May 4, 2023, Naples, FL.  The Naples Players (TNP) and The City of Naples announce that, to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians during The Naples Players’ $20M renovation project, 4^th Avenue South will be undergoing regular – and prolonged – closures through December of 2023.

The closures will occur directly behind the theater on 4th Avenue, between 6th Street and 8th Street. Local access will exist on 4th Avenue to allow public entry to the parking garage to the east, and to the Inn on Fifth & Trulucks to the west. The intersection of 4th Avenue and 7th Street will be closed to all traffic.

The Naples Players is committed to working directly with The City of Naples to open the street as often as it is safe to do so; and will open the street/intersection before the scheduled end dates whenever possible – and is coordinating with the city to open the street for Downtown’s special events and high-traffic dates.

The road closure will begin Monday, May 8th; with the first temporary re-opening scheduled to accommodate the 4th of July holiday. 

“We understand that any street closure, especially a street closure in the Downtown Naples area, is a significant inconvenience – and we thank the public for their patience while we hurry to complete construction as quickly and safely as possible” said Bryce Alexander, CEO & Executive Artistic Director of The Naples Players. “Our nonprofit theater was brought downtown to be good partners and stewards to the city in enhancing the small-town charm of Naples, and we intend to continue that legacy now and – thanks to our renovated facility – for more decades to come.”

The Naples Players’ current venue has served as a home for the local arts community for more than two and a half decades. While TNP programs and reach have experienced significant growth, the building and their message have remained the same: To build community through exceptional access to the power of theater. Invited by the city of Naples, FL in 1994 to build their facility on 5th Ave South, TNP was charged with serving as an anchor for the local community in the arts, while additionally helping to transform downtown Naples into a local and tourist destination. It clearly worked!

Annually serving more than 60,000 annual audience members, accumulating more than 65,000 volunteer hours from more than 700 volunteers, and providing arts education to more than 10,000 children and adults, TNP is looking to the future.

“The Naples Players is becoming a cultural hub, leading a shift in the national perception of how theatres can influence their communities – and this building is a vital step in moving to the next level of impact,” said Peggy Monson, Board President.

The renovated facility, designed by David Corban Architect, PLLC, will feature a large balcony in the renovated Kizzie Theater, a new educational theater (The Glass Theater), improvements to the space and technology in the Price Theater, and a cafe for volunteers, patrons, and the public.

The renovation project, led by custom commercial builder BUILD, headquartered in Naples, and financed by Lake Michigan Credit Union and FineMark Bank and Trust, is expected to be complete in the spring of 2024; though the organization is hoping to raise $5M more during that time.

During the year-long renovation, TNP will continue performances offsite with a nine show season.

TNP Encourages those who are impacted by the 4th Avenue road closure to visit: naplesplayers.org/roadclosure to learn more and to sign-up for regular email updates about current and upcoming closures and re-openings. More information about The Naples Players renovation project can be found at naplesplayers.org/campaign.