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Meet our TNP Instructors

Learn from an extensive network of professional educators

The Naples Players attracts the best talent in local performers as well as teachers.  Our instructors come from all different backgrounds and have so much to offer to our students in the community.  We are delighted to introduce you to this talented group of people.  Continue reading to find out more! 

 

 

Quick Contacts:

Questions?

Maya Kleinsorge
Education Assistant
(239) 434-7340, ext. 136
Email Maya 

McKenna Cloud

McKenna Cloud is an Oklahoma City University Theater graduate and full time actor and teacher here in Naples. McKenna has trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford Upon Avon and has over 10 years of experience teaching theater education. She is trained in teaching Rainbow dance, acting, improv, and vocal technique. Her favorite part of teaching is getting to see the joy and connection theater brings to all ages.

Katie Cross

Katie Cross was raised in Colorado and received her BFA in Theater Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her theater credits include Sweet & Lucky (Denver Center/Third Rail Productions), The Tempest and Twelfth Night (Colorado Shakespeare Festival), In Flight: The Story of Sabine Van Dam (Gulfshore Playhouse Outreach), Art Dog (Denver Children’s Theater), and Christmas at Pemberley (Emerald Coast Theater Company). Film credits include Life’s Rewards (Amazon Prime), and Belleville Cop (Netflix). She has been a teaching artist for all ages for the last decade, and currently teaches performance classes at The Naples Players. Working on this production has been a joy thanks to the talents of all students involved! www.katiecross.com

Diane Davis

Diane Davis has taught adult acting workshops with showcases at The Naples Players for many years. She has directed and produced, is a veteran actor who has performed in every venue from dinner theater, TV commercials, Kodak demo films, mystery theater, on stages in Boston, NY, and Naples, FL. She has led several theater boards and co-founded a summer theatre camp for kids in upstate NY. She has coached for TNP KidzAct, directed TNP Reader’s Theatre Classics, Assistant Directed shows at TNP, and performed with TNP in Broadway Bound, Enchanted April, Six Dance Lessons, Crazy Mary, Rumors, Barefoot in the Park, Other Desert Cities, and Bell, Book, and Candle as well as performing with other local theaters. She spent 20 years playing leading roles in musicals in New York and has been a guest speaker on “The Magic of Theater” for local Naples groups. She coaches a Naples TV commercial and offers private coaching for auditions and other public presentations.

 

Marcus Dean Fuller

Marcus Dean Fuller is an actor, writer, director, producer and educator with over 25 years of experience working in stage, television, and film. Marcus is honored to be working with such a wonderful education team would like to thank his family and friends for all their support!

 

Jill Demchak

Jill Demchak has been teaching the children of Collier and Lee County since relocating to Florida in 2001.  In 2007 she opened Spotlight Dance Studio on Marco Island, with the purpose of passing her love & knowledge of dance to her students.In the Fall of 2015 she joined the staff of KidzAct as an Instructor. She has Choreographed for Nutcracker goes Pop and last Spring’s production of CATS.  Also a performer, Jill has been seen on stage in many TNP productions since 2002. 

 

Kit FitzSimons

Kit FitzSimons has been teaching, coaching and performing improv, theater, and movement for half his life. He has taught parkour, done motion-capture for Epic Games, taught classes and workshops in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and toured with multiple improv teams up and down the east coast. He believes in the power of Two Minute Bravery, the thrill of parallel creativity, and the goofy spectacle of teeny-tiny chicken feet. (You’ll see.)

Charles Fornara

Charles Fornara has previously conducted at TNP The Wedding Singer, She Loves Me, Mamma Mia, Chicago, Sister Act, The Rocky Horror Show, Catch Me If You Can, Legally Blonde, The Spitfire Grill, Les Misérables, All Shook Up, 42nd Street and many, many others, as well as over 20 teen productions for KidzAct. Also in Naples for TheatreZone, he has music directed more than 30 shows including this year’s entire Showstoppers series, Aida, The Secret Garden, Legs Diamond, Sweet Smell of Success, Grand Hotel, Little Women and Hair. Originally from Providence, RI, Chas conducted Jim Steinman and Roman Polanski’s Dance of the Vampires in Stuttgart, and has taught and coached singers all over the US and Germany, now offering private lessons here in Naples. A proud member of Actors’ Equity, he has appeared in almost 100 musicals, operas and concerts, including several appearances here in Naples with TheatreZone, most recently as the title role in Sweeney Todd. Much love to his beautiful wife, Dawn.

 

Dawn Lebrecht Fornara

Dawn Lebrecht Fornara is a native of New York and has served as director and choreographer for TNP’s The Wedding Singer, Footloose, She Loves Me, Mamma Mia, Chicago, Sister Act, The Rocky Horror Show, Catch Me If You Can, Legally Blonde, The Spitfire Grill and 42nd Street, among others, and with KidzAct for many productions, including Joseph…Dreamcoat, Hairspray, Disney’s Camp Rock, Les Misérables and Cats. She has choreographed many shows for TNP, including All Shook Up, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Cabaret, and, as a performer, she has been seen in the National Tours of 42nd Street, Seussical the Musical, Anything Goes and Grease. A proud member of Actors’ Equity, she has been seen here in Naples in TheatreZone’s Sweeney Todd (Beggar Woman), Jekyll & Hyde (Lucy), Stepping Out with Donna McKechnie, Legs Diamond (Kiki) and Hair, among others. Other recent roles include Sheila/A Chorus Line, Sally Bowles, Velma Kelly, Bombalurina/Cats and Ulla/The Producers. Love to husband Chas and her family.

 

Jillian Keith

Jillian Keith is a BA graduate from the University of Westminster. During her time in London, she was a teaching assistant at West End Musical Theatre and the president and assistant choreographer of her university’s theatre society. She is an experienced improv performer, previously dedicating four years to ComedySportz in Minneapolis, MN. She also spent three years as a Theatre for All ambassador and aided in bringing unified programming to the International Thespian Festival and local schools. Jillian is now a wellness instructor here at TNP as well as a KidzAct class and productions instructor.

 

Maya Kleinsorge

Maya Kleinsorge (Education Assistant) (she/hers) is grateful to be part of The Naples Players’ Education team. She is a graduate of Michigan State University where she acquired a BFA in Advertising and two minors in Theatre and Arts & Cultural Management. Maya loves to explore new places and laugh with everyone she meets. She is thrilled to be spending time with your student in and out of their class and hopes they have as much fun as she does! Don’t hesitate to ask her about herself or what classes we are offering!

 

Ralph Krumins

Ralph Krumins is thrilled to be joining this den of iniquity. Ralph is the Director of Performing Arts at Seacrest Country Day School **Go Stingrays**. Previous credits include Harold Hill/The Music Man, Jekyll/Hyde/Jekyll & Hyde, Gary Lejeune/Noises Off, and Buddy Holly/Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. He spends his spare time writing musicals and doing the make-’em-ups with troupes Stage 2 Improv, Alpha & Beta, and Murphy Bed Surprise. A big shout out to his two little puritans, Benji & Mabel.

 

Erica Sample

Erica Dale Sample graduated from AMDA in 2015 with her BFA. She has performed at Broadway Palm Dinner Theater and choreographs for Florida Repertory Theater, Gulf Coast High (where her choreography has received several Jimmy Awards), and has directed, choreographed, and assistant directed several productions at TNP and KidzAct. Select TNP performance credits: Linda/The Wedding Singer, Roxie Hart/Chicago, Sophie/Mamma Mia!, Judy Haynes/White Christmas, and Sister Mary Robert/Sister Act. Under the name Erica Dale she has also released four original singles available wherever you stream or download music. (Ericadale.com)

 

Summer Pliskow

Summer Pliskow received her BFA in Acting and her Certification in Arts in Medicine from the University of Florida; and her Master of Arts in Applied Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She then worked with the National Healthcare System (NHS), held different workshops in care facilities and hospitals, and worked with schools in underdeveloped communities to help students who needed additional support in the school environment.

Summer joined The Naples Players earlier this year, building on an established wellness program that had grown significantly in only a few short years. Summer has since been able to take her experience and build new programs with new partners, new approaches, and new students. Her passion lies in utilizing theatre to promote personal, social, and cultural wellbeing within the greater community through storytelling, devising, and the performing arts – and The Naples Players has been the perfect place to do just that.

 

Craig Price

Craig Price trained and performed with The Second City in Chicago and with ImprovOlympic (now The IO Theater) where he trained with the legendary Del Close. Craig then spent five years performing with ComedySportz of Denver and five years on the road as a stand-up comedian. When Craig landed in Naples he was immediately drawn to The Naples Players, where he performed in Oliver!, Beauty and the Beast, and taught kids and adults Improv. He formed Bonita City Improv and directed the Youth Improv Program. Craig is proud to be back with The Naples Players as Director of Community Education and Wellness. Craig Price designs and teaches classes for students of all abilities where they learn valuable communication skills through the practice of Improv and Acting exercises. Many of Craig’s students from CCPS and STARability Foundation have used what they have learned in his classes to transition into jobs, living facilities, and universities.

 

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

BOX OFFICE

The Naples Players
701 5th Avenue South, Naples, Florida 34102

(239) 263-7990

Monday-Saturday: 10am to 7pm
Sunday: CLOSED

*Will-Call & Wait-List opens 2 hours before curtain

Main OFFICE

(239) 434-7340
Monday-Friday: 10am to 5pm

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Voted Best Live Theatre for 17 Consecutive Years

Due to construction delays, The Producers has been postponed to June 26 - July 21, 2024, and changed to 42nd Street.

Learn more about our 2024/2025 shows here...