The Naples Players

Our Rich History

The Naples Players was founded on January 19, 1953, an idea which originated a year earlier at the home of Henry and Mary Watkins. Its first production, I Remember Mama, was staged in what is now Gulfview Middle School on March 20, 1953.

For more than two decades The Naples Players staged rehearsals and performances out of local auditoriums, restaurants, and even patrons’ homes. It was not until 1975 that The Naples Players established a home base when a 40-seat playhouse was opened at 2363 Davis Boulevard. Having their own facility allowed TNP to focus on growing their classes and programs beyond just staged performances. Explosive growth followed and less than a decade later, they had outgrown their facility. After extensive renovations, the former Kon-Tiki Theatre was reopened as the new Naples Players theatre. A performance of Guys & Dolls was staged in March 1985 as the opening act.

The Naples Players are a Naples Unites Partner Site!