Discover Arts and Entertainment

Both professional and community theater troupes thrive here. On the professional side, the Naples Dinner Theatre and the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers feature popular shows and buffet dinners. Florida Repertory Theatre in downtown Fort Myers presents recent Broadway shows. New and edgier fare is the domain of the semi-professional Theatre Conspiracy, which sponsors a national new play contest each year. On the community side, the Naples Players produce shows at Sugden Community Theatre in downtown Naples. Other community groups stage shows around the region most of the year.

Larger professional shows as well as an international lineup of musicians, dance companies and comedians appear at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples and the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers. Both halls also have orchestras that perform several concerts a year.

Movie screens have proliferated in the region in the past year. There are multi-screen theater complexes showing first-run movies within easy reach of virtually all parts of the Gulfshore.

For fun after dark, restaurants and nightclubs cater to a full range of tastes. Most of the major chains can be found along U.S. 41. The downtown districts of Naples and Fort Myers are popular nightspots, particularly on weekends, with a mix of eclectic restaurants and clubs to match.

Collier County

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.

Naples

Performing Arts

Classic Chamber Concerts, (239) 434-8505. The popular Philadelphia Piano Quartet performs, along with guest artists and special concerts, from October to April. Performances at Sugden Community Theatre, Norris Center and other Naples locations. www.classicchamberconcerts.org.

Gulfshore Playhouse, 410 Bayfront Place, Suite 2401, (239) 261-5870. Naples' newest professional regional theater group, performing at the Sugden Community Theatre and other sites. www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org.

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 presenting comedies, dramas and musicals. Educational programs throughout the year. Recently named one of the top 10 community theaters in the country.

The Norris Community Center at Cambier Park, 755 Eighth Ave. S. (239) 213-3058. Community theater and cultural center hosts theater productions, art exhibits, lectures, films, and classes and demonstrations for all ages. Newly remodeled and expanded, the center is home to community theater groups the Pelican Players and Stage 88.

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 110-voice Philharmonic Center Chorale; 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 events in two auditoriums, four art galleries and two sculpture gardens.

Live Music/Dancing

Bellasera Resort & Lounge, 221 U.S. 41 N. 649-7333. 6:30-10 p.m. Live jazz and easy listening.

Coffee Beanery, 8803 U.S. 41 N., (239) 594-0088. Live music 7-10 p.m. Live music every night in winter.

Luna Ultralounge, located at The Registry Resort, 475 Seagate Drive, (239) 514-3777. New lounge concept at this Naples resort. Must be 21.

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulfshore Blvd. N., (239) 261-2222. Sunday night pool parties featuring live entertainment by the Mixed Nuts and Phoenix, beginning at 6 p.m.

Seawitch Restaurant and Lounge, 179 S. Bay Drive off Vanderbilt Beach Road, (239) 566-1514. Live entertainment, Wednesday-Saturday in season, Friday and Saturday off-season. Great views overlooking Naples Bay.

Ridgeport Pub, 5425 Airport-Pulling Road, (239) 591-8422. Rock 'n' roll bands every Friday and Saturday night.

The Club at the Ritz-Carlton, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, (239) 598-3300. Nightly (closed Sundays and Mondays) light jazz and live entertainment.

Vanderbilt Inn on the Gulf, 11000 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., 597-3151. Live music Wednesday-Sunday nights.

Witch's Brew, 4836 N. Tamiami Trail, (239) 261-4261. Top 40 dance bands throughout the week. Sunday and Tuesday, early afternoon jazz.

Zoe's, 720 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 261-1221. Enjoy dinner and jazz. Private dining room available for functions. Live jazz Friday and Saturday; call for times.

Lee County

Bonita Springs

Aja Lounge, 26821 South Bay Drive, (239) 948-1186. At the Promenade shops, live radio broadcasts and DJs every Friday night. 9 p.m.-midnight.

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. Live performances, art exhibitions and classes.

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 popular concerts. www.bbmannpah.com.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., (239) 278-4422. One of Southwest Florida's most entertaining destinations, 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.

Comedy Asylum (239) 332-7992. Performs monthly at the Café Cabaret at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd.

FGCU Arts Complex Black Box Theatre, 10501 FGCU Blvd., S. (239) 590-7268. The undergraduate theater department presents a wide variety of historic and modern plays. Buy tickets in advance, as productions often sell out. www.fgcu.edu/CAS/blackbox.

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 productions from classics to 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; 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. Live performances, monthly art exhibits, festivals, and other events. www.artinlee.org.

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

Theatre Conspiracy, 10091 McGregor 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

The Beat Club, 1528 Hendry St., downtown, (239) 461-9300. Wednesday, ladies' night; Thirsty Thursdays; Friday, the party zone with B-103; Saturday, ultimate dance party. www.thebeatclub.com.

Buddha Bar & Grill, 12701 McGregor Blvd., (239) 482-8565. Featuring live entertainment Tuesday through Sunday. 21 and up.

City Tavern, 2206 Bay St., (239) 226-1133. Live music including Heather Brooks and Soapy Tuna.

Club 1527, 1527 Hendry St., (239) 461-9744. Featuring four bars and three levels. 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.

Dwyers Pub, 13851 S. Cleveland Ave. (239) 425-0782. Irish pub hosts bands Screaming Orphans, sisters from Ireland; Celtic Stew and traditional Irish Folk.

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, drink specials; and best alternative music.

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 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; Friday and 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 a 1,800-square-foot dance floor.

Spirit of Bacchus, 1406 Hendry St., (239) 689-2675. downtown spot with live music and spirits.