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Ordinary Jobs, Extraordinary Talent:

The Heart & Passion of Local Theater

Brad Goetz. Wait Until Dark, 2007.
ne of the most remarkable aspects of community theater is the
people—neighbors, friends, and familiar faces—who bring
O stories to life on stage and work tirelessly behind the scenes.
They might play leading roles under the spotlight or lend their hands to
sets, costumes, and props. Offstage, they’re just as likely to be your dentist,
electrician, or mailman.
Take Brad Goetz, for example, who plays Max in the upcoming
production of The Play That Goes Wrong at The Naples Players (TNP).
Brad is not only a talented performer but also a professional artist,
business owner, and—believe it or not—your friendly neighborhood
mailman. In fact, he delivers mail to The Naples Players, proving that you
don’t have to look far to find stars in your own community.
These individuals dedicate countless hours of time, talent, and energy
to create the shows we love to watch. It’s this blend of passion and
commitment that makes community theater so special and so close to
home.
A transplant from Seattle, Brad moved to the Naples area nearly
20 years ago. His diverse background includes serving in the military,
consulting with light industrial and manufacturing companies, building
furniture and motorcycles, writing for plays and musicals, and creating
magic shows. He’s even scripted a haunted house production with a cast
of 50. At one time, in a single year, he performed in five shows with a
number of local theaters, including The Naples Players. He even directed
one of the shows.
“I’ve always loved music and theater,” said Brad. “Writing comes easily
to me. I wrote a six-book nature series before I entered first grade.”
As he completed school and started working, his life took him away
from the arts. After a break of more than 10 years, Brad is jumping back
in. “I really enjoy film and theater. I love this form of communication. It
can deeply impact an audience. I am happy when I know a performance
really meant something or was particularly impactful to the audience.”
While he did not study theater in school, he has a massive library and
studies on his own. “I like the work of it,” said Brad. “For many actors and
others involved in a production, it is about the attention—the adulation.
Fame is not super appealing to me. I am always about the show, and how
I can help make it the very best I can be for our audience.”

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