Gulf Coast Life: Arts Edition

Actor, musician, and playwright Randy Noojin brings his one-man biographical and musical production “Seeger: The Music of Pete Seeger,” to Players Circle Theater for a limited performance run July 18-20. Noojin joins us to talk about this heartfelt tribute to the legendary folk singer and activist and perform live in studio.

In this second encore edition of our April show featuring Emmy-nominated jazz trumpeter, vocalist and composer Benny Benack III performing with the Florida Gulf Coast University Jazz Combo, we hear even more music performed live in studio, including a bonus track featuring Benack and FGCU Director of Jazz Studies and bassist Brandon Robertson.

Players Circle Theater is mounting a production of the hilarious and irreverent play “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” through July 13. The two-act play has three actors covering all of Shakespeare’s 37 plays in just 97 minutes. We take a deeper diver into the show in a conversation with director Ted Wioncek III, and actors AJ Mendini and Steven Kennedy.

Naples-based artist Muffy Clark Gill has a solo exhibition of works at the Alliance for the Arts titled, “Portraits of Perception.” Works in the exhibit highlight the artist’s work in the ancient Indonesian batik process and are inspired by her passion for travel.

The Alliance for the Arts is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Another milestone for the community-based arts nonprofit came in March with the selection of Neil Volz as its new executive director. Volz brings more than a quarter century of experience as an advocate, organizer, and nonprofit leader to the role. We talk with Volz about his background and the challenges and opportunities he will lead the organization through going forward.