WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO

This week's theatre Breaking Legs - The worlds of the Mafia and the Theatre collide in an Italian restaurant with this expertly crafted comic masterpiece. "Breaking Legs" is on stage at the Florida Repertory Theatre through April 20. The meatballs hit the fan when a college professor turned playwright has his play produced by a Mafia don. Prepare yourselves for a madcap entrée of murder and menace with a heaping side of pasta and laughter. This is Theatre - Tony Soprano style! Performances are Tues. - Sat. at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on Wed., Sun. and selected Saturdays. Florida Repertory Theatre is located on Bay Street between Jackson and Hendry in the Historic Arcade Theatre in the Fort Myers River District. Subscriptions and single tickets are available through the Box Office (239) 332- 4488, or visit Florida Rep online at www. floridarep.org.

Humble Boy - "Humble Boy," a dramatic comedy by British playwright Charlotte Jones, runs at the Sugden Community Theatre in downtown Naples through April 19. Directed by Paul Graffy, "Humble Boy" tells the story of a widowed mother and her theoretical astrophysicist son. Performances run Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, and can be purchased at www.naplesplayers.org, by phone at (239) 263-7990 or at The Naples Players Box Office, 701 5th Avenue South in downtown Naples.

>>"Blast!" is on stage at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall for eight performances Wednesday, April 16 through Sunday April 20.. Cabaret - "Cabaret," the hit Broadway musical hits the stage at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre April 10 - May 31. The love story of a young novelist and an eccentric singer captures the spirit of pre-war Germany. Wilkommen! The words beckon you for some lively entertainment by the magnetic Emcee who welcomes you to Berlin. "Come to the Cabaret, old chum!" Ticket prices range from $25 to $52. Group discounts are available for parties of 20 or more. Tickets can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm.com, or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

Lend Me a Tenor - The Off Broadway Palm Theatre presents the awardwinning comedy "Lend Me a Tenor," playing through May 3. This clever and wildly entertaining farce mixes mistaken identities, competing opera stars and a symphony of slamming doors. Lend Me a Tenor is set in 1934 at the Cleveland Grand Opera on its biggest night in history. World famous tenor, Tito Merelli, known to his fans as "Il Stupendo" is scheduled to sing the lead in Otello, produced as a gala fundraiser that is set to raise $50,000 for the company. Before the star even leaves his hotel room, things begin to unravel. Tickets can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm. com, or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

The Bible: - "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)" runs through April 19 at Theatre Conspiracy's new home located at 2711 Park Windsor Dr #302, in Fort Myers. In this fun and irreverent comedy, three actors perform the entire Bible, Old and New Testaments in less than two hours. From Eve to Exodus through the epistles, the apostles and the gospels via fig leaves and final judgement and exploring deep meaningful theological topics such as: Was Jesus a good carpenter? Did Adam and Eve have navels? Did Moses really look like Charlton Heston? Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. with select Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 or $10 for students with proper I.D. For tickets, complete directions or more information call (239) 936-3239.

This week's symphony

Mancini Magic - The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra presents Mancini Magic, a special pops concert tribute to the legendary composer, on Friday and Saturday, April 11-12 at 8 p.m. at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples. The music of Henry Mancini lives on in this acclaimed program that was performed by Mancini with virtually every major orchestra in the country. Led by pops conductor Michael Berkowitz, a percussionist with Mancini for many years, and featuring musicians who traveled with Mancini on the road, the orchestra will perform such classics as "The Pink Panther," "Days of Wine and Roses," "Two for the Road," "Moon River," "Peter Gunn" and more. Tickets are $56 for adults and $23 for students. For more information or to order tickets, contact Customer Service at (239) 597-1900 or toll-free at (800) 597-1900 or visit www.thephil.org. The Philharmonic Center for the Arts is at 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd. in Naples.

Wednesday, April 9

FGCU - An evening of art, music, food, a pottery sale and a theatre production will kick off Florida Gulf Coast University's 2008 Celebration of the Arts at 4 p.m. The festivities, which will take place at The Art Gallery located inside the Arts Complex on FGCU's main campus, will continue until 8 p.m. Then, FGCU's theatre lab will perform its opening production of "Omnium Gatherum." The annual showcase, which celebrates FGCU's fine art and theatre students in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, will also feature exhibitions and performances that go on throughout April. More detailed directions and other information is available at 590-7199.

Thursday, April 10

Rent - "Rent," Broadway's Smash- Hit Musical! Now in its 10th Season comes to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at 7:30 p.m. for one showing. Set in the East Village of New York City, "Rent" is about being young and learning to survive in NYC. It's about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize, "Rent" has made a lasting mark on Broadway with songs that rock and a story that really resonates. Tickets are on sale at the box office, by calling (239) 481-4849 or at www.bbmannpah.com.

Marc Salem - Marc Salem, a world-renowned mentalist, will appear at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. Recently featured on 60 Minutes, Salem has performed around the world. In past shows, he called out the serial numbers on a dollar bill in an audience member's wallet, accurately described an item while blindfolded and changed the time on a person's watch while standing several feet away. Tickets are $33. For more information or to order tickets, call (239) 597-1900 or toll-free at (800) 597-1900. The Philharmonic Center for the Arts is at 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd. in Naples.

Friday, April 11

Freda Payne - Jazz singer Freda Payne pays tribute to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald as part of the Naples Philharmonic Center's "Cabaret at the Phil" series at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Known for her No. 1 hit song "Band of Gold," Payne will perform such favorites as "A Tisket, A Tasket," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Lady Be Good" and "Mack the Knife." Tickets for Freda Payne are $39. For more information or to order tickets, visit www. thephil.org or call Customer Service at 597-1900 or toll-free at (800) 597-1900.

Saturday, April 12

Ms. Courageous - The children's play "Ms. Courageous," presented by the Florida Repertory Theatre, is on stage at 11 a.m. at the Brick Bar in downtown Fort Myers. It's a collage of scenes from the lives of Elizabeth Blackwell and Marie Curie. Blackwell was the first woman in the United States to become a doctor with a medical degree, and Curie won two Nobel prizes for her work in physics and chemistry. Written by Joanna Halpert Kraus, Ms. Courageous explores the difficulties and challenges these two remarkable women faced and overcame. For tickets and more information, contact Florida Rep's box office at (239) 332- 4488. Please do not call the Brick Bar for ticket information.

Writing - Award winning Sanibel author Charles Sobczak will be giving a free seminar on "Writing, Printing and Marketing" on Saturday, April 12 at the Coconut Point Barnes & Noble bookstore. The seminar will get underway at 2:00 p.m. and the writing as well as the reading public are invited to attend. The Barnes & Noble bookstore is located at 23130 Fashion Drive in Estero. The seminar will focus on the importance of good writing as well as excellent editing, then discuss how best to handle the printing of your work - from small order print on demand publishing to larger runs of up to 5,000 books.

Addy - Addy Walker's journey to freedom leaps off the page and onto the stage in "Addy: An American Girl Story," at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Saturday, April 12 at noon and 4 p.m. The live theatrical performance produced by Kids Entertainment, Inc. Adapted from Connie Porter's books by celebrated playwright Cheryl L. West, the play follows Addy and her family on their dangerous quest to escape slavery and take their freedom in the North. Recommended for ages 8 and older. Tickets are on sale at the box office, by calling (239) 481-4849 or at www.bbmannpah.com.

Art workshop - Edison's Caretaker's House and the adjacent Edison Moonlight Garden will be the site for a full-day acrylic painting workshop, from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. The workshop welcomes all levels of expertise. Local artist Leoma Lovegrove's workshop will focus on the beautiful expressionist palette which is captured in the historic garden area originally designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman in 1929. The workshop includes instruction in the Edison Caretaker's House and then painting in the adjacent Edison Moonlight Garden. Cost for the workshop is $135 for Estates Members; $150 non members and includes free admission into the historic Homes, Gardens, Laboratory and Museum. Participants are encouraged to bring a bag lunch or enjoy the Estates Banyan Café. A supply list will be provided upon registration. To register, call 334-7419. Class size is limited to 20.

Freda Payne - Jazz singer Freda Payne pays tribute to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald as part of the Naples Philharmonic Center's "Cabaret at the Phil" series at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Known for her No. 1 hit song "Band of Gold," Payne will perform such favorites as "A Tisket, A Tasket," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Lady Be Good" and "Mack the Knife." Tickets for Freda Payne are $39. For more information or to order tickets, visit www. thephil.org or call Customer Service at 597-1900 or toll-free at (800) 597-1900. Sunday, April 13 Do Jump! - Do Jump! is turning the world upside down, one person at a time. The innovative dance troupe performs at the Philharmonic Center in Naples at 8 p.m. For 30 years, Founder and Artistic Director Robin Lane has led the Do Jump! acrobats in creating a unique blend of theater, dance, aerial work, acrobatics, dynamic visuals and live music that defies categorization. Tickets for Do Jump! are $39. For more information or to order tickets, contact Customer Service at (239) 597-1900 or toll-free at (800) 597-1900. Tickets are also available online at www.thephil. org.

Monday, April 14

Jazz - The internationally acclaimed U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors Band will be offering a performance at Shell Point Retirement Community at 7:15 pm. The U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors Band travels around the country, as well as across the world, playing a variety of musical selections. Many types of music will be included in this concert such as Big Band, Latin, Swing, contemporary, Dixieland, and other popular tunes. Many patriotic songs will be performed as well to show support for the many who serve our country on a daily basis. This performance is a free event, but seating is limited and tickets must be reserved in advance. Due to the high demand for this concert, you may only reserve two tickets. Reserved tickets must be picked up in person from the Woodlands Service Desk at 14441 Woodsong Lane. Call (239) 454-2067 for additional information.

Ballet - The Russian National Ballet Theatre and Orchestra, one of the most acclaimed international ballet companies, is coming to Naples for one performance at 8 p.m. at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. Tickets for Russian National Ballet Theatre are $50. For more information or to order tickets, contact Customer Service at (239) 597-1900 or toll-free at (800) 597- 1900. Tickets are also available online at www.thephil.org.

Tuesday, April 15

Bowzer - Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, former star of Sha Na Na, brings his celebrated all-star Rock 'n' Roll Party to the Philharmonic Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. The show features: Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon, whose hits include "Tallahassee Lassie," "Palisades Park," "Where the Action Is" and "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans;" Shirley Alston Reeves, former lead singer of the Shirelles ("Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?", "Soldier Boy"); The Tokens, featuring original lead singer Jay Siegel, known for such hits as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "Tonight I Fell In Love"; Bowzer and the Stingrays, one of the most exciting, acclaimed performers of 1950s and '60s music anywhere. Tickets for Bowzer's Rock 'n' Roll Party are $49. For more information or to order tickets, contact Customer Service at (239) 597-1900 or tollfree at (800) 597-1900. Tickets may also be ordered online at www.thephil.org Ongoing events History - One of the greatest anthropological finds in history, "LUCY: The Story of Human Origins" spans 50 million years in scope, from the early primates to the dawn of humanity. This exhibition, at the SWFLMuseum of History in downtown Fort Myers, represents a historical frame of reference for the human timeline which includes this comprehensive collection of exact replicas of skeletons, skulls, footprints, tools, and artifacts dramatically illustrates the story of the progression of humankind on Earth. As part of the exhibit, the museum store will feature anthropological items and gifts and the bestselling book by the man who discovered her; "Lucy: The Beginning of Humankind," by Donald Johanson and Maitland Edey. The exhibit runs through June 12. Call (239) 332-5955 or visit www.cityftmyers.com/museum.

Art - Space 39 in downtown Fort Myers hosts an exhibit "Women's Work: Feminist Art from a Man's Perspective." The issues of the Feminist Art movement are re-examined and re-interpreted from the point of view of a single dad. Artist Jeffrey Scott Lewis uses acrylic paint and canvas to create collages that are inspired by the Quilts of Gees Bend. Using color, line and texture, the artist questions traditional gender-based roles and responsibilities. The abstract works are given titles that suggest the issues a stay at home mom faces in raising children, keeping a home and maintaining relationships.

Art - Rising Stars Art Studio in Cape Coral presents a private Collection of Fine Art Prints by Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Egon Schiele, Helmut Newton, and Raoul Dufy. The exhibit will be on display through April 21 on the promenade at Cape Harbour, 5781 Cape Harbour Drive, # 105, Cape Coral. For information call 541-9992.

Call for entries - The 2D/3D All Florida Juried Exhibition is looking for artists to appear in the show set for June 13. The categories for the 2D 3D exhibit are sculpture, painting (including oil, acrylic, collage, watercolor, and mixed media), fiber art, photography, prints and drawings (no crafts). Cash awards will be given totaling $2,000, including $1,000 for Best in Show Announced on Opening Night. Digital Graphics, Entry Form and Fee must be hand delivered or received on or before April 23, at 5 p.m.August 4-5: Hours to pickup all artwork, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Call to artists - The Naples Art Association at The von Liebig Art Center has issued a Call for Artists to participate in "10 Illustrated: An NAA Members' Photography Exhibition." It will be installed in the Art Center from July 12 through Aug. 3, and selected images from those works will also be published in Naples Illustrated magazine. The Art Center and the magazine both turned 10 this year, and like brothers born near the same time, they will celebrate together to "take 10 to the max." The photography exhibition, therefore, is to be compiled from work based on a single theme - 10. There is no entry fee. Submissions are open to NAA members only and work may include photography or mixed media incorporating elements such as collage, photomontage, hand colored photographs, graphic design, compositing and computer illustration. Artwork receiving is Friday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, June 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Art Center, 585 Park Street or call (239) 262-6517 for more information. Blast - "Blast!," winner of the 2001 Tony Award for "Best Special Theatrical Event" and the 2001 Emmy Award for "Best Choreography," is on stage at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall for eight performances Wednesday, April 16 through Sunday April 20. The show is comprised of 35 brass, percussion and visual performers brought together in a unique explosion of music and theatre. Born on athletic fields across the nation, "Blast!" is a novel art form evolved from the showmanship of outdoor pageantry. According to Bruce McCabe of the Boston Globe; "Blast! is an exuberant 15-number show that doesn't falter while bridging the categories of classical, blues, jazz, rock n roll, and techno-pop music. Blast! stands, blows, pounds, marches, and whirls with panache. It sent a full house into repeated bursts of cheering and applause." There's a special "Kids' Night on Broadway" performance on Wednesday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. Kids (moms and dads, too) are invited to attend a special pre-show party with food and fun. Tickets for "Kid's Night on Broadway" are specially-priced: buy one regularly priced ticket and get a kid's ticket of equal value free. This special pricing is valid only for the Kids' Night performance on Wednesday, April 16. Tickets are on sale at the box office, by calling (239) 481-4849 or at www.bbmannpah.com.

B.B. King - Legendary "King of the Blues" B.B. King returns to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Sunday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. Riley B. King, affectionately known as B. B. started recording in the late 1940's and has released over 50 albums; many of them considered blues classics, such as 1965's definitive live blues album "Live At The Regal", and 1976's collaboration with Bobby "Blue" Land, "Together For the First Time." A five-time Grammy Award winner, he is best known for such hits as "The Thrill Is Gone", "Sweet Sixteen", "Caldonia" and "Why I Sing The Blues." He was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Between 1999 and 2000 B. B. King released several albums, two of which included "Let The Good Times Roll," an excellent tribute to Louis Jordan, and "Riding With The King," a collaboration with Eric Clapton.

42nd Street - The ultimate Broadway musical comedy, "42nd Street" will go on stage at Estero High School on Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m., in the Estero High School Auditorium. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students with an ID, and will be sold at the door. This landmark show, which is based on the classic 1933 movie musical of the same name, "42nd Street" is the story of a naive young actress named Peggy Sawyer (played by sophomore Anna Robbins) who arrives to audition for the new Julian Marsh (played by freshman Diego Rodriguez) extravaganza set to open on Broadway starring aging leading lady Dorothy Brock (played by senior Kelsey Thompson). A classic backstage story, "42nd Street" is a delightful throwback that the entire family will enjoy. For more information contact Estero High School 947- 9400 or the Drama Department at 273-7587.

Fantasticks - "The Fantasticks" will be presented by Jodick Productions at the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance for the Arts on two weekends April 25 thru May 4. Jodick Productions is a volunteer based community theatre collaborative based in Cape Coral. This will be their second show of the year, following on the heels of their smash hit "Nunsense" which was performed in January at Cape Coral High School. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for seniors. Call 297-3077 for tickets.

Dance Lessons - The delightful comedy, "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks," opens at the Sugden Community Theatre in downtown Naples on April 23 for a four week run. Written by Richard Alfieri, the show tells the story of a lady of a certain age who has retired to the West Coast of Florida, and signs up for a course of dance lessons in her own home. When the dance instructor arrives for the first lesson, sparks and banter fly as two strong personalities clash. Critics have described the show as "entertaining, thoughtful, razor sharp, charming, funny and genuinely moving." The Naples Players production stars Diane Davis and David Goguen, and is directed by Jeff Hoover. The show will be performed Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm from April 23 through May 17. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets are available at The Naples Players Box Office, 701 5th Avenue South in downtown Naples, by telephone at (239) 263-7990 or online at www.naplesplayers.org

Calusa Musicale - Calusa Musicale is celebrating it's 30th anniversary this month with its Annual Scholarship Benefit Concert. The event will feature violin virtuoso Reiko Niiya, concert mistress of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary with the orchestra this season. Her collaborator at the piano will be Mary Griffin Seal of Edison College and a devoted member of Calusa Musicale. The concert plays Sunday, April 27 at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers, 13411 Shire Lane. The concert is free, however donations may be given at the end of the program.

Art - Leroy Nichols, a celebrated oil painter from Sarasota and William Turner, an award-winning watercolorist from Bradenton, will present their landscape masterpieces at the Sim Gallery of Fine Art in Cape Coral. An Artist Reception will be held on April 18, 6 to 9 p.m. Both artists graduated from Ringling Art School in the 1950's and didn't meet again until 2008, when they agreed to show work at Sim Gallery. It is located at 5785 Cape Harbour Drive, Ste. 104. Call 541-1004 for additional information.