From Broadway to Naples: Mark and Karen Danni’s TheatreZone Celebrates 20 Years in 2025
TheatreZone is Naples’ Premier Professional Musical Theatre Company
Mark Danni and Karen Molnar Danni are household names in Southwest Florida’s theatre world. Mark, a director, conductor and percussionist, and Karen, an actress and choreographer, established Naples’ TheatreZone in 2005 and are celebrating the 20th season of the theatre company in 2025.
Prior to moving to Naples, the couple enjoyed flouring musical theatre careers in New York City on and Off-Broadway. Mark’s 2019 gig playing percussion on the national tour of Fame: The Musical at the Naples Philharmonic (former name of Artis-Naples), brought him and Karen to Naples.
They recognized Naples as a booming town and bought a vacation home in north Naples. A series of fortunate events conspired to lure the Dannis to Naples full-time. In 2002, Mark Danni agreed to become the first director of theatre at Community School of Naples, if he could also create a professional Equity theatre company to be in residence in the theater building on the school’s campus.
“We liked the idea of being ‘in the zone’ when you came to our productions,” as Mark explains the name. Their first task was securing a contract with the Actors’ Equity Association to ensure access to the country’s best actors, singers, dancers, musicians, and stage management professionals. TheatreZone was the first professional Equity theatre in Naples.
Another milestone was establishing TheatreZone as a nonprofit 501(c)3 theatre in 2005. Becoming a nonprofit enabled the company to accept tax deductible donations to help with production costs, staffing and keeping ticket prices affordable.
The Dannis brought passion and fire to Naples when creating TheatreZone and have drawn musical theatre luminaries to its stage from the outset.
“Our first production was Jerry Herman’s Mack & Mabel starring Gary Sandy, star of WKRP In Cincinnati and was such a success that we said let’s do another one immediately,” said Mark.
“We’ve been fortunate to cast incredible talent in our musicals, including celebrities and Broadway veterans,” Mark said. Highlights include Donna McKechnie, Tony Award-winning star of A Chorus Line and TV's Fame; Eddie Mekka, Laverne & Shirley; Georgia Engel, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Everybody Loves Raymond; Andrea McArdle, Broadway’s original Annie; Nancy Dussault, Too Close for Comfort and the original Broadway production of The Sound of Music, and many more.
The 20th season musical lineup is full of passion and fun and continues the Dannis’ flair for selecting a bold and vibrant mix of a big Broadway splash (Jersey Boys) and three edgier gems – Once (a Tony Award-Winning Best Musical), Kander & Ebbs The Rink, and Ghost: The Musical, based on the hit movie.
For complete details and booking, visit Theatre.Zone.