Breaking Ground On Our New Renovation
April 4, 2023
Bryce & Our Board of Directors Breaking Ground On Our New RenovationDear Friends,
Sunday afternoon, I had the great pleasure of working with our team to finalize the cast of our epic summer musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Sunday evening, immediately following the final performance of our sold-out production of The Sound of Music, I had the bittersweet experience of swinging a sledgehammer at the theater’s walls!
I was joined by hundreds of volunteers, patrons, and donors who came together for a poignant send-off of Blackburn Hall and the rest of the Naples Players facility. As the beginning of our $20m renovation, the event was a mix of excitement and reflection.
Work inside the main lobby has begunWe couldn’t be more fortunate to have had the opportunity to work and play in such a wonderful facility. Housing us for the last 25 years, these walls weathered hurricanes, financial crises, and even a pandemic – ultimately protecting and ensuring the continued vitality of The Naples Players, downtown Naples, and our amazing community. Hundreds of thousands of audiences have crossed through these doors, and thousands of volunteers have graced these stages. Tonight these stages are quiet – but our momentum is deafening.
Out of the memories of our past rise the dreams of our bright future. With input from members across our region, we’re not just building a beautiful new facility – we’re building community.
We look forward to welcoming you back to 5th Avenue just one year from now – and look forward to having you in our temporary venues until the theater is ready. (Click here to learn more about our project, and to help us reach our fundraising goals). Home is where the heart is, and our volunteers and patrons bring us our greatest pride. And I sure am proud of the productions you are about to see!
I look forward to seeing you this upcoming season- exciting things are ahead. Put yourself “Out There” and come support us!
With gratitude,
Bryce Alexander
CEO / Executive Artistic Director
