Kristen Coury News

Playwright Jason Odell Williams will be in residence at the Playhouse throughout the rehearsal and performance process. Two special 'Playwright Talk-backs' will take place after the 8 p.m. performance on November 10th and after the 3pm matinee performances on Sunday, November 13th and 20th. In the 2010-2011 season, three of Jason's plays were produced in New York. He began writing plays in 2007, and since then his work has been developed at Primary Stages, Manhattan Theatre Club, New Jersey Rep, The Bleecker Street Theatre, The Jewish Cultural Arts Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Rep Stage and The Baltimore Playwrights Festival.

Playwright Jason Odell Williams will be in residence at the Playhouse throughout the rehearsal and performance process. Two special 'Playwright Talk-backs' will take place after the 8 p.m. performance on November 10th and after the 3pm matinee performances on Sunday, November 13th and 20th. In the 2010-2011 season, three of Jason's plays were produced in New York. He began writing plays in 2007, and since then his work has been developed at Primary Stages, Manhattan Theatre Club, New Jersey Rep, The Bleecker Street Theatre, The Jewish Cultural Arts Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Rep Stage and The Baltimore Playwrights Festival.

Long time Forbidden Broadway Diva Christine Pedi sings songs about and made famous by the great ladies of the stage, screen and beyond. With comic flair & warm appreciation, she conjures up Ethel Merman, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews and more as well as classic tunes first popularized by many a great dame (real or imagined). Christine Pedi's Great Dames has won the 2008 New York NightLife Award, Backstage Bistro Award, Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs nomination and 'Top Ten Memorable Theatre Moments of the Year' on BroadwayWorld.com.

Long time Forbidden Broadway Diva Christine Pedi sings songs about and made famous by the great ladies of the stage, screen and beyond. With comic flair & warm appreciation, she conjures up Ethel Merman, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews and more as well as classic tunes first popularized by many a great dame (real or imagined). Christine Pedi's Great Dames has won the 2008 New York NightLife Award, Backstage Bistro Award, Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs nomination and 'Top Ten Memorable Theatre Moments of the Year' on BroadwayWorld.com.

This funny and stylish comedy from Noel Coward, the author of Private Lives and Hay Fever, is the story of a cantankerous novelist, Charles Condomine, who is re-married but haunted - literally - by the ghost of his late first wife, Elvira. When a 'happy medium', one Madame Arcati, conjures up the specter of his former spouse, all the personalities, worldly and otherwise, clash with rib tickling results.

The fourth and final Gulfshore Playhouse show of the 2011- 2012 season is the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar Named Desire, playing April 6 through 27, with a preview performance April 5. 2012 will mark the 65th Anniversary of this enduring classic. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play follows the story of Blanche DuBois, a weak and disturbed woman on a desperate prowl for some place in the world to call her own. After losing their ancestral home, Belle Reve, Blanche shows up at the doorstep of her sister, Stella, in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Putting on airs of refinement and Southern gentility, Blanche tries to impress her brother-in-law, and his gentle, good-natured friend, Mitch. Seeking to escape from reality, and an emblem of a lost traditional South, Blanche becomes a victim of the harsh present. Marlon Brando starred in the Broadway production and the 4-time Academy Award-winning film adaptation.

This funny and stylish comedy from Noel Coward, the author of Private Lives and Hay Fever, is the story of a cantankerous novelist, Charles Condomine, who is re-married but haunted - literally - by the ghost of his late first wife, Elvira. When a 'happy medium', one Madame Arcati, conjures up the specter of his former spouse, all the personalities, worldly and otherwise, clash with rib tickling results.

Gulfshore Playhouse is closing their fabulous fifth mainstage season with the Noel Coward comedy Blithe Spirit. This production will run April 8 through 23, with a preview performance April 7.

Arthur Miller's fiercely compelling drama about love, belonging and betrayal, A View from the Bridge centers around Eddie Carbone, an Italian-American longshoreman who lives in Brooklyn with his wife Beatrice and his orphaned 17-year-old niece Catherine. Beatrice's two cousins enter the country illegally seeking a better life in America, and when Catherine falls in love with one of them, Eddie's jealousy erupts in a rage that consumes him, his family and his world.

The fourth and final Gulfshore Playhouse show of the 2011- 2012 season is the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar Named Desire, playing April 6 through 27, with a preview performance April 5. 2012 will mark the 65th Anniversary of this enduring classic. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play follows the story of Blanche DuBois, a weak and disturbed woman on a desperate prowl for some place in the world to call her own. After losing their ancestral home, Belle Reve, Blanche shows up at the doorstep of her sister, Stella, in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Putting on airs of refinement and Southern gentility, Blanche tries to impress her brother-in-law, and his gentle, good-natured friend, Mitch. Seeking to escape from reality, and an emblem of a lost traditional South, Blanche becomes a victim of the harsh present. Marlon Brando starred in the Broadway production and the 4-time Academy Award-winning film adaptation.

Arthur Miller's fiercely compelling drama about love, belonging and betrayal, A View from the Bridge centers around Eddie Carbone, an Italian-American longshoreman who lives in Brooklyn with his wife Beatrice and his orphaned 17-year-old niece Catherine. Beatrice's two cousins enter the country illegally seeking a better life in America, and when Catherine falls in love with one of them, Eddie's jealousy erupts in a rage that consumes him, his family and his world.

The evening will start at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour replete with gourmet hors d'oeuvres, several kinds of champagne delights and piano music. Two of Broadway's hottest stars, husband-and-wife duo Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell will entertain audiences with their new Cabaret extravaganza 'It Takes Two' in the Showroom at 7:00 p.m. Food and drink will continue to flow in the Showroom throughout the performance. During the intermission, there will be a short live auction of jewelry provided by Bigham Jewelers. After the show, patrons will enjoy dessert and drinks with Alan and Lauren.

Arthur Miller's fiercely compelling drama about love, belonging and betrayal, A View from the Bridge centers around Eddie Carbone, an Italian-American longshoreman who lives in Brooklyn with his wife Beatrice and his orphaned 17-year-old niece Catherine. Beatrice's two cousins enter the country illegally seeking a better life in America, and when Catherine falls in love with one of them, Eddie's jealousy erupts in a rage that consumes him, his family and his world.

Gulfshore Playhouse was named 14th of 89 top-rated Arts nonprofits nationwide by the GreatNonProfits website. A total of 288 nonprofit organizations working to promote the arts were rated and reviewed by stakeholders. Over the course of the campaign, more than 60,000 people visited the GreatNonprofits site to read and write reviews.

While Gulfshore Playhouse generally casts professional actors from New York, the cast of Unnecessary Farce consists of several professional actors from Florida led by Naples resident Zolan Henderson playing Officer Eric. Gulfshore Playhouse audiences may remember Zolan as Dr. Bob in last year's successful run of Beau Jest. Terry Wells, who hails from the St. Petersburg area, will be playing Mayor Meekley, and another Florida resident, Elizabeth Dimon, from Boca Raton, will be playing Mrs. Meekley, the Mayor's wife. Christopher Swan, known for various productions in the Florida area, will make his Gulfshore Playhouse debut as Agent Frank, the Mayor's nefarious security guard. Wendy Bergamini, playing accountant Karen Brown, just finished playing Miss Olsen in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises, starring Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes. Rounding out the cast are Justin Holcomb as Todd, the mysterious Scottish hit man and Katrina Foy as Officer Billie. Gulfshore Playhouse audiences will remember Katy as Marianne in Tartuffe.

While Gulfshore Playhouse generally casts professional actors from New York, the cast of Unnecessary Farce consists of several professional actors from Florida led by Naples resident Zolan Henderson playing Officer Eric. Gulfshore Playhouse audiences may remember Zolan as Dr. Bob in last year's successful run of Beau Jest. Terry Wells, who hails from the St. Petersburg area, will be playing Mayor Meekley, and another Florida resident, Elizabeth Dimon, from Boca Raton, will be playing Mrs. Meekley, the Mayor's wife. Christopher Swan, known for various productions in the Florida area, will make his Gulfshore Playhouse debut as Agent Frank, the Mayor's nefarious security guard. Wendy Bergamini, playing accountant Karen Brown, just finished playing Miss Olsen in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises, starring Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes. Rounding out the cast are Justin Holcomb as Todd, the mysterious Scottish hit man and Katrina Foy as Officer Billie. Gulfshore Playhouse audiences will remember Katy as Marianne in Tartuffe.

The Gulfshore Playhouse Theatre Education Project serves Southwest Florida through a wide variety of unique educational opportunities. The programming provides people from the diverse community accessibility to the art of theatre. Program offerings range from ART SMART, the in-school residencies which teach content curriculum in the schools, to the STAR (Student Theatre Artist in Residence) after-school theatre classes and Summer Acting Intensives, as well as The Saturday Series which features acting and technical training for adults, taught by professional actors and members of the Gulfshore Playhouse creative team.

Gulfshore Playhouse is gearing up for their 5th season with an eclectic mix of productions. For the 2010-2011 Season, the professional company will stage four mainstage selections running from October through April. Productions will range from the funny to heartwarming, featuring the work of an American Master, new works and beloved classics. Subscription packages are on sale now.

Gulfshore Playhouse will follow up their smash hit 'Beau Jest' and close out their triumphant 2009-2010 season with the rich classic 'A Doll's House.' The Victorian-era drama by Henrik Ibsen, with translation by Frank McGuinness, plays March 26th through April 11th.

Cohen & Grigsby, a business law firm with headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA and offices in Naples and Bonita Springs, FL, is serving as corporate partner for the 2009-10 Gulfshore Playhouse season.