Rebar reaches skyward atop 10 stout concrete columns while backhoes and front-end loaders scrape the ground that was previously the Gompertz Theatre parking lot. Construction is well under way on the eight-story arts complex named for Florida Studio Theatre benefactors Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy. Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins says that $57 million project will be completed in stages.

The High School Musical Theatre Awards take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 8 at the Barbara B Mann Performing Art Hall at FSW. Patterned after the Tony Awards, the evening features performances by each participating school, along with awards in a number of categories, including Best Overall Production, Best Ensemble and Best Actor and Supporting Actor in both Male-Identifying and Female-Identifying roles.

This week, three shows open including Sondheim & Weidman's 'Assassin' at The Sarasota Players, three plays close and eight others continue their runs at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters. In addition, there are three limited engagements plus five staged readings at Florida Repertory Theatre that are part of the PlayLab Festival of New Works.

For five years, Michelle and Jeremy Kuntze have been building an excited pool of actors and patrons at Fort Myers Theatre on San Carlos Boulevard. Now, they’re opening a second location. The Fort Myers Dinner Theatre will produce its inaugural play in July.

“I’d like to have a chance to go to Broadway and beyond; maybe do movies and other things like that,” said JJ Freitas outside Fort Myers Theatre recently. Freitas has taken two big steps in pursuit of those lofty goals. First, he traveled with Fort Myers Theater to the Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta in January. It’s the Super Bowl of student-driven musical theater.

Every culture has sayings, spells and superstitions. Artistic Director Nate Jacobs has woven many into a new musical comedy inspired by his mother and grandmother.

The 16th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival will screen Ted Dintersmith’s documentary “Multiple Choice” and Jordan Axelrod’s "Szypliski" on opening night.

Naples modernist Mally Khorasantchi is featured in this year’s Florida Contemporary art exhibit at The Baker Museum. Each of her compositions in Florida Contemporary is a highly personal reaction to something that happened during Khorasantchi’s life. That’s particularly true of the artist’s four-panel oil-on-paper collage, “Rhapsodie in Blue.”

This week, "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" and "Emma" open, six shows close, 12 others continue their runs and there is one limited engagement at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters.

The city of Fort Myers maintains an Arts & Culture Grant program. For 2026, City Council has made $150,000 available for payment of grants. The city is accepting digital applications now through May 15.