Florida Rep presents Will Stutts as Noel Coward

Florida Repertory Theatre announced a special holiday musical engagement, Noel Coward at the Cafe de Paris, playing Friday, Dec. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 30. This oneman musical event stars Will Stutts, who wowed Florida Rep audiences in 2006 as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Audiences are invited to a marvelous musical party with the famed English actor and playwright, Noel Coward. As Coward, Stutts is witty and clever as ever, dropping names, chatting about himself and singing his famous patter songs. Coward's white-dinnerjacket sophistication, sheer brilliance and incomparable élan come alive on the stage in this expanded nightclub act.

The Historic Arcade Stage will be transformed into the famous London nightclub, The Cafe de Paris, for only four performances of musical fun. "Not only is this an evening of high-quality, entertaining theatre but we'll be serving fine wine and champagne at our bar, and some audience members will even be able to sit onstage at cabaret tables," said Robert Cacioppo, Florida Rep's Producing Artistic Director.

A native of Alabama, Stutts is a seasoned performer whose Broadway credits include Present Laughter with George C. Scott, Spoon River Anthology and Night of the Iguana. In 2006, Stutts amazed Southwest Florida with his portrayal of Atticus Finch, the timeless hero of Harper Lee's classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, and has worked longer and more in the genre of the one-person play than almost any other actor in the world. Among the productions he has written, devised and starred in are, Mark Twain's America, Journey Through the Mind…Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman: Liberal and Lusty as Nature, Barrymore!, Frank Lloyd Wright and a play about his cousin, Tallulah Bankhead.

Joining Mr. Stutts on the piano is his longtime friend and nationally renowned pianist, Ray Granito. A resident of Sarasota, he is a fixture with Florida Studio Theatre and the Asolo Rep. Granito is a composer, arranger and has worked in New York, and as a pianist and musical director for countless tours and regional theatres. This is the second time the pair has collaborated on Noel Coward at the Café de Paris, having played the Asolo in 2004 to rave reviews.

Performances are Friday, Dec. 28 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

10th Anniversary Season Subscriptions are available starting at $99. Single tickets range from $17 - $38. To purchase tickets and subscriptions for next season, please call Florida Rep's Box Office at 239-332-4488 or Toll Free at 877-787-8053. Box Office hours are Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and one hour before curtain.

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre in the Fort Myers River District on Bay St. between Jackson and Hendry. Limited Free parking is available one hour prior to show time. Visit Florida Rep online at www.floridarep.org.