Page 66 - LIN_ASO_2026_web-file

Five Graduates.

One Historic Milestone.

Celebrating The Inaugural Gradating Class of

The Baker Day School at The Naples Players

by Bryce Alexander

hen five seniors crossed the stage inside The Kizzie initiatives like ArtRx – a collaboration between The Naples Players
Theater this spring, they did more than receive and Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) that uses theatre
W diplomas. They became the first graduating class techniques to support patients, families, and medical staff during
of The Baker Day School at The Naples Players Academy of the healthcare process.
Dramatic Arts, marking the beginning of a new chapter for arts During the commencement ceremony, Head of School Steven
education in Southwest Florida. Caruso reminded the graduates that they were creating something
Launched in 2025, the Academy's full-time academic program much larger than themselves.
offers an innovative educational experience that combines "You are the first to walk this stage, the first to leave your mark,
accredited coursework with immersive training in acting, and the first to carry this legacy forward into the world."
dance, vocal performance, and technical theatre. The result is an The Academy's first year was made possible in part through
environment where creativity and academic achievement grow side a transformational $1 million gift from longtime Naples
by side, preparing students not only for college, but for confident, philanthropists Patty and Jay Baker, whose investment helped
purpose-driven lives. establish the foundation for this innovative educational model.
The inaugural graduates, Maddie Brendel, Jillian Cinnamon, As The Naples Players continues its mission of building
Thomas Currie, Adeline Easterly, and Gabrielle Vasquez, leave community through exceptional access to the power of theatre,
with an impressive list of accomplishments. Together they earned the success of its first graduating class demonstrates the impact
acceptance to 12 colleges and universities and more than $200,000 of combining arts education with academic excellence. Interest in
in scholarships. This fall, each will continue pursuing careers the program has grown rapidly since its launch, with applications
connected to the performing arts, from commercial dance and already being accepted online for future enrollment and a waiting
musical theatre to film, music production, and music therapy. list beginning to form for upcoming admissions.
For Vasquez, a visit to Florida Gulf Coast University's Music For these five graduates, commencement marked the end of one
Therapy program transformed her understanding of how the arts performance and the opening scene of the next. For The Naples
can change lives. She will study music therapy this fall, inspired Players Academy, it marked the beginning of what promises to be a
by the power of creative expression to support healing and well- lasting legacy of educating artists, leaders, and creative thinkers for
being, a philosophy embraced by The Naples Players through years to come.

66 www.LifeInNaples.net