Discover Arts and Entertainment

So many opening nights, such great performances: Gulfshore audiences enjoy Broadway-originated shows from national touring companies and stellar concerts from renowned entertainers at the Barbara B. Mann in Fort Myers and the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples. These complement excellent theatrical and musical offerings from local groups. In newly revitalized downtown Fort Myers, the professional Florida Repertory Theatre stages old favorites and edgy new works at the Arcade Theatre, and in Naples, the 50-year-old Naples Players occupy the stunning Sugden Theatre on Fifth Avenue South. Other community theater groups perform in those cities and in Cape Coral, Marco Island and Sanibel Island. Or check out the popular Naples Dinner Theatre and the Broadway Palm in Fort Myers.

Sweet sounds fill the air across the region, with two great professional symphony orchestras and many smaller performing vocal and instrumental groups with devoted followings. There are opera societies and evenings of chamber music, and a growing music scene for aficionados of blues, jazz and rock and roll. Film buffs have numerous screens to choose from, including independent gems brought by local film societies or screened at the annual Marco Island Film Festival, quickly becoming a must-stop for would-be cinematic auteurs.

CAPE CORAL

Performing Arts

Cape Coral Cultural Park Theatre Company, 528 Cultural Park Blvd., (239) 772-5862. Home of the Cape Coral Community Theatre, the Cultural Park Theatre Project and the Cape Coral Council for Arts and Humanities. Offers a variety of programs, including live performances, art exhibitions and classes. Call for specific programs and scheduling information.

FORT MYERS

Performing Arts

Arcade Theatre, 2267 First St., (239) 338-4488. The magic of professional, live theater in historic downtown Fort Myers. Also holds musical and dance performances. Built in 1908, the theater displays historical artifacts.

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 8099 College Parkway S.W., (239) 481-4849 or (800) 440-7469. Home of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Variety of quality touring productions, including Broadway shows, musicals, plays, dance and ballet programs, as well as concerts and other performances by national touring groups. www.bbmannpah.com.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., (239) 278-4422. Southwest Florida's most entertaining destination featuring buffet dining and Broadway's best musicals. Off-Broadway Palm Theatre is a 90-seat black box theater featuring musical revues. A theater-theme gift shop is located in the lobby. The Playbill Bar offers pre- or post-dinner cocktails. The Café Cabaret is open for special engagements and is available for private parties and business functions. www.broadwaypalm.com.

Florida Repertory Theatre at the Arcade Theatre, historic downtown Fort Myers on Bay Street between Jackson and Hendry streets, (239) 332-4488 or (877) 787-8053. Southwest Florida's only professional regional theater, presenting six productions during the winter season and three during the summer, from classics to the hottest Broadway shows. Eight shows a week. Group and student discounts available. Tickets from $15 to $32. www.floridarep.org.

Lee County Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., (239) 939-2787. Featuring the 12,000-square-foot William R. Frizzell Cultural Centre, housing galleries, classrooms, offices and a gift shop; the 175-seat indoor Foulds Theatre and its resident company, Theatre Conspiracy; the outdoor Margaret Morrow Frizzell amphitheater; and the 8,000-square-foot Edwards Professional Building. Numerous arts groups, jazz concerts, live theater performances, monthly art exhibits, area festivals, classes/workshops and other events. www.artinlee.org.

On the Edge Improvisational Theatre, (239) 332-7992. Creates and performs custom murder mysteries and other theatrical productions for private groups and resorts.

Seminole Gulf Railway, Colonial Station, four miles west of I-75 on Colonial Boulevard, (239) 275-8487. A local theatrical troupe presents a murder mystery aboard a moving train Wednesday through Sunday nights. Guests help identify the murderer and solve the crime. The drama includes a five-course dinner served in vintage cars. Reservations required.

Southwest Florida Symphony,

4560 Via Royale, (239) 418-1500. Celebrating more than 40 years of music. Presenting classical and pops concerts November through April. Also presenting Symphony on Sanibel. Also, a new stained-glass series featuring choral music travels to different churches in the area. Call for schedule information and tickets.

Theatre Conspiracy, 10091 McGre-gor Blvd., (239) 936-3239. Nonprofit theater group that performs everything from the classics to the cutting edge and world premieres. Kids Conspiracy performs children's plays.wwwtheatreconspiracy.org.

Live Music/Dancing

Buddha Bar & Grill, 12701 McGregor Blvd., (239) 482-8565. Featuring live entertainment Tuesday through Sunday. All NFL games shown. Happy hour 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 21 and up.

Club 1527, 1527 Hendry St., (239) 461-9744. Wednesday, ladies' night; Friday, deejay music; Saturday, deejay party; Sunday, showcasing kings of the underground. Featuring four bars and three levels. Eighteen and up for ladies, 21 and up for men. www.club1527.com.

Cyrus Nightclub, 2213 Main St., (239) 226-0292. Brings in a new era of late night entertainment with the hottest music and best club scene around.

Fat Cats Drink Shack, 1512 Hendry St., (239) 226-9272. Home of the best frozen drinks and best happy hour in town. Pool tables, dart boards and video games. 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day.

Gotham Hall, 1508 Hendry St., (239) 337-4662. Live local and regional bands. Tuesday drink specials; Wednesday, LST live; Thursday, three local and regional bands; Friday and Saturday, local and regional bands. Best alternative music. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Groove Street Grill & Discotheque, College Plaza Shopping Center, corner of College Parkway and Winkler Road, (239) 437-2743. Thursday, ladies night; Friday and Saturday, '70s disco,'80s dance music and Top 40 music. Also Buffalo Bills' fan club during the winter season.

Liquid Café, corner of First and Hendry streets, downtown, (239) 461-0444. Monday, one-man band; Tuesday, open mike; Wednesday, 5 to 7 p.m. happy hour; every other Thursday, meet the artist; Saturday, live music.

LJ's Lounge, 16500 S.R. 31, east Fort Myers, (239) 694-4287. Wednesday, sing karaoke with live music accompaniment; Friday and Saturday, live entertainment. No cover charge.

Ricochet, 3853 S. Cleveland Ave. in the Kmart Plaza, (239) 277-5700. Friday, ladies' night; Saturday, biggest dance party in Southwest Florida. Featuring an 1,800-square-foot dance floor.

The Beat Club, 1528 Hendry St., downtown, (239) 461-9300. Wednesday, ladies' night; Thirsty Thursdays; Friday, the party zone with B103; Saturday, ultimate dance party. Eighteen and up for ladies, 21 and up for men. www.thebeatclub.com.

Varian's, 33 Patio de Leon, downtown, (239) 461-2727. Live deejay club/techno music Monday-Saturday. Three bars, indoor dance floor and outdoor patio. Special events monthly. Twenty-one and up. Dress code.

VIP Club, 16520 S. Tamiami Trail, Island Park Shopping Center, (239) 437-2177. Live entertainment seven nights. Sunday, oldies; Monday, Neil Diamond; Tuesday, Elvis; Wednesday, five-piece dance band; Thursday, ladies' night; Friday and Saturday, dance bands. No cover. 21 and up.

Comedy

Laugh-In Comedy Café, College Plaza Shopping Center, corner of College Parkway and Winkler Road, (239) 479-LAFF. Featuring national touring comedians every Thursday at 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 8 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday's 8 p.m. show is smoke-free. Must be 21.

FORT MYERS BEACH

Live Music/Dancing

Channel Mark, 19001 San Carlos Blvd., (239) 463-0117. Live jazz 7 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Happy hour 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sunday night reggae band and dancing. Hurricane Bay boat access.

The Bridge, 708 Fisher-man's Wharf, (239) 765-0050. Live music 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reggae dock party 2 to 11 p.m. Sunday. No cover. Shirt and shoes required.

IMMOKALEE

Seminole Indian Casino, 506 S. First St., (800) 218-0007. Hosts around-the-clock exciting game action. High-stakes bingo, poker and low- and high-paying game machines. Full-service restaurant with live entertainment nightly.

MARCO ISLAND

Performing Arts

Marco Island Players, 1055 N. Collier Blvd., Towne Center, (239) 642-7270. The Players present a full season of one-act plays and musical revues. An array of different plays performed. Call for show information. Season tickets available.

Live Music/Dancing

The Bombay Club, 695 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, (239) 389-9100. Features single and national acts as well as deejay music seven nights a week in season. 18 and up. Billiards and large-screen TVs. Dress code.

NAPLES

Performing Arts

The Naples Dinner Theatre, 1025 Piper Blvd., (239) 514-7827 or (877) 519-7827. Professional dinner theater offering Broadway-caliber entertainment with sumptuous buffet dinner.

The Naples Players at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 263-7990 box office. Community theater troupe, celebrating its 50th anniversary, presenting an average of 20 productions a year (winter and summer seasons). Comedies, dramas and musicals. Educational programs offered throughout the year. Kidz Act, an annual musical theater, is open to children. Named one of the top 10 community theaters in the country.

Philharmonic Center for the Arts, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., (239) 597-1111 or (800) 597-1900. Home to The Naples Philharmonic, an 85-piece symphony orchestra; the Philharmonic Center Chorale, comprised of 110 voices; and the Youth Chorale, with more than 100 members. Hayes Hall features concerts and Broadway shows. Florida's west coast home to the Miami City Ballet. The Phil also presents 410 events in two auditoriums, four art galleries and two sculpture gardens. The Naples Museum of Art is also on the Philharmonic campus. The Collector's Corner offers a variety of art and rare gifts for sale.

Live Music/Dancing

Club Zanzibar, located at The Registry Resort, 475 Seagate Drive, (239) 514-3777. Thursday, ladies' night; Friday and Saturday, deejay dance party. Special monthly events. Must be 21.