Jeffrey Binder to Direct Gulfshore Playhouse Teen Conservatory

Gulfshore Playhouse, Naples' premiere professional regional theatre, has announced auditions for the Summer 2018 Teen Conservatory, which offers teens 13-18 pre-professional training in musical theatre. This summer, accepted students will perform the Tony Award-winning musical "The Secret Garden," directed by Gulfshore Playhouse Associate Artistic Director and Broadway star Jeffrey Binder ("The Lion King," "Mary Poppins")

Auditions for the Teen Conservatory will take place Sunday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at The Norris Center, located at 755 8th Avenue South in Naples. Students must bring a photo of themselves and sheet music and sing 16 bars each of two songs from the musical theatre canon: an uptempo and a ballad.

The Teen Conservatory runs Monday, July 9 through Friday, Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Performances of "The Secret Garden" are Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Program fee is $750 per student. Need-based scholarships are available.

For more information, contact Hester Kamin at 239-261-7529, ext. 207.

Gulfshore Playhouse is committed to enriching and strengthening the cultural fabric of our region by creating and producing professional theatre productions of a national standard that celebrates the diversity of our audiences, draws people together to discover a new understanding of oneself, and gives back in a spirit of outreach and service.

This focus is also at the core of its newest endeavor - the creation of a cultural landmark facility in downtown Naples. Plans are currently underway for Gulfshore Playhouse's new 56,000-square-foot complex at Goodlette-Frank Road and First Avenue South on the northern end of The Shoppes at Naples Square that will include two theaters and an education wing to support programming for children, adults and families. Final architectural renderings will be unveiled at the March 26 Bubbles, Baubles and Broadway Gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples.

For more information about Gulfshore Playhouse and the Next Stage Campaign for its new facility, visit www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org or call 239-261-PLAY (7529).