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Artists continue to be inspired by our colorful palette of possibilities.
Theater, Art and Music Seasons
Theater, music, dance, the visual arts… all spring to life in a variety of settings this season. From Victorian playhouses to mysterious trains, Broadway’s best meets fresh, original productions on several dynamic stages. Whether it’s sculpture or ballet, jazz or independent film that captures your imagination, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel knows how to put on a good show.
By Lisa Codianne Fowler
Theater, music, dance, the visual arts… all spring to life in a variety of settings this season. From Victorian playhouses to mysterious trains, Broadway’s best meets fresh, original productions on several dynamic stages. Whether it’s sculpture or ballet, jazz or independent film that captures your imagination, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel knows how to put on a good show.
By Lisa Codianne Fowler
  Local performances light up the night |
Theater Offerings
Fort Myers sets the stage with its many playhouses and programs. The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre serves up healthy portions of vibrant musicals after each scrumptious lunch or dinner. The theatre celebrates its 100th production with the smash hit musical, The Full Monty through mid-November, and closes the season mid-August 2007 with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a colorful musical masterpiece.
The Florida Repertory Theatre proves that variety is the spice of art imitating life. Choose your flavor from a season peppered with selections such as Moon Over Buffalo, a hilarious farce by the author of Lend Me a Tenor, and Greetings, a witty and heartwarming holiday treat. Other productions include Rabbit Hole, Scapino and Rounding Third. All are presented in the historic Arcade Theatre, a charming 1908 renovated Victorian playhouse.
 Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy |
For dinner and a show on the go, board the Seminole Gulf Railway’s Murder Mystery Dinner Train and dine amid a hilarious “whodunnit" performance. Cocktails, fine wines and five-course dinners are served while guests help pinpoint the perp as the mystery unfolds. The train winds north toward Punta Gorda on its three-and-a-half-hour trek, crossing the scenic Caloosahatchee River and the Intercoastal Waterway. Shows are performed five nights a week year 'round.
Theatre Conspiracy has embarked on its own journey: to produce and promote the work of the next generation of great American playwrights. The resident theatre company of Foulds Theatre at the Alliance for the Arts has been described as innovative, exciting and daring, with each production showcasing fresh talent and dramatically demonstrating that there really are new ideas. The Dunes, winner of their 2005-06 New Play Contest is a fitting dénouement to a scintillating season.
In Cape Coral, local thespians take center stage at The Cultural Park Theatre Company. Upcoming shows include classics such as The Music Man and Fiddler on the Roof. The season ends in May 2007 with Show Stoppers – A Broadway Revue. This community theatre is part of Cultural Park, Cape Coral’s fine arts center, encompassing Cape Coral Arts League, Cape Coral Historical Museum and Cape Coral Council of Arts and Humanities.
Music & Dance
Not to be upstaged by Fort Myers’ big-city box office, Sanibel Island boasts The Schoolhouse Theater, the island’s only professional musical theater that offers Broadway caliber talent in an intimate atmosphere. The spectacular production, Las Vegas Legends, has its last curtain call at the end of April 2007.
Ballet aficionados will recognize Sanibel resident Melinda Roy, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and a Tony-nominated choreographer. Co-founder of Gulfshore Ballet school in Fort Myers, she keeps the area on its toes by bringing New York to Southwest Florida.
Art - Fine and Folk
Wildlife, sunsets and spirit… Lee County’s essence has been captured on canvas for decades. Native, national and international artists continue to be inspired by the region’s colorful palette of possibilities, resulting in moving manifestations of beauty in all its forms. The Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers is buzzing with exciting exhibitions and events in 2007: the Lee Arts Educators Association Art Show in April, a series of outdoor concerts throughout the spring, the 21st Annual 2D/3D Florida Juried Show in June and July and the Annual Members Show featuring the works of local artists in August..
The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery of Fine Art at Edison College welcomes back its namesake in January and February with an exciting new photography exhibit. In March and April, It’s All About the Figure presents figurative works from contemporary artists around the country and the world.
Seaweed Gallery features art glass, pottery, photography, furniture, jewelry and paintings, and last year acquired the paintings and prints of the world-renowned Ikki Matsumoto. With locations at Sanibel, Captiva and Matlacha, Seaweed showcases the works of more than 60 different artists and artisans.
BIG ARTS is Sanibel and Captiva’s home to all the arts; in addition to monthly changing exhibits by Southwest Florida based-artists at its Phillips and Founders Galleries, it hosts workshops, a speakers forum, an independent film series and a variety of plays and special dance and musical performances; catch the
ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier fine art festival, takes place in downtown Fort Myers in February. The free, two-day celebration of the arts decorates downtown with exceptional artwork, entertainment and children’s art activities. Bonita Springs National Art Festivals are held in January and March and feature the artwork of 206 national and international artists.
If you go...
Alliance for the Arts, 239-939-2787, www.artinlee.org
ArtFest Fort Myers, 239-768-3602, www.artfestfortmyers.com
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 239-481-4849, www.bbmannpah.com
BIG Arts, 239-395-0900, www.bigarts.org
Bob Rauschenberg Gallery of Fine Art, 239-489-9313, www.edison.edu/lee/gallery
Bonita Springs National Art Festival, 239-495-8989, www.artinusa.com/bonita
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 239-278-4422, www.broadwaypalm.com
Cape Coral Festival of the Arts, 239-945-1988
Cultural Park Theatre Company, 239-772-5862, www.culturalpark.com
Florida Repertory Theatre/Arcade Theatre, 239-332-4488, www.floridarep.org
Seaweed Gallery, 239-472-2585, www.seaweedgallery.com
Murder Mystery Dinner Train, 239-275-8487, www.semgulf.com
The Schoolhouse Theater, 239-472-6862, www.theschoolhousetheater.com
Theatre Conspiracy/Foulds Theatre, 239-936-3239, www.theatreconspiracy.org
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