Naples Players Present Red Carpet Opening Night Event For DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER Jan 16th

The Naples Players (TNP) present the mile-a-minute comedy, Don't Dress for Dinner, which runs January 16 - February 10, 2019 in Blackburn Hall at The Naples Players Sugden Theatre with a special Red Carpet Opening Night event in Sugden Plaza and on the Baker Stage.

TNP theatre patrons will be welcomed from Sugden Plaza on the Baker Stage red carpet with live music by Chariot, and have their photos taken by Neubek Photographers in their NeuBooth digital photo booth upon their arrival. Red Carpet partners Riptide Brewery will be serving craft beer, and Fairways Wine Vault will be sampling wine and champagne, complimented by specialty teas, drinks, and confections from The Naples Tea & Spice Exchange. Emillions Art will also be present to showcase their latest artists from their new location on 5th Avenue South. The Red Carpet event begins at 6:30 p.m. before the performance at 7:30 p.m. in Blackburn Hall.

Sponsored by Gulf Coast International Properties, Don't Dress for Dinner is a clever and rollicking comedy written by French playwright Marc Camoletti, who wrote Boeing-Boeing. Bernard's plans for a romantic rendezvous weekend with his saucy mistress are complete with a gourmet caterer and an alibi courtesy of his friend, Robert. But when Bernard's wife learns that Robert will be visiting for the weekend, she decides to stay in town for a surprise tryst of her own-setting the stage for a collision course of assumed identities and outrageous infidelities. The cook is Suzette, the lover is Suzanne, the friend is bewildered, the wife is suspicious, the husband is losing his mind, and everyone is guaranteed a good time at this hilarious romp through the French countryside.

Directed by TNP's Associate Artistic Director Jessica Walck (Kalamazoo), she highlights, "It is all in the timing; the absolutely ridiculous situation they find themselves in, and how they realistically have to wiggle themselves out of it without getting caught. And, the audience gets to witness the insanity unfold!"

Seasoned TNP actor James Duggan (Maple & Vine) plays the lead Bernard and is paired-up in a dynamic comic duo with local director and actor, Brett Marston. Duggan and Marston gave a brilliantly dynamic comedic performance in TNP's production of The Foreigner. "The challenge is you have to be in complete unison, its truly an ensemble piece of work. It's so quick-if one of us falls, we all fall," shares Duggan.

Rachel Ewy previously seen as Belle in TNP's Beauty & the Beast plays Jacqueline and has performed at TNP since a young age and recently directed ETC Readers Theatre'sMaking God Laugh. Rachel Borwein, seen last season as Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew, plays Suzette and also performs with local theatre troupe, The Studio Players. Lori Grandon is celebrating her TNP mainstage debut in the role of Suzanne. She has participated in ETC Readers Theatre and has also performed in The Vagina Monologues benefiting Project Help. Daniel Ospina plays George and is a newcomer who is excited to begin his journey onstage with The Naples Players.

Don't Dress for Dinner runs January 16 - February 10, 2019 in Blackburn Hall at The Naples Players at Sugden Theatre at 701 5th Avenue South in Naples. There is a Red Carpet Opening Night event on January 16, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. before the show featuring Red Carpet partners Riptide Brewery, Emillions Art, Fairways Wine Vault, Spice & Tea Exchange of Naples, Neubek Photographers NeuBooth Photo Booth and live music. Tickets are $40 and are available for purchase online at www.NaplesPlayers.org or by contacting the Box Office at (239) 263-7990.

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