Welcome 65th 65th to our
Anniversary Anniversary Season
Season
Enhancing Your Experience
BRYCE ALEXANDER
Executive Artistic Director
65th Anniversary Season • www.naplesplayers.org • (239) 263-7990
HELLO -&-
WELCOME
65th Anniversary Season
This is truly a year for celebration—not only because
we’re turning 65, but because we are honoring the thousands
of people who have come together to make The
Naples Players a national model for community engagement
and theatre.
Our success is no small feat. It’s taken tens of thousands
of volunteers, hundreds of thousands of patrons, millions
of volunteer hours, and tens of millions of dollars to create
the cultural center of Neapolitan lifestyle. Few arts organizations
ever celebrate 65 years. Even fewer are afforded
the opportunity to consistently innovate and reimagine
what an arts organization is capable of achieving.
This season celebrates 20 years since the Sugden Community Theater’s ribbon-cutting.
This amazing building has been more than a theatre-space, community space, and education
center. It was the catalyst that reenergized downtown Naples and saved the city from
impending disaster—a bleak 5th Avenue South that is unimaginable today.
As you’ll read in this playbill and see in the lobby, the storied history of The Naples Players’
capital campaign is a deep representation of the people who came together against adversity
to define the unique charm and character of Naples.
And while this season is an opportunity for us to reflect on the past, it also motivates us to
jump into our future. Today, we’ve grown to serve students with autism, adults with Parkinson’s,
and people with anxiety disorders and depression—a further testament to the power
of the arts in our community. With future partnerships and programs, we’re paving the way
for another 65 years.
But nothing makes me prouder than hearing the stories that have built the sterling reputation
of The Naples Players. I am thrilled to include many of these stories throughout this
playbill. I know you will enjoy them as much as I have.
Through our entire history, one major theme has consistently underlined our great success:
the generous support of our volunteers and donors. With more than 40% of our operating
budget dependent on donations, and more than 60,000 volunteer hours contributed every
year, our community sustains us as we sustain the community.
Whether you are a long-time supporter or attending your first show, welcome to our celebration,
and welcome to The Naples Players.
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HELLO & WELCOME
/www.naplesplayers.org