Behind the Curtain

The art and complexity of securing Broadway Rights at The Naples Players

Each season, thousands of patrons gather at the newly renovated Sugden Community Theatre to experience live performance at The Naples Players (TNP). A beloved cornerstone of the local arts scene for over 70 years, TNP operates on an extraordinary scale, supported each year by thousands of subscribers, over 850 active volunteers, and generous private and corporate supporters who champion the theater and its education programs. Yet long before actors take the stage, musicians tune their instruments, or set pieces are built, an intricate administrative process happens behind the scenes: securing official production rights to present major theatrical works.

The Journey to Bringing

Come From Away to Naples

Bringing a major Broadway production to a community stage involves far more than purchasing script copies. When TNP unveiled its Season 73 lineup, it featured the Tony® and Olivier Award-winning musical Come From Away, scheduled to run from November 18 through December 20, 2026. Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the musical tells the true story of 7,000 stranded airline passengers welcomed by the town of Gander, Newfoundland, following the airspace closure on September 11, 2001.

To bring this global hit to Collier County, TNP must navigate the highly regulated world of theatrical licensing. Securing performance rights requires months of careful planning and clearing rigorous legal hurdles well before rehearsals can ever begin.

An Exclusive Offer

At the foundation of this process is obtaining formal performance rights from theatrical publishing houses, such as Music Theatre International or Concord Theatricals. These organizations manage intellectual property on behalf of show creators, ensuring that playwrights, composers, and lyricists are properly authorized and compensated.

Each season, Artistic Director Phillip Fazio and Executive Artistic Director Bryce Alexander carefully select productions based on many factors, but applying for rights does not guarantee approval. Availability can be affected by geography, competing productions, national tours, timing, and other restrictions.

Come From Away was different. TNP was approached directly by the licensing company and became one of the first theatres in the region to be offered the opportunity to produce the musical before rights were widely available.

For a community-based theatre, the early offer was both an honor and an extraordinary opportunity, particularly for a season centered on “Celebrating Stories That Unite Us.”

“This is arguably the title that embodies our season theme the most, and we are thrilled to bring this show and its message of kindness, unity, and hope to our community this holiday season,” said Fazio.

Once rights are secured, TNP must follow strict licensing requirements, including written approval before announcing a show, holding auditions, or selling tickets, as well as artistic guidelines that protect the integrity of the original work.

Fulfilling the Mission With Volunteer Power

While patrons enjoy the seamless magic on stage, few realize the significant administrative effort and financial investment required just to secure show rights. Yet as a volunteer-driven organization, TNP keeps ticket prices as reasonable as possible. By fueling every production with skilled local volunteers instead of salaried actors, TNP channels its resources into bringing premier Broadway shows to Naples while keeping ticket prices affordable.

TNP’s commitment to arts access includes ticket discounts for educators, students, first responders, and veterans, alongside a flexible pay-what-you can program. TNP prioritizes inclusive theatre experiences, offering a dedicated sensory-friendly performance date for Come From Away (December 1), and the option to book the Patti Hepburn Sensory Booth for any regularly scheduled performance in the Kizzie Theater.

Balancing strict licensing standards with an unwavering dedication to its volunteers and community, The Naples Players honors the creators of Come From Away while ensuring that uplifting, Broadway-caliber storytelling remains welcoming and accessible to everyone across Collier County.

To Get Involved:

Pamela Larkin Caruso, plarkincaruso@naplesplayers.og, (239) 434-7340, ext. 104

Have questions?

For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit NaplesPlayers.org or call the box office at (239) 263-7990

We love getting new volunteers into the mix! If you’re new to the area or just new to volunteering at TNP, don’t hesitate to join the fun.

Test your skills at the next audition, or contact Pamela Larkin Caruso today at (239) 434-7340 ext. 104 to find out what other opportunities there are backstage and front of house.