Do you love America's Got Talent? American Idol?
Then, you need to tune into NaplesPlayers.org/live to catch the talent of Naples' own young voices.
The Naples Players (TNP) celebrated their 2020 high school seniors with a special live-streaming performance featuring the participants in their KidzAct Theatre Arts Education Program. The event, titled Senior Spotlight Night, showcased a number of local teen performers live from Blackburn Hall stage inside The Naples Players' iconic Sugden Community Theatre in downtown Naples.
Watch the star-studded show on TNP's Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as on their website at NaplesPlayers.org/live. In conjunction with this event, Mr. Heny Price has stepped forward with a $10,000 matching fund donation to support TNP Education Scholarships. Nearly 70% of children in the TNP KidzAct Education program classes receive some degree of need-based financial assistance. Since closing their doors in response to COVID-19 in March, the non-profit theatre has lost more than $500,000 from canceled shows, ticket refunds, and delays in season ticket sales.
Alex Portaro
Is attending East Carolina University to pursue my BFA in Musical Theatre! An active KidzAct student since 2015 she has been seen in Emma! A Pop Musical, Sister Act and recently starred as Sophie in Mamma Mia. She is grateful for the growth she has experienced and is proud to call herself a KidzAct Alumni!
Sade Bassan
Will be attending the University of Tampa to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre. She has worked extensively backstage as an Assistant Stage Manager on Madagascar Jr. and Frozen Jr., as well as assisted with wigs for You Can’t Take It With You. Her favorite KidzAct memory is when she had to step in to play Gloria for Madagascar Jr.’s design run. Dancing and singing with the little kids was so fun!
Logan Szittai
Received a Broadway Star of the Future Award: Supporting performer for his role in Hairspray and was the Vice President of the Gulf Coast High School Drama Club this past year. He will be attending Brown University to study engineering. KidzAct credits include, Fame, Emma!, Sister Act and Chicago and most recently starred as Hugo Peabody in TNP’s production of Bye Bye Birdie.
Rylee Price
Is attending Florida State University in the fall majoring in psychology. And although she is not pursuing theatre, she credits her time at The Naples Players for helping her to come out of her shell. A KidzAct student since the age of 8, Rylee has been seen in numerous KidzAct and mainstage TNP productions.
Giszelle “Gigi” Kirton
Most recently was seen as Mary in KidzAct’s virtual production of Pride & Prejudice. She also played the iconic Kolenkhov in last year’s KidzAct production of You Can’t Take It With You. She will be attending Florida Southwestern State College to complete a General Studies degree before transferring. She plans to double major in acting and screenwriting.
Lila Prince
Is grateful for meeting so many of her mentors at KidzAct and will be pursuing a BFA in musical theatre from the University of Utah. She has been a KidzAct student for 7 years with many memorable performances including Brenda in Catch Me If You Can and Donna in Mamma Mia!
Thomas Richardson
Credits KidzAct for his passion and love of musical theatre. He will be studying theatre at Florida State University. He has been a student of KidzAct for 12 years and feels it has changed his life. He not only performed extensively in KidzAct but also on the mainstage in the TNP productions, Guys and Dolls, White Christmas and Mamma Mia.
The Naples Players are offering inventive educational experiences as well as groundbreaking virtual entertainment. Their goal is to be a source of support to this community in these unique times. But with more than $850,000 in affected ticket revenue -every donation makes a difference. Donate at NaplesPlayers.org
