Gulfshore Playhouse Announces 7th Season: ART, GOD OF CARNAGE and More

Gulfshore Playhouse is preparing their seventh season with a variety of diverse productions, presentation formats, and venues. Naples' first and finest professional theatre company is growing to six Mainstage productions this year, running from October through April.

"I am heartened and humbled by the way that the community has embraced Gulfshore Playhouse.  We have always stayed true to our mission of providing the highest quality professional theatre and unique educational opportunities at affordable prices, and it is clear from our growth that our residents and visitors appreciate it," states Kristen Coury, Gulfshore Playhouse Founder and Producing Artistic Director.

Opening the Gulfshore Playhouse 2012-2013 mainstage season is "Reza in Rep," two Tony-Award winning productions in repertory:  Art and God of Carnage both by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton. "Reza in Rep" is playing October 20 through November 18, 2012, with preview performances October 16 through 19. There will be two pay-what-you-can preview performances October 16 and 17, with half of the proceeds going to two local charities, The United Arts Council of Collier County and The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.

Within this repertory framework, both 'Art' and God of Carnage will be playing simultaneously, with one production one day and the other the next day, giving patrons the opportunity to see two Tony Award-winning plays in one week or participate in Marathon Madness Saturdays to see both Art and God of Carnage on the same day! "Reza in Rep" is sponsored by Patty &Jay Baker.

"Reza in Rep" is launching our partnership with the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts with two great deals for patrons! With a ticket stub from 'Art', patrons will receive two tickets for the price of one at the Patty & Jay Baker Naples Museum of Art. Likewise, with a ticket stub from the art museum, patrons will receive 10% off their ticket to 'Art'.

'Art': Have you ever argued with a friend who had a different worldview? Was the dispute over something important, something about which you were so passionate that you were willing to stake your friendship on it, like religion, politics, money… or art? Don't miss 'Art', a hilarious and acerbic comedy that examines the meaning of art, friendship, peer pressure and the ultimate value of those you love. Kristen Coury will direct.

God of Carnage, the Internationally-acclaimed comedy, brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents after a playground altercation between their eleven-year old boys. Though the meeting to resolve the matter begins with polite pleasantries, it quickly descends into primal madness as tempers flare, loyalties shift and the parents devolve into children. Don't miss this comedy of manners (without the manners!) that both strikes a chord and hits a funny bone all in one fell swoop! Cody Nickell, Artistic Associate, will direct.

Starting the Spring portion of the season will be I Am My Own Wife, the Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-winning play.  The Playhouse will present this play that the New York Times called "both moving and intellectually absorbing" January 18-Feb 3, 2013, with a preview performance on January 17th.

 

I Am My Own Wife is a Tony, Pulitzer Prize and Drama Desk Award-Winning play by Doug Wright. Based on a true story, and inspired by interviews conducted by the playwright over several years, I Am My Own Wife tells the fascinating tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German man who managed to survive both the Nazi onslaught and the repressive East German Communist regime, as a cross-dressing museum owner.  One actor plays all 37 roles, sky-diving from accent to accent and gender to gender.  This one man tour-de-force results in a compelling play about survival, freedom and what it means to be truly human. With a ticket stub from I Am My Own Wife, patrons will receive half off the regular ticket price at the Holocaust Museum and Education Center of SWFL. Likewise, with a ticket stub from the museum, patrons will receive 10% off their ticket to I Am My Own Wife. Kristen Coury will direct.

One of the funniest comedies in the English language, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People by Oscar Wilde, will play February 15 through March 3,2013 with a preview performance February 14. This classic play revolves around Ernest Worthing, who has come from the country to propose to Algernon's cousin, Gwendolen. Algernon, however, refuses his consent until Ernest explains why his cigarette case bears the inscription, "From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack." This masterpiece continues wittily in what is known as one of the most ingenious cases of "manufactured" mistaken identity ever put into a play. Come see this hilarious comedy that reminds us of the importance of honesty, laughter…and being earnest. Show Sponsors for The Importance of Being Earnest are Inn on Fifth & McCabe's Irish Pub and Show Partners John & Pat Nyikos and Tim & Sharon Lynch. Kristen Coury will direct.

In March 2013, the third production of the spring season is the period drama The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez, playing March 15 through 30, with a preview performance March 14. In 1865, The Civil War is over and throughout the south, slaves are being freed, soldiers are returning home and in Jewish homes, the annual celebration of Passover is being celebrated. Three men are at a crossroads - a Jewish Confederate soldier who has returned from battle, and his two former slaves, who remain at his abandoned plantation. As the three men reunite to celebrate Passover, they wrestle with their shared past and the reality of the new world in which they find themselves. The Whipping Man is an intense play about redemption and forgiveness, about the lasting scars of slavery, and the responsibility that comes with freedom. The Whipping Man is sponsored by Jack & F.E. Nortman. Matt Pfeiffer will direct.

The final Gulfshore Playhouse show of the 2012- 2013 season is Master Class by Terrance McNally, playing April 5 through 21, with a preview performance April 4, in partnership with the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. Enter an empty opera hall at Julliard. Focus center stage on a piano and opera diva Maria Callas. Join her as she coaxes, prods and inspires her opera students into giving the performances of their lives. Filled with funny quips about life, love and her marriage to Aristotle Onassis, Maria entertains us with secrets of her own, reminiscing on the triumphs and tragedies of her life and career. With profound insights into the masterful realization of song and riveting perspectives on how to bring art truthfully to the stage, this beautiful Tony Award-winning musical play is not to be missed! Kristen Coury will direct. This production will be take place at the Daniels Pavilion at the Philharmonic Center.

Gulfshore Playhouse will also present their Annual Season Celebration Fundraiser on November 4 at The Norris Center. Enjoy games, great food and an incredible silent auction with a chance to win many great prices, including an exclusive drawing to dinner for four with wine pairings to Naples' Top Ten Restaurants. The Eighth Annual Golf Tournament will be held on November 5, 2012 at The Colony Golf and Bay Club. Bring your nine-irons and putters for a day out on the range, including fun challenges on the holes, an opportunity to win a car, free margaritas courtesy of Agave Southwestern Grill and a delicious buffet dinner and Awards Banquet following day of play. All proceeds will benefit Gulfshore Playhouse.

Take advantage of our exclusive dinner deal with The Chapel Grill, opening in November. With a ticket purchase to any Gulfshore Playhouse production, enjoy three courses and a glass of wine or champagne for only $29! Plus, with Chapel Grill right across the street from The Norris Center, enjoy valet parking to enjoy a night out on the town while only parking once.

Gulfshore Playhouse is Naples' first and finest professional theatre company offering a variety of stimulating, thought-provoking and entertaining productions from important classics to Broadway hits and innovative new works.  Our shows are conceived and created in-house using a team of professional designers and technicians as well as Equity actors with credits ranging from Broadway shows to film and television.

The Gulfshore Playhouse Theatre Education Project serves Southwest Florida through a wide variety of unique educational opportunities.  Our programming provides people from our diverse community accessibility to the art of theatre. Program offerings range from ART SMART, our in-school residencies which teach content curriculum through the lively art of theatre during the school day, to the STAR (Student Theatre Artist in Residence) after-school theatre classes and Theatre Summer Camps.  We offer a variety of educational opportunities for adults, from rigorous internship programs to classes taught by professional actors and members of the Gulfshore Playhouse creative team, and our newly unveiled Synergy Series, a series of panel discussionsand talk-backs relating to our Mainstage productions. Special thanks to our 2012-2013 supporters: Corporate Partner Cohen & Grigsby; Corporate Executive Producer Fidelity Investments and Executive Producers Bob & Linda Harden and Christine Paddock. 

All shows (with the exception of Master Class) are presented at the Norris Center, 755 8th Avenue South, Naples. Master Class will be presented at the Daniels Pavilion at the Philharmonic Center. Single tickets start at just $40! Subscriptions and tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 1-866-811-4111 or visiting our website at www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org. For more information, please call 239-261-PLAY (7529).