Gulf Coast Symphony

Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in arts and culture grants that had been approved by the Florida Legislature. This year, the state’s $115.5 billion budget includes $18.3 million in arts and culture grants, but only a handful of Southwest Florida arts organizations qualified for a share of that money. For the second year in a row, 14 Lee county arts organizations were denied state funding, including the Alliance for the Arts and Florida Repertory Theatre. Each of Lee’s arts organizations is employing a medley of measures to make up for the loss of state grants.

The Gulf Coast Symphony continues to grow and offer year-round programming even as other regional symphony orchestras have closed. Gulf Coast Symphony Founder and Music Director Andrew Kurtz explains how the organization works to diversify its performance offerings and attract new audiences.

The $115.5 billion budget signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis includes more than $18 million for 184 arts organizations. Most Southwest Florida arts and culture organizations remain on the outside looking in.

A study from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has found that people under the age of 35 are more likely to listen to classical music than their parents.

This week, nine shows close, 12 continue their runs and there are two limited-run young actors' productions at equity and community theaters from Sarasota to Marco Island. As an added bonus, there are three performances of Frank Blocker’s “Good Jew” at the Norris Center in Naples.

This week, four shows open, four shows close and 17 others continue their runs at equity and community theaters from Marco Island to Sarasota.

Jerry Herman is known for Broadway classics such as “Mame,” “Hello, Dolly!” and “La Cage Aux Folles.” He had five Tony nominations and wins for “Hello, Dolly!” and “La Cage Aux Folles,” as well as a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 2009 and a Kennedy Center Honors in 2010. Southwest Florida Theatre at Gulf Coast Symphony is performing a dynamic revue of his most popular show tunes April 9-25.

During the week of April 7, 2025, ten shows open, six shows close and 15 others continue their runs at equity and community theaters from Marco Island to Sarasota.

This past weekend, Daniella Castoria played the part of Anita in Gulf Coast Symphony’s production of “West Side Story.” For Castoria, the role is an illustration of life imitating art.

When West Side Story premiered in September of 1957, theater critic Walter Kerr wrote, “The radioactive fallout from ‘West Side Story’ must still be descending on Broadway this morning.” Against a backdrop of midnight arrests and deportation flights, the musical’s portrayal of the immigrant experience promises to be just as explosive. But Gulf Coast Symphony’s production of “West Side Story” this weekend will also remind audiences of the role great theater plays in telling and retelling timeless stories filled with iconic characters and music.