For 20 years Gulfshore Playhouse held weekly performances at the Norris Community Center bringing a steady flow of guests through its doors.
Many supporters worried how the center would fill its venue spaces when the theatre company left to move into its own venue in April 2024.
Those worries have been put to rest as the community center continues to keep its event calendar full over two years after the Playhouse’s exit, center operators say.
In the months leading up to the Playhouse’s move, the Norris Center planned new events and a pivot toward a well-rounded entertainment venue focused on a wider range of events compared to its previous theatre focus.
“While certainly a switch from having a consistent long-term renter, we feel that the Naples community is best served by having both options, a great venue with Gulfshore Playhouse for their performances, and a local community theatre that provides a wide variety of entertainment options,” the center wrote in an email to Naples Daily News.
‘Wide variety of entertainment’
The Norris Community Center staff set several internal goals leading up to the departure of Gulfshore Playhouse.
The goals were:
- “To provide our patrons with a wide variety of entertainment options”
- “To provide the community with an extensive number of cultural programs, event, and classes; and”
- “To return to a true community center, where all residents can recreate and enjoy life together.”
According to the email, the center was successful in achieving those goals.
“In the two seasons since Gulfshore Playhouse moved (Fall 2024 through Spring 2026), the Norris Center has either partnered with or served as the rental venue for over 130 shows, performances, film nights, etc,” the email said.
Those events included comedy, jazz, bluegrass, opera and small theatre shows, among other events.
During the lower-demand summer months, the venue shifts to feature summer camps, while still hosting performances by the Naples Dixieland Jazz Band every other Saturday.
Visitors returning to the area in the fall can expect a similar schedule of events to the previous season with a variety of offerings.
“The Norris Center staff is actively booking shows and performances for the upcoming season, still focusing on this well-rounded entertainment model,” the email said. “Information on all shows and performances can be found on the City of Naples website, or our printed season guides available at The Norris Center.”
You can reach Naples Daily News reporter Alexa Ryan at [email protected].
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
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