Melody Lane Theatre

When Melody Lane Theatre selected “Chicago” for its summer stock show, Sami Doherty knew the theater couldn’t afford the rights to Bob Fosse’s original choreography. So, she and Assistant Choreographer Athena Rose Belis did the next best thing. They created original choreography that would make Bob Fosse proud. The result is a splendiferous show guaranteed to razzle dazzle Southwest Florida audiences.

This week, three shows open, five continue their runs and there are four limited engagements at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters.

This week, one show opens, two close, eight continue their runs and limited engagements include 'Monsters Inc. JR' and "The Laramie Project," at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters.

Local student Jonny Serrat named Outstanding Performer at 2026 Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta. He performed in the role of Aladdin for the Melody Lane Performing Arts Center's competition team.

Students representing Melody Lane Performing Arts Center received recognition and awards at the 2026 Junior Theatre Festival. The festival is an annual competition dedicated to celebrating student-driven musical theater programs. It took place in January at the Cobb Convention Center in Atlanta.

While Sami Doherty choregraphs to the strengths of her cast, she generally finds that young performers are capable of much more than they realize.

Athena Rose Belis is going into her junior year at Florida Gulf Coast University. She’s angling for a degree and career in theater, but when asked about her long-range goals, she gives a full-throated laugh. That’s because Belis is already living the dream.

Most people associate the character of Quasimodo with physical deformity. But after years of ringing the bells of Notre Dame, he was also extremely hard of hearing. So Melody Lane Theatre teamed up with the Sally J. Pimentel Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center to teach the cast of "Hunchback of Notre Dame" sign language and familiarize them with deaf culture.

This week, four shows open, one show closes, six continue their runs and there are five limited engagements at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters.

This week, three shows open, one closes, eight others continue their runs and four more enjoy limited engagements at equity and community theaters from Sarasota to Marco Island.