Stage 88 fits the bill for downtown

The show must go on and Stage 88 is doing what it can to make sure its original shows and musicals are displayed for all to see — especially those in the downtown area of Bonita Springs.

Stage 88, a local theater company out of Naples, recently found itself searching for a new venue after its Naples location began offering too many activities.

At the same time, the city of Bonita Springs began working on a community redevelopment plan that would draw full-time residents, seasonal residents and visitors to the downtown Bonita area.

“A downtown district is the heart of the community and a gathering place for Bonita residents and visitors,” said Mark McClellan, the artistic director for Stage 88.

Stage 88 had exactly what the city had been looking for because the community theater group runs shows year-round and offers art lovers a unique opportunity to hear and see local writers’ work on display.

“The ultimate goal is to get downtown to be a thriving district like Fort Myers and Naples are. Bonita Springs is one of the faster growing parts of the area and we are between Naples and Fort Myers,” said McClellan, who has two shows scheduled for the winter season.

The season, which started Nov. 2, includes “Friday’s” and two productions written by locals called “Four-Part Thunder” and “There Ain’t No Women in Heaven.”

“Bonita Springs doesn’t lack culture because there are a lot of avenues for it, but this will be a focal point for it because everybody can come,” said McClellan, who added that the company will perform community outreach and host other local theatre groups for the summer season.

The new home of Stage 88 will be at the community hall in the Old 41 corridor of downtown Bonita, and officials are hoping to draw a crowd.

The venue will seat 97, and Stage 88 has built a modular stage.

“A lot of things are happening and there really is a great desire and motivation to get people back into the downtown area and revitalize it,” McClellan said. “We are glad we can be a part of what is to come in the future of Bonita Springs.”