Our Rich History
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS & THE
SEARCH FOR A HOME
The Naples Players was founded on January
19, 1953, an idea which originated a year
earlier at the home of Henry and Mary
Watkins. Its first production, I Remember
Mama, was staged in what is now Gulfview
Middle School on March 20, 1953. The
Miami Herald wrote,
“Another cultural step in the progress of this
city was taken when the newly organized Naples
Players gave their first performance…
worthy of accomplished professionals.”
Over the next few years, the members
concerned themselves with the running of a
theatre. One issue continued to persist – the
desire for a venue. In 1956, the organization
incorporated and the search for a home
venue began.
For the next decade, the group performed
where it could, from local schools and
storefronts to homes. In 1975, TNP proudly
established a home base for the next decade
when a 40-seat playhouse was opened at
2363 Davis Boulevard. As the years passed,
both the membership and audience for the
company grew. Before long, the tiny theatre
could no longer hold the large audiences
The Naples Players was attracting at their
sold-out performances.
A movie house (the Kon-Tiki Theater)
became available for rent at the corner of US
41 and Goodlette-Frank Road in 1984. The
Players leapt at the opportunity and signed a
lease. The building was renovated, and TNP
opened Guys and Dolls in March 1985.
The Kon-Tiki Theater began to suffer from
a crumbling façade and mechanical issues
in the mid-1990s, and it soon became clear
that a new location was necessary yet again.
The cast of I Remember Mama, the very first
production of The Naples Players in 1953.
20
Our Rich History