The Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs is Bringing Community Theater Back! The Perfect Game February 21, 22 & 23

By Patrice Shields

Just in time for the NBA season, the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs Community Theater brings the story of the invention of the game of basketball to the stage on February 21, 22 and 23. 

The Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs presents the first production of their Community Players with The Perfect Game: Jim Naismith Invents Basketball.  The Perfect Game will be performed on February 21 & 22 at 7:00pm and on February 23 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm at Estero High School Auditorium, 21900 River Ranch Rd. Estero, FL 33928.

 

“Bonita Springs was left with a cultural void when Stage 88 closed and Gulfshore Playhouse moved to the Norris Center in Naples,” says Craig Price Performing Arts Director at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs.   “There is an untapped spring of theatrical talent in Bonita that we experience every day in our adult Improv, Reader’s Theater, Singing with Confidence and Acting for the Stage classes at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs.  Having an accessible community theater program is vital to a community with residents who enjoy the arts and theater as much as those in Bonita Springs do.

“The Perfect Game: Jim Naismith Invents Basketball was chosen as the first performance of the Community Players in view of the great story line, impressive musical score and February release during the NBA’s ‘March Madness’ basketball season,” says Price.

The Perfect Game, a musical comedy by Author John Grissmer is  based on the true story of the games invention. The historic story is of a young man given his first teaching assignment to come up with a new game for an unruly class of physical education students. In the contemporary story, two young basketball coaches Frank and Nancy begin to work together and fall in love. Everyone, including the audience, learns about the history of basketball and a little something about themselves.

The story follows the journey of Dr. James Naismith, the Canadian-American sports coach and innovator who invented the sport of basketball in 1891.  Naismith’s contributions to basketball have earned him several posthumous honors, such as in the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Legends Hall of Fame, the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, the McGill University Sports Hall of Fame, the Kansas State Sports Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he is a member of the original Hall of Fame class, was named in Naismith’s honor.

Tickets for The Perfect Game are $20 for members of the Center for the Arts, $25 for non-members and $5 for students and youth.  Tickets are available by calling the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs at 239-495-8989.  Performances are February 21 & 22 at 7:00pm and on February 23 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm at Estero High School Auditorium, 21900 River Ranch Rd. Estero, FL 33928.

The Perfect Game is sponsored by Northern Trust, FineMark National Bank & Trust, Lee County Visitors Center Arts & Attractions Grant and WGCU Public Media, The Indiana Pacers.

Those who join the Center for the Arts for the first time receive two tickets to one of this season’s Live at the Promenade events. The Center for the Arts offers this benefit for first time members only. 

 

 

D.K. Kristi Reviews The Perfect Game: Jim Naismith Invents Basketball

D.K. Kristi Reviews The Perfect Game: Jim Naismith Invents Basketball
The Center for the Arts Bonita Springs First Community Theater Production

The Perfect Game opens Community Theater season in Bonita Springs, Florida

The Perfect Game – Jim Naismith Invents Basketball kept its promise to entertain the audience with music, dancing, humor, a tight dialogue and actual history for the opening performance at the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs Community Theater, Estero Auditorium, February 21-23. Author, lyricist and playwright, John Grissmer wrote the script that honors Jim Naismith, the quiet and scholarly Canadian-American who invented basketball in December 1891 and entertains audiences with a historical plot.

DE Joseph played a scholarly and believable Jim Naismith who mysteriously traveled to the current century from the past.  The musical score and dialogue flowed smoothly as the quick-paced story led the audience to believe a new, indoor game was as inevitable as the budding romance between Jim Naismith and Maude, played by the lovely Jodie Fox, that culminated in their charming duet, “Something Happened Here.”    DE Joseph was on stage ninety percent of the evening and gave a flawless performance.

Ex-coach Nancy, played by Beverly Canell, the romantic object of Coach Frank, played by Keith Gahagan, also provided flawless dialogue and a lovely rendition of the melody, “What’s The Word?” The infamous Coach Alvin Roach, played by Dan Klein provided comic relief, including a dead chicken tossed from the imaginary bleachers during the final and critical “Home Game.”  The audience enjoyed the antics of the six girls on the Pom Pom squad whose dance timing, singing and acting supported Ex-Coach Nancy as she evolved from Ex-Coach to Assistant Coach for the final game play.

Director, Craig Price stepped into the play for a few moments as Dr. Luther Gulick during the 1891 challenge to create a new game.  Price as Director engaged his cast in sixteen musical numbers, often with dancing, that never missed a beat and enhanced the dialogue, contributing to the surprises provided in each scene.  There was no time to sit back and wonder what was next as the quick-paced dialogue kept the audience glued to the stage until the rousing musical number, “To the Rim” signaled a pause.

The final act culminated in a virtual “Home Game” that brought imaginary players to the stage with all the excitement of the final play in a hard fought basketball game.  “Steal the Ball” closed the game and the performance with the strong voices of the full cast and a bit of philosophy about winning in life.

The Perfect Game – Jim Naismith invents Basketball has the music, dialogue and timeless plot to carry it to the top of the list of modern day musicals.  The “virtual basketball” and imaginary scenes were convincing and clever, fully taking in the audience.  A healthy sprinkling of humor provided comic relief to the potentially dull history in the making that was, instead, alive with excitement and sparkle.

 

There are Two Sides to Everything The Art of Joan Brechin Sonnenberg

By Patrice Shields

“There are two sides to everything,” says artist Joan Brechin Sonnenberg.  The theology behind her statement describes both her personal and artistic philosophy. As an artist Sonnenberg combines abstraction and realism to create oversized artworks that layer concepts and ideas into works that stop observers in their tracks.

“I came from a family that combined religion and politics.  In doing this we always found there was a middle of the road,” says Sonnenberg.  Now a resident of Naples, Sonnenberg began her art training 70 years ago at the age of six as a child prodigy attending pre-college art scholar classes at the Carnegie Institute.  Sonnenberg continued her education attending Chatham College and graduating with a BA College of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University where she was the staff cartoonist to the editor of the campus newspaper.  Sonnenberg continued on to study Multi-colored Intaglio Printmaking with George Nama at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Non-Toxic Printmaking with Keith Howard at Peace River College.

“Joan is this walking dichotomy,” says Susan Bridges President of the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs.  “A petite, soft spoken person with huge artworks that are totally in your face.  Knowing Joan for over 15 years has been a joy—her continued evolution as an artist—always stretching ideas out farther and farther.  She has this exquisite ability to take an image, move it back and forth between abstraction and realism and arrive at her very own dialog.  It’s truly wonderful to experience her art.”

The depth of Sonnenberg’s talent and mastery appears subtly but unmistakably in her work.  Sonnenberg’s enormous portraits offer insight into the soul of each subject without judgment or commentary.   Sonnenberg will often stop subjects and ask if she can take their picture to paint.  Bonita Springs resident Richard Theurer saw an article about the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs’ Portrait and Figure Exhibition in a local magazine that include a picture of her work “Art Aficianado.”  Theurer immediately recognized his image in the larger than life artwork and remembered yeas back that a woman had stopped him at Costco and asked if she could take his picture to paint.  Joan Brechin Sonnenberg was that woman and “Art Aficianado,” was the painting.

For more than 70 years Sonnenberg still find time to paint every day.  “It’s a passion.  It’s something I want to do more than anything else,” says Sonnenberg.  “I think being an artist and painting is the most fun you can have in this world.  If there’s something you want to do in life, you’ll find the time.  It’s out there for you.  Go for it.”

Joan Brechin Sonnenberg’s work can be seen at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs 24th Annual Members Exhibition, January 25 through February 21, 2013.  Open only to current members of the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs, this exhibition is the ‘crème de la crème’ competition for our member artists. A very tightly pre-juried and judged collection of artworks from our members showcasing the best artists and a wide variety of media and styles.

The Center for the Arts Bonita Springs’ Members Exhibition Opening Reception is 6:00pm, Friday, January 25, 2013. The Members Exhibition’s opening reception also features a campus-wide Open House, featuring faculty and visiting artists’ demonstrations and displays, and live music on their outdoor stage and light refreshments.  The Members Exhibition is sponsored by Collins & DuPont Interior Design.  Admission is free.  For more information, please call the Center for the Arts at 239-495-8989 or visit them on-line at www.artcenterbonita.org.

 

 

 Those who join the Center for the Arts for the first time receive two tickets to one of this season’s Live at the Promenade events. The Center for the Arts offers this benefit for first time members only.

Are You Ready for an Adventure Guaranteed to Leave You Laughing? Sunday February 17 the Amazing Race at the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs

By Patrice Shields

Are you and your family or friends ready for an adventure? At 1:30pm on Sunday February 17, the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs’ second annual Amazing Race will have you laughing and breathless as you and your team race across Bonita Springs seeking the items on your scavenger hunt list. Participants of this scavenger hunt and road rally will compete in cars with teams of four passengers.  This year the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs is expecting more than 200 participants who will contend for prizes by solving riddles, finding items, taking photos, and having an overall great time!

 “Get ready for fun, entertainment, teamwork and just lots of laughs as you and your team race through our fair city, solving the clues, searching for your special items,” Says Susan Bridges, president of Center for the Arts Bonita. “Last year we had over 100 people participate, that’s 25 teams of four people per car.   Everyone had a great time, came back with hilarious stories of what they did and what happened to them along the way.” 

The Amazing Race begins and ends at the Center for the Arts campus. An awards ceremony, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails culminate the Amazing Race competition. Proceeds from this fun day directly benefit the at-risk youth programs at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs.

“This is a fun event for a car full of friends,” says Larry Hinman a director on the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs board. Hinman participated in the first annual Amazing Race held in February 2012.  Last year’s overall winner was the Wallace family of Bonita Springs whose team included their young daughter.  The Wallace family team was successful at finding scavenger hunt items that included the tiki hut at the Flamingo Flea Market on Bonita Beach Road.

Susan Bridges advises this year’s Amazing Race participants that while some scavenger hunt items are easy to find, some are designed to be challenging.  “We often recommend each team choose who does what,” says Bridges.  “For example, one person is the driver, another person your photographer, one team member is your navigator, and your fourth is the person who pops out of the car to retrieve your items, gets his or her photograph taken in front of a special clue location to document the team’s visit.  After checking in some people sit down and plan everything out and others just dash out the door, solving as they travel.  A total slice of life!”

The Amazing Race will end with a cocktail party with refreshments provided by The Fresh Market, awarding all the prizes to the participants.

Tickets for the “Amazing Race” are $25 per person and $100 for a team of four. Limited tickets are available by calling the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs at 239-495-8989.   Learn more at www.artcenterbonita.org.  The “Amazing Race” is sponsored by Bonita Lakes by Toll Brothers, The Fresh Market and Haines A/C & Refrigeration, Royal Scoop Homemade Ice Cream.

Those who join the Center for the Arts for the first time receive two tickets to one of this season’s Live at the Promenade events. The Center for the Arts offers this benefit for first time members only. 

If You Go:
Who:    Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs
What:   Amazing Race
When:  February 17, 2013, 1:30pm—5:00pm
Where: Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs
Cost:    $25 per person / $100 for four person car

 

Make Thursday January 24 “A Night to Remember”

Make Thursday January 24 “A Night to Remember”
Broadway Legend Douglas Renfroe Live! At the Promenade

By Patrice Shields

At 7:00p.m. on Thursday, January 24, 2013, Broadway legend Douglas Renfroe will be performing “A Night to Remember” including Broadway favorites that include selections from Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, and more at the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs Live! at the PromenadeBonitaBay performance space.  The Center for the Arts cozy café theater seating offers the perfect atmosphere to watch and hear Renfroe perform.  

Douglas Renfroe is a nationally acclaimed bass baritone who made his LincolnCenter debut in Schumann’s Paradise and Peri and his Carnegie Hall debut in Orff’s Carmina Burana. Renfroe has specialized in oratorio works including the Beethoven Ninth Symphony, Brahms’ Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and has performed throughout the United States and Europe. Conductors with whom he has sung include Leopold Stokowski, Leonard Bernstein and Loren Maezel.

Critics in Austria said “Douglas Renfroe’s virile bass, remarkably lyrical in the upper register, was equally rich in the dark deeps of the low sustained tones.” Regarding his theatre works as Tevye, it has been said: “Mr. Renfroe owns the role of Tevye. His rich vocal line is only matched by the warmth he displays as the father. He acts as if he talks to God on a regular basis.”

Dr. Renfroe has appeared at the Washington Opera with Placido Domingo, the Boston Opera directed by Sarah Caldwell, and has been a concert recitalist under Columbia Artist Management. From 1970-1974, he was the Director and Bass Soloist with the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters in Washington, D.C. In 2003, he made his Edinburgh Music Festival debut. He has been featured as soloist in several recordings with various symphonies throughout the world in addition to a solo recording of German lieder. In 2006 he returned to Bulgaria and Israel performing the Verdi Requiem and portrayed Tevye in Fiddler On the Roof. He returned to the Varna International Music Festival in 2007 and sang Elijah prior to returning to Scotland for his fifth concert tour. In 2009 he presented his ninth European concert tour.

 As a conductor, Renfroe has created two equity theatre companies, the Concord Symphony Orchestra and was Artistic Director of the Lakes Region Symphony. He was responsible for the Summer Pops programs while with the U. S. Navy Band, and has appeared as a guest conductor at the Varna International Music Festival prior to his performing as a vocal soloist at the New Hampshire Music Festival. In 2010, he was appointed as Artistic Director of the Voices of Naples, an auditioned choral ensemble in Naples, FL.

Presently living in Ft. Myers, FL, he has been the Cantor and Music Director at TempleBat Yam on Sanibel Island since 2001, Music Director at BeachUnitedMethodistChurch on Ft.MyersBeach, served as Artistic Director of Moorings Capital Opera in Naples, and was Adjunct Professor and Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at EdisonCollege. He is in demand as a soloist throughout the United States and is listed in the 1980 edition of Outstanding Young Men in America and the 2004 edition of Who’s Who in America for his outstanding achievements in the performing arts. In 2004, he received an Honorary Doctorate from University of California.

The Center for the Arts’ Live! at the Promenade series is sponsored by Northern Trust, FineMark National Bank & Trust, Lee County Tourist Development Council Arts & Attractions Grant & WGCU Public Media.

Those who join the Center for the Arts for the first time receive two tickets to one of this season’s Live at the Promenade events. The Center for the Arts offers this benefit for first – time members only.  Tickets to “A Night to Remember” with Douglas Renfroe are available as part of this promotion.

If You Go:

Who: Center for the Arts of BonitaSprings
What: The Music of Broadway with Douglas Renfroe
When: 7:00pm January 24, 2013
Where: Promenade at BonitaBay, 26821 S. Bay Drive, BonitaSprings, FL
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members

 

Everyone is a Winner at the Center for the Arts Signature Fundraising Event “Off the Walls!”

Everyone is a Winner at the Center for the Arts Signature Fundraising Event “Off the Walls!”
6:00pm Friday January 18, 2013

By Patrice Shields

Everyone is a winner at the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs signature fundraising event “Off the Walls!” The event that brings back hundreds of loyal attendees each year is back at 6:00pm on January 18, 2013. For the ticket price of $150, every guest will leave the gallery with an original piece of artwork or collectible of his or her choice, valued at $275 to $6,000. National and international artists make this event possible with donations of original artworks that support the Center for the Arts Youth Scholarship Program. While each guest feels like a winner leaving the event with the original artworks that they chose, the real winners are local youth who will benefit from the quality art, theater and dance programming this event makes available to them throughout the year.

Enriching the lives of local children through the arts is the goal of this unique event. Guests purchase tickets for $150 prior to the event on January 18 and on arrival to Center for the Arts are greeted with catered hors d’oeuvre stations, wine, beer and a dessert and coffee bar. Doors open at 6 p.m. and ticket holders are able to browse the selection of art, jewelry, sculptures, and other valuables. This is not an auction and there is no bidding —your $150 ticket secures you an item. At 6:30 p.m. ticket numbers are called and that guest selects a piece of art to take home. There are always 20 more items than ticket numbers so there’s a large selection available. Artworks and collectibles are valued from $275 to $6,000.

Prizes include a diamond tennis bracelet valued at $6,000, original paintings valued from $500 to $5,000; a pair of bronze sculptures by Merri Roderick valued at $3,000 and a wine and restaurant package worth $1,000.

While “Off the Walls” ends at 8:30 p.m., the funds raised secure an entire year of student programming. All of the money raised goes directly to scholarships for students in the youth education program at the Center for the Arts. Last year over $70,000 was awarded—much higher than the prior year’s amount.

“Twice as many parents requested financial aid this year for their children,” said Susan Bridges, President of the Center for the Arts. “Some lost their jobs or took pay cuts to keep their jobs. The point is they wanted to provide their children with our wonderful programs and needed our help.”

Over 70 percent of students enrolled in Center for the Arts classes receive some type of scholarship assistance. All classes in the Youth Education program are available for scholarships. Classes include pottery, dance, drama, photography, along with other creative courses. A five-week semester ranges in price from $45 to $113 depending on the course selected. A portion or all of the cost may be covered by a scholarship for eligible students. A complete listing of children’s programming is available at http://www.artcenterbonita.org.

“Off the Walls” guests not only get to take home a beautiful piece of art from themselves, but they also provide a way for a child to experience art.

“Studies show children who participate in the arts are more likely to succeed as adults,” Bridges said.

“Off the Walls” is 6:00pm, Friday, January 18, 2013. Tickets are $150 each. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call the Center for the Arts at 239-495-8989. “Off the Walls!” is sponsored by FineMark National Bank and Trust.

Those who join the Center for the Arts for the first time receive two tickets to one of this season’s Live at the Promenade events. The Center for the Arts offers this benefit for first time members only.

If You Go:
Who: Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs
What: Off the Walls
When: 6:00pm, Friday January 18, 2013
Where: Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, 26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, FL
Cost: $150 per person

 

The 26th Bonita Springs National Art Festival

The 26th Bonita Springs National Art Festival
10:00am-5:00pm January 12-13

By Patrice Shields

January marks the Bonita Springs National Art Festival’s 26th festival at the Promenade, rated one of the top Fine Art Festivals in America by The Harris List and ranked 11th nationally by Sunshine Artist Magazine. Artists are chosen by a highly selective jury to ensure the highest quality craftsmanship in paintings, glass, jewelry, clay works, photography, sculpture, wood and more. The January festival is bringing a number of fresh new artists to join returning award winners.

Master of kiln formed glass, artist Scott Amrhein returns to the January festival where he won best in show in 2012. His glass sculptures show the hands-on care of an artist who has painstakingly created these timeless works of art. Scott fashions striking pedestals to complement his luminescent glass bowls. The result is Scott’s fine reputation for unique and exceptional handcrafted artwork that is known throughout the United States.

“It has been said that ‘man cannot duplicate nature but merely represent it.’ I hope that every piece I create, combining natural and man-made materials, is a reflection of that statement,” says Amrhein in speaking of the inspiration behind his work.

“Is it a painting or a photograph?” This is the most asked question about the larger than life oil paintings of Jeannie Maddox that have been capturing the attention of art festival crowds for over 33 years. Maddox work took Best in Show at the January 2011 Bonita Springs National Art Festival.

“To the viewer, my paintings appear to focus on photo realism. As an artist, my journey is through small abstract areas of shape, color and contrast, that, when completed and taken as a whole constantly surprise me by becoming hyper-real. I often say that I am a photo realistic painter who paints abstractly,” says Maddox.

In 1976 Maddox took some photographs of one of her young art students in a pool. The painting sold immediately and soon art show patrons were signing up on a two-year waiting list for a commissioned painting by Maddox, which took an average of 425 hours to create. In 1977 at Burdines of Florida bought her complete display during a festival show and continued buying for several years reproducing Maddox’s work to hang in the large atrium areas of the stores that were opening every six months across Florida. Maddox became one of the most recognized artists in South Florida.

“I believe there are many ways to express the art form known as jewelry,” says Jewelry Artist Kim Koch, winner of Best of 3D at the January 2012 Bonita Springs National Art Festival. “I choose quiet refinement, in which splashes of color radiate from my design through precise goldsmithing. My craftsmanship is a process; over three decades of working metals to fulfill my artist mission, while keeping sight of the enjoyment jewelry brings us.”

Koch is recognized nationally for innovative award winning design and craftsmanship, which he maintains by personally designing and creating each piece. His techniques include: casting, forging, fabrication, and multiple surface treatments, often all utilized in a single piece. Koch specializes in rare, color gemstones set in gold and platinum.

In addition to the Bonita Springs National Art Festival, Koch is three-time winner of Wisconsin Jewelers Association, AGTA Spectrum, Signity, and The Niche Award.

If Amrhein’s glass, Maddox’s photo realistic larger than life oil paintings, or Koch’s finely crafted gold jewelry are not intriguing enough, the 208 additional artists who passed the discriminating jury process for January’s festival will certainly offer fine art to make this a festival you will remember.

All proceeds from the festival support the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs programming and its mission to provide opportunities for education and artistic expression for everyone—regardless of economic ability.

“Hundreds of thousands of people have attended our 25 festivals at the Promenade. They come back each year because they know the art is great and there is something for everyone. It is like a walking tour of high quality art galleries, but this one is set up outside in sunny Florida,” said Susan Bridges, President of Center for the Arts.

The Bonita Springs National Art Festivals offer ample free parking on site with food and beverages available for purchase. While there is no admission fee for this event, the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs volunteers will be asking for an optional $5 donation, directly supporting the Center for the Arts programming.

The 26th Bonita Springs National Art Festival will be held at The Promenade located at 26805 South Bay Drive in BonitaSprings. It will run on January 12-13, 2013 from 10am-5pm. For more information, call 495-8989.

Those who join the Center for the Arts for the first time receive two tickets to one of this season’s Live at the Promenade events. The Center for the Arts offers this benefit for first time members only.

If You Go:
Who: Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs
What: 26th Bonita Springs National Art Festival
When: 10:00am-5:00pm, Saturday January 12 and Sunday January 13, 2013
Where: Promenade at Bonita Bay, 26821 S. Bay Drive, Bonita Springs, FL
Cost: Free ($5 optional donation for admission to support the Center for the Arts of