WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO

>>The Wizard of Oz is on stage at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater through July 26. This week's theatre

Wizard of Oz - The classic movie musical "The Wizard of Oz" comes to the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater stage through July 26. The Wizard of Oz, based on the book by Frank L. Baum and the world famous 1939 film, chronicles the adventures of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and… Toto, too. You'll hear the songs from the score you know and love such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "We're Off to See the Wizard" and "Follow the Yellow Brick Road." Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $25 to $52. There is a summer special for children 18 and under, tickets are just $18 for dinner and the show. Group discounts are available for parties of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and 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.

Bald Soprano - London-trained theater director Annette Percivall of More Crinoline Productions, will put her spin on Ionesco's "The Bald Soprano" through June 21 at 8 p.m.. The production will be performed at the Theatre Conspiracy, 2711 Park Windsor Dr. suite 302, Fort Myers. An anti-play, exposing the alienation of individuals in a superficial society, the work remains as timely today as it did when it premiered in the 1950s. Percivall questions whether we can be an audience at all in this production, or whether we are all unwitting players in this tragicomedy. Call 936-3239 for tickets and information. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Theatre Conspiracy box office at 936-3239.

Rauschenberg Schoolhouse Theatre - The Schoolhouse Theater's summer in rep officially begins Saturday, June 14 with the opening of "Caught in the Net," the sequel to Sanibel's favorite comedy, "Run for Your Wife.""Run for Your Wife" is Ray Cooney's biggest hit and the longest running comedy to have played in London's West End. In this superb, hysterically funny British farce, London cabbie John Smith lives a happy life with his wife Mary. He also lives a happy life with his wife Barbara. Since neither Mary nor Barbara knows the existence of the other, John's cleverly scheduled life is free of incident…UNTIL…a trip to the hospital sends John Smith into the most hilarious mix-up of a lifetime. "Caught in the Net" takes place 18 years later, and modern technology is about to lead John Smith's two families into a head-on collision. His son Gavin (with his mum Barbara) and daughter Vicki (with her mum Mary) are discussing having met in an Internet chat room. They are amazed that they both have fathers named John Leonard Smith who are London taxi drivers, and since romance has blossomed, they are determined to meet in person…and chaos ensues…Come see "Run for Your Wife" on Mondays and Wednesdays and "Caught in the Net" on Tuesdays and Saturdays - all shows are at 7 pm. And don't forget about our special toll relief coupon! Bring us your toll receipt and we'll give you a $5 coupon off the purchase of your next adult priced ticket. That's both shows for the price of one toll! For more information and tickets for the show, please call the Box Office at: 239-472-6862 or check out our website: www.theschoolhousetheater.com.

>>The Naples Players production of the Secret Garden opens Saturday, June 28 at the Sugden Community Theatre in Naples. Tickets are on sale now at the box office, by phone at (239) 263-7990 or online at www.naplesplayers.org. Ongoing events

Art - Space 39 Modern & Contemporary gallery presents "Reflexive," featuring the works of Pavol Roskovensky. The artist explores a more naturalistic method of painting, creating images that are meticulously detailed and provide an almost spiritual transcendence. He explores the idea that true nature cannot be rendered on a picture plane by a human hand. "Reflexive" will be on display until June 15. Space 39 Modern & Contemporary is located at 39 Patio de Leon, Fort Myers. For more information, call (239) 690-0004 or visit www.spacethirtynine. com.

Art - Art of the Olympians will be featured in the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery/ Edison College through June 19. There will be a special preview event featuring the Art of the Olympians collection to be showcased at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games at The Prince Jun Palace. Olympic Gold Medalists, Bob Beamon and Pat McCormick, among other Olympians will be present at this special preview exhibition, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery is located on the campus of Edison College. For additional information call: 239-489-9313 or visit the Web site, www.bobRauschenberggallery.com

Call to artists - The Alliance for the Arts recently partnered with Florida Shores Bank to administer a juried exhibition, where all work will be for sale. This is a rare opportunity for artists to sell artwork and be recognized in the community. The bank has ample space available for paintings, photographs, drawings, sculptures, and prints of all shapes and sizes. There is a $25 entry fee for up to five pieces. All submissions need to be digital and must include dimensions and weight. Send submissions to Chelsea Birczak at rentals@artinlee.org. Submissions must be labeled with name, title, medium, size/weight and price. Due date is June 11. The show will open Monday, June 16.

2D/3D All Florida - The 2008 2D/3D All Florida exhibition is open at the Alliance for the Arts gallery. This year over 300 artists submitted entires for consideration in the categories of sculpture, painting (including oil, acrylic, collage, watercolor, and mixed media), fiber art, photography, prints and drawings (no crafts). Fortyseven pieces were chosen for inclusion in the show and cash prizes will be awarded for Best in Show, second, and third places. The show will be on display through August 1st. The Alliance for the Arts galleries are open from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday and from 10 to 3 on Saturdays, located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard just south of Colonial Boulevard. Visit www.artinlee.org for more details.

Cape Library - The Friends of the Cape Coral Library announce a new exhibit which runs through July 31. The Gallery, located at the Cape Coral Library, 921 SW 39th Terrace, off Mohawk Boulevard, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featured artists are Rosalie Scanlon, Florene Welebny and June Bennett. Rosalie Scanlon, a graduate of the NY Institute of Photography, has been an award-winning photographer for many years. She has exhibited photos of school children and nature locally at Big Arts, Art from the Parks, Bonita Art League, Beatniks, Cape Coral Art League, Cape Coral Library, the Visual Arts Center and Ding Darling. Florene Welebny's extensive travels have resulted in a wide and varied perspective for the foundation of her artwork. Her photographic subjects range from classic to contemporary and her work is un-retouched. Using only lenses and filters, the magic happens before the button is pressed. June Bennett's early years were spent roaming the historical castles and cathedrals of England, fascinated by the beauty of the great stained glass windows. Creating work in stained glass was only the beginning. She then ventured into fused glass, further developing new techniques at the University of Miami. Now an award winning artist and teacher, her work continues to be exhibited throughout Southwest Florida.

Saturday, June 21

Rauschenberg - On behalf of the family and friends of Robert Rauschenberg,

Edison College will host a celebration of the famed artist's life on Saturday, June 21. The public event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall and the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery on Edison College's Lee Campus, 8099 College Parkway. A tribute will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Mann Hall. Photographs of Bob's life and Ruminations print will be on view in the Gallery. The Gallery exhibit can be viewed daily from June 22 through July 3. Hours are Monday though Friday 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm, and for this very special exhibit, Sundays from 12-4 pm. For additional information, contact the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at (239) 489-9313, or visit the Gallery web site at bobrauschenberggallery.com or the Edison College web site at www.edison. edu.

Upcoming events

Backyardigans - A national touring production of "The Backyardigans Live! Tale of the Mighty Knights" will stop at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on July 15 and 16 for two performances. Tickets are now on sale. Since its debut on Nickelodeon's preschool weekday lineup, "The Backyardigans" has become the No. 2-rated preschool show on all of commercial TV among the target audience of preschoolers. The shows will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $32.50, $27.50 and $17.50. For more information, call (239) 481-4849 or visit www.bbmannpah.com.

Space 39 - Space 39 Modern & Contemporary gallery hosts a reception June 28, from 6-10 p.m. for "New Works" featuring the distinguished students of Florida Gulf Coast University. The gallery picked specific pieces from this juried group show to bring to Space 39 for your enjoyment. The exhibit will be on display from June 28 to July 19. Please call ahead for summer hours. For more information, call (239) 690- 0004 or visit www.spacethirtynine.com.

Piano Men - "The Piano Men 2," an acclaimed musical journey through the 1970s and 1980s showcasing the songs of legendary performers Billy Joel and Elton John, comes to the Philharmonic Center for the Arts for one show on Saturday, June 28 at 8 p.m. Multi-talented entertainer Jim Witter is featured on grand piano and lead vocals, along with his band, which includes guitar, bass, sax, electric keyboard and drum backup. The Piano Men 2 is the sequel to The Piano Men, Witter's critically acclaimed show featuring Billy Joel and Elton John hits from the 1970s. Tickets to The Piano Men 2 are $35. For more information or to order tickets, contact Customer Service at (239) 597-1900 or toll-free at (800) 597-1900 or online at www.thephil.org.

Fab Four - The Fab Four, known for their uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles' songs, return to the Philharmonic Center by popular demand on Saturday, July 19 at 8 p.m. This incredible stage show includes three costume changes representing each era of the Beatles' career. Hear record-perfect live performances of such classics as Can't Buy Me Love, Yesterday, A Day In The Life, Penny Lane, Here Comes The Sun, Hey Jude and many more. Tickets to The Fab Four are $35. 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.

Secret Garden - For its Naples summer musical extravaganza, The Naples Players bring to the stage "The

Secret Garden," a production based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The book and lyrics for "The Secret Garden" were written by Marsha Norman; the music is by Lucy Simon. The Naples Players' production includes a cast of more than 30 and a full orchestra. Tickets for "The Secret Garden" are on sale at The Naples Players Box Office. Also on sale is a return of the summer dinner/ show package offered by The Naples Players and Vergina Restaurant. Beginning Saturday, June 28 and continuing Wednesday through Saturday evenings until the last performance on August 2, the dinner/show package costs $48 for an adult. After enjoying a three course dinner at Vergina, the ticket holder then watches a performance of "The Secret Garden." On Sundays, dinner follows the matinee. Individual tickets for The Secret Garden cost $30 per adult and $10 for children under 18. The show opens June 27 (opening night is sold out) and runs through August 2. For reservations for the dinner/show package or for individual tickets to any performance, visit The Naples Players Box Office at 701 5th Avenue South in downtown Naples. The office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets also may be purchased by phone at (239) 263-7990 or at www.naplesplayers.org Sara Evans - Country superstar Sara Evans comes to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Friday, September 19. The award-winning country singer dominates country radio airwaves, was celebrated as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People", and attracted a new legion of fans with her spirited turn on "Dancing with the Stars." Evans has earned numerous number one hits, two of which she co-wrote, including "Born to Fly," "No Place That Far," "Suds In The Bucket" and "A Real Fine Place to Start," which spent two weeks at the top of the country charts. Of the five albums Evans has released, her sophomore set, "No Place That Far," has been certified gold; 2001's "Born to Fly" is double-platinum and 2003's "Restless" and 2005's "Real Fine Place" are both platinum. Evans recently released "Sara Evans - Greatest Hits" - a 14-song collection featuring 10 of her signature songs as well as four inspired new songs. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 20 at 10 a.m. at the box office, by calling (239) 481-4849 or online at www.bbmannpah.com. For groups of 20 or more, call Lois at (239) 489-3033, extension 3122.

Lisa Williams - "Lisa Williams: Life Among the Dead" comes to the Mann on Wednesday, September 24. As an Internationally acclaimed, Medium and Clairvoyant, Williams has an amazing ability to communicate with loved ones and friends who have passed on to the 'other side'. Born in England, she was discovered by Merv Griffin and has her own hit show 'Lisa Williams, Life Among the Dead', which is going into its second season on Lifetime TV. In additions to appearing on Good Morning America, Oprah and The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Williams has just completed her first book published by Simon and Schuster. Although many of her readings are in front of large audiences, she also does personal readings and is a trained Reiki and Crystal Healer. Through her large audience readings, Williams works with loved ones and spirit guides of the audience to help resolve past issues, inform them of situations that they may find themselves in and give closure and healing. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 20 at 10 a.m. at the box office, by calling (239) 481-4849 or online at www.bbmannpah. com. For groups of 20 or more, call Lois at (239) 489-3033, extension 3122.