Estero, Florida's Gulfshore Playhouse

ESTERO, FLORIDA --Gulfshore Playhouse proudly announces the "Playhouse Partners Club," the volunteer arm of Gulfshore Playhouse. The mission of this social organization is to raise awareness of Gulfshore Playhouse, create the opportunity to socialize with other theatre-going, arts-loving individuals, and to create a pool of "Playhouse Pals," volunteers willing to help where and when necessary.

Kristen Coury, Producing Artistic Director for Gulfshore Playhouse, states, "We are in an exciting stage growth. We are moving into a new office space, beginning to hire staff, and preparing to officially launch our capital campaign. We need "all hands on deck", as many volunteers as possible, donations large and small, and in-kind donations of everything ranging from computers and office furniture to auction items for our upcoming Concert Gala starring Anna Maria Alberghetti on April 7^th at Quail West. We are also actively seeking a professional fundraiser, with experience in not-for-profits, located here in Southwest Florida who can help us to achieve these goals. The more people who hear about us and spread the word, the better."

The new Performing Arts Center will include a 550-seat Main Stage, a 150-seat Studio Theatre, a Learning Institute and the necessary rehearsal space, offices, dressing rooms and design shops. The Playhouse has hired the architectural firm of Westlake Reed Leskosky, from Cleveland, to design their new state-of-the-art theatre. The renderings of the NEW Gulfshore Playhouse will be unveiled at the Gala on April 7th as well as in Arts-in-Estero at the Hyatt on April 8th from 9am to 2pm, a free event to show residents and visitors what Estero has planned.

Once built, the Playhouse will offer a year-round season of professional theatre in a beautiful state-of-the-art setting. The season will include innovative and stimulating new plays, traditional comedies and musicals, recent Broadway and off-Broadway hits, exciting concerts, beloved classics and Children's theatre. They have already approached Lee and Collier County schools and are in the process of creating in-school programs "made to order" to fill the void created by cuts in arts-funding, and they will provide classes for all ages year-round in their Learning Institute. Coury adds, "Beyond the enormous cultural impact Gulfshore Playhouse will have on our community, it will also have a significant economic impact, infusing the area with new tourism dollars, giving rise to new employment opportunities and helping local retail establishments, hotels and restaurants. Gulfshore Playhouse will provide entertainment and cultural enrichment today, and will continue to serve as a treasured source of inspiration and enjoyment for the community of tomorrow."

Land Development Group, LLC, an affiliate of The D'Jamoos Group, Ltd., has committed the donation of enough land for Gulfshore Playhouse to build their new state-of-the-art Professional Regional Theatre in a new development project named "Estero on the River," which is situated on the Northeast corner of U.S. 41 and Corkscrew Road.  The commitment is contingent upon the successful rezoning of the land that is currently under contract for this project.

THE FIRST MEETING OF 'PLAYHOUSE PARTNERS" WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 23RD AT 6:45

AT THE FIFTH THIRD BANK COMMUNITY ROOM ON THE CORNER OF VANDERBILT AND 41.

PEOPLE OF ALL AGES FROM LEE AND COLLIER COUNTY ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.

For more information, contact Kristen Coury at 239-398-3143 www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org

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