Discover Culture in Collier, a 7-month outdoor entertainment season presented by The Naples Players (TNP), is the latest development in an effort to continue safely providing arts and culture programming while coronavirus concerns still linger.
The season will feature live music, theatre, art, and other monthly events utilizing a number of Collier County parks and outdoor attractions as the backdrop, the first of which are Drive-In Movies in downtown Naples starting in September.
Season Starts with New Drive-In Movies in Downtown Naples
TNP Drive-In Movie Nights will feature two movies each month projected onto a 33-foot screen using a state-of-the-art projection system. The events, sponsored by The Inn on 5th, are hosted in the newly refinished 50-car lot located at 300 8th Street South, just one block north of the iconic 5th Avenue South home of The Naples Players community theatre. The movie soundtracks will be broadcast over short-range FM radio to the cars in attendance.
The series begins with a 2-night screening of the musical movie Grease, on September 8th and 9th, followed by Jurassic Park on September 22nd and 23rd. Movies begin promptly at 8 p.m. Concessions and non-alcoholic refreshments are available for purchase. Due to space, ticketing is required in advance.
General admission is $45 per vehicle; but current TNP season ticket holders receive free admission on select “Season Ticket Holder Nights.” Additionally, current members of The Naples Players or Season Ticket Holders who want to attend the other movie evenings can purchase tickets for $20.
Additional Outdoor Events To Be Announced in Early September
Additional outdoor entertainment events as part of the Discover Culture in Collier series are slated for announcement in early September. Information about the full season of events will be available here.
“This shift in our season will not replace the revenue lost, nor will these experiences replace the joys of live theatre. But it’s most important to us to keep the arts, and our community’s spirits, alive by providing opportunities for people to safely experience culture together,” said TNP Executive Artistic Director, Bryce Alexander.
The Naples Players temporarily closed their doors on March 12th in response to COVID-19. Since then, the non-profit theatre had endured losses of more than $1.25m in lost revenue, ticket refunds, and season ticket sales. Even so, TNP has maintained its full staff and has been working to provide critical arts education and community building throughout this difficult time.