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Thank you to Our Donors
As of 2/23/2026. An *asterisk denotes individuals who are deceased.
SEASON ANGELS
Jane & Steve Akin, Patty & Jay Baker, Glenda & Rich Struthers
SEASON BENEFACTORS
Karen & Gary Gregg, Jenny & *Rich Housh, Nancy G. Lauridsen, Sandi & Tom Moran, Susan Regenstein & Barry Frank, John & Carol Walter
SEASON AMBASSADORS
Anonymous, Marsha & Gary Bertrand, Grampy’s Charities - Jim & Jonatha Castle, Bev & *Art Cherry, Nancy & Tom Gallagher, Marguerite Hambleton, Barbie & Paul Hills, George & Patricia Kraus, Laird A. Lile, Simone & Scott Lutgert, James & Brigitte Marino, Bettina McKee, Cynthia & Mike Scholl, Jane & *Dave Wilson, Debbie & Bruce Yarde
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS+
Robert & Marianne Becker, Patricia & Jim Bosscher, Kathleen Cain, Bob & Laurie Champion, Robert & Joan Clifford, Sheila & Chris Cole, Bobbi & David Drobis, Dyan Fazzone, Kathleen & Brendan FitzGerald, The Habbershon Family, Matthew Hagan, Vicki Herche & Graeme Murray, Mitchell Hertz & Anne Carlucci, Steven & Sarah Jackson, Liz & Jim Jessee, Sarah Raup Johnson, Larry Kaye & Casey Skvorc, Pamela & Bob Krupka, Tammy & Mike Kutsch, Diane Landgren, Debra & Vince Maffeo, Geraldine Moss, F.E. & Jack Nortman, Joan & Mahendra Parekh, Gail Kern Paster, Anthony & Beverly Petullo, Jenna & Stéphane Rambaud, Melissa & David Shockley, Patricia Sweet & Bill Marsh, Patrick Trompeter & Monica Orcutt, Julie & Steve Vanderboom, Jane Walsh, Tereska & *Jerry Whitson, Joanne Wyss
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Anonymous, Mary & Phil Beuth, Lee & Peter Bewley, Richard & Jane Borchers, Charlie & Elise Brown, Cheryl & Randall W. Byrnes, Michael & Judy Cheteyan, John & Patricia Cochran, Norman & Suzanne Cohn, Jim & Shirley Curvey, Kyla & Rich de Asla, Mary F. Drazan, Sandy & Bill Haack, Libby & Ed Harshfield, Ken & Karen Heithoff, Jean & *Leo Hertzog, William & Anastasia Hoeft, Catelyn Juliano & David Deutsch, Heidi & James Kargman, Barbara K. Lupient, Mary Lou & Bob Maier, Sherie Marek, Phil McCabe, Carolyn & *Don McCulloch, Gerry McGraw, Pat & Tony McMunn, Dan & Ann Meyer, Joanne & Jeffrey Miller, Kristin & John Miller, Kimberly Moss & Bob Fisher, Susan Mullin, Louise & Larry Ost, Cindy & Tony Panzica, Ann Ratner, Dottie & John Remondi, Marilyn Romeo, DeAnna & Rick Rondinelli, Kathy & Ned Sachs, Pam & Fred Sasser, Janet & Peter Swinburn, Lisa & Warren Thomson, Bruce Tomason & Susan Rosen, The Vincent Von Zwehl Memorial Fund, Kathy & Paul Weaver, Scott, Hetty, & Michael Weinstein, Blaine & Tom Wells, Kristen & Michael Wynn
Dear Friends,
I am so pleased to welcome you to Gulfshore Playhouse. Whether it is your first time or your fiftieth, I am so glad you’re here. We have quite a lot in store for you at what has become one of the region’s most bustling cultural centers. Throughout the day, our lobby welcomes visitors enjoying everything from a morning coffee to light bites and cocktails at happy hour. Our education wing is bursting with students of all ages participating in lectures, private lessons, group classes, and performance opportunities. And, of course, our theatres are full, featuring a vibrant array of plays and musicals ranging from world premieres to beloved classics.
I am also thrilled to announce our upcoming 26-27 season! Flex passes are now on sale for what promises to be an extraordinary year. We begin in the Struthers Studio with a musical revue of the great Kander and Ebb, presented in an intimate cabaret style with small tables and drinks. The World Goes ‘Round features live musicians onstage and singers performing iconic hits like “New York, New York” and “All That Jazz.” You won’t want to miss it.
Opening the Moran Mainstage is a project I am especially excited about: my own new adaptation of A Christmas Carol. We will produce the world premiere of this holiday classic right here in Naples — made in Naples, for Naples. In the spring of 2027, our stages will be “on fire” with a diverse lineup, including the world premiere of Brent Askari’s Fundraiser: A Play. You may remember his play The Refugees, which we premiered in 2024; this new work is even funnier and just as poignant. We will also mount Heist, a thrilling new play that feels like Ocean’s Eleven on stage, produced in partnership with two nationally renowned theatres. The season continues with the legendary musical Guys and Dolls, followed by the thought-provoking new Broadway hit JOB. We will conclude the season on the Mainstage with Tartuffe, Molière’s delightful 17th-century masterpiece that remains just as relevant today.
Whether you join us for one show, a single class, or a full season of events, we can’t wait to welcome you home. Here, we strive to feed your mind and soul, enhancing your quality of life through enrichment and engagement. We hope your life is better because we’re here.
I look forward to seeing you at the theatre.
Warm regards,
Kristen Coury Founder, CEO, and Producing Artistic Director
CORPORATE SEASON BENEFACTOR
CORPORATE SEASON AMBASSADORS
CORPORATE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER+
CORPORATE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
GRANTS AND ENDOWMENTS
A letter from the Chairman of the Board
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome you to this season at Gulfshore Playhouse. We are coming off an extraordinary inaugural year in the magnificent Baker Theatre and Education Center, and I am thrilled to welcome you back for our second season in this new home.
As Chairman of the Board, one of my greatest joys has been seeing the excitement and pride our community feels in having a theatre of this caliber here in Naples. We’ve watched our audience grow, expanded our reach through education programs, welcomed neighbors and friends into our lobby and bar, and opened our doors to events for organizations and businesses across the region. The growing awareness of the art being produced and the activities happening daily at Gulfshore Playhouse are wonderful signs for the future.
With growth comes greater responsibility. The cost of producing theatre at this level continues to rise, as does the need for expanded staff and resources. Yet the impact of this work could not be clearer. Theatre enriches our lives and strengthens our community. It takes the vision of leadership, the creativity and hard work of a dedicated staff, the guidance of an experienced Board, the generosity of donors, and the loyalty of an engaged audience to make it all possible.
This season promises many exciting productions and opportunities—far more than I can highlight here. I encourage you to discover the many ways you can take part in all that Gulfshore Playhouse has to offer. Thank you for being here. I hope this season brings you joy, inspiration, insight, and unforgettable experiences.
Thank you,
Steve Akin Chairman of the Board
UP NEXT MORAN MAINSTAGE
The triumphant story of the woman behind the music.
Book by Douglas McGrath
Words and Music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Music Arrangement by Sony Music Publishing
Additional Music Arrangements by Jason Howland
Orchestrations, Vocal and Incidental Music Arrangement by Steve Sidwell
Music Direction by Lon Hoyt
Choreographed by Dann Dunn
Directed by Matt Lenz
APRIL 30 - MAY 31
PREVIEWS: APRIL 26, 28 & 29
Experience the 2026/2027 Season as a
Invitation to Opening Nights
Celebrate the start of each show with cast, crew, and
Access to the Founder’s
Relax in style with premium amenities before the show and during intermission.
Invitation to Our ‘Art Everywhere’ Trip
Join us on an extraordinary journey celebrating world-class
Your support at this level fuels the magic on and off the stage:
Offering educational programming that inspires and engages audiences of all ages. Become a champion of the arts and help create unforgettable moments for our
CONTACT A MEMBER OF OUR ADVANCEMENT TEAM TO JOIN THE
Be a Hero. You can be the one to help us finish our
Naming Opportunities
Select naming opportunities remain available at the Baker Theatre and Education Center. We welcome you to schedule a private tour to explore this extraordinary new cultural landmark and learn how a gift can create lasting impact for generations to come.
Education Wing - Exterior Canopy
$5M
Mezzanine
$2.5M
Production Center
$2.5M
Timeline Showcase
$1M
Main Lobby Pillar
$1M
Green Room
$750,000
Education Pillar
$500,000
Education Entryway
$500,000
Star Dressing Room
$500,000
Ensemble Dressing Room
$500,000
Costume Shop
$500,000
Principal Dressing Room
$250,000
Follow Spot Booth
$100,000
Lighting Shop & Storage
$100,000
Audio Shop & Storage
$100,000
AV Rooms
$100,000
Education Stairway Steps
$50,000
Laundry Room
$15,000
Seats – Orchestra Rows A-H (Sides)
$7,500
Ken Ludwig's
STARRING (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
Pete Winfrey Oriana Lada
SCENIC DESIGNER
Sara Ryung Clement**
SOUND DESIGNER
Vincent Olivieri**
CASTING
COSTUME DESIGNER
Devon Painter**
ASSOCIATE SOUND DESIGNER
Melanie Falcón
Michael Cassara, CSA
COO & MANAGING DIRECTOR
Joel Markus
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Michael Klaers
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Kelli Karen
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Ray Inkel
CEO & PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Kristen Coury
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/DRAMATURG
Matt Lytle
DIRECTED BY Risa Brainin
The Director is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union.
The actors and stage manager employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. (**) Denotes a member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
CAST OF CHARACTERS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
Jack ............................................................................................................ Pete Winfrey
Louise ........................................................................................................ Oriana Lada
RUN TIME
1 hour and 45 minutes including a 15-minute intermission.
SETTING
June 1942-May 1945
WARNING
This production contains simulated explosions, gun fire and atmospheric effects including strobes.
Gulfshore Playhouse operates under agreements between the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), a consortium of regional theatres throughout the nation; Actors Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States; the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), an independent national labor union; and United Scenic Artists (USA), a union of scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers.
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre, founded in 1985, is a notfor-profit organization serving the musical theatre community. The 165 organizational members and 75 individual members, located throughout 33 states and abroad, are some of the leading producers of musical theatre in the world, and include theatres, presenting organizations, higher education programs and individual producers.
Gulfshore Playhouse is an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.
Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) was founded in 1913 as the first of the American Actor unions. Equity’s mission is to advance, promote and foster the art of theatre as an essential component of our society. Today, Equity represents more than 40,000 actors, singers, dancers and stage managers working in hundreds of theatres across the United States. Equity members are dedicated to working in the theatre as a profession, upholding the highest artistic standards. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and provides a wide range of benefits including health and pension plans for its members. Through its agreement with Equity, this theatre has committed to the fair treatment of the actors and stage managers employed in this production. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. For more information, visit www.actorsequity.org.
SPECIAL THANKS
Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Shanley Aumiller
Eddie Coffield
Cameron Wasner
Director’s Note
Ken Ludwig’s gift for writing brilliantly crafted plays is well known to audiences at Gulfshore Playhouse. I, too, happily spent a good deal of time over the past six years inside Ken’s world directing three productions of his wonderful adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express. His writing runs the gamut from pure farce, like Baskerville: Sherlock Holmes Mystery, to plays that mix farce and drama, like Orient Express.
When I first read Dear Jack, Dear Louise, I was struck by how different it is from his other works. This autobiographical piece is inspired by Ken’s parents’ true journey from complete strangers to life partners over the course of three years during WWII. And it all happened through letters! When is the last time you wrote a letter?
You might expect the play to feel a little nostalgic, but instead, it is wildly contemporary in both its subject: finding love, and its style: romantic comedy/ drama. You don’t have to look far in our popular culture for stories of this nature – we LOVE a good love story! And, sadly, the fact that it is set against the backdrop of a war resonates today as we watch the wars across the globe unfold from our devices here at home. Jack’s experience as a surgeon during battle is set against Louise’s experience as an aspiring actor in the heart of New York City. The contrast of their day to day existence is gigantic, but their relationship is built on sharing each other’s worlds with empathy and compassion. Ken’s parents inspired us. We hope they do the same for you.
-Risa Brainin Director
About the Playwright
Ken Ludwig may well be the most performed playwright of his generation. He has had six productions on Broadway and eight in London’s West End. His 34 plays and musicals are staged throughout the United States and around the world every night of the year. They have been produced in over 20 languages in more than 30 countries, and many have become standards of the American repertoire.
His first play, Lend Me a Tenor, was produced on Broadway and in London by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It won two Tony Awards® and was called “one of the classic comedies of the 20th century” by The Washington Post. Crazy For You was on Broadway for five years, on the West End for three, and won the Tony® and Olivier Awards for Best Musical. It has been revived twice in the West End and is currently touring Japan. Since its European premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2022, Ludwig’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express has had hundreds of international productions.
In addition, he has won the Edwin Forrest Award for Contributions to the American Theatre, two Laurence Olivier Awards, two Helen Hayes Awards, the Charles MacArthur Award, and the Edgar Award for Best Mystery of the Year. He was also nominated for an Emmy Award for writing the Kennedy Center Honors. His other plays include Moon Over Buffalo; Leading Ladies; Baskerville; Sherwood; Twentieth Century; Dear Jack, Dear Louise; A Fox on the Fairway; A Comedy of Tenors; The Game’s Afoot; Shakespeare in Hollywood; and Moriarty. They have starred, among others, Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Tony Shaloub, Joan Collins, and Kristin Bell.
His book How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare, published by Penguin Random House, has been a bestseller and is out this year in a new, expanded edition. It won the Falstaff Award for Best Shakespeare Book of the Year. His essays on theatre are published in the Yale Review, and he gives the Annual Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
His first opera, Tenor Overboard, opened at the Glimmerglass Festival in July 2022. His most recent world premieres were Lend Me A Soprano and Moriarty, and his newest plays and musicals include Pride and Prejudice Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard, Beginner’s Luck, and Easter Parade.
About the Cast
Pete Winfrey (Jack) is an actor based in NYC originally from St. Louis. He's ecstatic to be making his Gulfshore Playhouse debut telling this story for the second time with this creative team. Favorite theatrical credits include: Waitress (Saugatuck Center for the Arts); Dear Jack, Dear Louise, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest (Alabama Shakespeare Festival); Shining City (Upstream Theater); Red (Encore Theatre Group); Never the Sinner (New Jewish Theatre); Romeo & Juliet, and Twelfth Night (Shakespeare Festival St. Louis). He’s appeared in film and tv projects including independent features All Gone Wrong and Sergeant Pickle Breath, as well as HBO’s "The Gilded Age." For Uncle Jim and all of my family members who served. Love to Rish and my family.
Oriana Lada (Louise) is thrilled to be making her Gulfshore Playhouse debut! She is an actress and singer based in New York City. NYC credits include: Clubbed Thumb, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Notch Theatre Company. Regional: Guthrie Theater, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Trinity Repertory Company, New Jersey Repertory Company, The New Harmony Project, Great River Shakespeare Festival. Film: Good Burger 2. Education: BFA, University of Evansville; MFA, Brown/Trinity Rep. She is married to her favorite person, Matt Lytle! All my love to you, Matty, and to the Kasmirski/Lytle crew. And a huge thank you to Risa, Pete and the entire Gulfshore team! www.orianalada.com
About the Creatives
Risa Brainin (Director) is honored to return to Gulfshore Playhouse where she directed the great Jeffrey Binder in Every Brilliant Thing last season. Brainin is a freelance director and Founder/Artistic Director of the groundbreaking new play development program LAUNCH PAD at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She served as Artistic Director of Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Associate Artistic Director for both Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Indiana Repertory Theatre, and Resident Director at the Guthrie Theater. Other directorial credits include plays at American Players Theatre, Actors' Theatre of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Clarence Brown Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Denver Center Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre, History Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Illusion Theatre, Kansas City Actors' Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Mixed Blood, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Playmakers Repertory Company, Portland Stage Company, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Rubicon Theatre, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Skylight Theatre and Syracuse Stage. She directed two premieres at the United Solo Festival in NY: Bob Stromberg’s That Wonder Boy in 2015 which won Best One Man Show, Best Direction and United Solo Festival and Backstage Award, and Annie Torsiglieri's "A" Train winning Best Production in 2017 and Best Encore in 2018. A graduate of the Carnegie Mellon University Drama Program, Brainin is a member of the National Theatre Conference and the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. www.risabrainin.com
Matt Lytle (Assistant Director/Dramaturg) is thrilled to be working on his first show at Gulfshore Playhouse! He lives in NYC and works as a director, dramaturg, actor and acting coach. He was the Put-In Director for Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s 2024 production of A Christmas Carol. He recently Assistant Directed behind Juliette Carrillo on Go, Dog. Go! Ve Perro ¡Ve! by Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory at the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis. He spent a semester at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art studying Shakespeare and Restoration performance. Education: BFA, Boston University; MFA, Brown/Trinity Rep. Regional Acting: Trinity Repertory Company, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Florida Repertory Theatre, Theatre Mu, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Kentucky Shakespeare. Love to his family and partner in life Oriana.
About the Creatives
Sara Ryung Clement (Scenic Designer) is a Minneapolis-based set and costume designer. Her Off-Broadway costume design includes The Reservoir (Atlantic Theatre Company), Golden Shield (Manhattan Theatre Club), Somebody's Daughter (Second Stage Uptown), and Fruiting Bodies (Ma-Yi). Regionally, she designed the world premieres of Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House Part 2 and Lauren Yee’s Cambodian Rock Band (South Coast Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse and Oregon Shakespeare Festival). Other regional credits include Boston Lyric Opera, Guthrie Theater, Children's Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage, Alley Theatre, Denver Center, Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Dallas Theatre Center, Seattle Repertory, and others. Sara teaches set design at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and Princeton University. sararyungclement.com @sararyung
Devon Painter (Costume Designer) Regional theatre credits feature designs for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Guthrie Theater, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Indiana Repertory Theater, Geva Theatre Center, the Denver Center, the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the Folger Theatre, the Studio Theatre, Anchorage Opera, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Great Lakes Theater Festival, the Utah Shakespearean Festival, the Contemporary American Theater Festival, and twenty seasons at the American Players Theatre in Wisconsin. Currently, she is teaching the next generation at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York. Ms. Painter is a member of United Scenic Artists. Website: devonpainter.com
Michael Klaers (Lighting Designer) This is Michael’s second production at Gulfshore Playhouse. Other regional theatre credits include Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theater Company, Great Lakes Theater, the Guthrie Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Pacific Conservatory Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Rubicon Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Syracuse Stage.
Vincent Olivieri (Sound Designer) is excited to design his first production at Gulfshore Playhouse! Broadway credits include High and contributions to Radio Golf. Off-Broadway credits include The Water’s Edge, Omnium-Gatherum, The Brothers Size, The God Botherers, and Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy. New York City and regional credits include productions with Woolly Mammoth, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Repertory, Baltimore Center Stage, Barrington Stage Company, Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Gorilla Productions, The Juilliard School, Syracuse Stage, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Virginia Stage Company, Clarence Brown Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, and Yale Repertory Theatre. He has created designs for world-premiere productions by Roberto AguirreSacasa, Rachel Bonds, Michael Golamco, Kirsten Greenidge, Lauren Gunderson, Howard Korder, Neil LaBute, Matthew Lombardo, Charles L. Mee, Kira Oblensky, Tira Palmquist, Christopher Oscar Peña, Christine Quintana, Adam Rapp, Theresa Rebeck, Bryan Reynolds, Sarah Treem, August Wilson, and Lauren Yee. Mr. Olivieri was the Resident Sound Designer at Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Humana Festival of New American Plays. International work includes productions in Italy, China, South Korea, Nigeria, Romania, The Netherlands, Poland, and Czechia. Mr. Olivieri is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and serves on the faculty at University of California-Irvine.
Melanie Falcón (Associate Sound Designer) is a Latina sound designer based in Southern California. She holds an MFA in Sound Design from UC Irvine and a BA in Theatre Arts from Cal Poly Pomona. Her work spans theatre, film, and live music, where she has served as both a designer and audio engineer. Theatre credits include The Sweetheart Deal and King Lear (UC Irvine), Mojada (Cal Poly Pomona), Alma (Chance Theater), Lottie Platchett Took a Hatchet (Los Angeles LGBT Center), and Cinderella: A Salsa Fairytale (South Coast Repertory). She is delighted to have worked again with Vincent Oliveri on another production of Dear Jack, Dear Louise.
Kelli Karen (Production Stage Manager) Credits Off-Broadway: Fly (The New Victory Theater), Selected Regional Credits: Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, Every Brilliant Thing, She Loves Me, The Refugees, Morning After Grace, Mud Row, Radio Golf (Gulfshore Playhouse), School Girls (American Stage), Freedom Rider (Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Crossroads Theatre Company), Production Team for A Night With Denzel Washington (State Theatre New Jersey), Fly (Pasadena Playhouse, Crossroads Theatre Company, Oprah Winfrey Theatre Smithsonian), A Tailor Near Me, Handle With Care, Straight White Men, Clever Little Lies, Heisenberg, Fly, Taking Shakespeare, Daddy Long Legs, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Perfect Wedding, Next Fall, Next To Normal, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,
About the Creatives
Shear Madness, Beehive: The 60’s Musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The 39 Steps, and Edward Albee’s Occupant (Florida Studio Theatre).
Michael Cassara, CSA (Casting Director) casts theatre and film in New York City and is thrilled to return to Gulfshore Playhouse for a 17th season, having cast over 70 productions here since 2009. Recent credits include American Eclipse (Michael John LaChiusa, dir. Bill Rauch), An American In Paris (Int’l Tour, dir Christopher Wheeldon), Spamilton (NYC/Chicago/Pittsburgh CLO/tour), Forbidden Broadway (last five editions/albums), and over 750 plays and musicals since 2003. Regional credits include Weston Theater Company, Argyle Theatre, Hangar Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Denver Center, Asolo Rep, and many more. Resident Casting Director for the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) since 2013. Michael is a native Clevelander and serves on the BFA faculty at Wright State University. Member, Casting Society of America (CSA). BFA, Otterbein University. MichaelCassara.net @michaelcassara
Joel Markus (COO & Managing Director) is thrilled to be in his eighth season as Gulfshore Playhouse’s COO & Managing Director. Joel enjoys working side by side with Kristen to produce Broadway caliber theatre while focusing on cultivating a great staff and culture. In his time at Gulfshore Playhouse, Joel has helped grow and quadruple the theatre’s budget, triple the staff, has co-managed the design and construction of the new $75M Baker Theatre and Education Center, the production shop construction project, has been instrumental in joining LORT (most recently, being on the negotiating committee for LORT and Actors’ Equity Association), and navigated and guided the organization through the pandemic and Hurricane Ian. Joel was recognized as one of the top COOs in SWFL by the Community Foundation. Joel’s thirty year career has taken him to some of our nation’s leading professional regional theatres. He most recently spent seven seasons at America’s oldest theatre, Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Joel has played integral roles in the production of hundreds of plays over ten seasons at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, four years at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY, five summers at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont, American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts. Joel is a graduate of Indiana University and originally from Miami, Florida.
Kristen Coury (CEO& Producing Artistic Director) is the Founder, CEO and Producing Artistic Director of Gulfshore Playhouse. She founded the Playhouse in 2004, and shortly thereafter started producing with no staff and virtually no funding. Under her leadership, the Playhouse has grown to a staff of 83 people with an annual budget of $14.5M with no long-term debt. Kristen led the charge to create the iconic $75M state-of-the-art Baker Theatre and Education Center at the gateway to downtown Naples, which opened on November 1st, 2024. As part of this project, Coury ignited one of the largest public/private partnerships in City of Naples history, initiating a land-swap with the Wynn family and subsequently donating over an acre of land to the City upon which to build a public parking garage. While in New York, she worked on Broadway for Walt Disney Theatrical Productions, and for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company, The Really Useful Group, and made her feature film directorial debut with an independent film entitled Friends and Family. Kristen is also a frequent investor in Broadway productions, most recently A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. Kristen has directed nearly 50 productions for the Playhouse. Most recently, she directed the inaugural show in the Baker Theatre and Education Center, Anything Goes. This season, she also directed Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Kristen was named one of the Men and Women of the Year by Gulfshore Life in 2013 and again in 2024. She also received the Murray Hendel Award for Civic Achievement in 2023. She served two terms on the board of Theatre Communications Group, the national advocacy group for professional theatre and is currently a member of the board of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. Kristen is very honored to have been appointed to Florida Council for arts and culture by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. She was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in Collier County by Naples Illustrated for the last four years, and, this year, was listed in the 2025 Edition of Florida Trend Magazine as one of the 500 Most Influential Business Leaders in the State of Florida.
2026/2027 SEASON
Naples’ Professional Theatre. A World-Class Experience.
STRUTHERS STUDIO OCT. 20 - NOV. 22
Come to the Cabaret for an evening of Broadway’s best!
Enjoy a truly unique musical theatre experience as we transform the Struthers Studio into a hazy, swanky jazz club.
MORAN MAINSTAGE MAR. 2 - APR. 11
High stakes. Big hearts. Classic Broadway.
Set in 1950s New York City, this colorful cast of gamblers, gangsters, showgirls, and missionaries will dance and sing their way into your heart.
MORAN MAINSTAGE NOV. 17 - DEC. 24
Your New Holiday Tradition.
The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s magical journey through Christmases past, present, and future comes to Naples this Christmas in a new adaptation.
STRUTHERS STUDIO APR. 6 - MAY 16
Sometimes it's not who you are... but where.
This Broadway sensation starts with a bang and will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
MORAN MAINSTAGE JAN. 12 - FEB. 7
Sometimes it’s the last job that changes everything.
A cinematic, twist-filled crime caper brought vividly to life on stage.
MORAN MAINSTAGE APR. 27 - MAY 23
Hypocrisy has never been more fun.
STRUTHERS STUDIO FEB. 2 - MAR. 14
Bidding wars are cheap. Friendship is expensive.
There’s more on the line than just a prize as a bidding war quickly becomes a hilarious clash of ideas, tax brackets, and personalities.
RENEW YOUR FLEX PASS NOW! Flex Passes on sale MARCH 24 Single Tickets on sale MAY 26
A razor-sharp, outrageous, laugh-out-loud comedy that is as relevant today as it was in 17th century France. LEARN MORE
We understand that the choice to designate a planned gift is a deeply precious and personal one, and we thank you for your consideration. When you become a member of the Standing Ovation Society, you are joining an ensemble of thoughtful and imaginative visionaries who believe, as you do, in the transformative power of world-class professional theatre and educational opportunities in our region. Your gift will touch the lives of all who walk through our doors and ensure our ability to carry out our mission.
By including Gulfshore Playhouse in your estate plan, you are supporting Gulfshore Playhouse’s long-term fiscal stability and leaving a lasting legacy that will allow us to create, engage, and inspire for many years to come.
Benefits of Joining:
• Annual recognition in the Gulfshore Playhouse playbill
• Invitation to periodic events honoring members of the Standing Ovation Society
• Invitation to other Gulfshore Playhouse special events
Standing Ovation Society Members
Mary & Phil Beuth
Kristen Coury
Tom & Nancy Gallagher
Elizabeth & Jim Jessee
Glenda & Rich Struthers
Ms. Patricia Sweet & Mr. Bill Marsh
Jane & Dave Wilson
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOTIFY US OF YOUR INTENT OR DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT LISA HALSEY AT 239.261.7529 EXT 203. OR LHALSEY@GULFSHOREPLAYHOUSE.ORG
Cassie Austin and Stacie Bono in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of White Christmas. Photo by Matthew Schipper.
World War II Timeline of Major Events
JANUARY 30: Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany and later assumes dictatorial powers.
SEPTEMBER 1: Germany invades Poland, marking what many regard as the start of the war (though Japan invaded China on July 7, 1937). Two days later, France and the United Kingdom declare war on Germany.
SEPTEMBER 3: Honoring their treaty with Poland, France and Great Britain enter the war against Germany.
APRIL 9 TO JUNE 22: Germany takes control of much of Western Europe, marching into Paris on June 14. France surrenders 11 days later.
MAY 20: SS authorities establish the Auschwitz concentration camp.
JULY 10: Germany launches an air war, known as the Battle of Britain, against the United Kingdom.
SEPTEMBER 19: The U.S. Congress passes the Selective Service Act. It calls for the first peacetime draft in American history. To serve, men had to be five feet tall, weigh 105lbs, have correctable vision and at least half their teeth.
SEPTEMBER 22: Germany, Italy and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact.
*Compiled by Matt Lytle and Risa Brainin for Dear Jack, Dear Louise by Ken Ludwig at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Fall 2024 and again for Gulfshore Playhouse for the 2026 production. 1941
A World War II recruiting poster. Credit: The War Department
JUNE 22: Unleashing its "Barbarossa" plan, Germany invades the Soviet Union without declaring war.
1942
DECEMBER 7: At 7:55
AM on a Sunday, hundreds of Japanese warplanes attack the American Pacific fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 2,403 Americans are killed.
DECEMBER 8: The United States declares war against Japan.
DECEMBER 11: The United States declares war on Germany and Italy.
JUNE 4 TO 7: The U.S. Navy defeats the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway.
DECEMBER 17: The Allied nations issue a declaration stating explicitly that the German authorities were engaging in mass murder of the European Jews.
1943 1944
SEPT. 8: Italy surrenders to the Allies, but German forces occupy northern Italy.
JUNE 6: Allied forces land on the beaches of Normandy, France, marking D-Day. 2,500 American soldiers are killed.
U.S. troops land at Omaha Beach during D-Day, June 6, 1944. Credit: Robert F. Sargent/U.S. National Archives via Reuters.
JULY 23-24: Soviet forces liberate the Lublin-Majdanek concentration camp. Majdanek was the first major concentration camp to be liberated.
AUGUST 25: Allies liberate Paris.
World War II Major Events Timeline. Credit: PBS
World War II Timeline of Major Events
DECEMBER 16: Germans launch a counterattack known as the Battle of the Bulge.
JANUARY 27: Soviet troops liberate Auschwitz. Auschwitz was the largest Nazi killing center and concentration camp complex. In total, six million Jewish men, women, and children were murdered by the Nazi German regime and it’s collaborators.
FEBRUARY 19: U.S. Marines land on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima.
APRIL 1: U.S. soldiers and Marines invade Okinawa, Japan.
MAY 8: Germany surrenders to the Allies, marking V-E Day.
AUGUST 6: The U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. 40,000 men, women and children are killed instantly. 100,000 more die within days of burns and radiation. Another 100,000 die of radiation poisoning over the next five years.
AUGUST 9: The U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. An estimated 74,000 people die in the blast and countless more die from radiation in the following weeks.
SEPTEMBER 2: Japan formally surrenders to the Allies, marking V-J Day.
V-J Day: The End of WWII in Europe, 80 Years Later Credit: Syracuse University Today
Resources:
www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-war/timeline www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/ world-war-ii-major-events-timeline/ wwiifoundation.org/timeline-of-wwii/ www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-53648572 www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/english/9803.html www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/liberationconcentration-camps encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline/holocaust
www.vox.com/2014/11/13/7148855/40-maps-thatexplain-world-war-ii war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/2140942/ first-peacetime-draft-enacted-just-before-world-war-ii/ news.syr.edu/2025/05/05/v-e-day-the-end-of-wwii-ineurope-80-years-later/
www.pbs.org/newshour/world/here-are-some-key-factsabout-d-day-ahead-of-the-79th-anniversary-of-theworld-war-ii-invasion
www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/worldwar-ii-major-events-timeline/
The True Story Behind Dear Jack, Dear Louise
Before it was a play, Dear Jack, Dear Louise was a real love story, told through letters exchanged during World War II.
The Real Jack and Louise
Dear Jack, Dear Louise is based on the true story of playwright Ken Ludwig’s parents.
“My parents were married for over 50 years,” Ludwig shared. “I wrote this play because of my love and admiration for them. They were both heroes at a time when heroism was needed… He was a modest doctor from the Pennsylvania farm country; she was a Brooklyn showgirl. I miss them, and this play is dedicated to them.”
Jack Ludwig’s WWII Draft Card
This World War II draft card belonged to Jack Ludwig. The document offers a tangible connection to the real history behind Dear Jack, Dear Louise, reminding us that the love story at the heart of the play began at a very real moment in history.
The Ludwig Family, 1950
A page from the 1950 U.S. Census records Jack and Louise Ludwig as a married couple with two young children, including their 1 year old son, Ken Ludwig. Ken would grow up to write Dear Jack, Dear Louise, inspired by his parents’ wartime correspondence.
Jack Ludwig and Louise Rabiner, c 1942. Photos courtesy of the playwright.
Photo courtesy of Stage Manager Mollie Heil, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 2024.
Gulfshore Playhouse Education provides programs that enhance the lives of students of all ages through transformative theatrical experiences.
THE CONSERVATORY
Pre-professional training through theatre productions, classes, and camps. Available for all ages.
THINKTHEATRE
Designed specifically for our region, this program infuses theatre-based pedagogy with curriculum standards to enhance learning.
ARTREACH
Our community partnership program strengthens the fabric of our region by bringing the transformative power of live theatre and education to communities.
Conservatory students in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of Matilda JR.
Photo by Matthew Schipper.
The Lecture Series
A monthly series of insightful discussions about theatre and the arts journey led by seasoned professionals, scholars, and industry experts.
Cost: $30, Packages Available
THE ART OF SCENIC DESIGN IN THEATRE
Discover the art of stage design with Broadway’s Ann Beyersdorfer—NYC scenic designer and scenic designer for the Gulfshore Playhouse production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical!
Thursday, April 16 at 11:00AM-12:00PM
COSTUME DESIGN FOR THE STAGE
Discover how characters are brought to life through the magic of theatrical costume design!
Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 11:00AM-12:00PM
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Our Board of Directors
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Steve Akin VICE-CHAIR
Rich Struthers BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Patty Baker
Jim Bosscher
Kristen Coury
David Drobis
Gary Gregg
Tim Habbershon
Mitchell Hertz
Jason Hunter Korn
Pamela Krupka
Vince Maffeo
Sandi Moran
Gerry Moss
Jack Nortman
Tony Panzica
Gail Kern Paster
Susan Regenstein
Rick Rondinelli
Cynthia Scholl
Tennille Sevigny
David Shockley
Ashley Smith
Pat Sweet
Joanne Wyss EMERITUS
Don J. Gunther
Robert L. Harden
Dave Wilson
LIFETIME TRUSTEES
Tom Gallagher
Jenny Housh
Don McCulloch
Our Staff and Leadership
LEADERSHIP
Kristen Coury, CEO & Producing Artistic Director Joel Markus, COO & Managing Director
ARTISTIC & EDUCATION
CEO & Producing Artistic Director ................. Kristen Coury
Associate Artistic Director ................................... Dann Dunn
Line Producer ........................................... Audrey Zielenbach
Director of Education .......................................... John Perine
ThinkTheatre Coordinator ...................... Meredith Singleton
ArtReach Coordinator ................................... Frances Barnett
Education Assistant ......................................... Sophie Cooper
ADMINISTRATION
COO & Managing Director ................................... Joel Markus
Director of Facilities ........................................... Joe Salemme
Assistant Director of Facilities ........................... Mark Murray
Director of Events/Food & Beverage ................... Erin Burney
Supervisor of Events/Food & Beverage .............. Justin Kallie
Assistant Events/Food & Beverage Managers ...Crystal Diggs, Brandon Lee Smith
Executive Assistant ........................................... Sydney Mixon
Administrative Assistant .......................... Hannah Schumacher
FINANCE
Chief Financial Officer ......................................... Joey Rudder
Director of Finance ........................................... Alyson McCoy
Finance Associate ......................................... Maureen Devine
IT Specialist ................................................... Drew Whitcomb
ADVANCEMENT
Chief Advancement Officer .................................. Lisa Halsey
Director of Advancement Events ........................ Sarah Owen
Chief of Staff ................................................. Brandon Horwin
Advancement Officer ............................................ Amy Talbot
Stewardship Managers ......... Mary Hackeloer, Grace Stewart
MARKETING
Chief Marketing Officer .............................. Rachel Applegate
Marketing Manager ........................................ Heidi Overman
Art Director ............................................................. Trevor List
Graphic Designer .......................................... Ashley Martinez
Web Strategist .................................................... Gaston Barua
Patron Services Managers ...................... Meghan Fitzpatrick, Ashleigh Jennings
Assistant Patron Services Manager ................... Joan Cannon
Patron Services Assistants ............................... Zoë Bradshaw, Timothy Coryell, Sara Ross, Sabina Valery
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
General Manager ..................................................... Jim Dallas
Interim Company Manager .................... Chanda Hawthorne
Front of House Manager .......................... Jeremy Bennington
Assistant Front of House Manager ................... Zachary Klein
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
Director of Production .............................................. Ray Inkel
Associate Production Manager .................................. Lila Sell
SCENERY
Technical Production Manager ......................... Brooke Oteri
Technical Director - Moran Mainstage ............... John Forton
Technical Director - Struthers Studio .................... Alex Riggs
Scene Shop Supervisor .............................. Anthony Knudson
Stage Supervisor ................................................ Andrew Geier
Carpenters ........................ Tom Gregus, Deborah Samuelson
Scenic Technicians .............. Brian Richards, Chris Williams, Josh Wood
SCENIC ART
Scenic Art Supervisor ........................................... James Allen
Assistant Scenic Arts Supervisor .................. Katherine Burns
Scenic Artists ..................................... Mish Fink, Bryan Perez, Larashleigh Wallace
PROPERTIES
Properties Supervisor ..................................... Jonathan Willis
Assistant Properties Supervisor .................. Gwendolyn Rygg
Properties Artisans .................. Hunter Booth, Maxine Walby
Properties Technician ....................................... Rylee McNeal
LIGHTING
Lighting Supervisor .................................. Elizabeth Knudson
Assistant Lighting Supervisor ............................. Lynn Slutsky
Lighting Technicians ...................... Jaden O’Berry, Ray Ward
SOUND
Sound Supervisor .................................................. Owen True
Assistant Sound Supervisor ............................... Max Heyliger
Sound Technicians .................. Emily Parker, Kaleb Pecoraro
COSTUMES
Costume Shop Manager ............................. Jennifer Bronsted
Assistant Costume Shop Manager ................ Elizabeth Eaton
Drapers .......................................... Lana Grant, Sarah Greene
First Hands ................................ Mya Nunez, Gabby DePrizio
Wardrobe Supervisor ................................... Marissa Mascolo
Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor ..................... Emma Madden
Wig & Makeup Supervisor ............................... Rebecca Mack
Assistant Wig & Makeup Supervisor .................. Joan Harlow
Costume Technicians .................................. Suvonna Bynum, Sarea Kelly, Viva Sammatova
STAGE MANAGEMENT
Stage Management Production Assistants ...... Dylan Gellett, Connor J. Reilly, Bailey Shea