Finding The Naples Players:
When Tina Moroni first moved to Naples, she knew she wanted to find her way into the local acting community. After searching online and walking by The Naples Players, she was immediately impressed by the production quality and the theatre itself. “It felt like a good start,” she recalls. So she waited patiently for a show that sparked her interest and when that moment came, she jumped in. Since joining TNP in 2017, Tina has contributed in a remarkable variety of ways including acting, choreography, wig work, community partnership initiatives with NCH, and even hostage negotiation training collaborations. Her versatility behind the scenes matches her dynamic presence on stage, making her impact felt across departments.
Favorite Roles & Meaningful Moments:
Tina’s first production, Maple and Vine, will always hold a special place in her heart. It marked the beginning of what would become years of creative collaboration and lasting friendships. Some standout roles include: Playing a murderess in Chicago & Being delightfully “bendy” in The Games Afoot and The Play That Goes Wrong (she’s very fond of playing dead and otherwise unconscious!) Beyond performance, some of her most meaningful moments came through community work aligned with hostage negotiation initiatives, including receiving a Sheriff’s Appreciation Award for those efforts. For Tina, it’s all about connection. “The people. My friends who are now family,” she says. “Meeting and getting constant exposure to different generations, cultures, and walks of life that I get to experience through them.” The theatre has become more than a creative outlet it’s a community that continues to expand her world.
Theatre Skills in the Real World:
Tina’s full-time career is as impressive as her stage presence. She manages a Molecular Oncology lab, overseeing DNA sequencing to identify mutations associated with different types of cancer. She credits her theatre work with strengthening key skills she uses daily:
- Flexibility
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Empathy
- Staying calm under pressure
- Presenting with confidence
“The skills I hone at TNP make me better at solving problems in out-of-the-box ways,” she shares. “And musicals keep my body in shape!”
A Life in Motion:
Born and raised in South Jersey, Tina’s first career was as a professional ballet dancer with a Philadelphia-based company. After retiring from ballet, she transitioned into social and ballroom dancing and even taught salsa while returning to school. She earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in DNA and Serology and now manages a Molecular department at a reference oncology lab. A few years ago, she added wig design to her growing list of talents and now collaborates with JamieLynn Bucci to create wigs for multiple theatres across Naples and Fort Myers. From ballet dancer to scientist, Murderess to molecular lab manager, Choreography to cancer research.
Tina embodies the creative, driven, and community-centered spirit that defines The Naples Players.
