"3 Men and a Diva" on 10/19 in Naples, FL w/ Lawrence, Lane, Rodgers and Caruso

Gulfshore Playhouse, Naples' Newest Professional Theater, announces its formation with its Premiere Performance entitled "3 Men and a Diva", on Tuesday, October 19th, 2004, at 7:30pm, at the Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Avenue South in Naples.

Broadway Veteran Carol Lawrence will headline an evening of music and song entitled "3 Men and a Diva" featuring Tony-nominated actor and singer Brian Lane Green, pianist and singer Johnny Rodgers, and Master of Ceremonies Jim Caruso. The performance will be followed by an exclusive After-Party called "Under the stars with the Stars", where invitees can meet the performers, on the Rooftop of Inn on Fifth, courtesy of Phil McCabe.

This benefit is made possible in part thanks to the generous contribution of
John R. Wood Inc., Realtors, our major corporate sponsor.

Gulfshore Playhouse brings a self-producing theatre company to Naples in the same category and class as the Asolo Theatre Company in Sarasota and the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami. The Playhouse promises to be a place where Neapolitans will be able to find innovative and stimulating new plays and musicals, recent Broadway and off-Broadway hits, exciting concerts and one-man shows, as well as our beloved classics.

The mission of Gulfshore Playhouse is to produce superior-quality theatrical productions, using professional actors from around Florida and the US, thereby creating another cultural institution in Naples and heightening the quality of life for the residents of Southwest Florida.

Producing Artistic Director Kristen Coury says, "I believe there is a niche to fill between the high-quality community theatre that currently exists and the large-scale Broadway Tours offered by "The Phil". At Gulfshore Playhouse we will produce our own shows ranging from US or Florida premieres to imaginative re-visionings of the classics. I believe the community of Naples, or any community for that matter, can always benefit from an increase in the arts, and that creating a regional theatre here will add another colorful thread to the already vibrant fabric of the Naples arts scene."

The challenge, according to Coury, lies in the scarcity of the pre-existing theatre space in town, "and what there is, is booked all year long", Coury notes. As a result, Gulfshore Playhouse is embarking on a major Capital Campaign to raise enough money either to build a brand new space comparable to the Sugden Theatre -- a state-of-the art complex including room for a scene shop, costume shop and rehearsal studios -- or to find an already-existing space that might be suitable for renovation.

Neapolitans will have their first opportunity to see the caliber of performers and performances that The Playhouse intends to bring to Naples with "3 Men and a Diva". It promises to be an evening filled with spectacular talent and great music.

For further information, to buy tickets for "3 Men and a Diva" or to make a charitable contribution, please contact Kristen Coury, Producing Artistic Director, at 239-261-5870.

Gulfshore Playhouse is a not-for-profit corporation in the State of Florida and has applied for its 501c3 status from the Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America. All contributions will be tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law provided the IRS determination is favorable. Should you have any questions with regard to the tax treatment of your donation, please contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.