Florida Repertory Cocktail Party at Brick Bar

Robert Cacioppo, Marjorie Barnes and Dr. Gerald Laboda Southwest Florida's professional Equity Theatre company, The Florida Repertory Theatre, produces live theatre and a wide variety of plays and musicals. The crowd sits an intimate group of 393 people to view some of our area's greatest artistic feats. It is the only cultural group in the area to bring professional artists and trades from throughout the country to work in a locally produced play, some with New York and Broadway credits. The Rep is also the first theatre in America outside Broadway to get "Doubt" by John Patrick Shanley for next season. Only eight theaters in America will get this year's Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire.There were 301 theaters like Florida Rep across the country two years ago, most of them in major metropolitan areas. This year there are only 270. The Theatre is also a strong supporter of children's programs. Last year they reached 15,000 children and have donated thousands of dollars in free tickets to underserved kids and at-risk students who might not have experienced the performing arts without this generosity. "This may be the only exposure some of these kids ever have to see quality performing arts in their lifetime," said Robert Cacioppo, the Theatre's executive director.

Jason Bogden and Amiee Turner