to Florida shortly after graduating with a degree in fine arts from the School of Visual Arts. He later attended Rollins College, where he pursued additional fine arts credits. Rodney has been working and exhibiting his works in United States and the Caribbean.

The opening reception is scheduled from 6:00-9:30 p.m. on Friday, November 5, 2021, in conjunction with the monthly Fort Myers Art Walk event. Theater of the Absurd will be on display through November 28, 2021.

DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is located at 1815 Fowler Street, in the Butterfly Estates complex in Fort Myers, FL. The gallery’s temporary business hours are Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. More information about the venue and/or how to become a member can be found at daascoop.com or by calling 239-590-8645.

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6.  ART FESTIVALS

Deadline for Hot Works’ 2022 Naples Fine Art Show is November 1

Hot Works LLC is accepting submissions through November 1 for its 6th Naples Fine Art Show scheduled for March 26 & 27, 2022 outdoors at the Naples Italian-American Club at the corner of Airport Pulling and Orange Blossom Roads. The show features original work in a wide array of disciplines, including painting, clay, glass, fiber, sculpture, wood, photography, jewelry and more.

The cost of a 10 x 10′ booth is $425; $635 for a 10 x 15′ space; and $850 for a 10 x 20′ booth. But add $75 for a corner booth location and $50 for electric. Notifications will be sent out by November 5.

There are also opportunities to participate in a number of upcoming Sarasota Open Air Fine Art Shows, vis:

• 6th Sarasota Open Air Fine Art Show, January 15 & 16, 2022, Phillippi Estate Park; app deadline: September 20, 2021
• 7th Sarasota Open Air Fine Art Show, February 12 & 13, 2022, Phillippi Estate Park; app deadline: not provided.
• 8th Sarasota Open Air Fine Art Show, March 12 & 13, 2022, Phillippi Estate Park; app deadline:  October 20, 2021.

Artist applications are accepted electronically at www.zapplication.org or manually at www.hotworks.org. For more information, please contact Executive Director Patty Narozny at patty@hotworks.org or 248-684-2613.

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Deadline for Naples Downtown Art Show is December 10

The deadline for artist applications for Naples Art Association’s Naples Downtown Art Show is December 10, 2021. Now in its 34th year, the Naples Downtown Art Show is one of the last major art festivals of the winter season and a favorite festival for artists, art enthusiasts and collectors.

This festival was rated #34 by Sunshine Artist Magazine 2018.

If you would like to exhibit in this show, here’s what you will need to know:

• Dates: Saturday and Sunday, March 19 & 20, 2022
• Festival Hours:  10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Location: 5th Avenue South, Downtown Naples
• Accept 250 artists max
• Application fee: $35
• Booth fee: $540 for 10×10
• Cancellation refund policy: TBA
• Set up specifics: 4 a.m., early morning set up only;
• On street set up in quads: No electrical
• Application deadline: December 10, 2021
• Jury Process begins: December 17, 2021
• Status Notification: December 29, 2021
• Booth Fee Due: January 21, 2022
• Artist Info Emailed: March 4, 2022
• Wait List Acceptance: January 22, 2022
• Full Refund Deadline:  February 4, 2022 (subject to $50 processing fee)
• No Refund Deadline:  February 18, 2022

There are openings for 250 artists.

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7.   PUBLIC ART

Public Art Committee seeking artists for outdoor artwork at new fire station

The Fort Myers Public Art Committee is seeking artists for a representational, three-dimensional outdoor artwork to be installed at a new fire station serving the City of Fort Myers. The sculpture is to be installed at Station 17, a Missile Level E Essential Facility providing fire and EMS services to business locations and residential developments along Six Mile Cypress Parkway that are located south of Colonial Boulevard and north of Daniels Parkway, as well as the southbound lanes of I-75. Located in Ward 6 (represented by Councilperson Darla Bonk), the station is expected to be completed in late Spring or early summer of 2022.

Go here for the rest of this announcement.

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8.  FILM

TGIM returns to Davis Art Center on November 1

T.G.I.M. returns to the Davis Art Center on Monday, November 1. As in years past, T.G.I.M. gives area cineastes a look at how the Fort Myers Film Festival views submissions and a voice in the selection process.

“This is one of the highlights of our season,” says Melissa Tschari DeHaven, producer and co-host of T.G.I.M. and the Fort Myers Film Festival. “It’s so much fun! Everyone loves coming out on Monday nights. There’s always something happening that you wouldn’t expect on a weeknight.”

Go here for the rest of this advance.

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Meet November 2021 TGIM celebrity judge Wendy White

Wendy White will be one of November’s celebrity TGIM judges. White co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced the short film Roses Are Blind, which screened at the 10^th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival in October of 2020.

The story revolves around a pre‑med junior at Columbia University by the name of Julie Janson. After Julie rescues a homeless woman’s dog from a train track, her roommate recommends she see famous psychic Addison Spellings for guidance. Their encounter reveals a family secret that changes Julie’s life forever. But when she goes home to confront her parents about it, they make sure their secret stays with her by having her institutionalized.

Go here for the rest of this advance.

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Meet November 2021 TGIM celebrity judge Mike Donlan

Mike Donlan will be one of November’s celebrity TGIM judges. Mike is the graphic designer for WGCU Public Media and Professor of Journalism at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he’s taught since 2010. As Graphics Editor at the Fort Myers News-Press from 2003 through 2016, Mike was responsible for spotting potential for, planning and promotion of visual storytelling. Donlan has a Master of Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Art and a B.A. from California State University-Chico.

“It’s really hard to enjoy a movie if I can’t get beyond its technical aspects,” Mike notes. “If it’s poorly crafted or poorly written, it’s impossible for me to suspend disbelief [and get absorbed in the story and characters.] While the visual stuff is pretty easy to evaluate, for me, it’s mostly the writing and how effectively the director and director of photography can come together to execute the writing.” Go here for more on Mike.

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Meet November 2021 TGIM celebrity judge John Davis

On November 1, T.G.I.M. returns to the grand atrium of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and among the esteemed panel of celebrity judges that will be on hand to help get the post-screening discussions going is WGCU’s John Davis.

John has been a full-time Reporter/Producer for WGCU since 2009. He is the local host of NPR’s Morning Edition and producer and host of WGCU’s radio talk program Gulf Coast Live!

John came to WGCU as an intern in 2007, and is now reporting on a broad spectrum of topics of interest to Southwest Florida.

Prior to joining WGCU, he worked at WDUQ-FM in Pittsburgh, PA covering local government and general assignments.

The rest of this profile is here.