This week, one show opens, two close and three shows continue their runs at Southwest Florida theaters.
OPENING
“Glitter & Gold: A Celebration of Broadway” [The Belle Theatre]: “Glitter & Gold” is a Broadway concert with something for everyone — celebrating Broadway hits from the Golden Age to today, including songs from “The Sound of Music,” “Rent,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Gypsy,” “In the Heights” and many more. Opens Sept. 4. Runs to Sept. 12. This week’s performances are Friday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit www.TheBelleTheatre.com or telephone 239-323-5533.
CLOSING
“Bat Boy: The Musical” [The Sarasota Players]: Based on a ridiculous tabloid story, “Bat Boy The Musical” is a comedy horror show about a half boy and half bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. For lack of a better solution, the local sheriff brings Bat Boy to the home of the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker, where he is eventually accepted as a member of the family and taught to act like a normal boy by the veterinarian’s wife, Meredith, and teenage daughter, Shelley. Bat Boy is happy with his new life, but when he naively tries to fit in with the narrow-minded people of Hope Falls, they turn on him, prodded by the machinations of Dr. Parker, who secretly despises Bat Boy. Shelley and Bat Boy, who have fallen in love, run away together from the ignorant townsfolk and have a blissful coupling in the woods, but their happiness is shattered when Meredith arrives and reveals a shocking secret. Soon the entire town arrives to hear the horrifying story of Bat Boy’s unholy origin. Closes Sept. 6. This week’s performances are Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. For tickets, telephone 941-552-8879 or visit https://purchase.theplayers.org/EventAvailability?EventId=12801&ref=bookNow&scroll=timeAndDates. Advisory Warning – Content includes adult language and subject matter. May not be appropriate for children under 14.
“Waiting for Godot” [The Laboratory Theater of Florida]: On a barren road beside a single, withering tree, two men wait for a mysterious figure who never arrives. Vladimir and Estragon stand on a desolate country road, passing the time with philosophical arguments, comedic wordplay, and mundane distractions as they wait for the enigmatic Mr. Godot. “At times a hilarious slapstick comedy, other times a reminder that life doesn’t make sense and sometimes neither does art, ‘Waiting for Godot’ is a timeless classic about how to kill time without running out of it,” said Director Madelaine Weymouth. Closes Sept. 6. This week’s performances are Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit https://www.purplepass.com/events/375339-waiting-for-godot-aug-20th-2026 or telephone 239-291-2905. For more, read/hear “Laboratory Theater of Florida opens season 18 with Samuel Beckett’s ‘Waiting for Godot.’”
CONTINUING
“Legacy Motown & More” [Goldstein Cabaret at Florida Studio Theatre]: Get ready for a high-energy celebration of nonstop music. From the smooth soul of Motown to the irresistible hooks of pop and R&B, this dynamic tribute spans the greatest classics from the 1960s through today. Relive beloved hits made famous by icons like The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Four Seasons and The Temptations. Featuring tight harmonies and charismatic showmanship, this energetic revue delivers constant hits and fresh takes on old favorites. Also hear/read, “Florida Studio Theatre’s energetic ‘Legacy, Motown & More’ revue delivers fresh takes on old favorities.” Runs to Oct. 11. This week’s performances are Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 4 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. [SOLD OUT] and 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For tickets, telephone 941-366-9000 or visit https://www.floridastudiotheatre.org/events-and-tickets/2026-summer-cabaret-series/legacy-motown-and-more/sub-and-save-scab3. And watch segment on the show that aired on Southwest Florida in Focus on PBS here (beginning at 7:26 and running to 13:05): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnd93y7ITBs&list=PLrWyEdPAVZMcOM0PZRQbQYQaA9xLNl_Yc&index=2.
“Out of Bounds” [Bowne’s Lab at Florida Studio Theatre]: “Out of Bounds” is an audience-favorite competition in which two teams battle for laughs in a fast-paced series of games. Every scene is inspired by audience suggestions, and the winning team is up to the spectators to decide – and the method of voting is applause. Runs to Sept. 19. This week’s performance is Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, visit https://www.floridastudiotheatre.org or telephone 941-366-9000.
“Songbirds of the Seventies” [Court Cabaret at Florida Studio Theatre]: Unmistakable and unforgettable, this cabaret shines a radiant spotlight on the powerhouse singer-songwriters of the ’60s and ’70s. Featuring era-defining hits from Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Carly Simon, Helen Reddy, Stevie Nicks, and Linda Ronstadt, this vibrant tribute captures the soul and strength of those who wrote their own rules – and changed everything in the process. Also, hear/read “’Songbirds of the Seventies’ celebrates the female singer-songwriters who defined the ‘70s.” Runs to Sept. 20. This week’s performances are Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. [SOLD OUT].; Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. [SOLD OUT]; Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For tickets, telephone 941-366-9000 or visit https://www.floridastudiotheatre.org/events-and-tickets/2026-summer-cabaret-series/songbirds-of-the-seventies. And watch a segment that aired on Southwest Florida in Focus on PBS here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM5gKqFjMig.
Support for WGCU’s arts & culture reporting comes from the Estate of Myra Janco Daniels, the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation, and Naomi Bloom in loving memory of her husband, Ron Wallace.
