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Professionalism aside, everyone at TNP   knee and torn meniscus from overdoing my   be here and they love to be here and they want
        wants the volunteers to enjoy themselves first   back exercises. I was on steroids for the inflam-  to put out a good product and have fun during
        and foremost!  “During The Drowsy Chaperone,   mation in my back and it turns out steroids   the process.”
        I was so comfortable in my role and had a ball   weaken your joints. I had to call Cole (Butcher)      We’re grateful for all of our volunteers and
        doing it! I knew that was because of Dawn and   and tell him I was getting my knee operated   are constantly amazed by their dedication to
        Charlie. There is just so much respect between   on!” Kevin could not wait to come back to TNP   the organization. Kevin may have been look-
        the cast, crew, and staff. Everyone leaves their   when he was healed. “As soon as I was cleared   ing for something to do outside of house work
        egos at the door because anything but cama-  by the doctor I thought, ‘I’m doing a show!’”  but he found a whole lot more than a hobby.
        raderie is not tolerated. It’s a joy to come here      There’s no need to worry about Kevin’s   “I came here not knowing what I would find.
        and do a show because you know everyone is   knee as he goes through rehearsals and perfor-  Once I found The Naples Players, I found a
        going to get along and work hard. Things like   mances—his physical therapist says, “motion   home. You feel like you belong here. It’s wel-
        that bring you back again and again.”   is lotion” and Kevin added that it’s been really   coming, it’s inclusive, and it doesn’t matter
           Kevin was cast in Calendar Girls with a   beneficial physically and emotionally” to keep   your background, age, or political beliefs. What
        herniated disc in his back but was still able to   moving. “It’s just amazing the energy and the   matters is: can you contribute to the show and
        perform. “I was doing the back exercises that   joy that you feel when you come here—it’s like   are you willing to work hard? It’s such a colle-
        my physical therapist gave me but I was over-  the Fountain of Youth for us old guys. I’m 73   gial and familial atmosphere here it’s hard not
        doing it. I looked down one morning and my   and when I’m here, you could reverse those   to want to come back. You know when you’ve
        knee was like a pumpkin—I had a fractured   numbers. Everyone’s here because they want to   done something special here, you just feel it.”

                     Interested in joining our TNP family? Contact Pamela Larkin Caruso, Director of Volunteer Advancement,
                               by calling 239-434-7340 ext. 104 or emailing plarkincaruso@naplesplayers.org.



















































                                                   Left: Kevin Kenneally (right) in The Drowsy Chaperone.   Above: Kevin Kenneally (right) in She Loves Me.

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