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Island Players ready for season’s second production

Island Players opening season’s second production

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

ANNA MARIA – After a successful start to their historic 73rd season with “Savannah Sipping Society,” The Island Players are just days away from the opening night of their second play of the 2021-22 season.

“Same Time, Next Year,” directed by Kelly Wynn Woodland and starring Mark Woodland (George) and Nancy Denton (Doris), will debut Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. 

Written by Bernard Slade, “Same Time, Next Year” is the story of a couple that has a one-night affair at a hotel in San Francisco in the early 1950s. The two decide to meet at the same hotel once a year, every year to relive the night.

“The rules were that they didn’t contact each other or have any relationship throughout the rest of the year, they just meet this one time every year at the location where the affair took place,” Woodland said. “We the audience see it every five years as it progresses from 1951 to 1975.”

This story may sound familiar, and you may have seen it on the big screen. “Same Time, Next Year” was a film sensation in 1978 starring Ellen Burstyn, who won a Golden Globe for playing Doris, and Alan Alda, who played George. In all, the film garnered two Golden Globe nominations and three Academy Award nominations. 

“Same Time, Next Year” will run from Nov. 4-14 at The Island Players on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue. Tickets are available at the box office Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $25. Showtimes will be Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Call 941-778-5755 for more information.

Players

Island Players announce season’s first production

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

ANNA MARIA – After more than a year off due to COVID-19 restrictions, The Island Players are excited to announce they are starting their historic 73rd season with the delightful comedy, “The Savannah Sipping Society.” 

The play centers around four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, who are drawn together by fate and an impromptu happy hour. The playwrights, Nicholas Hope, Jessie Jones and Jamie Wooten, were writers of the legendary TV comedy, “The Golden Girls” and this play is another good example of their talent in understanding and illustrating the perks and perils of older, single women.

The cast is being directed by well-known Island Players director and actor Mike Lusk, assisted by veteran stage manager Priscilla Boyd. Cast members include Jennifer Kwiatkowski as Randa Covington, Cathy Hansel-Edgerton as Dot Haigler, Laura Morales as Marlafaye Mosley, Susie Lowe as Jinx Jenkins and Mikey Lynch as Grandmother.

The Savannah Sipping Society runs from Sept. 16-26 with a new evening start time of 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinee time stays the same at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $25 each and will be available at the box office, 10009 Gulf Drive, which opens on Tuesday, Sept. 7. If you purchase season tickets before Sept. 1 you will receive a discount price of $110. Call Peg at 941-778-7374 for season ticket information. The box office is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one hour before each show. For more information, please see the website,  or call the box office at 941-778-5755.

Parking can be difficult, so it is recommended to arrive early. The Players have received permission from CrossPointe Fellowship to allow their patrons to park in their lot. They are located at 8605 Gulf Drive about a mile before the theater on the right. The AMI free trolley stops in front of the church and runs approximately every 20 minutes north toward the theater.

For everyone’s protection, masks are required when inside the theater. Temperature checks will be taken at the door and hand sanitizer will be available.

Children's Drama Camp

Children’s Drama Camp showcases talented Island youth

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

ANNA MARIA – After two weeks of rehearsal and education, the 2021 Children’s Drama Camp closed with two performances of “Biome” at the Island Players Community Theater.

The Camp is held by The Center of Anna Maria Island every summer and gives area children ages 5-13 a chance to learn all aspects of a theatrical production. Participants help design costumes, make set decorations, practice singing, and, of course, learn acting.

“I really like acting and singing, it’s really fun,” said Ava Harlin, who played Goliath Beetle, one of the three lead roles in the play about three animals who escape the zoo and travel the world searching for their natural biome, along with Elephant and King Snake. “It’s really rewarding to see the whole play come together. In the beginning, it seems a lot harder, but then it all just starts falling into place,” Harlin added, speaking of the challenges of performing in live theater.

“I’ve done this the whole nine years it’s been going on,” said 13-year-old Gabriella Gilbert, who has been acting since she was in pre-school, and played Elephant in the production.

“This will be my last year since I’ve reached the age limit, but I hope to volunteer and continue to work with the camp,” said Gilbert, who also plans to join her school’s drama club.

The production of “Biome” was more than 30 minutes long with more than a half dozen musical numbers and the children delivered their lines with authority and added plenty of personality that made this a genuinely enjoyable experience for everyone in attendance. 

“We had 16 kids this year who ranged in age from 5-13 years old, but we had five kids that were five years old. This presents a challenge because at that age they don’t read yet,” said Pamela Sikkema, drama director for the camp.

“We only get seven two-hour rehearsals, so parents working with their children at home is really important,” said Sikkema, who is also a costume designer, and made all of the costumes seen on stage. 

At the conclusion of the 1 p.m. performance, the Island Players presented a check for $2,000 to The Center of Anna Maria Island. This money comes from a grant the Players apply for every year.

There’s plenty more theater to come as The Island Players are excited to kick off the 2021-22 season on Sept. 16 with “The Savannah Sipping Society.” Tickets are on sale now and more information is available at www.theislandplayers.org.

‘Flea’ a funny, French farce

‘Flea’ a funny, French farce

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – “A Flea in Her Ear” is a funny story written in 1907 by Frenchman Georges Feydeau and adapted by David Ives. There’s a bevy of funny situations as Raymonde, played by Nancy Denton, believes her husband, Victor, played by Daniel Coppinger, is cheating on her so she sends him a letter under a false name inviting him to meet her at Hotel Coq d’Or, a bawdy hotel.

Victor doesn’t take the bait, but he comes down to the hotel with a friend who wants to know the identity of the person who sent the letter.

This play has a number of things going on and there are more than a dozen characters who all gave great performances. But Daniel Coppinger was stellar as Victor and as Poche, the hotel bellboy who looks just like Victor. Poor Victor is mistaken for Poche and likewise Poche for Victor.

Adding to the mayhem, Mark Woodland plays Don Carlos Homenides de Histnagua, a brash Spaniard who thinks somebody is after his wife, Lucienne, played by Judy Glynn, and he threatens people with his pistol.

Camile Chandebise, Victor’s nephew played by Brannon Westfall, gets rid of his speech impediment by inserting a device in his mouth, but he loses it and spends a lot of time searching for it. Westfall was brilliant in his role and added greatly to the laughs.

There is some slamming of doors slapstick as all the characters end up at the motel and when the truth is found out, “A Flea in Her Ear” is worth the money.

This play is the first one Kelly Lynn Woodland directed at the Island Players 25 years ago. She showed her talent, if not her patience, by getting everyone in the cast on the same track.

For reservations or information, call the box office at 941-778-5755 or visit the Island Players website.

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