Hot Tickets

On the visual side, the Von Liebig Art Center highlights Artists from the New York Studio School, drawings and paintings by New York Studio School emerging artists, as well as New York artist Creighton Michael in his first solo exhibition in Florida, Innuendo, March 8-April 26. And at Eckert, Lyrical Constructivist presents the sculptures and paintings of Don Gummer, the Louisville-born, Boston-trained artist who, yes, just happens to be married to Meryl Streep.

April

Broadway choreographer Susan Stroman's Contact, which won the Tony in 2000, tells three stories of love and romance through the art of dance, accompanied by music from Stéphane Grappelli, Bizet, Benny Goodman and the Squirrel Nut Zippers, among others. That's April 1-6 at the Phil.

That'll Be the Day when The Buddy Holly Story tells the tale of the early rocker who died so young, April 17-May 31 at the Broadway Palm. The first half of the show shows his rise to stardom; the second half is a re-creation of his final, fateful concert.

Spotlight

PHOTO OP

For two years, Tom Cronin has been working to establish the Museum of the Photographic Image, or MOPI, in the old Federal Courthouse Building in downtown Fort Myers. "For downtown to be successful, we need an attraction," he says. He's enlisting the support of the Edison-Ford Winter Estates (because of Thomas Edison's invention of the motion picture camera) and local artists to help fill "a niche that isn't being filled in Florida."

The museum will help to preserve historic work in what Cronin calls the "dying media" of traditional photography and film, which are fast being edged out by the digital revolution. (The museum will include digital works as well.)

Cronin, also a commercial real estate developer, cofounder of ArtHouse, and occasional local deejay, admits that progress has been slow. The city must approve the proposal and conduct a feasibility study before the group can begin raising the $12 million needed for the project. But he's not rushing anything. "We want to make it a home run the first time out," He says.

SPOTLIGHT

ROLE PLAYING

Barry Marcus walked away from a successful real estate career to pursue his dream of acting. Then he became co-owner of the Naples Dinner Theatre. "If you really want to be in a lot of shows, you buy your own theater," he jokes. When Marcus took the reins, the once-popular theater had closed after years on a downhill slope that included mud wrestling at the end. Now, three years later, it fills 90 percent of the seats in season.

This year Marcus will tackle three meaty roles. For season opener Dracula, he plays scientist Van Helsing. Then comes the irascible Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! Finally, the role of scheming lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago. "The challenge [in that role] is holding a note for 24 beats," he explains. "I don't know if we're going to get to that."

Spotlight

MULTI-TASKING

Mark and Karen Danni move fast. Last year, they fell in love with Naples on a visit from New York, bought a house and took on two full-time jobs and a season's worth of work at the Sugden Community Theatre, all within two weeks. Mark, a director, and Karen, a choreographer, collaborated on last season's Oklahoma. This season they'll do three more shows. Karen also directs the Sugden's children program. In addition, Mark is the new director of performing arts at the Community School.

Their personal life is just as fast-paced. With the birth of twins this month, they'll have had three children within 13 months. "We're looking for a nanny," Karen admits. But don't expect her to slow down. While she was expecting her twins, in rehearsals for Something's Afoot, her cast kept saying, "If the pregnant lady can do it, we can do it."

Spotlight

OPERA, ANYONE?

After a summer spent in Japan, China and Israel working with opera students, the Southwest Florida Symphony's Paul Nadler returned to the United States to conduct opera star Placido Domingo at the Met. Nadler has conducted all over the world; closer to home, he wowed Orlando Opera Company audiences last season with La Traviata .

"He really loves opera music," says symphony marketing director Melissa Hamilton. "He so wants there to be opera down here, he can't stand it."

Perhaps in an effort to advance that idea, Nadler is featuring well-known choruses from operas like Carmen, Aida and La Traviata at the symphony's Showcase Spectacular on Nov. 2. And he'll move a step closer to local opera in March in collaboration with the Florida Repertory Theatre on Stravinsky's A Soldier's Tale, a Peter and the Wolf-type of production combining dance, theater and music.

Florida Rep's Bob Cacioppo will direct the performers, including the lead ballerina, while Nadler handles the music.