20082009 Annual Report

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2008-2009 Annual Report
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  Gulfshore Playhouse is Naples first and
finest self producing-professional theatre
company, currently producing exclusively at the
Norris Center in downtown Naples. Gulfshore
Playhouse is passionately devoted to creating
nationally noteworthy professional theatre from
the powerful and inspiring classics, to
innovative new works. It is unwaveringly
committed to bringing the best theatre
professionals in our country to the stages and
the classrooms of Southwest Florida.          
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Founder and Producing Artistic Director Kristen
Coury is a resident of Naples and an experienced
director, producer and theatre manager with a
career spanning nearly two decades in various
aspects of the theatre business. Incorporated
in 2004, Gulfshore Playhouse is a not-for-profit
501 (c) (3) organization that has been providing
quality professional theatre and unique
educational opportunities to residents and
visitors of Southwest Florida since 2006 .
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The Gulfshore Playhouse Board of Directors
Chairman
Secretary
President
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The Gulfshore Playhouse Advisory Boards
Advisory Board Roger Baker Philip Beuth Don
Gunther Jason Hunter Korn Christine Paddock Ned
Sachs
Artistic Advisory Board Anna Maria
Alberghetti Alan Campbell Carol Channing Franc
DAmbrosio Brian Lane Green
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Our Mission

• To enrich producing the finest high-quality
  professional theatre, creating a stimulating
  cultural environment which is affordable and
  accessible to all
• To educate providing first-class in-school
  educational outreach for students and unique
  learning opportunities for residents and visitors
  of all ages
• To entertain Encouraging all people in our
  diverse community to explore theatre as an art
  form, thus contributing to the growth of
  Southwest Florida as a cultural center

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Our Values

• Excellence To draw from the finest professional
  actors, singers and creative personnel the
  country has to offer while simultaneously
  encouraging and supporting the development of
  local talent
• Service To respond to community tastes and
  needs, acknowledging that theatrical art cannot
  be sustained without its audience. We are
  committed to excellence in every aspect of the
  community's experience of Gulfshore Playhouse.
• Inclusion Theatre exists for the masses.
  Gulfshore Playhouse will serve people from the
  broad spectrum of race, creed and socio-economic
  levels.

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ART SMART, which is currently up and running in
both Collier and Lee County, offers theatre-based
workshops that are brought into classrooms during
the school day to teach curriculum
content.  Correlating with the Sunshine State
Standards, these workshops teach literacy and
numeracy skills while fostering self-esteem,
self-confidence and cooperative learning.
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ART SMART staff has designed a series of
residencies, classes and workshops that educate
by delivering traditional curriculum (history,
science, social studies, etc.) through arts-based
lessons. Recently the National Education
Association awarded a grant to support the
innovative work Gulfshore Playhouse is
undertaking with Bonita Springs Elementary
School. The project, expanding curriculum
delivery methods in the classroom, was one of
only 30 funded nationwide out of hundreds of
applicants.   Under the direction of Ms.
Irene Horowitz, Director of Education for
Gulfshore Playhouse and an award-winning
educator, these ART SMART educational programs
are staffed by a pool of professional educators
with significant arts backgrounds. All Art Smart
programs integrate into numerous traditional
curriculum topics, enhance delivery of those
subjects and provide a resource to teachers.
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ART SMART Funders
In 2008-2009, ART SMART received grants
from The National Education Association Suncoast
for Kids Foundation The Rabb Family
Foundation The United Arts Council of Collier
County This enabled us to bring 22 workshops to
approximately 600 students without any fee to the
school or school district. Many of the areas
schools, especially those designated Title 1, can
not afford even the half-price fees ART SMART
charges. (While the total cost of offering one
residency is approximately 765, Gulfshore
Playhouse charges schools 350 only, making up
the difference through earned income and
individual donations.)
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Educational Offerings
This year, we are proud to have instituted
Adult Classes - ranging from stage combat to
audition technique, movement and mask work, as
well as master classes given by Tony-Award
winning actors, Award-winning singer/songwriters,
and Broadway veterans The STAR Program The
Student Theatre Artists in Residence for young
adults ages 14-18 which focuses on acting
training, technical theatre, and lectures given
by various professionals in the field
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Gulfshore Playhouse Productions
Mainstage Productions Our seasons are comprised
of three to four productions each year. These
shows are carefully selected to provide Southwest
Florida audiences with an enriching, entertaining
and unique experience each time they come to the
theatre. These plays feature highly talented
professional actors and skilled theatre artisans
producing New York-quality theatre right here in
Naples. Music Events Gulfshore Playhouse
continues to give area residents and visitors an
experience they can find no where else with two
special concert/cabaret events. These events
find the theatre at the Norris Center transformed
into a New York-style jazz club. These nights of
song and entertainment spotlight unique
performers from up-and-comers to Broadway
veterans. Annual Charity Golf Classic This
annual fundraising event includes a reception/
silent auction, lively golf tournament followed
by an awards dinner and ceremony. Participants
include patrons, supporters and sponsors in
registered foursomes.
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Recognition from the Community
In the Fall of 2008, the Norris Center, current
home of Gulfshore Playhouse, won the Star Award
for Live Theatre from the Naples Daily News
Choice Awards. In the same season, Producing
Artistic Director Kristen Coury was the recipient
of the 40 Under 40 distinction, awarded to the
top professionals in southwest Florida by
Gulfshore Business Magazine. Kristen was also
honored to be featured on the cover of e Bella
Magazine in November 2008.
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2008-2009 Productions
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We are proud to have been able to produce several
Florida Premieres, including Another Night
Before Christmas this season, which was only the
second time it was done in the country. In
addition, we also produced Tartuffe, a comedy
over 300 years old, replete with period costumes,
wigs, fans and walking sticks, reminding
audiences that comedy is timeless, and good
writing never gets old. We cast all our shows in
New York, seeking members of the Actors Equity
Union to populate most of our cast openings, as
well as attend FPTA (The Florida Professional
Theatre Association) auditions and hold local
auditions as well.
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Potential for Growth in Production Area
As Gulfshore Playhouse grows and stabilizes, the
intention is to continue to add to the number of
productions each year until a traditional
nine-month season is attained. This kind of
expansion is especially challenging when the
organization must work out of leased space
forcing it to accommodate the schedules of other
organizations and negotiate the space issues that
naturally arise in these situations.   In
addition, the acquisition of space dedicated not
to performance, but rather to the technical
necessities of production such as set and props
construction, costume creation and storage as
well as rehearsals would actually reduce costs
now associated with renting these additional
spaces.  
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Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Income Detail
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Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Expense Detail
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2008-2009 Sponsors
Patty and Jay Baker Bob and Pam Cahners Bob and
Linda Harden Edward and Marquelda Jones John
and Dottie Remondi Christine Paddock
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2008-2009 Donors
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Future Goals
Our dream continues to be to create a building of
our own a state-of-the-art theatre space for our
year-round season, a black-box for cabaret
events, childrens theatre and experimental
programming, and an educational wing for hosting
an increased roster of opportunities for the
community. Until then, well continue to bring
you professional theatre at affordable prices and
unique educational opportunities. Hope to see
you on opening night!
www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org (239)-566-8394