Players Circle marks last season at the Shell Factory
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Players Circle Theater has announced it will drop its final curtain at the Shell Factory when its 2022-23 season concludes.
Players Circle Theater will move to the New Phoenix Theatre in the heart of the McGregor Corridor (next to SPADA, First Watch, Norman Love, Golden Rind and Melting Pot) in Fort Myers.
Players Circle Theater opened its final show of the season on Saturday with the comedy, “The Foreigner,” which will run until May 7.
“The Foreigner” follows the story of Charlie, a pathologically shy Englishman who is brought to a fishing lodge in Georgia by a friend as a means to escape his depression over learning of his wife’s unfaithfulness back in London.
He tells his friend that he doesn’t want to speak to anyone who comes up with the idea to tell everyone that Charlie is a foreigner and cannot speak or understand a word of English.
Robert Cacioppo, the theater’s artistic director, said that while The Shell Factory has been a great home for the theater over the last four years, it wasn’t drawing the attendance they had hoped, especially early in the season when the theater was half-full or less.
“I’m very proud of the theater we created and the friends we made. It’s amazing we survived,” Cacioppo said. “There’s just not enough density of population or wealth here to support a professional theater for the attendance and donations we need.”
When Cacioppo found the New Phoenix Theater was available and that the location was perfect, he and his board agreed it was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.
After the final show, they will begin moving their $250,000 worth of lights, seats and risers to its new space, for which they have signed a five-year lease.
“Around 80 percent of our donors come from Fort Myers and not North Fort Myers. We’ll be serving the people who make donations,” Cacioppo said. “We’re not moving to Wisconsin. It’s 12 miles away. It will give people a fun place to go.”
They will officially take it over on July 1, and plan on some renovations and to use the months of July, August, and September to prepare the space, get new signage, advertise, sell tickets and subscriptions and secure artists.
The new season will begin Oct. 17, with the full slate of productions already decided upon. Players Circle plans on keeping the theater running year round, at first with professional theater, then adding children’s programs, classes, music, and comedy shows.
As for the Shell Factory location, Cacioppo said it will be set up as a nightclub where comedians, bands and other entertainers can come to perform.
Tickets for “The Foreigner” are $50 for VIP, $35 for general (side seating).
Performances are Tuesday through Thursday and Saturdays at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.
For tickets call 239-800-3292 or go online to, www.playerscircletheater.com.
Resident musician Danny Sinoff will take the stage on Monday, May 8, at 7 p.m. presenting the Bobby Darin songbook, which will be the final show under the auspices of Player’s Circle.
The theater is at 16554 N. Cleveland Ave, in the Shell Factory complex.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com