them
Feb. 1-21 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, sbdac.com
Local immigrant artists Cesar Aguilera (also the exhibit’s curator), Daniella Branchaud, Mila Bridger, Juan Diaz, Reynier Llanes and Mariapia Malerba put forth work in celebration of the spirit of a country founded by immigrants, and those immigrants’ positive contributions to society and culture.
In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play
Feb. 16 through March 10 at Gulfshore Playhouse, gulfshoreplayhouse.org
Even eight years since it nabbed three Tony nominations, it still seems a bit risky to tackle this comedy by Sarah Ruhl in which a doctor in the Victorian era innocently invents a machine to treat female “hysteria.” But what is theater if it doesn’t bravely elicit some kind of emotion, uncomfortably or otherwise?
Waitress
Feb. 19-24 at Artis—Naples, artisnaples.org
This writer is a lover of any and all things pie, so this recommendation may carry some bias. But even if the confection is not your favorite dessert (but how could it not be?!), you’ll surely find something to love in this current darling of Broadway. An all-female, star-studded creative team and uplifting message have rocketed the musical about a small-town piemaker to many a list of all-time favorites.
Bonita Springs International Film Festival
Feb. 21-24 at the Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs, artcenterbonita.org
The Naples and Fort Myers fests garner all the attention, but this one deserves its share. The Centers’ Foreign Film Series, launched in 2012, has since grown into a presentation of more than 70 carefully curated selections, plus complementary workshops, demos and Q&As
The Beach Boys
Feb. 26 at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW, bbmannpah.com
There’s a multitude of quality music acts in town this month (Michael Bolton, Joe Bonamassa, Judy Collins, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chuck Findley, Patti LaBelle, The Temptations & the Four Tops), but in keeping with our Love Issue, we’re going with The Beach Boys for the Good Vibrations they put forth. You don’t need us to tell you the Cali-vibed concert will be pure Fun, Fun, Fun for all. OK, we’ll stop.
