The Naples Players offers The Hallelujah Girls
The Hallelujah Girls MAY 7 – MAY 25, 2025
By Jones Hope Wooten
Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Georgia, decide to shake up their lives. The action in this rollicking Southern comedy takes place in SPA-DEE-DAH!, the abandoned church-turned-day-spa where this group of friends gathers every Friday afternoon. After the loss of a dear friend, the women realize time is precious, and if they’re going to change their lives and achieve their dreams, they have to get on it now! But Sugar Lee, their high-spirited, determined leader, has her hands full keeping the women motivated. Carlene’s given up on romance, having buried three husbands. Nita’s a nervous wreck from running interference between her problematic son and his probation officer. Mavis’ marriage is so stagnant she’s wondering how she can fake her own death to get out of it. And sweet, simple Crystal entertains them all, singing Christmas carols with her own hilarious lyrics. The comic tension mounts when a sexy ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly, a marriage proposal comes from an unlikely suitor and Sugar Lee’s archrival vows she’ll stop at nothing to steal the spa away from her. By the time the women rally together to overcome these obstacles and launch their new, improved lives, you’ve got a side-splitting, joyful comedy that will make you laugh out loud and shout “Hallelujah!”
TICKETS:
Individual Tickets: $50 – $55
Subscriber Tickets: $41 – $45
LOCATION:
Kizzie Theater
701 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102
BEHIND the SCENES
PARTNERS IN LIFE AND ON STAGE
When Betsy Greenblatt and Mitch Frank moved to Naples in 2020, they were searching for sunshine, simplicity—and maybe something new to share. What they found was community, creativity, and connection through The Naples Players.
The couple, married for over 40 years, are performing together in The Hallelujah Girls, their first mainstage production at TNP. Though both had theatrical roots—Mitch from high school and college, Betsy from law school reader’s theater—they didn’t initially realize they shared a passion for the stage.
“We met through family connections,” Betsy recalled. “My mother mentioned I was single, Mitch’s uncle said the same. Mitch got my number… and waited six months to call me!” she laughed. “Our first date was Dracula the Musical. We were engaged three months later.”
While raising their family in Montclair, New Jersey, Betsy joined their local community theater after their son was born. When she wasn’t cast, she worked backstage—eventually landing roles. Mitch returned to the stage after a 15-year break, and they began performing together, one or two shows a year. After retiring from legal careers, they relocated to Naples. A casting call from The Naples Players reignited their theater journey. Though Mitch’s first TNP role in It’s a Wonderful Life was canceled due to illness, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. Soon, both joined TNP’s Reader’s Theatre and its Traveling Road Show—bringing performances directly to senior communities across Naples.
Mitch now directs the Road Show, while both continue to perform regularly. The work is meaningful and accessible, even for those not ready to commit to full productions.
In The Hallelujah Girls, Betsy plays Nita, a sweet, romantic woman seeking connection and second chances. “She’s like Rose from The Golden Girls—loving, hopeful. I was drawn to her immediately,” Betsy said.
Mitch plays one of the few male roles in the show. “It’s about women’s friendships—how they support each other through life’s highs and lows,” he said. “It’s warm, funny, and full of heart.”
Though their children and grandchildren won’t be in the audience, Betsy and Mitch say the Naples theatre community has become their extended family.
“When we arrived at TNP, we thought it was a professional company,” Betsy said. “The Kizzie Theater is incredible, and the people are even better. Passionate, welcoming, serious about the work—it’s a gift to be part of it.”
“We’re not into pickleball,” Mitch added. “This is what we love. It’s a lot of work, but when the audience laughs or claps, that’s the reward.”
Through TNP, Betsy and Mitch have found more than just a stage—they’ve found belonging.
The Hallelujah Girls runs May 7-25, 2025 in the Kizzie Theater. Tickets are on sale now!
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