It's a 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' summer for The Naples Players

The Naples Players will present its summer blockbuster musical, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie," from June 26 to July 25 at Blackburn Hall at the Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Avenue South, Naples. It's a modern valentine to song and dance; a high-spirited musical set in the New York City of the roaring 1920s.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" is the winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It's the story of Millie, a small-town girl who arrives in the big city with dreams of marrying for money rather than for love. After all, she's a modern girl, a flapper who meets up with all sorts of zany characters, high-brow and low-rent, at the hotel where she lives and plays. Intrigue, mystery, and romance all combine to create a toe-tapping, Charlestondancing, Keystone Kops comedy with lots of big production numbers that are fun for the whole family.

The book was written by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan. Music is by Jeanine Tesori, who also wrote the

music for "Shrek, the Musical," which is now on Broadway.

The Naples Players production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" follow its tradition of staging a full-orchestra show each summer. The show features a lavish set and costumes, lots of tap dancing, and unique props such as custom-built rolling desks, typewriters and telephones. Past musical hits by The Naples Players have included summer blockbusters "Smokey Joe's Café" and "Beauty and the Beast, and recent successes "Cabaret" and "Anything Goes."

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" will be performed Wednesday through Saturday, June 26 to July 25, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children 18 and under. The dinner/show package, which includes an adult ticket to "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and a three-course dinner at Vergina restaurant, is $48. Visit The Naples Players Box Office at 701 Fifth Avenue South, call (239) 263-7990, or go to www.naplesplayers. org.