Visitor's Annual: Entertainment & Performing Arts

Our performing arts centers showcase Broadway and off-Broadway touring companies, world renowned dance troupes and some of the most gifted musicians of our time. We have professional equity theater, a world-class opera company and not one, but two top-ranked symphony orchestras. Naples is the winter home of the Miami City Ballet Company, and Germain Arena in Estero can pack in 7,000 concertgoers.

A blockbuster list of top-rated performances is slated for this season at Naples’ Philharmonic Center for the Arts, the Sugden Community Theatre in Naples and the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers.

Every weekend (and weekdays, too), there are free jazz concerts in small clubs and venues all along the Gulfshore, and old-fashioned concerts in the parks. So you think you can dance? It’s easy to find a place to practice your foxtrot or your swing. And just for fun, there’s a murder mystery theater train.

Everyone’s watching the next great trendy spot, the River District in downtown Fort Myers, which is becoming the epicenter of music, entertainment, theater and the arts. After your gallery stroll and a nice dinner, perhaps, be among the first to check out the hot new clubs.

MARCO ISLAND

Performing Arts
Marco Island Players, 1089 N. Collier Blvd., Towne Center, (239) 642-7270. A full season of one-act plays and musical revues. Season tickets available.

Live Music/Dancing
The Bombay Club, 695 Bald Eagle Drive, (239) 389-9100. Live music and DJ seven nights a week in season. 18 and up.

Mel’s, 657 S. Collier Blvd., (239) 394-7111. Live music weekends.

Comedy
Off the Hook Comedy Club, 599 S. Collier Blvd., (239) 389-6900. Dinner, comedy shows with national touring comedians, Thursday through Sunday.

NAPLES

Performing Arts
Classic Chamber Concerts, (239) 434-8505. Performances, guest artists and special concerts. March 30 marks the last show of its 14th season and will resume again in November. Performances at Sugden Community Theatre. www.classicchamberconcerts.org.

Gulfshore Playhouse, (239) 566-8394. Regional theater group, performing exclusively at the Norris Center, presents their third season consisting of award-winning dramas, comedies, and musicals. www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org.

Naples City Improv, www.naplescityimprov.com. Improvisational comedy troupe performing at the Norris Center.

Naples Players at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 263-7990. Founded in 1953, the theater company presents comedies, dramas and musicals and offers educational workshops for adults and children throughout the year. Recently named one of the top 10 community theaters in the country. www.naplesplayers.org.

Opera Naples, (239) 287-8694. Naples’ only professional regional opera company; performs at least three operas per season. Young Artists’ Program. www.operanaples.com.

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; the Philharmonic Youth Symphonia; and the Youth Chorale. 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. Hosts more than 400 events per year. www.thephil.org.

TheatreZone, 13275 Livingston Road, (239) 451-0215. Professional theater company. Performances held at the G&L Theatre on The Community School of Naples campus. www.theatrezone.net.

Live Music/Dancing
Aura, Naples Grande Beach Resort & Club, 475 Seagate Drive, (239) 594-6000. 3 p.m. to midnight Veuve Clicquot happy hour and chef specials. www.naplesgranderesort.com.

Campiello Ristorante, 1177 Third St. S., (239) 435-1166. Live jazz every Friday and Saturday night.

Club NooShi, Noodles Italian Café & Sushi Bar, 1585 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, (239) 592-0050. Dancing Thursdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday Jazz Night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Two full bars. VIP and bottle service. Outdoor seating and lounge.

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (239) 261-2222. Sunday-night pool parties featuring live entertainment by the Mixed Nuts; entertainment nightly.

Pelican Larry’s, 2700 Immokalee Road, (239) 263-9464 www.pelicanlarrys.com. Live music Wednesday-Saturday nights.

Seawitch Restaurant and Lounge, 179 South Bay Drive, off Vanderbilt Beach Road, (239) 566-1514. Live entertainment Wednesday through Saturday in-season, Friday and Saturday off-season.

Shark’s Cavern, 13040 Livingston Road, (239) 643-1113. Featuring a 2,700 gallon saltwater shark aquarium. dueling pianos Friday, DJ Saturday from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. 21 and over.

Silver Spoon Café, 5375 Tamiami Trail N., Waterside Shops. (239) 591-2123. Live music Friday and Saturday early evenings until 8 p.m.

South Street City Oven & Grill, 1410 Pine Ridge Road. (239) 435-9333. Live music Thursday through Sunday, karaoke Tuesday.

Sway, 2059 E. Tamiami Trail, (239) 417-6688. An upscale, high-concept lounge. Open Wednesday through Saturday evenings, offering live entertainment, guest DJs, special events and VIP bottle service. www.swaynaples.com.

Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, (239) 598-3300. Jazz and live music every night from 8 p.m. to 11 p. m.

Yabba Island Grill, 711 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 262-5787. DJ and dancing Friday and Saturday starting at 10:30 p.m. www.yabbaislandgrill.com.

Trilogy, 720 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 261-1221. Live piano nightly, 6 p.m. until closing. VIP program. www.trilogyofnaples.com.

Ultra Night Club, 15495 Tamiami Trail. (239) 465-8477. DJ and dancing Friday and Saturday. Open until 4 a.m. Dress code, VIP bottle service.

Vision Night Club, 11901 Tamiami Trail N. (239) 591-8383. Three rooms with DJ and dancing Thursday through Saturday. VIP bottle service.

BONITA SPRINGS

Live Music/Dancing
Sneaky Pete’s, 3465 Bonita Beach Road, (239) 498-8887. Live entertainment seven nights a week, including karaoke on Mondays.

CAPE CORAL

Performing Arts
Cultural Park Theatre Company, Inc., 528 Cultural Park Blvd., (239) 772-5862. Live performances, Children’s Theatre Program. www.culturalparktheater.com.

Live Music/Dancing
Pearl Lounge, 1403 Cape Coral Parkway. E. (239) 549-2800. DJ and dancing Tuesday through Saturday. Open until 2 a.m.

FORT MYERS

Performing Arts
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 8099 College Parkway, (239) 481-4849 or (800) 440-7469. Home of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Variety of touring productions, including Broadway shows, musicals, plays, dance and ballet programs and pop music concerts. www.bbmannpah.com.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., (239) 278-4422. Features buffet dining and Broadway’s best musicals. Off-Broadway Palm Theatre, a 90-seat black-box theater featuring musical revues. Theater-themed gift shop located in the lobby; Playbill Bar offers pre- or post-dinner cocktails. www.broadwaypalm.com.

FGCU Theatre Lab, 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., (239) 590-7268. Florida Gulf Coast University’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts, presents a variety of historic and modern plays.

Florida Repertory Theatre at the Arcade Theatre, Bay Street between Jackson and Hendry streets, (239) 332-4488. Southwest Florida’s only professional regional theater presents classic works, newer plays, children’s productions, and Broadway shows for its 11th season. www.floridarep.org.

Gulf Coast Symphony, (239) 489-1800. Performs a variety of concerts each year. www.gulfcoastsymphony.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; 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. Theatrical troupe presents a murder mystery aboard a moving train; guests help solve the crime while enjoying five courses. Reservations required.
www.semgulf.com.

Southwest Florida Symphony, 4560 Via Royale, (239) 418-1500. Performing since 1961, presenting classical and pops concerts November through April. Also the home of Symphony on Sanibel and a new traveling choral series. www.swflso.org.

Theatre Conspiracy, 2711 Park Windsor Drive, Suite 302, (239) 936-3239. Nonprofit theater group performs everything from the classics to cutting-edge works and world premieres. www.theatreconspiracy.org.

Live Music/Dancing
Buddha Bar & Grill, 12701 McGregor Blvd., (239) 482-8565. Live entertainment Wednesday through Sunday starting at 10 p.m. 21 and up.

Cin Cin Mediterranean Bar & Grille, 13451 McGregor Blvd., (239) 415-2007. Live music in the Tapas Lounge, Wednesday through Sunday. www.cincingrille.com.

City Tavern, 2206 Bay St., (239) 226-1133. Live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
10 p.m. to close.

EnVie, 2217 Main St., (239) 337-0909. Sophisticated lounge with bottle service, dress code, VIP room.

Groove Street Grill and Discotheque, College Plaza Shopping Center, (239) 437-2743. Ladies night Thursdays 9 p.m., dancing Fridays and Saturdays. www.groovestreet.com.

Indigo Room, 2219 Main St., (239) 332-0014. Karaoke Monday and open mike Wednesday.

Ricochet, 3853 S. Cleveland Ave., (239) 277-5700. Ladies’ night Friday; dance party on Saturday. www.ricochetnightclub.com

Spirits of Bacchus, 1406 Hendry St., (239) 689-2675. Live music Saturday nights.

Comedy
Laugh-In Comedy Café, College Plaza Shopping Center, (239) 479-LAFF (5233). Featuring national touring comedians and a full menu and bar Friday and Saturday at 8 and 10 p.m.; 8 p.m. show Friday and Saturday is smoke-free. 21 and up.

FORT MYERS BEACH

Live Music/Dancing
Channel Mark, 19001 San Carlos Blvd., (239) 463-0117. Happy hour 3 to 7 p.m. Live music.

Snug Harbor, 1131 First St. (239) 463-8077 Live music every Sunday 4 p.m. until
8 p.m. on the outside courtyard.

Valerie’s Lounge & Liquors, 17264 San Carlos Blvd., Suite 312. (239) 466-7788. Live music Wednesdays and Fridays; karaoke Sundays.

SANIBEL ISLAND

Performing Arts
The Schoolhouse Theater, 2200 Periwinkle Way, (239) 472-6862. Home of the Off Beach Players, (239) 481-9111, and Encore Productions. The 160-seat theater presents shows ranging from comedy and vaudeville to musicals and drama. www.theschoolhousetheater.com.

Live Music/Dancing
Dolce Vita, 1244 Periwinkle Way, (239) 472-5555. Supper club with nightly piano beginning at 7 p.m. through 12:30 a.m.