Joel Markus is the Managing Director of Gulfshore Playhouse.

I sit in my office– looking in the distance at the land where our new theatre and education building will sit– reflecting on my first three months at Gulfshore Playhouse.

I consider myself very fortunate to be here. I’ve worked at many regional theatres before, but Gulfshore Playhouse stands out as a highlight. I am thoroughly impressed by the theatre, especially with the people that work here.

It has been a pleasure getting to know the amazingly dedicated staff, board members, and patrons. I am working at an organization with heart and soul; a place where talented individuals from all over the country come to work. We produce high-quality productions and have an education department that does more outreach than other theatres in major metropolitan cities with a larger staff. We are truly at the top of our game here and for that I am thankful.

We are still glowing from our production of An Iliad and continue to get feedback that it was better than any show, in any city. We also just opened a Broadway-caliber musical currently running through December 30th: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. You don’t want to miss it and once you see it, you’ll have a perfect example of why we need a new facility to match the work we’re doing. We’re busting at the seams and are ready to be in our own home.

So… we’re in schematic designs not only creating a theatre and education center, but establishing an institution for generations to come. Please reach out to me directly to talk more about it and find out how to get involved in creating a legacy. It would be my pleasure to give you a tour of our current facility, including backstage and the production shops that employ 20 extremely talented technicians and artisans who create and build every show you see onstage!

Thank you for welcoming me and my family to this community and our new home. Gulfshore Playhouse is your home for world-class theatre, made right here in Naples.

Happy Thanksgiving!