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Island Players kick off 76th season with Crimes of the Heart

Island Players kick off 76th season with ‘Crimes of the Heart’

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – Manatee County’s oldest community theater, the Island Players, kicked off its 76th season on Sept. 19 with a production of Beth Henley’s award-winning “Crimes of the Heart,” which runs through Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Island Playhouse, 10009 Gulf Drive.

While the play is a drama, there are ample moments of laughter as the audience is drawn into a family of four sisters who are brought together after one of them commits a criminal act. All the sisters have their own personal issues, and their grandfather (who never appears on stage) is in the hospital, adding drama to their already complicated lives.

Most of the story is learned through the conversation of the sisters, whose life problems cover everything from a failed career, death, love and infidelity to a racial issue. The topic of suicide plays so centrally into the plot that during the introduction of the play, director Mike Lusk gives the audience a telephone number for the suicide hotline to call if they are having personal issues. But the play manages to make the suicide aspect poignant, and even the source of a few laughs.

While not as slapstick or hilarious as many of the Island Players’ productions in the past couple of seasons, there is plenty to love about Crimes of the Heart. Lusk cast the play well, with most of the actors familiar to anyone who is an Island Players’ regular. Even on opening night (first night audiences are most likely to see mistakes by the cast), the performance was nearly flawless and full of genuine emotion, brilliantly acted by a talented veteran cast.

Anna Maria Island is beyond fortunate to have the Island Players, and Crimes of the Heart is another example of why a night at the theater is one of the best options for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the real world.

Last season, the Players sold out most shows and broke attendance records. To avoid missing out, get tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are available at www.theislandplayers.org, at the box office beginning one hour prior to the show or by calling the box office at 941-778-5755.

Island Players kick off 76th season

Island Players kick off 76th season

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players, Manatee County’s oldest community theater, will launch its 76th season on Thursday, Sept. 19 with Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart, directed by Players’ veteran director, Mike Lusk.

The play, which won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize, as well as the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play, will garner every emotion from audience members as they are transported to a small Mississippi town to find three sisters who have gathered to await the news of their grandfather, who is living out his final hours at the local hospital. Each of the sisters is dealing with their own life problems, but despite the troubles, there are plenty of laughs as they work to escape the past.

Lusk has directed plays for the Island Players for more than 10 years, most recently, last season’s debut of the hilarious “Farce of Nature,” which left audiences in stitches. Lusk is known for bringing out the best in his cast and crew, while also putting his signature mark on everything he does. If this play follows past trends, this director shouldn’t disappoint.

“You’ll get everything you expect from an Island Players production,” Lusk said. “You’ll get happiness, you’ll get some thoughtfulness and have a good evening of entertainment. This play in particular should make you feel glad to be alive.”

Last season, the Island Players sold out most shows and broke attendance records. To avoid missing out, get tickets as soon as possible. Crimes of the Heart runs from Sept. 19-29. Tickets are available at www.theislandplayers.org, at the box office beginning one hour prior to the show or by calling the box office at 941-778-5755. The Island Playhouse is located at 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue.

‘Communicating Doors’ a hilarious time warp

‘Communicating Doors’ a hilarious time warp

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players continue their historic 75th season with Alan Ayckbourn’s “Communicating Doors.” Directed by veteran director Preston Boyd and stage managed by his talented wife, Priscilla Boyd, the show zigs and zags through times of hilarity and plenty of suspense. Even though the killer’s identity is clear in the first act, how this thing will end is certainly not.

The characters cross paths as the result of a door to a storage room in the hotel suite that works as a time machine, but not every character can use it, and it only works in 20 year “leaps” to the times each murdered ex-wife once stayed in the room: 1974, 1994 and 2014, the year Phoebe arrives to become the center of this time warp centric story.

Audiences may find themselves a bit confused at first, but the whisking into another time soon becomes as expected as it is frequent. With plenty of laugh lines and an abundance of physical comedy, the exact story doesn’t hold as much power as the fascinating action handled by experienced actors who know how to not only get the best out of a line, but also can manage falling over a balcony “wall,” having a head bounced against the floor and plenty more action that has most likely left more than one cast member with a bruise or two.

We first see a “special consultant” arrive in 2014 at a large London hotel suite. Phoebe (Morgan Powls), whose trade name is Poopay, finds that her client, Reece (Dan Coppinger), does not seek her usual services. A dying old man with a guilty conscience, he asks Phoebe to sign as a witness on his written confession of the long-ago murders of two different wives. He is accompanied by his long-time loyal assistant and friend, Julian (Joseph Smith) who executes the role of the quintessential bad guy with perceived ease.

Director Preston Boyd did an outstanding job in getting the most out of this talented cast of veteran actors, who overcame an illness that affected most of the actors and caused the delay of opening night. Audiences would never know many of the rehearsals were done virtually. Serious talent is on display, and the plot is one of the most unpredictable in recent Island Players history.

“Communicating Doors” is a can’t-miss, and it’s not difficult to see why this season continues to sell out just about every performance.

The show continues through March 24. “Communicating Doors,” runs Tuesday through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Both on-line and box office ticket sales are available for the remainder of the run. On-line at www.theislandplayers.org and box office at 941-778-5755. Box office hours are 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Saturday and one hour before curtain on Sundays for will call tickets only.

Island Players prep for new play

Island Players prep for new play

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – It’s been a historic year for the Island Players. The theater troupe has sold out every performance of their first three plays of the 75th season, a first for Manatee County’s oldest community theater. They hope this trend will continue as preparations begin for the fourth play of the season.

Nails are being hammered and scripts are being rehearsed as the set is under construction and the cast is learning their lines for “Communicating Doors” by Alan Ayckbourn. The play, directed by Players veteran director Preston Boyd, runs from March 7-24.

Jennifer Kwiatkowski (Jessica) and Rick Kopp (Harold) return to the stage after appearing in the season opener, “Farce of Nature.” Joseph Smith, who appeared in this season’s “Later Life,” is back in the role of Julian. The role of Reece is played by Dan Coppinger, who appeared in “The Mousetrap.” New to the Players stage are Kathi Faulkner (Ruella) and Morgan Powis (Phoebe aka Poopay). The two newcomers bring their own special experience in theater to the Island stage. Faulkner has appeared in several area theaters, including Venice and Lemon Bay, and Powis holds a BA in Theater Arts from Flagler College.

In addition to preparing for the next play, the Island Players are once again offering a scholarship of $2,000 each to four graduating seniors in the Manatee County School District who have demonstrated excellence in art, dance or theater who plan to continue to develop these talents at a higher level of education. Anyone interested should download the application form from www.theislandplayers.com. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 15.

Email questions to scholarshipcommittee@theislandplayers.org.

Island Players’ ‘The Mousetrap’ an entertaining whodunit

Island Players’ ‘The Mousetrap’ an entertaining whodunit

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – It’s only fitting that Manatee County’s oldest community theater would continue its historic 75th season with the world’s longest-running play.

Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” is directed by Heiko Knipfelberg and stage-managed by Denise Handley. The play originally began running in London’s West End in 1952 and is the latest offering from the Island Players. Anyone who likes a classic murder mystery will not only enjoy trying to figure out who the killer is but also have plenty of laughs along the way.

Guests arrive in the lobby of Monkswell Manor, a large, renovated guesthouse reopened by Mollie (Sylvia Marnie) and Giles Ralston (Eric Johnson). As a blizzard engulfs the countryside, the house is filled with a clientele that doesn’t lack in strong individual personality as each character is a walking cliche.

Mrs. Boyle (Catherine Penta) is an old fussbudget who is not happy with her accommodations, or anything else for that matter, especially the lack of servants. Mr. Paravicini (Dan Coppinger) is a suspiciously impromptu guest who leans heavily on the fourth wall for his over-the-top rants. Christopher Wren, brilliantly played by director Heiko Knipfelberg, is bouncing off the walls with an enthusiasm to cause trouble. Retired military man Maj. Metcalf (Hugh Scanlon) and Miss Casewell (Kristin Mazzitelli) slink in and out of the background, watching and listening for… something. Not much is known of them and maybe they are not who they appear to be.

The trap is set when they receive word that there is a killer on the loose, a deranged psychopath obsessed with the nursery rhyme, “Three Blind Mice.” Their worst nightmares are confirmed after the grisly murder of one of the guests.

As the snowstorm severs the phone lines, Det. Sgt. Trotter (Colin Brady) bursts in and begins a thorough investigation, confirming everyone’s suspicions that a resident in the guesthouse is the murderer. It’s up to Mollie and Giles to put together the pieces of the puzzle, but after discovering that each harbors a secret of their own, they can’t even trust each other.

Of course, there’s a twist ending, but that won’t be revealed here. Fortunately, “The Mousetrap” runs through Sunday, Jan. 28, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for $28 at the box office or by calling 941-778-5755, or for $30 online at www.theislandplayers.org. The theater is located at 10009 Gulf Drive on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.

‘Later Life’ all about second chances

‘Later Life’ all about second chances

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players are back with the second production of their historic 75th season. “Later Life” by A.R. Gurney, directed by Preston Boyd, is a romantic comedy about a couple that reunites decades after a brief encounter and gets a second chance at love.

“Gurney wrote this play in 1993 and it is set in 1993,” Boyd said. “The purpose for him to write this story was to explore second chances in relationships. People can relate to the fact that we have one or two in our lives that we let get away.”

The action takes place entirely on the large balcony of a high-rise apartment building in the heart of downtown Boston. We meet the host, Sally, a middle-aged high society woman who brings her friend, Austin (Mark Shoemaker), a well-mannered Bostonian out onto the balcony while she finds her friend Ruth, (Valerie Lipscomb), who is in town visiting from Las Vegas after recently separating from her husband. It’s a set-up and what is quickly apparent is that Ruth has one over on Austin – she remembers a time they met decades earlier and he doesn’t. The encounter happened many years before while he was in the Navy on the Isle of Capri.

Ruth is rather flirtatious towards the divorced Austin, but their attempts at rekindling turn into an evening of interrupted conversation as guests keep coming out onto the balcony, breaking in and disrupting Ruth and Austin’s growing connection.

Although not integral to the core plot, the interrupting guests are the source of plenty of laughs and all are played by the same actors. Daphne Du Frane, whom we first meet as Sally, goes on to play at least half a dozen women, with Joseph Smith performing as all the men. In a series of perfect wigs and costumes, they parade in and out, making it difficult for Ruth and Austin to have their meaningful “get to know you all over again” conversation.

All four actors do a superb job and have a solid understanding of their characters, making this one of the most polished performances in recent Island Players history. “Later Life” is not the traditional comedy that audiences who frequent the Island Playhouse may be used to, but this show is a nice departure from the norm and certainly memorable.

“Later Life” runs through Sunday, Nov. 12, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for $28 at the box office or by calling 941-778-5755, or $30 online at www.theislandplayers.org. The theater is located at 10009 Gulf Drive on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.

‘Farce of Nature’ begins Players’ 75th season with laughs

‘Farce of Nature’ begins Players’ 75th season with laughs

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

ANNA MARIA – Director Mike Lusk’s talented cast brings plenty of laughs as the Island Players’ first performance of their historic 75th season hits audiences in the funny bone with “Farce of Nature,” the first of five plays in the 2023-24 season.

The story takes place in the Ozarks area of Arkansas. Wanelle Wilburn (Janet Salem) and D. Gene Wilburn (Rick Kopp) are an older couple who run a fishing lodge that usually isn’t filled to capacity. Their grown son, Ty (Jeffery Allen Steiger), is away in Chicago, trying to become an actor, and picked an interesting time to come home.

Ty’s girlfriend, Jenna Sealy (Jennifer Kwiatkowski), lives with them at the “Reel ‘Em Inn.” Wanelle’s sister, Maxie (Laura Morales), an incompetent cop trying to get back in the good graces of her department, lives there too. This week, she’s been put in charge of keeping a witness safe, which will prove more difficult than she bargained for. His name is Carmine DeLuca (Joseph Mammina), and his testimony against a mafia associate named Sonny Barbosa (Michael Sacco) sent him to jail for five years. Maxie decides that the best way to keep Carmine safe is to have him stay at the lodge.

Carmine hates the outdoors and wants nothing more than to get back to Chicago away from trees, wild animals and everything else he hates about “the sticks,” but tries to be a good sport, even when Ty comes home to his parents, followed by both his employer, Lola Barbosa (Sharon Bartley), who runs a Chicago dinner theater, and her dangerous husband, Sonny.

To provide much more information would be a spoiler, but pay close attention to the painting D. Gene gifted his wife, Wanelle; it should be given co-star credit in this story that is well acted by one of the larger casts of any play in recent Island Players history.

“Farce of Nature” begins a bit slow, but quickly evolves into a laugh-a-minute solid comedy that leaves the audience wondering what could possibly happen next. Will they all be killed by wild animals? Everybody is having an affair, or are they? What’s that smell? And where do they keep all that vodka? All are questions that unravel as a talented cast nails a well-written play by Jones, Hope and Wooten.

“Farce of Nature” runs through Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Island Playhouse, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Tickets are available online for $30 or at the box office for $28. Box office hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Order by phone during box office hours by calling 941-778-5755.

Island Players prepare final play of season

Island Players prepare final play of season

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players, Manatee County’s oldest community theater, plans to go out with a bang this season.

After directing “The Psychic,” the final play of the 2021-22 season, James Thaggard returns to close out another season with a show he says will bring plenty of laughs involving a unique stage design essential to the plot.

“Our set is two living rooms on one stage simultaneously, with dialogue happening in both, and not always at the same time during the play,” Thaggard said. “At one point we have the characters in both living rooms, but it’s Thursday in one room and Friday in another.”

The story of “How the Other Half Loves” is that of an upper-class couple in an upper-class house and a middle-class couple who live more modestly. Because of an affair, three couples wind up involved in a situation that Thaggard says will leave the audience in stitches. The play was written in 1970 by the prolific Alan Ayckbourn, and while Thaggard stuck to the script, he says sound was very important in this production. No spoilers, but he says audiences may catch some “audio Easter eggs” he personally added due to his fondness for that time in history.

“How the Other Half Loves” runs from Thursday, May 4 through Sunday, May 14, with daily performances at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. There are no performances on Mondays. Tickets are $25 at the box office and $27 online. The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 941-778-5755 or visit theislandplayers.org.

Island Players present ‘The 39 Steps’

Island Players present ‘The 39 Steps’

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – Coming off a hilarious run of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple, The Female Version,” the Island Players are ready to take the audience for a ride across England and Scotland to stop an international gang of spies, with four actors playing more than 150 characters in a comedic adaptation of the Alfred Hitchcock thriller, “The 39 Steps.”

Director Heiko Knipfelberg promises that audiences will see things they aren’t used to seeing at an Island Players production, including special lighting and sound effects and non-stop action. When asked to describe how an Alfred Hitchcock film could become a zany comedy, Knipfelberg offered this quote from The New York Times to sum it up: “Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel and a dash of Monty Python, and you have ‘The 39 Steps.’ ”

The play is adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan, but the Hitchcock film is at its core.

“The authors of the play included most of the film, almost verbatim in a stage production,” Knipfelberg said. “They’ve taken license in certain areas, certainly in the way they’ve used the characters. We have a female lead who plays three characters and a male lead who plays himself throughout the whole play, but then we have two clowns who play about 60 characters each. Unlike Hitchcock’s version, this is very much a comedy.”

“The 39 Steps” runs from Thursday, March 9 through Sunday, March 26, with daily performances at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. There are no performances on Mondays. Tickets are $25 at the box office and $27 online. The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can be reached by phone at 941-778-5755 or online.

Island Players score another hit

Island Players score another hit

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – For many, the name Neil Simon brings to mind “The Odd Couple” or “Barefoot in the Park,” which are all about the big laughs. Simon’s “I Ought to be in Pictures” – the latest production by the Island Players – is a bit more subdued, even offering moments that brought tears to the eyes of audience members, but rest assured, the laughs are still there.

The story focuses on a completely unmotivated Herb Tucker (Mark Shoemaker), a Hollywood screenwriter who can’t commit to his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Steffy Blondell (Diana Shoemaker), can’t get anything written and doesn’t take the best care of his Hollywood bungalow. Having left his wife and two children 16 years before the story takes place, the last thing Herb was expecting was to have his estranged daughter, Libby (Tahlia Chinault), show up at his front door, but that’s exactly what happens. The only thing Herb seems to be able to do with any modicum of success is care for his orange tree and his beloved lemon tree in his yard; that will soon change.

Libby arrives, saying she wants to be a Hollywood actress, despite her only acting role being an understudy for a minor character in a high school play. She believes her father owes her some connections since he’s “in the business.” As they begin to connect, there are plenty of laughs, and Chinault absolutely nails the role of Libby. While every actor delivered a solid performance, she was without question the star of the show with a near-flawless performance. 

As the story develops, director Kelly Wynn Woodland does a great job of making the characters relatable, peeling back the layers of the onion that are the relationships among the three characters. The true motivation of Libby becomes apparent in the second act, and there are moments that are among the most emotional in recent Island Players memory. 

“I Ought to be in Pictures” runs through Sunday, Nov. 13, with shows Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 and available at the box office Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by calling 941-778-5755 during box office hours. Visit the theater website for more information.

Island Players take on Neil Simon

Island Players take on Neil Simon

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players 2022- 23 season kicked off Sept. 15 with a solid production of James Yaffe’s “Cliffhanger,” and they look to keep the momentum going with the next play.

Neil Simon’s “I Ought to be in Pictures,” directed by Kelly Wynn Woodland and starring Mark Shoemaker, Tahlia Chinault and Diana Shoemaker debuts Friday, Nov. 4 at the Island Playhouse in Anna Maria.

“Unlike some Neil Simon plays, this is much more character-centered, and kind of quietly and sweetly emotional,” Wynn Woodland said. “It features a lot of what you’d expect from a Neil Simon play with comedy and characters.”

The play is the story of Libby Tucker, who travels across the country from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in the hope of starting a film career with the help of her estranged father, whom she hasn’t seen in more than a decade, but who is in the movie business. However, her father, Herb Tucker, has a case of writer’s block and is dealing with plenty of problems of his own, including with his relationship with his girlfriend, Steffy.

This is the second of five plays the Island Players will present in the 2022-23 season and will run from Nov. 4-14 at the Island Players theater.

Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased by calling 941-778-5755 or visiting the box office located at the theater at 10009 Gulf Drive, which opens 10 days prior to the start of each production and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.islandplayers.org.

Players’ season opener a cliffhanger

Players’ season opener a cliffhanger

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – Philosophical boundaries are a constant struggle for a philosophy professor who thinks he knows the obvious difference between right and wrong in Cliffhanger, the Island Players’ season opener.

Rick Kopp is a convincing Professor Henry Lowenthal, whose hero is Socrates, a source of inspiration for him, and a key player in how the plot unfolds. The professor’s wavering moral compass draws laughs from an audience that never knows what he’ll do next.

The professor’s wife, Polly, played by Cathy Hansel-Edgerton, also brings plenty of laughs as she is all about solving the problems at hand with little regard to what Socrates may think of her. Polly simply wants to keep her husband out of jail and their long-term relationship intact regardless of what direction her moral compass may be pointing. Her character is essential to how the plot unfolds, and this Island Players veteran gets the job done.

A visit from rival colleague Edith Wilshire, played by Sue Belvo – who nails her small but important role – unleashes a series of events that challenges the professor to rethink his lifelong ethical ideals, which he not only works hard to impress upon his students but exercise in his own personal life.

The story hinges on a not-so-slightly obnoxious spoiled rich kid, Melvin, played by Colin Brady, who is over the top, and written to be purposely annoying. Brady does an excellent job delivering every line convincingly, but his desire to get a failing grade changed by the professor makes him a constant source of moral struggle for the Lowenthals, who will do anything to make him go away while simultaneously dealing with a local police detective played by Island Players newcomer, Sam DiGiammarino.

Director Mike Lusk does a great job pulling the comedic moments out of his characters in a play that is not strictly a comedy. Stage manager Jeanne Walther and the entire crew do an equally good job of setting the scene and bringing the audience into the show. Lusk went onstage before the Sept. 16 show and dedicated the performance to Jack Abene, who had been the backstage manager and an integral part of the Island Players for more than 25 years. Jack passed away at the age of 91 the morning of the performance.

Cliffhanger runs through Sept. 25, followed by I Ought to be in Pictures (Nov. 3-13), The Odd Couple (Jan. 12-29), The 39 Steps (March 9-26) and How the Other Half Loves (May 4-14). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the box office at 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria or by calling 941-778-5755. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Island Players ready for 74th season

Island Players ready for 74th season

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players are getting in their last few rehearsals before they begin their 2022-23 season on Thursday, Sept. 15 with their production of James Yaffe’s Cliffhanger, which will run through Sunday, Sept. 25.

“This show is written and set in the mid-80s featuring a college professor and his wife who end up in a thriller murder mystery type of story, but it’s not your average thriller,” director Mike Lusk said. “This play is not technically a comedy, but I’m finding comedic moments; I know our audiences enjoy that. Without even changing the script, we’re just punching up those moments.”

The plot involves Professor Henry Lowenthal, who accidentally kills his boss when she ruins his retirement plans. Now Henry and his devoted wife, Polly, must find a foolproof method to dispose of the body despite frequent visits from a persistent student and a suspicious police lieutenant.

The players are Henry Lowenthal (Rick Kopp), Polly Lowenthal (Cathy Hansel-Edgerton), Edith Wilshire (Sue Belvo), Melvin McMullen (Colin Brady) and Dave DeVito (Sam DiGiammarino).

The Island Players often feature familiar faces, and Cliffhanger will be no different. Lusk directed The Savannah Sipping Society last season, and only one cast member, Sam DiGiammarino, hasn’t performed in a previous Island Players production.

This year’s lineup begins with Cliffhanger (Sept. 15-25), I Ought to be in Pictures (Nov. 3-13), The Odd Couple (Jan. 12-29, 2023), The 39 Steps (March 9-26, 2023) and How the Other Half Loves (May 4-14, 2023).

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the box office at 10009 Gulf Drive or by calling 941-778-5755. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Children’s Drama Camp performs

Curtains close on children’s drama camp

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – After two weeks of fun, the curtains have closed on The Center of Anna Maria Island’s drama camp.

Every year the camp ends with two performances on the stage at the Island Players theater. This year, 15 young thespians came together to perform “Character Matters,” a play featuring more than half a dozen musical numbers.

“With only seven rehearsals, we had to do it kind of like how Henry Ford did when he created the assembly line,” said Pamela Sikkema, who has served as director of the camp for the past 11 years. “We would have some of the kids in one room working on their lines, then they would move and work on their song and then rotate to the stage to work on the lines and the song.”

Sikkema noted that this year’s group of young actors ranged in ages from 6 to 13 with many of the younger ones just learning to read. Both the campers and staff were up to the challenge and the children put on the entire 30-minute performance without a break or intermission.

The story of “Character Matters” follows the monthly meeting of the Fairytale Council, which meets to give advice to fairytale characters. Lessons learned include Goldilocks understanding that she is breaking and entering, the Big Bad Wolf finding out it’s wrong to eat sweet grandmothers and everyone trying to be respectful of each other and live a life where character is important.

Although the camp is run by The Center, all rehearsals and both July 21 performances were held at the Island Players theater in Anna Maria. At the close of the performance, The Center’s Executive Director Chris Culhane was presented with a $2,000 donation by Island Players President Sylvia Marnie.

“We’ve partnered with Island Players for years and they give us a check every year,” Culhane said. “It’s a great partnership. The camp is through The Center, but it takes place here at the Island Players. Every year it’s a new batch of kids and a new learning experience; it’s amazing.”

The money donated to The Center is from a grant the Island Players applied for to give back to a children’s program in the community. Both The Center staff and the Island Players volunteers say they look forward to continuing the partnership for years to come.

Island Players wrap season with hilarious whodunnit

Island Players wrap season with hilarious whodunnit

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players wrap up their 73rd season Sunday, May 15 at 2 p.m. with the final performance of their fifth play of the season, Sam Bobrick’s “The Psychic.”

Directed by James Thaggard and stage-managed by Denise Handley, this hilarious whodunnit keeps the audience laughing out loud, while at the same time trying to figure out who is killing off characters one by one.

A drab basement apartment in New York is home to struggling mystery writer Adam Webster (William Ashburn), who tries to pass himself off as a psychic for some quick cash. But when Adam issues a surprisingly genuine prediction to his beautiful first customer, Laura Benson (Jennifer Kwiatkowski), a string of inquisitive characters soon start showing up at his door, including Laura’s larcenous husband, Roy (Rick Kopp), Roy’s sex-obsessed mistress, Rita (Jennifer Caldwell), Rita’s mobster lover, Johnny Bubbles (Michael Sacco) and cultivated homicide detective Norris Coslow (Mark Shoemaker), all of whom factor into the evolving murder mystery that becomes Adam’s life. 

Island Players wrap season with hilarious whodunnit
The cast of ‘The Psychic’ takes a bow at a performance at the Island Playhouse in Anna Maria. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“This is my 20th production as a director for The Island Players and I have performed in 25 plays here; I love this theater,” said director James Thaggard, who does a great job of keeping the audience guessing who the killer is while dropping subtle clues throughout the production. The fact that only one character changes costumes throughout the entire play is a hint to the final plot twist that is not easy to spot before the big reveal. 

Before the start of the final performance of the season, Thaggard announced the five plays that will make up the 74th season, which will begin Sept. 15 and run through May 14, 2023. They are: 

  • Cliffhanger by James Yaffe (directed by Mike Lusk), Sept. 15-25
  • I Ought to be in Pictures by Neil Simon (directed by Kelly Wynn Woodland), Nov. 3-13
  • The Odd Couple (female version) by Neil Simon (directed by Preston Boyd), Jan. 12-29, 2023
  • The 39 Steps by Patrick Harlow (directed by Heiko Knipfelberg), March 9-26, 2023
  • How the Other Half Loves by Alan Ayckbourn (directed by James Thaggard), May 4-14, 2023

For box office information, audition dates and times and any other Island Players information, visit www.theislandplayers.org.

The Island Players thanks everyone who has volunteered their time behind the scenes, and all of the support from sponsors who make everything possible.