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Jenny Gantlett.

January Volunteer of the Month.

by Lauren Speirs

We love our snowbird volunteers at The Naples Players volunteer to work the spotlight. I was intimidated at first, but I just
(TNP) and we are thrilled when you bring your friends along to love working with the spotlights any time I can do it! I’ve done all
join our theatre family! Our January Volunteer of the Month, of the Christmas shows for the past six years as well as Matilda
Jenny Gantlett, was introduced to volunteering at TNP by her with the children, and I worked backstage for Mary Poppins which
friend Eileen Reynolds, who is actively involved on stage. Jenny was wonderful.”
was born in Yorkshire, England and comes to us by way of Speaking of Mary Poppins, Jenny has a particularly fond
Canada and the Cayman Islands. memory of a large piece of furniture she was responsible for
Jenny enjoyed a long career in elementary school in England moving on and off stage (alongside fellow crew members). “It
and then taught in the Cayman Islands for thirteen years before was a big chest with a bed that had to come out to a very specific
retiring ten years ago. “I knew I wanted to teach since I was a mark on stage. It was one of the toughest things to do but it didn’t
child. I was always making sure all the other little kids were in matter because we still had fun. I asked Cole (Butcher, Production
the right order in school. As a teacher, my favorite age was the Stage Manager) if we could smash it with a hammer on the last
five and six year olds - they’re just fresh out of home!” day. We couldn’t wait for that last show and they got some mallets
Jenny’s two sons moved to Canada and started families there from the scene shop for us to destroy it.”
and she has five grandchildren. “I was always home for all of While Jenny has done mostly spotlight work, she has also
their school holidays so I just had a ball with them. My home worked the light board, been a backstage dresser, and she did
there is about an hour away from Lake Erie. The kids are all in fly rail for the first time for Newsies JR. “I haven’t done ASM
their late teens and early twenties now, but Granny has come (Assistant Stage Manager) yet but I’m quite tempted to get up to
back in vogue because I have a pontoon boat and all three of my that level! I don’t mind doing backstage work as long as I’m kept
grandsons have their boating licenses!” busy - I don’t like standing around. I’m going to do spotlight work
Volunteers join our theatre family for all sorts of reasons for The Sound of Music this spring too.” Understandably, Jenny
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- some just see our building walking down 5 Avenue South, can only commit to so much time per production as she is still
and others - like Jenny - have a friend lead the way! She snowbirding from Canada. “I keep in contact with Pam (Larkin
says, “Eileen is the reason I started visiting Naples. We were Caruso, Director of Volunteer Advancement) so I can plan to be
friends in England and she came here to be a physiotherapist. down here for tech week and everything.”
She’s been in lots of shows, especially the musicals. I started
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volunteering for Miracle on 34 Street when they were short a

66 Life in Naples | February 2023