Page 68 - Life In Naples March 2022 Flipbook

Maida didn’t have to look far to find out where all the residents Old, young, or young at heart, the volunteers and staff at TNP
and tourists of Naples were getting their theater fix. “I’m friends welcome you to Blackburn Hall for a magical journey with the
with a lot of people who are subscribers at The Naples Players Banks children. Audiences are sure to be delighted by a magical
(TNP).” One such friend is TNP’s longtime volunteer and donor, experience that will evoke nostalgia and new memories all at once.
Jackie Morelisse, who has included Maida by inviting her to Bring your friends and plan for an evening for reminiscing that
The Naples Players special events and performances. “I’ve seen so many shows between you won’t forget!
here and New York City, I get mixed up! The shows at The Naples
Call the box office today at 239.263.7990 or go to
Players are just as good as the ones in Manhattan!” Naplesplayers.org for tickets.
Brings Broadway Magic “I met Selwyn Mills on a jetBlue flight - he was a prominent
psychologist in New York City and after he retired, gave a lot of
Interested in volunteering?
his time to TNP. He used to give me tickets to performances.”
to their Volunteers Maida also looks forward to someday volunteering her time at There are abundant opportunities at The Naples Players!
TNP when her career in healthcare isn’t as busy. “It’s practically Volunteers have options to commit to time frames ranging from 2.5 to
5.5 weeks. TNP volunteers are also wearing masks in the building to
and anything except their passion for performing and the arts.” ensure everyone stays safe and healthy.
unheard of to see an organization where nobody is in it for
As far as The Naples Players’ upcoming production of For more information, please contact Pamela Larkin Caruso at
Community! Mary Poppins goes, Maida is sure it will be a success. Just like the plarkincaruso@naplesplayers.org or 239 434 7340 ext. 104.

1964 film, actors will be ‘flown’ during these live performances.
“I’ve seen some scenes at TNP that are right up there with
New York City! It’s amazing what this theater is able to do - it’s
not what people expect from a community theater. It’s a much
grander scale and I’m sure Mary Poppins is going to be over the top
- literally with the flying!”
“I’ve seen the film as a kid and when you’re older and sit and
look at the details of how they do everything - you still have that
wonder, that feeling of ‘wow,’ and see it as a kid again.”

by Lauren Speirs

ld Naples resident Maida Sperandeo moved to our
community in 1993 after being a trauma nurse in New
OYork City. She now works as a discharge planning
nurse for home health care at NCH Baker Hospital. “I’m
grateful that I’ve been a nurse all this time - it’s a great career.”
“My grandparents came to the United States from Italy.
After arriving through Ellis Island, they were physicians in New
York City until they were in their 80s. I read about Naples in
a travel magazine and brought my grandparents down. They
loved it and they moved down and I was a snowbird first. My
grandpa didn’t think he would like it because he missed his
patients so much. The first time he went to the swimming pool
he heard, “Dr. John is that you?!” It was one of his patients
from New York City - he delivered all of the family’s children.
From there on out, we realized it was really meant to be that he
moved here. In fact, he was born in Naples, Italy and passed
away in Naples, Florida.”
Growing up there, Maida was accustomed to seeing lots
of great theatre. “When you live in New York City, going to
a show is like going to the beach! You definitely take it for
granted that it’s at your fingertips. I used to love going to off-
Broadway shows as well. I initially missed that culture that I
had in the city.” (From left to right) Eileen Ebin, Maida Sperandeo, and Jackie Morelisse (From left to right) Shannon Jacoby, Maida Sperandeo, and
in Blackburn Hall, getting ready to watch The Wedding Singer at TNP. Jackie Morelisse at a VIP Event at The Naples Players.

68 Life in Naples | March 2022 Life in Naples | March 2022 69