Take a marvel at The Marvelous Wonderettes at The Naples Players

Don’t be a drag – get in the groove and jive to your favorite nostalgic tunes of the 50s and 60s with The Naples Players’ (TNP) upcoming production of The Marvelous Wonderettes. Featuring nostalgic hits such as “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “It’s In His Kiss,” and “Heatwave,” this comedic jukebox musical will have audiences laughing, crying, and singing in their seats!

Described by the Los Angeles Times as “deliciously enjoyable” and The New York Times as “an utter CHARM bomb!”, The Marvelous Wonderettes is on stage from November 9 – 26 at Naples United Church of Christ in Beverly Hall.

Take a trip down memory lane and join the award-winning Wonderettes at their 1958 Springfield High School prom. Here you’ll meet Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy: four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts. As we learn about their lives, friendships, and loves, The Wonderettes invite prom goers to dance and sing the night away to classic 50s hits.

Fast forward a decade, and the Wonderettes have come together again to take the stage and perform at their 10-year reunion. Using popular 1960s songs, they reflect on their dreams from high school and the challenges and achievements the girls have experienced in the past decade and discover that no matter what life throws their way, they will conquer it together.

The award-winning duo of director and choreographer Dawn Lebrecht Fornara and music director Charles Fornara are joined by the following team of industry professionals: scenic designer Michael Santos, lighting designer Chris Riley, sound designer Bradley Van Houten, costume designer Mollie Berman, props coordinator Amy Hughes, stage manager Taylor Matthews, and assistant stage manager Hannah Klein.

Lebrecht Fornara oversees an all-star charming quartette of Naples favorites featuring (in alphabetical order) JILLIAN KEITH as MISSY, GIA PROVINZINO as FEMALE SWING, ERICA SAMPLE as SUZY, VANESSA TARABOCCHIA as BETTY JEAN, and LINDSEY WALSH as CINDY LOU.

Due to overwhelming demand, The Marvelous Wonderettes was extended by an additional week. From November 9 – November 26, 2023, performances are Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm. There will be no performance on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23rd. Instead, there will be an additional performance on Tuesday, November 21st at 7:30 pm.

 The Marvelous Wonderettes will be performed offsite at Naples United Church of Christ in Beverly Hall while The Naples Players’ historic 5th Ave S building undergoes a $20 million renovation.

General tickets are $49, and season ticket holders are offered a price of $39. Tickets include admission to the 4th Annual Trees and Teas Festival in McSpadden Hall.

Those interested can visit NaplesPlayers.org anytime or call the TNP Box Office at (239)263-7990.