Looking for some
fun in Southwest Florida
?
Here are our top things to do this weekend and next week, including the Fort Myers Film Festival, country stars Shenandoah and Tito Puente Jr. Plus a look at what’s ahead in May.
To add an event, send the information via email to reporter Charles Runnells.
crunnells@gannett.com
.
1. The Fort Myers Film Festival
The festival celebrates its 15
th
anniversary with more independent shorts, documentaries and feature films shown each day. May 14-18. Tickets are $10 per film or block of films, or $30 for a day pass. $20-$100 for opening night baseball documentary, “Curveballs,” from Southwest Florida director John Biffar. Check website for more events. Movies are shown at various Lee County locations, including Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, BIG ARTS, the Alliance for the Arts, IMAG, Babcock Ranch and Calusa Nature Center.
fortmyersfilmfestival.com
2. ‘The Business of Murder’ at Players Circle
Last chance to see this psychological thriller directed by
Theatre Conspiracy
founder Bill Taylor. It’s his first show since splitting with the Alliance for the Arts, the theater troupe’s longtime home, in January. Now through Sunday, May 11. $40-$55. Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 800-3292 or
playerscircletheater.com
3. Shenandoah at Caloosa Sound
The country group hailing from Alabama is set to perform again in Southwest Florida. They have gained recognition through their popular tracks like “Mama Knows,” “Sunday in the South,” “Two Dozen Roses,” “Next To You, Next to Me,” and “The Church on Cumberland Road.” The show will take place at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 11th. Ticket prices range from $35 to $100. Additionally, high-top tables can be reserved for between $500 and $580 (each table seats four people). This event will occur at Caloosa Sound Amphitheater within Centennial Park, located at 2101 Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers.
CaloosaSoundAmp.com
4. Tito Puente Jr. at Cape Cabaret
Tito Puente Jr., the son of renowned salsa artist Tito Puente, carries forward his father’s musical legacy through various projects like albums, television specials, and performances. The event will take place from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. Admission costs $35 plus a mandatory $10 minimum spend on food or drinks. It will be held at Cape Cabaret Dinner Theater located at 4725 Vincennes Boulevard, Cape Coral. For more information, call 549-3000 or visit their website.
capecabaret.com
L.A. Guns at Buddha LIVE
The trailblazers of glam metal are making their comeback to Southwest Florida. Fans can enjoy their iconic ’80s and ’90s tracks like “The Ballad of Jayne,” “Never Enough,” and “Rip And Tear.” The venue opens its doors at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 9; however, the showtime has yet to be disclosed. Ticket prices range from $35 to $125. Catch them live at Buddha LIVE located at 12701 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers.
facebook.com/TheBuddhaLive
MORE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Perform with rock band Molly Hatchet, jazz vocalist Jarrod Lawson
-
Molly Hatchet:
7 PM on Saturday, May 10, at Buddha LIVE in Fort Myers. Ticket prices range from $35 to $150. Only a few seats are still available.
facebook.com/TheBuddhaLive -
Karyn Oliver, the singer-songwriter who won the South Florida Folk Festival Songwriting Contest,
7 PM on Saturday, May 10, at the Americana Community Music Association in Fort Myers. Admission is $20.
americanacma.org -
‘The Play “Men Are Dogs” by playwright Joe Simonelli is a comedic take on a psychologist who conducts pretend therapy sessions within a support group designed for single and divorced women.’
Until Sunday, May 11, you can enjoy Cape Cafe Dessert Theatre at Durso’s Delites Café in Cape Coral, Florida. The cost is $25 per ticket. To purchase tickets, send an email.
capecafetheatre@gmail.com
or call 363-0848. -
Jazz singer Jarrod Lawson:
7 PM on Tuesday, May 13, at the Tribby Arts Center, located in South Fort Myers. The cost is $50.
tribbyartscenter.com
LOOKING AHEAD
Dog Show at Lee Civic Center – City of Palms
For four days, two Florida dog clubs have teamed up to present an event featuring vendors, dog contests, food trucks, and much more. The festivities begin with the Heartland Dog Club of Florida from the Highlands County region on Thursday, May 15. This will be succeeded by the Greater Fort Myers Dog Club hosting activities from Friday through Sunday, May 16–18. Events run daily from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., with both admission and parking being complimentary. Mark your calendars at the Lee Civic Center located at 11831 Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers.
greaterfortmyersdogclub.org
‘Venus In Fur’ at Florida Rep
Don’t miss your final opportunity to catch the enticing and daring production of David Ives’ “Venus in Fur.” This play revolves around an ambitious playwright-director looking for the ideal actress for his upcoming adaptation of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s erotic tale filled with elements of BDSM titled “Venus in Fur.” A woman named Vanda shows up tardily but manages to persuade him to allow her to do a reading. Their interaction blurs the boundaries among imagination and truth, allure and authority, as well as affection, passion, and desire. Performances run until Sunday, May 18. Ticket prices begin at $75. Visit the ArtStage Studio Theatre located within the Florida Repertory Theatre at 2268 Bay Street in downtown Fort Myers. For reservations call 332-4488 or visit their website.
floridarep.org
Coheed and Cambria performing at Hertz Arena
The prog-metal giants are set to perform with their Infinite Arc Tour in Southwest Florida. Supporting them will be Periphery and Mastodon as opening acts. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 19th, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $25 to $135. On-site parking costs $30, including all taxes and fees (cash payments not accepted). Alternatively, free parking is available right next door at Miromar Outlets. It takes place at Hertz Arena located at 11000 Everblades Parkway in Estero. For more details call 948-7825 or
hertzarena.com
Charles Runnells serves as an arts and entertainment journalist for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. For contact options, you can dial 239-335-0368 or send an email to crunnells@gannett.com. Engage with him via social media platforms such as Facebook under @charles.runnells.7, Instagram and Threads using @crunnells1, and X known previously as Twitter at @CharlesRunnells.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press:
Best things to do in Fort Myers: Film festival, Shenandoah, L.A. Guns, more
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