The Naples Players – Thrilled to Welcome You Home
April 26, 2021
We can barely contain our excitement about our grand reopening this week – Remember how fun our theatre is?! We are ready to remind you!
The celebration starts on Wednesday, April 28th at 6:30pm with our Red Carpet Opening Night of Calendar Girls (Sponsored by: Naples Senior Center). The evening features Collier County’s real life Calendar Girls as well as music by Chariot, live painting by Jackie Morelisse; and vendors from Riptide, Truluck’s, C3 Gardens, Farmer Mike’s, and Spice and Tea Exchange.
Our world class volunteers have been working hard to prepare for our reopening. From ushers to costume stitchers to carpenters – even the actors – all hands are on deck! Continue reading below to learn about Roseann Ruggiero, one of the wonderful cast members in Calendar Girls.
Meet Collier County’s Calendar Girls
But before we get to Roseann, we’re honored to have Collier’s Calendar Girls on site to sign their calendars!
This awesome group of women came together during the height of the pandemic to collaborate with The Naples Players in order to raise money for food insecurity through the Comunity Foundation of Collier County. So far, we’ve raised over $50,000 for this great cause; and we’re excited to make another announcement on opening night!
Don’t have your calendar yet? No problem! We will have our volunteers selling them at the event so everyone has a chance to contribute to aiding Collier County’s food insecurity. You can also buy them online at: naplesplayers.org/calendargirls
To read more about our partnership and about each of the Collier Calendar Girls, click the button below to read the beautiful feature in èBella magazine:
Click Here to Read More about Collier’s Calendar Girls
A Warm Welcome
How The Naples Players make you feel right at home… By: Lauren Speirs
A New Jersey native, Roseann Ruggiero has been participating in theatre since she was 13 years old. Before she retired and dyed her hair purple, she was an executive assistant in NYC; but she always acted throughout. She absolutely loves theatre and has been involved in it her whole life.
Roseann’s Mom and sister moved down to Naples initially but she wasn’t far behind. First, she had to make sure there was a good theatre in Naples and, low and behold, she arrived at The Naples Players (TNP). As fate would have it, someone she knew from New Jersey designed sets for TNP so he gave her a tour of the facilities and she was blown away. She moved in November of 2019 and was volunteering with the theatre by December. As a matter of fact, before moving from New Jersey, she had already made her appointment to audition for Bye Bye Birdie.
Previously on a producing board for 21 years, Roseann has done just about every job a theatre has to offer. She points out that “one of the joys of theatre is collaboration.” She tells parents all the time that “Theatre is the most democratic hobby you can have. Every age, every ilk; everyone is treated as an equal. It’s the best hobby for kids. In theatre you study to prepare for a role.” Also, you meet all kinds of interesting people. She has friends in their 20’s and friends in their 80’s because theatre covers such a broad demographic.
What really struck Roseann about The Naples Players was that they “welcomed me with open arms. You walk in and they see your commitment to the craft and that you’re interested and you’re just a member.” She’s continually impressed with how professional everyone is. “The organization handles difficult situations with a lot of class and is always gracious to their clients. It helps that the facility is beautiful too!” She added that she’s “met great people” among the directors and staff, pointing out that they are “people who treat their people with respect.”
She can already see the effect the company has on the community and pointed out a recent example from their run of Footloose at Baker Park. “There were 3 young children playing in the park who just stopped what they were doing and sat there and watched. You could tell they had never seen live theatre before. We weren’t even in costumes and it wasn’t just the dance numbers, they were enthralled with everything. We lit a spark about live theatre.”
Looking ahead, Roseann is excited for Calendar Girls and jokingly says she “wants to know if she can take her curtain call topless!” She has more family moving to the area in the coming months and is excited for them to share in her performances as audience members.
Don’t miss your chance to see Roseann and the rest of the amazing Calendar Girls cast from April 28th-May 23rd in the Blackburn Hall! We can’t wait to give you all out best and warmest welcome back to our beautiful facilities! For tickets call 239 263 7990 or click here.
Calendar Girls
April 28th-May 23rd
Based on the True Story about a Group of Extraordinary Ladies! This comedy will make you laugh, cry, and feel better about life. Click here to get your tickets! But hutty, capacity is capped at 50% for COVID safety. Sponsored by: Naples Senior Center
An Ideal Husband
May 19th-June 13th
Oscar Wilde’s wickedly witty and touching comedy remains one of the most famous and popular in history. SOLD OUT at 50% capacity! Call to get tickets for other shows before they sell out. Waitlist available. Sponsored by: Stock Development
Join our Family of Supporters
With a 94% reduction in earned revenue during the COVID shutdown, The Naples Players kept programs running. With no layoffs, no stoppage of education programs, and no delay, The Naples Players has solely continued to serve the community day-in and day-out.
Please consider a tax-deductible donation to The Naples Players today. We’re counting on your support.
Click Here to Make a Contribution to TNP
or text “TNP” to (239) 349-3001 to donate from your phone
