Author: Desiree DeMolina

 Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts kicks off its 25^th Consecutive Theatre season with a world premiere play: Repossessed by Greg Lam and directed by Stephen Hooper. Rachel Burttram, Brendan Powers, Lauren Drexler, Joanna Haley, Tamicka Linstead and Patrick Day compliment the compelling script. The production is the winner of Theatre Conspiracy’s 19^th annual Janet and Bruce Bunch New Play Contest.

What would happen to our world if anyone could choose to remix and rewrite their memories and personalities? Rich and Gretchen seem to have the ideal marriage, until they learn that it was manufactured by a mysterious biotech company which installed it into their brains. Because they can no longer afford this service, the company must repossess their lives. Repossessed explores questions of morality and authenticity amidst a world of rapidly changing technology and the ethics that come with it.

“Greg has created a piece of theatre that will generate conversations about who we are and who should be able to alter those traits that make us,” says artistic producing director Bill Taylor. “The show is well written and moves quickly. Our audiences will enjoy this world premiere experience.”

Repossessed  opens Aug. 16 and runs through Aug. 26. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturdays with a new 7:30 p.m. start time and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

There will be a talk-back with playwright Greg Lam and producing artistic director Bill Taylor after the Aug. 18 performance. Talkbacks allow the audience to ask questions and express their thoughts and ideas on issues revealed in the play through the form of meaningful discussion. The opportunity is included with ticket purchase.

For theatregoers who are blind, or have moderate to severe vision loss, an audio described performance will take place during the Aug. 26 matinee. Please call 239-939-2787 to reserve.

Theatre lovers can save up to $42 with a Season Subscription. Season subscriptions range from $115 per person for 5 shows to $140 per person for all 7 shows. Individual tickets to each show are $26, $11 for students or $22 for Alliance members.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the box office at 239-939-2787, visit 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL or go online at www.ArtInLee.org/Theatre.

Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts is holding an open casting call for Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson and directed by Sonya McCarter on July 14 from 10 a.m.  – 12 p.m. at the Alliance for the Arts 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers FL 33919. To schedule an appointment, please contact [email protected].

The play, which takes place in Pittsburgh during the early 1900s, is an August Wilson classic. It focuses on Herald Loomis and his daughter Zonia’s journey in finding his wife. When they take residence in Seth Holly’s boarding house, a microcosm of African-American life, the story unfolds as each character searches for a missing part of themselves. Their personal journeys’ inevitably become intertwined with a search for identity and a sense of self greater than their heritage has so far allowed.

When: Saturday, July 14, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd.
What to Bring: Monologue of your choice. Don’t have a monologue? We will provide material for you to read.

The production runs March 1-2, 7-9 and 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. and March 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. with a talk-back on March 17. This show is sponsored in-part by Noreen Raney.

Available Roles:

Seth Holly– In his early fifties, Seth is owner of the boardinghouse and works as a craftsman.

Bertha Holly– Seth’s wife of 25 years and five years his junior, Bertha runs the boardinghouse. She does all the cooking and cleaning, later with the aid of Zonia.

Bynum Walker– A “conjure” man staying with the Holly’s at the boardinghouse, Bynum is in his sixties and is a freed slave from the south.

Rutherford Selig– The only white character in the play, Selig is a peddler who sells Seth’s goods. Known as the “People Finder”, Selig is from a family that first brought Africans across the Atlantic to become slaves. But now he unites people by recording the names and places of all the people he peddles to.

Jeremy Furlow– Another resident of the boardinghouse, Jeremy is a guitar-playing 25-year-old. He came to the North looking for a job and a way in life. He works construction, putting in the new road outside of town.

Herald Loomis– An odd man who dons an overcoat and hat in mid-August, Loomis is 32 and a displaced slave searching for his wife. He was forced to work for Joe Turner for seven years, which separated him from his wife and daughter. He works as a deacon for the Abundant Life Church and at times was possessed by spiritual beings.

Zonia Loomis– Herald’s daughter, Zonia is described as a tall and skinny 11-year-old.

Mattie Campbell– Mattie is a 25-year-old girl who is disappointed with her position in life and is looking for love.

Rueben Mercer– Rueben is the Holly’s next door neighbor and about Zonia’s age.

Molly Cunningham– Molly is a good looking young woman of 26 who is strong and independent.

Martha Pentecost– Loomis’ wife, Martha is about 28 and very religious and a member of the Evangelical church. She left the South and her daughter behind.

Final performances are May 3-5 and 10-12 at 8 p.m. and May 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. The production is sponsored by Noreen Raney.

For more information, call Bill Taylor at 239-939-2787.

The Alliance for the Arts will present The Comediannettes (formerly Diva Comedy Night) on July 21 at 8 p.m. in the theatre. This one night of side-splitting standup comedy features funny and fierce female comedians all from Florida.  General seating tickets are $15 for Alliance members and $20 for non-members.

The line-up features Pam Bruno, Dani Thralow, Nancy Francis and Mariannette LaPuppet.

Pam Bruno, from Hollywood, Florida, is the winner of 2015 Ultimate Miami Comedian. Pam has worked with many nationally known comedians, including Wendy Liebman, Emmy-winner Louie Anderson, Tommy Davidson, Bobby Lee, and the legendary singer Roberta Flack. She recently appeared with Kevin Hart in his new TV series, Hart of the City, on Comedy Central.

Dani Thralow was recently named Acme Comedy Club’s Second Funniest Person in Minneapolis and St. Paul. She has been selected to perform at comedy festivals throughout the United States. She enjoys spending time with her daughters, two little girls (at least that is what they are so far), running, and speaking about entrepreneurship.

Nancy Francis is a life-long family woman and a 30 year veteran of the Real Estate Title Business, this Librarian look-alike decided to take to comedy. Nancy’s take it or leave it Mom attitude transcends generations. Watching the audience watch this Grandmom “tell it like it is” must be seen.

Mariannette LaPuppet is a professional actress and writer of over 25 years turned comedian. She was a finalist in Nick @ Nite’s ‘America’s Funniest Mom’ and Winner of the 2nd Annual Comedians Ball in Florida and finalist in Comic Cure’s ‘Florida’s Funniest Female’. She has featured for top comedians like Craig Shoemaker, Michael Winslow, Judy Tenuta and Pauly Shore.

For more information on this event, visit ArtInLee.org/Comediannettes or call 239-939-2787.

You won’t have to go far to experience the wonder of the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America traveling exhibition comes to the Alliance for the Arts and examines the many roles that sports play in American society. The exhibition demonstrates how hometown sports energize the community, instill pride in it and create a bond that is passed from one generation to the next. The show is on display from June 30 through Aug. 11 at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL.

To complement the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit, the Southwest Florida Historical Society and Lee County Black History Museum will curate memorabilia exhibits with local sports stories.

The exhibition’s opening ceremony is July 6 from 5-8 p.m. Throw on your favorite jersey, nosh on peanuts and popcorn, participate in free patriotic arts and crafts projects and explore the exhibit. This event is family-friendly, free and open to the public.

A panel discussion on the history of sports in Lee County will be held at the Alliance on July 21 at 10 a.m. The panelists will be announced soon.

The Alliance will also screen The Mighty Ducks on July 14 and Caddyshack on July 28 in the theatre. Tickets are $5 presale and include admission to the gallery. Seating is limited and first come, first serve. Caddyshack is rated R and sponsored by Winged Foot Title.

Receptions and panel discussions are open to the public and do not require tickets or reservations. While gallery admission is free, a $5 suggested donation keeps Alliance programming affordable and accessible.

This exhibit is made possible by a Florida Humanities Council Grant awarded to the Southwest Florida Historical Society. Project partners include the Smithsonian, the Alliance for the Arts and the Lee County Black History Society.

For more information about this exhibit, visit ArtInLee.org/HometownTeams or call 239-939-2787.