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“He called me and said, ‘Think about some plays,’” recalls John Herr, a Bonita seasonal resident who has directed and acted in New York, Connecticut and Southwest Florida. “I made a list, but then he called again and said, ‘We’re doing Plaza
Suite,’” he adds with a smile, noting that play wasn’t on his list. Herr went on to direct the January 2014 production of Plaza
Suite, drawing on acting talent from Bonita Springs and Naples. Rehearsals took place in a variety of spaces and the production had to forego a technical rehearsal because the Moe was needed for CFABS’ film series that night. Compounding those restrictions were the lack of dressing rooms and a backstage. The actors dressed in an upstairs space, sneaked downstairs and outside and re-entered near the stage.
“The actors were darn good about it all,” Herr reports. “They were cooperative and supportive of each other.”
The play ran for four nights and received good reviews—and a growing audience from word of mouth. By April, when CFABS presented The Odd Couple (female version), the positive reaction to the first production helped garner sellouts of the 200-seat house on two of the four nights.
Pleased by the results, Price is planning at least two productions and longer runs for 2015, in addition to the dinner theater show he’s producing this October. He’s also continuing the monthly improv nights with CFABS’ Improv Anonymous and visiting troupes, along with an encore of the Improvaganzapaloozacomconjam in January 2015.
“I’d attended one in Sarasota and just loved it,” Price notes. “So I thought why not here and why not us?! Last year we did workshops and shows all week long. There’s enough interest here to do it.”
Price has also grown the children’s theater program to four productions a year, and the move to the new campus allowed CFABS to expand its summer camp for youngsters. The truly
Craig Price, CFABS performing arts director, has also grown the children’s theater program to four productions a year, and the move to the new campus allowed CFABS to expand its summer camp for youngsters. The truly special part about the children’s program is that it is tuition-free.
special part about the children’s program is that it is tuitionfree. “The only way that’s possible is because of our members and donors,” Price notes.
CFABS’ year-round film series moved into the Moe during the past year as well, while concerts were staged in the Hinman. The dance program remained at the original campus. All that is in the process of changing as CFABS undertakes its phase-one round of renovations.
“We want to re-create the opening to the [Moe] and restructure the inside so we have a backstage and wings,” Bridges says. “Upstairs we will put in a spring floor for our more advanced dance classes. The downstairs floor will also be redone with extra cushioning for our beginning dancers. We want to enlarge the lobby and redo the patio with tables and chairs. When we’re done, it will be a real black box studio theater.”
The plan is to complete the Moe before the start of high season. Work will then begin on the Hinman, with a target completion at the end of the 2015 season. Plans for the Hinman include expanding the lobby, adding a backstage and wings in the auditorium along with additional sound equipment, turning classroom space into the Marilyn & Bill Lightner Master Artist Studio, and creating a culinary center to offer tastings, classes and demonstrations. Like all of the programming at CFABS, the last is a response to community interest and request.
“Within the City of Bonita Springs, we’ve been seeing a lot of wonderful change unfold in the last few years,” Bridges notes. “Part of that renaissance is to have your own performing arts center. We’re very lucky. People have already been saying, ‘This year was so good, we can’t wait to see what you’ll do next year!’”