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Cultural Park’s ‘Broadway’ season opens Sept. 9

By CJ HADDAD - | Sep 2, 2021

It’s that time of year once again where Cape Coral’s community theater gears up to present first-rate shows for public to enjoy.

Cultural Park Theater is set to enter its 59th Broadway Series season, where music, performance and art come to life on stage. Season tickets and ticket-packages are on sale at the box office to ensure your place to all 10 performances spanning from September to May of 2022.

“Our board and I are very excited about this our 59th season,” said CPT Executive Director Michael Moran. “Coming out of the pandemic we look forward to seeing our audiences back in the theater again and we have plans in place to continue to provide a safe place with all CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) precautions in place.”

This year’s lineup consists of classic Broadway favorites, dramas, feel-good shows and lots for all ages to enjoy.

“This year’s season is for sure a great season for kids, young adults and adults,” Moran said. “We have comedy, dramas, and of course, our signature musicals and special events with our Halloween show, and the concert season is full of music for all ages as well.”

The 10 shows to be featured in this season’s series are as follows:

“And the Nominees Are” Sept. 9-19

“And The Nominees Are” is an original Cultural Park Theater musical revue. It features many of CPT’s talented youth performers, as well as a few other familiar faces. CPT has highlighted favorite Broadway songs from musicals and some other tunes — old and new — into one fabulous evening of entertainment.

“Mama Won’t Fly” Sept. 23 – Oct. 3

“An outrageously hilarious race against the clock begins when Savannah Sprunt Fairchild Honeycutt agrees to get her feisty mother all the way from Alabama to California in time for her brother’s wedding. Savannah’s problem: Mama won’t fly. With only four days to make it to the ceremony, this determined daughter has no choice but to drive cross-country with her equally willful mother, Norleen Sprunt, in Mama’s vintage sedan. ­This ferociously funny, family-friendly Jones-Hope-Wooten comedy will have you laughing your way across the country and all the way down the aisle!”

“CPT’s Haunted Halloween Revue” Oct. 21-31

“This musical revue is full of your favorite family friendly Halloween songs. Local stars take the stage for this ghoulishly fantastic production full of ‘spooktacular’ tunes. Sing along to old Halloween classics, as well as new songs that are sure to become favorites! Family friendly spooks and dancing zombies! Come dressed in costume! Don’t miss this brand new annual musical comedy revue with selections from Broadway’s most spine-chilling musicals including ‘Sweeney Todd,’ ‘Carrie,’ ‘Addams Family,’ ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show,’ ‘Dracula,’ ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and more.”

“A Piece of my Heart” Nov. 11-21

“A powerful, true drama of six women who went to Vietnam: five nurses and a country western singer booked by an unscrupulous agent to entertain the troops. The play portrays each young woman before, during, and after her tour in the war-torn nation and ends as each leaves a personal token at the memorial wall in Washington. ‘A Piece of My Heart’ premiered in New York at Manhattan Theatre Club. This production contains adult situations and language.”

“It’s a Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play” Dec. 9-19

“This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve.”

“Nunsense II: The Second Coming” Jan. 1-21

“The Little Sisters of Hoboken, those humble nuns with a touch of show biz flair, return in style with Nunsense II: The Second Coming. Presenting a high-spirited and zany ‘Thank You Program’ for their many supporters, the sisters sing and dance their way across the Mount St. Helen’s stage, which is already dressed for the Hoboken Music Society’s upcoming production of The Mikado.”

“Play On” Feb. 3-13

“This is the hilarious story of a theatre group trying desperately to put on a play in spite of maddening interference from a haughty author who keeps revising the script. Act I is a rehearsal of the dreadful show, Act II is the near disastrous dress rehearsal, and the final act is the actual performance, where anything that can go wrong, does. When the author decides to give a speech on the state of the modern theater during the curtain calls, the audience is treated to a madcap climax and a thoroughly hilarious romp. Even the sound effects reap their share of laughter!”

“The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee” Feb. 24 – March 6

“An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming ‘ding’ of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter: one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box.”

“The Savannah Sipping Society” March 24 – April 3

“Four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by fate–and an impromptu happy hour. Over the course of six months filled with laughter, hilarious misadventures, and the occasional liquid refreshment, these middle-aged women discover lasting friendships and a renewed determination to live in the moment–and most importantly, realize it’s never too late to make new old friends.”

“You’re Never Too Old” April 14 – 24

“Two aging brothers are reunited after a 16-year-old argument only to pick up their sibling rivalry where it left off. Max feels old and useless after his recent heart attack. Barney, his fraternal twin brother, shows up $16 million richer, with a 23-year-old bride and a business opportunity for Max. After more sibling rivalry ensues, they both realize there’s nothing more precious than family.”

Moran said from the performers to those behind the scenes, quite a bit of preparation goes into each Broadway Series season. While the effects of the pandemic are still being felt around the area, Moran said CPT staff is happy to be able to reunite in a safe manner to bring entertaining and exuberant shows to Cape Coral and Southwest Florida.

“From the moment we announced the season, our tech staff, costume designers and stage crews starting planning to set the stage for all 10 Broadway shows and are celebrating the fact they are finally back together again,” Moran said.

Moran said the theater is continuing to implement CDC guidelines, take temperature checks at the door and perform enhanced cleaning of the facility after each performance.

This is also a bittersweet season for Moran, who said he will retire at the end of September after decades of serving CPT as executive director.

“My favorite part of this time of year is the excitement of getting ready for our season starting in September, looking forward to patrons returning to our venue, and of course for me, setting my final season as executive director,” he said. “Our patrons will see Cultural Park Theater at its best. This is a very special season for me. I think this really will be one of the finest seasons ever for our theater.”

Season packages are $200 for all 10 shows, Snowbird passes are $160 for eight shows and they offer a 10-ticket flex-pass for $205 where you get 10 tickets to use for any show in the Broadway Series excluding concerts. Group rates are also available.

All evening shows start at 7 p.m. and matinees at 3 p.m.

Individual tickets are $29 for adults, $27 for seniors (60+), $20 for students (with ID), and $10 for children (under 10). Pick them up at Cultural Park Theater Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by calling 239-772-5862.

Cultural Park Theater is at 528 Cultural Park Blvd. in Cape Coral. For more information, visit www.culturalparktheater.com.

–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj