Sunday, November 15, 2026
The Playmakers Lab rehearsing their short plays.
Young playmakers gather inside the dressing room for a group photo with Charlie Blum and Hyla Crane.
“Life is Hard” by Sophia Longo (seated). Charlie Blum as Jaws and Hyla Crane as MeMe with Stage Direction by Cata Stiehm.
From left: Logan Yarnell as Robbie, Jac Lamb as Jessica with stage direction by Chris Dayett.
First curtain call at the Arts Center Theatre for the Playmakers Lab.
On Friday, July 22nd, the Arts Center Theatre presented a series of short plays by the “Playmakers Lab” at the Marco Town Center location. This is the second year for the Children’s Summer Program and featured 10 students ages nine to 13 who had the opportunity to learn about theater and write their own plays. For this summer, the budding playwrights wrote 12 plays in just two weeks.
Playmakers Lab is modeled after the hugely successful 52nd Street Project in New York City. Children’s summer programs are supported by a grant from the Marco Island Community Fund of the Collier Community Foundation, United Church of Marco Island, Marco Island Foundation for the Arts, Marco Island Sunrise Rotary, Marco Island Noontime Rotary, Marco Island Shell Club, the State of Florida, Division of Art and Culture and many generous individual donors.
The Playmakers Lab, led by playwright, director and theater artist, Chris Dayett, focused on exploration in storytelling and performance. Participants learn the basic elements of storytelling, character development and playwriting in the first week. In the second week, participants learn directing, designing, and marketing for theater, culminating in a staged reading of their original play. Dayett is also the Director of Performing Arts at the Marco Island Academy.
To a full house with parents and friends, these 12 original short plays came to life at the Center for the Arts Theatre:
“What a Night” by Haddon S. Dixon: Jac Lamb as Jessica and Logan Yarnell as Robbie. Stage Direction by Chris Dayett.
“This Way That Way Forwards Backwards” by Presley Rodgers: Logan Yarnell as Max, Cata Stiehm as Mouse. Stage Direction by Charlie Blum.
“Rose and Dots” by Charleigh Rodgers: Jackie Weiner as Rose, Patricia Mills as Dots. Stage Direction by Jac Lamb.
“The Ball” by Chase Cook: Anthony Politi as Jimmy, Chris Dayett as Dayln. Stage Direction by Jac Lamb.
“The Flight to New York” by Kate Skudnig: Jac Lamb as Bunny, Hyla Crane as Hat. Stage Direction by Cata Stiehm.
“Life is Hard” by Sophia Longo: Hyla Crane as MeMe, Charlie Blum as Jaws. Stage Direction by Cata Stiehm.
“Alex and Willy” by Kim Tran: Cata Stiehm as Willy, Chris Dayett as Alex. Stage Direction by Logan Yarnell.
“The Trip” by Isla Ray: Jackie Weiner as Kim, Chris Dayett as Donny. Stage Direction by Hyla Crane.
“Trojan War” by Lana Glutting: Logan Yarnell as Dean, Chris Dayett as Zeke. Stage Direction by Anthony Politi.
“The Seagull (but not the Anton Chekhov One) by Alina Nguyen: Logan Yarnell as Rex, Anthony Politi as Antoine. Stage Direction by Chris Dayett.
“Romeo and Spider” by Jac Lamb: Logan Yarnell as Will, Cata Stiehm as Bell. Stage Direction by Chris Dayett.
“Truth or Dare” by Christopher Dayett: Jac Lamb as Mal, Cata Stiehm as Eve. Stage Direction by Logan Yarnell.
Please save the Dates for the Readers Theatre as follows:
August 7th at 2:00PM: “Paradise and Mr. Prince” by Mitch Eli.
August 14th at 2:00 PM: “An Evening of One Acts” by Alex Costell, Leslie Sanderson and Maryann Clavin.
August 21st at 2:00 PM: “The Swingset” by Kristyn Estes.
Special Event: August 13th at 7:00 PM. Lyndy’s Magic Parlor – a Mind Blowing Magical Comedy Show featuring magician Lyndy Phillips.
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