By Michael Moran
Our 58th season continues in October with the final weekend of Jersey Girls. A main stage staple at the theater, we are showcasing this revue revamped, fresh and original. Yet this show in itself has become a repeating hit on our stage by audience demand. Each recreation of this hit has had audiences on their feet, singing, laughing and yes sometimes dancing in the aisles.
From opening on our main stage in 2015 and now back by popular demand, it’s Jersey Girls. A tribute to the many girl groups we all loved to hear like The Supremes, The Shirelles, The Angels and many more, it will take you back on a truly nostalgic trip with songs like “Stop in the Name of Love,” “Heat Wave,” “My Boyfriend’s Back” and many more, as our contestants gather at the Jersey shore to compete for the coveted title of the Best Jersey Girl Group.
Opening on stage Oct. 22 and running through Nov. 1 is the wild Joe Simonelli comedy Wake Me at Midnight. As an added treat this year, the show is being directed by Joe Simonelli himself as he recently retired to Florida.
Join us as we revisit this comic hit about struggling playwright Ted Santi who is waking his “black sheep” uncle Joey upstairs at the funeral home while all hell is breaking loose downstairs in the lounge. Who are some of the people you’re likely to run into at an Italian wake? How about your ex-wife, ex-girlfriend, current girlfriend, local bookie and pesky funeral director, all of whom you owe money to. What’s a guy in need of quick cash to do? How about enlist the aid of his zany relatives to find the winning sweepstakes ticket that the practical joking decedent has hidden somewhere in the funeral parlor on which the statute of limitations is set to expire at midnight.
We also have a Haunted Theater Walk for kids on Halloween from 7 to 9 p.m. Children of all ages will enjoy the haunted theater tour followed with a trunk or treat in our parking lot. Since our local children are not likely able to go door to door this season, we thought this would be a great family alternative for the season. Admission to the theater is $10.
Also for those improv lovers out there …. actor, writer and comedian – Kevin Farley has been in over 60 films including cult classics like Tommy Boy & Black Sheep, 50 television shows including multiple Emmy Award winning “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Join Kevin for a 3 hour interactive, intensive course in the three things he knows best – improv, scene study and stand up. Join us for some fun and laughter Sunday, Oct. 18 from 1 – 4 p.m.
This season, our schedules for productions are Thursdays at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays at 3 p.m. With our priority of keeping everyone comfortable, safe and wonderfully entertained, the theater will open at 6 for our 7 p.m. shows, 7 for the 8 p.m. shows and 2 for matinees at 3 p.m. When you come in, you will be able to go directly to your seats so not to crowd the lobby areas. Also keeping with strict social distancing guidelines, we only are selling 55 seats of our 200 seat house, and we do require masks in the building. We have suspended our meet and greet with the cast after productions. To reduce congested hallways, guests will exit the theater through several doors at the end of the performance.
We realize it is impossible to guarantee we can eliminate the risk of people catching the virus outside of staying at home. Our protocols are posted on our website, and we are continuing super sanitization of the building, costumes, props and limited contact with staff. We are taking every step to insure our patrons of the safety precautions when they enter Cultural Park. Our theater is daily fogged and sanitized with hospital grade disinfectant.
Cultural Park Theater is located at 528 Cultural Park Blvd,. Cape Coral. Call the box office for more info at 239-772-5862.
Michael Moran is executive director of Cultural Park Theatre Company.
