Tom Hall

Leoma Lovegrove’s artwork will be on display at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre through November 15th. The exhibition is a collaboration between the theater and the Collaboratory to honor the artist and extend her impact and legacy.

Lantz Hemmert is the perfect choice to play Tevye the milkman in “Fiddler on the Roof Jr” at Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts. The actor and his character share a zest for life.

At its June 16 meeting, the Fort Myers City Council voted unanimously to award $150,000 in grants to arts organizations, groups and individuals who are working to advance art and culture within the city. Last fiscal year, the City awarded $110,000 in grants to support local organizations, groups and individual artists within the city of Fort Myers.

Joey Contreras’ new pop musical, “In Pieces” is making its Florida premiere at The Belle Theatre in Cape Coral. The show is still being developed in New York into a full Broadway musical. However, its current globally licensed productions have already garnered an international fan base, massive social media following and tens of millions of streams. That’s how Belle Theatre founder and Producing Artistic Director Tyler Young heard about it.

“Masquerade” is the latest high school musical being performed locally that examines cliques, bullying and the efforts of students to fit in. Fort Myers Theatre’s production is unique. It’s entirely student directed, run and acted.

Grace Koltz is in love. Not with her character, Sam, or even Sam’s love interest, Hunter. She’s in love with the opportunity to create a character with little more than the lyrics of the three songs Sam sings in Joey Contreras’ pop musical, “In Pieces.” So she's making the most of her role as Sam.

There are many avenues to Broadway. Some aspiring actors pursue a BFA in musical theater. Recent Oasis High graduate Bailey McArthur is taking a different path. She’s moving to Brooklyn, where she hopes to gain access to the New York theater industry through open call auditions.

Cape Café Dessert Theatre has announced that playwright Joe Simonelli will assume the lead and Susan Crater is joining the cast in the role of Madelaine for the final four performances of “Men Are Dogs” in June.

Kody Jones and Joseph Brauer are working magic with area youngsters who come to Arts Bonita for theater direction and performance opportunities. With their current production of “Fiddler on the Roof JR,” Jones and Brauer are doing more than advancing their students’ singing, dancing and acting proficiency. They're connecting their students to materials, subjects and themes that are timelier than ever.

This week, five shows close, nine continue their runs at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters and there is a limited engagement of a student directed and staged musical at Fort Myers Theatre.