Maybe Returning to ‘Normal’

by Claudia Polzin, Independent Consultant

As we are hopefully coming out of the global pandemic – in Florida we will have to deal with hurricane season – beginning in June and continuing through November. Unfortunately, some
predictions are for it to begin early and be a difficult season – so as we always do we have to prepare to move from one crisis to another potential crisis. So it is more important than ever to find those things in our beautiful community that bring us peace and joy.

During these months the live entertainment options are very few; which seems strange to say since during the entire past year the live entertainment options were very few due to the pandemic.
The last concert in Cambier Park is listed for the Naples Concert Band on May 7 at 7 p.m. So it is time to explore the beautiful sunsets at Clam Pass or the Naples Pier – create your own music
with the beautiful sounds of nature around you. Watching the many birds in our area enjoy the water and sand and hear them talking to each other over the sound of the waves – this is nature at
work creating its own symphony.

Maybe it’s time for you to take up a new hobby – try your hand at painting – use the colors all around you to create your own visual arts symphony, or take a pottery course – create pieces that
you can share with your family and friends. Try coloring with your children or grandchildren – the coloring books that are available now are wonderful fun for all ages.

Some productions you can enjoy during the summer are the remarkable productions of KidzAct at The Naples Players. KidzAct creates remarkable theatre while teaching the young professionals multiple theatre skills. So enjoy these young actors as they present: Disney’s The Little Mermaid, July 1-3; The Wizard of Oz, July 30-August 1; and conclude the KidzAct season August 6-8 with the production of The Wedding Singer Teen – these young artists bring this hilarious musical to life.

The Naples Players is also planning for a full season for 2021-22 – so plan to celebrate their 68th season and enjoy many productions on the Sugden stage.

So that you can look forward to the 2021-22 season in Naples –start checking out your favorite venues and what they have planned for the upcoming seasons. It appears that Broadway will be back with seasons planned at Artis-Naples and Barbara B. Mann; with many of the productions that had to be cancelled for the 2020-21 season. TheatreZone is planning a full season beginning with the holiday program in December and concluding in April with the Bridges of Madison County and along the way you can also enjoy Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot.

With all that has been going on around us and in the world – it is good to take time to plan for the things that you love that bring you peace and joy – so take account of what that is and how you
can achieve that joy in your world that many times seems upside down. There are still many options for virtual concerts that many organizations post – the New York Philharmonic and several other orchestras have worked very hard to have concerts posted that you can enjoy in your home.

I, for one, am looking forward to something that resembles the arts world that I used to know for the 2021-22 season. So let’s plan together for the Naples arts venues to be able to open up and
provide all of us with the beautiful concerts and events that we all love – then it will be our turn to be sure to support them with our attendance and financial support.