Student Matinee Series
We create special student matinee performances for each of our mainstage productions so students in our region can experience live professional theatre.
These educational opportunities are made possible thanks to the Anthony and Beverly Petullo Endowment for Student Matinees and VIP Experiences.
Students from throughout the region have the opportunity to come to Gulfshore Playhouse to see world-class professional theatre and explore the timeless themes presented in our productions on our Moran Mainstage.
We are incredibly grateful to Anthony and Beverly Petullo, whose generous $1.5 million endowment ensures that professional theatre at Gulfshore Playhouse remains accessible to students in Collier County. Thanks to the Petullo Endowment, we are now offering FREE tickets to our Student Matinees, giving more young people the opportunity to experience the transformative power of live theatre.
Tickets must be booked at least two weeks in advance. For questions, please contact Steven Calakos at scalakos@gulfshoreplayhouse.org.
Sweet Charity
Date: Friday, May 2, 2025 at 10AM
Genre: Romantic Comedy – Musical
Themes: Love, Hope
Recommended Audience: High School
Hapless but unflappable Charity Hope Valentine desperately seeks love and a better life in 1960s New York City in this exuberant, groovy, hilarious musical comedy. Featuring a book by Neil Simon and musical theatre standards like “Big Spender” and “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This,” this sparkling Tony®-winning musical was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film starring Shirley MacClaine. Enjoy pure musical theatre delight in this classic that captures all the energy, humor, and heartbreak of life in the Big City for an irrepressible optimist.
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Dates: Friday, November 21, 2025 at 10AM (K-5) & Friday, December 12, 2025 at 10AM (Middle/High School)
Genre: Musical
Themes: Holiday, Friendship
Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle & High School
This holiday season, don’t dream of a white Christmas, experience one right here in Naples! The 1954 classic film comes to life on stage, full of singing and tapping, in this unforgettable musical theatre spectacular. Journey to a picturesque Vermont lodge where two army pals are determined to put on the Christmas show of a lifetime and even find love along the way. White Christmas is the perfect holiday treat for the whole family.
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap
Date: Friday, January 30, 2026 at 10AM
Genre: Thriller – Play
Themes: Mystery
Recommended Audience: Middle and High School
When seven strangers get snowed in at the secluded Monkswell Manor following the murder of a local woman, no one is safe, and everyone is a suspect. Will the killer be unmasked before another victim is claimed? Find out for yourself in this breathtaking thriller and the world’s longest-running play by the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie.
The Importance of Being Earnest
Date: Friday, March 27, 2026 at 10AM
Genre: Comedy – Play
Themes: Deception, Social expectations, and the lifestyles of the English upper class
Recommended Audience: Middle and High School
Hold onto your handbags! This wildly witty comedy set in the beauty and grandeur of Victorian England is one of the funniest plays ever written. Two debonair bachelors, Jack and Algernon, each lead a hidden double life to shirk responsibilities and follow their whims. But when their alter egos have the chance to win the hearts of two society ladies, hijinks ensue as they try not to get tangled up in their own web of lies. You won’t want to miss the hilarious twists and turns of this timeless comedy.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Date: Friday, May 15, 2026 at 10AM
Genre: Romantic Comedy – Musical
Themes: Music industry, Romance, Fame
Recommended Audience: Middle and High School
Witness the captivating story of how Carole found her voice and became King. At eighteen, she wrote chart-topping songs for the biggest names in music like Aretha Franklin and The Drifters, and just over a decade later, she was the voice of a generation. This soaring musical features two decades of King’s hit melodies such as “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” and more! This smash Broadway hit weaves a nostalgic, feel-good tapestry celebrating resilience, self-discovery, and the authentic spirit of a legend.
For inquiries, click here for Our Inquiry Form or please contact Steven Calakos at scalakos@gulfshoreplayhouse.org.
Student matinee tickets must be booked two weeks prior to the performance. For more information, contact Steven Calakos at scalakos@gulfshoreplayhouse.org.
These educational opportunities are made possible thanks to the Anthony and Beverly Petullo Endowment for Student Matinees and VIP Experiences.
More Opportunities for Educators
Gulfshore Playhouse Education can bring the transformative power of theatre education into your classroom or community group. We offer a diverse range of unique programming built to enhance education through theatre pedagogy. Be sure to check out all of the opportunities we have available right now!
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