Year: 2018

Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts presents A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen March 1 – 11 at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33919. The production is directed by Anne Dodd, stars professional Equity Actor Brendan Powers and is sponsored by Bruce and Janet Bunch. The 1879 classic play about love gone awry has come to be considered a contemporary feminist drama.

A look behind the façade of an ideal marriage: Nora and Torvald Helmer are living their dream life, happily married with children and security. Their nine-year, three-child marriage stays fresh because Nora happily embodies the childlike role defined by her husband, while he relishes his idealistic view of marriage as a sacred trust in which the man rules benevolently. “To lie in a family home,” he lectures, “diseases it, contaminates it.” When Nora risks her reputation to save her husband’s life, the consequences test the limits of their love.

Cast

• Brendan Powers as Torvald Helmer
• Dena Galyean as Nora Helmer
• Patrick Day as Nils Krogstad
• Karen Goldberg as Kristine Linde
• James Robinson as Dr. Rank
• Eren Sisk as Helene
• Paula Sisk as Anna

Individual tickets to each show are $25, $11 for students or $22 for Alliance members. Performances run March 1-3 and March 8 – 10 at 8 p.m. and March 4 and March 11 at 2 p.m.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the box office at 239-939-2787 or visit www.ArtInLee.org/Theatre.

About Henrik Isben and A Doll’s House

In 1871, eight years before Henrik Ibsen wrote A Doll’s House, Ibsen met a Norwegian girl called Laura Petersen. Ibsen took quite a fancy to her and called her his ‘skylark.’

In 1872, she married a Danish schoolmaster, Victor Kieler, who subsequently contracted tuberculosis. His doctors prescribed a warmer climate, but they were poor, and Victor became hysterical at the mention of money. Laura arranged a loan without her husband’s knowledge, for which a friend stood security. The trip to Italy thus financed was successful, and Victor made a good recovery.

Two years later, however, repayment of the loan was demanded. Laura did not have the money herself, dared not tell her husband and, worse, still, the friend who had stood security had himself fallen on hard times. Laura attempted to pay off the loan by forging a check. The forgery was discovered, the bank refused payment, and Laura was forced to tell her husband the whole story. Despite the fact that she had done it purely to save his life, Victor Kieler treated Laura like a criminal. He claimed she was an unfit wife and mother and when she suffered a nervous breakdown, he had her committed to a public asylum, and demanded a separation so that the children could be removed from Laura’s care. She was discharged after a month, and managed to persuade Victor to take her back for the children’s sake, which he eventually, but grudgingly, agreed to do.

In September 1878, only a couple of months after hearing about Laura’s committal to the asylum, Ibsen began work on A Doll’s House. In his notes he wrote the following: A woman cannot be herself in modern society with laws made by men and with prosecutors and judges who assess female conduct from a male standpoint.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Sonya McCarter as Community Engagement Coordinator and Micah-Shane Brewer as Education Coordinator!

About Sonya McCarter

McCarter will be responsible for membership services, audience development and community engagement.

Science Fiction enthusiast, teacher, actress, singer and lover of all things theatre, Sonya’s interest in the performing arts began with her 8th grade Drama class. Her interest soon became an obsession when she starred as Dr. Van Helsing in her high school production of Dracula. Since then, she has incorporated her love of theatre in as many areas of her life as possible.  As an English teacher at a private school, she instituted a Drama and Speech program; she has produced and directed original plays for her church and community; and pursued her passion of acting in television, film and the local stage. Sonya connected with the Alliance in 2012, performing as the Lady Orange in For Colored Girls and later continued her involvement as Director of several shows. Her heart’s passion is to help facilitate engaging, compelling and meaningful theatre in Fort Myers that acknowledges and celebrates our cultural differences while exploring the universal ties that bind us all together.

“I am honored to be joining the Alliance for the Arts family,” says McCarter. “Who wouldn’t love being enveloped by the creative artistic expressions of our wonderfully diverse community on a daily basis? I look forward to exploring new and innovative ways to connect our collective community to the wonder of creative arts.”

About Micah-Shane Brewer

Brewer’s primary responsibilities include developing season classes and workshops, coordinating youth art camps, developing outreach programming and promoting multidisciplinary arts education throughout the community.

Originally from Tennessee, Micah-Shane is delighted to be joining the Alliance for the Arts. As an actor, director and musician, Micah-Shane loves the opportunity to create and collaborate with other artists, and understands what an important role the performing and visual arts play in a vibrant community.

Micah-Shane has led and worked with non-profit arts organizations for over 15 years. As a director, he was the Founding Artistic Director of Encore Theatrical Company in Morristown, Tennessee, and has guest directed for other regional companies. He has directed over 60 productions and produced others. Onstage, his favorite acting credits include Doubt (Father Flynn), Sweeney Todd (Tobias), Spamalot (Sir Robin), Sunday in the Park with George (George), and The Full Monty (Malcolm). He has also worked extensively as a vocalist, musical director, vocal coach, pianist, and lecturer. He enjoys teaching and working with students.

Micah-Shane holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and bachelor degrees in both music and theatre from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

“I am very excited to join the Alliance team,” says Brewer.  “The arts play a vital role in the quality of life for a community, and the mission of the Alliance appeals to me as an artist and educator. I look forward to working with our team to promote and expand our educational offerings.”

Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts presents Gidion’s Knot by Johnna Adams Feb. 8 – 18 at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL. The compelling production stars Sonya McCarter as Corryn Fell and Lauren Drexler as Heather Clark. Gidion’s Knot is directed by Rachael Endrizzi and with assistant director Sima Robbins.

Amidst the fallout from her 5th grade son’s suspension from school, a mother demands answers. What begins as a highly charged parent/teacher conference with Gidion’s reticent teacher soon develops into a revelatory confrontation that burrows under the surface of bullying, failures of the education system, and freedom of expression.

“I am fascinated at Ms. Adams ability to layer so much power, emotion, suspense and subtext into so few words,” says Endrizzi in a director’s note. “The play itself is short, but loaded with so many thought provoking questions. The script eloquently addresses the issues of guilt, artistic censorship, and maternal loyalty set against the backdrop of today’s education system.

There is no intermission. Individual tickets to each show are $25, $11 for students or $22 for Alliance members. Teachers receive an exclusive $10 ticket price with promo code TEACH. Valid IDs must be presented at the time of ticket pick-up to redeem. Performances run February 8-10 and 15-17 at 8 p.m. and February 11 and 18 at 2 p.m.

A talkback with school principals Mara Vertrees (Diplomat Elementary) and Ken Savage (James Stephens International Academy) and cast will take place after the February 18th performance. Talkbacks are open to the public and allow the discussion of ideas, themes and performance of the play. Seasoned educator and the Alliance for the Arts’ Assistant Director Brandi Couse will moderate.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the box office at 239-939-2787 or visit www.ArtInLee.org/Theatre.

About the Panel

Mara Vertrees began her career in education 20 years ago after first working as a newspaper reporter and as a child advocate and parent education leader. She taught middle school Language Arts and Social Studies for eleven years before going into administration. After working as an Assistant Principal at a middle school and a K-8 school she was offered the position of Principal at Diplomat Elementary. Mrs. Vertrees is honored to be working at Diplomat Elementary with such a very fine and dedicated staff of teachers and support personnel. And she is fully committed to the vision of Diplomat as a Quality School with high expectations of learning for all.

Ken Savage, Principal at James Stephens International Academy, has been named one of three finalists for Florida’s 2018 Principal of the Year by Florida Commissioner of Education, Pam Stewart.  Mr. Savage’s 10 years of administrative experience in Lee County includes successful experiences at Cypress Lake Middle School, Dunbar High and Veteran’s Park Academy for the Arts. Mr. Savage was appointed as a turnaround principal for James Stephens International Academy in 2016 and in one year helped his school improve from an F to a B (based on 2016-17 school grades). He is commended for being a self-starter and critical thinker, and he is known as a diligent data user who always focuses on the ultimate goal – student achievement.

Brandi Couse joined the Alliance in the summer of 2013 after many years working as a professional musician and 17 years of teaching music in Florida’s public schools. As an educator Brandi was passionate about advocating for the inclusion of arts in education. When she decided to leave the classroom she was delighted to find a place where she was tasked with creating more opportunities for artists, community, and society. Having personally experienced the power of arts involvement, from finding a way to voice her ideas to learning the value of hard work and a quality product, Brandi wants to pay it forward and make sure others have a key to that experience.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the box office at 239-939-2787 or visit www.ArtInLee.org/Theatre.

What the Critics Say:

“…resonant…[a] particularly eloquent study of people caught between the competing demands of reason, morality and family…harrowing…a narrative that is as elegant as it is chilling.” —Washington Post

“…a riveting, explosive drama.” – Chicago Critic

“Gidion’s Knot is is as sad as life itself, and as funny and startling as well…a beautiful, disturbing story.” —DCTheatreScene.com

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the box office at 239-939-2787 or visit www.ArtInLee.org/Theatre.

About Lauren Drexler

Lauren Drexler was most recently seen in 33 VARIATIONS and KAYAK.  Lauren has long created memorable roles in Theatre Conspiracy’s new plays and world premieres, including Becoming Eleanor, The Dunes, Here Lie the Demons, and Virgin Tears on Wyoming Avenue. Among her other favorite productions are The Kathy & Mo Show, Medea, Romance in D, Romantic Fools, No Exit, Dancing at Lughnasa, Frankie & Johnnie at the Clair de Lune, and The Eight: Reindeer Monologues.

About Sonya McCarter

Sonya McCarter is a native of Fort Myers and the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Alliance for the Arts.  Sonya’s directing credits include The Bluest Eye, Seven Guitars and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Sonya has been seen performing locally in For Colored Girls (Theatre Conspiracy), Good People (Naples Players), and Doubt, A Parable (Naples Players).

About Rachael Endrizzi (Director)

Endrizzi is thrilled to return to Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts with this show and this cast. Previous Theatre Conspiracy directing credits include: 33 Variations, The Bible: Complete Word of God (Abridged), Red Herring, Mr. Burns, The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged), All the Great Books (Abridged) and Shipwrecked!. Rachael has also been on the Theatre Conspiracy stage as an actor in Almost, Maine, First Time, Love Loves a Pornographer and others. She is a graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in NYC and the former Education Director for Florida Repertory Theatre. Currently, she works as an actor and director throughout the Southeast and resides outside Cleveland, OH where she has opened her own company, Spark Theatre.

About Sima Robbins (Assistant Director)

Robbins could not have chosen a better play, director, cast and theater than Gidion’s Knot to get her feet wet in Fort Myers.  In Pennsylvania, she performed in community theater, and as an English and Theater teacher, she directed many high school plays, including Don’t Drink the Water, Enter Laughing, Dracula, and JB. When she relocated to Delaware, she performed in and directed several community theater productions, including You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running, Talking With, and Hold Me, a cutting of which went on to the state one act play festival to win her the director’s award.  In the early 90s, she transitioned from writing fiction and poetry to playwriting.  Then, as associate creative director for First Stage Theater Company, she joined with her mentor, playwright and novelist, Drury Pifer, in directing the premiere of his play Strindberg in Hollywood, which was then produced at Woolly Mammoth Theater Company in D.C. before being picked up in Norway, England, and Germany. First Stage also produced two of her plays, Man Imperfect and Athena at the Rittenhouse, in various venues throughout Delaware. She and her husband Gary are active in the Pachamama Alliance of Southwest Florida and feel fortunate to have relocated to Fort Myers, for its warm weather, wonderful beaches, welcoming people, and wide array of quality live theater. Their 20-year old cat, Zen, seems quite content as well.