DONNA THE BUFFALO
The Upstate New York band brings their herd to Bonita Springs!

Thursday, June 8, 2023; 7:30pm

Donna The Buffalo (DTB) is a roots jam band playing a mash-up of country, rock ‘n’ roll, zydeco, and reggae. It’s impossible not to tap your feet to the fiddle-driven, bluegrass influence of band co-leader Tara Nevins and co-leader/guitarist Jeb Puryear's vocals echoing the spirit of favorites like Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Bob Marley. Their signature lyrics speak of social commentary and self-empowerment, but they have a way of making these messages seem funky and fun. DTB's special stage presence and groovy tunes have the power to get us all dancing like their devoted festivalgoers and super-fans, who call themselves the herd.

Since 1989, these roots rockers have played thousands of shows and countless festivals including Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Telluride, Austin City Limits Festival, Merle Fest, and Philadelphia Folk Festival. They’ve opened for The Dead and have toured with Peter Rowan, Del McCoury, Los Lobos, Little Feat, Jim Lauderdale, Rusted Root, and Railroad Earth to name a few. They also toured with Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen to raise awareness about increased corporate spending in politics.

RESERVED SEATING
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical Jr.

60-Minute Broadway Junior Version

CFABS Youth Theatre Production

June 16, 2023; 7pm
June 17, 2023; 2pm & 7pm
June 18, 2023; 2pm

The children are rising up. Join the revolt in this Broadway Junior adaptation of the Tony Award-winning hit!

Rebellion is nigh in Matilda JR., a gleefully witty ode to the the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.

Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace!

Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Open Mic Bonita!

Thursday, June 1, 2023; 7:00pm
Thursday, July 6, 2023; 7:00pm

Musicians, songwriters, poets, performance artists, authors, stand-up comedians …we want YOU! Each performer will get five minutes of stage time to share their talents with our audience.

RESERVED SEATING
Bulletproof Backpack

By Eric Coble

CFABS Youth Theatre Production

July 21, 2023; 7pm
July 22, 2023; 2pm & 7pm
July 23, 2023; 2pm

Devised from interviews with Florida high school and college students, this powerful script written by Broadway playwright Eric Coble brings student voices into the conversations surrounding gun violence by distilling real daily conversations into the dialogue of 10 characters from different political, economic, and family backgrounds.

“Teenager Cloe accidentally sees a list of names another student is compiling. Is it a hit list for a planned school shooting, or is it something more innocent? Now Cloe has one night to make the hardest decision she’s ever faced: Say nothing and risk a mass tragedy, or report the student and possibly ruin his life over nothing. In a cascading series of phone calls, Cloe, her friends and two adults race against the clock to find the balance between responsibility and panic. Active shooter drills are supposed to prepare students to survive, but what’s preparing them to live under a constant threat of violence?”

Directed by Kody C Jones, who directed the world premier at Florida Repertory Theatre and conceived the production with Eric Coble.