Executive Leadership

Leading with Vision, Growth, and Community Spirit

Introduction
When Bryce Alexander took the helm as CEO & Executive Artistic Director of The Naples Players (TNP) in 2017, he set the stage for a bold transformation. In a city brimming with arts and entertainment, Alexander saw an opportunity to redefine what a community theater could be (Q&A: The Naples Players Executive Director Bryce Alexander - Gulfshore Life). His leadership has been marked by forward-thinking strategy, explosive organizational growth, and deep community engagement. Colleagues and community members alike describe him as a visionary who “proved to be a master of improvisation” when faced with challenges (Men and Women of the Year - Gulfshore Life). Under Alexander’s direction, TNP has evolved from a beloved local theatre into a nationally recognized cultural hub – all while staying true to its community roots.

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Strategic Vision: Shaping the Future of Theater

From day one, Bryce Alexander emphasized a unified vision that bridges artistic excellence with financial and organizational health. Upon being named Executive Artistic Director, he praised his board’s “forward-thinking move” to unite the theater’s artistic and business sides under one leader and singular vision. In his view, aligning every stakeholder – from donors to volunteers to patrons – behind a common purpose is key to relevancy and sustainability.

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Alexander’s strategic vision has always looked beyond the status quo. “My biggest goal for the organization is a renewed and deepening sense of strategic growth to serve the larger community and, by doing so, cement the foundation for another 65 years,” he said as TNP celebrated its 65th anniversary. This meant not only preserving what made TNP successful, but also innovating new programs and partnerships.

 

Early on, Alexander outlined plans to increase partnerships across Southwest Florida, invest in volunteer and performer training, amplify youth education, and launch sustainable new productions. He came to Naples with a reputation for inclusion and community engagement – having led Denver’s Phamaly Theatre Company to national prominence by integrating artists with disabilities and connecting with thousands of children each season (The Naples Players New Artistic Director Bryce Alexander - The Naples Players). That experience shaped his inclusive, community-centric approach to TNP’s future.

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Crucially, Alexander’s vision positioned The Naples Players as an essential civic institution. He often stresses that the arts are core to the community, not just a fringe amenity. “People are craving a way to engage each other and with the world around them… At the end of the day, they are all part of the same community,” he noted, reinforcing how theater brings people together in unique ways. During a 2021 interview, he explained that the pandemic reaffirmed TNP’s central tenet: arts should be at the community’s heart. “The crisis brought renewed commitment to the nonprofit’s central tenet: that the arts are among a community’s core institutions—not an amenity on its margins,” he reflected. This philosophy guided strategic decisions from programming to capital planning. It’s no surprise that Alexander speaks about “putting Collier County on the international map” through the arts (Naples theaters, long a boon for the region, are primed for a big year | Business Observer) – he envisions Naples not just as a tourist destination, but as a model community where arts and culture drive connection and innovation.

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Organizational Growth: From Local Stage to New Heights

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In the years since Bryce Alexander assumed leadership, The Naples Players has experienced dramatic growth in size, scope, and impact. Defying national trends that saw many theaters scaling back, TNP has expanded its operations and audience even in challenging times (Putting the community center stage - How The Naples Players have managed to become one of the best theaters in the country - The Naples Players). Today, the theatre serves an annual audience of over 70,000 patrons and engages more than 750 volunteers who do 77,000+ volunteer hours – staggering numbers for a community-based theatre. Its education programs log over 10,000 registrations a year, and the company collaborates with 40+ area nonprofits through arts access initiatives. “TNP has grown to become one of the most unique organizations in the country – operating differently and bucking the downward national trends,” one profile noted, crediting the theater’s community emphasis for its success. In short, attendance, membership, and revenues have all climbed under Alexander’s tenure – with ticket sales hitting record highs and subscription seats more than tripling within five years. This growth also allowed TNP to balance its operating budget for the first time in years and even grow its endowment by several million dollars, ensuring long-term stability.

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A centerpiece of TNP’s growth story is its ambitious facility expansion and renovation. Recognizing that the theater’s physical home hadn’t changed in two decades while its programs had “experienced significant growth”, Alexander led a campaign to modernize and enlarge the Sugden Community Theatre. He and his team began planning the project around 2019, and despite a pandemic delay, forged ahead with a $22 million renovation plan. Fundraising for this capital campaign kicked off just before COVID-19 hit, yet thanks to persistent efforts and generous donors, TNP raised the bulk of the funds within a couple of years. By late 2022, Naples City Council unanimously approved the renovation, a testament to broad community support for Alexander’s vision (Naples City Council Approves Naples Players Renovation - The Naples Players). “We’re pleased to be an example of community-oriented, community-engaged future planning…designing a facility that honors the community’s past and protects its future,” Alexander remarked after securing the city’s go-ahead.

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The renovation (completed in 2024) essentially gutted and rebuilt TNP’s 39,000-square-foot facility, adding cutting-edge features and entirely new spaces. The result is a 45,000-square-foot state-of-the-art complex including a 450-seat Broadway-style main theater with balconies, two new black-box theaters, dedicated classroom studios, a café, and expanded backstage areas. Notably, Alexander ensured the upgrades weren’t just about capacity, but also about inclusion and technology. He is “especially proud” of the venue’s one-of-a-kind sensory booth – a sound-, light-, and temperature-controlled private box in the main theater that offers children and adults with sensory sensitivities a comfortable way to enjoy performances. The new facility also boasts a modern hearing-loop system and Bluetooth assistive listening, as well as becoming the first LEED-certified theater in Florida, bringing a new environmental standard to the region. These improvements reflect Alexander’s forward-looking mindset: the theater’s growth is not just bigger, but smarter, greener, and more accessible.

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Organizational growth under Alexander also meant investing in people. Instead of tightening belts during hard times, he grew his team. Since 2020, TNP actually added staff positions to meet programming needs. By early 2025, Alexander even brought on a dedicated Artistic Director (after years of juggling that role himself) to join him in leading the flourishing organization (The Naples Players Adds Phillip Fazio As Artistic Director ). “With TNP’s incredible growth over the last few years, this is just another step in our plan to go even deeper into serving our patrons and volunteers in unparalleled ways,” Alexander said of hiring a new artistic leader. His pride in TNP’s momentum is evident: “We're showing the nation how theatre ought to be done,” he proclaimed, underscoring his aim to not only grow, but to set an example for theaters everywhere. Perhaps a local magazine put it best, observing that hundreds of thousands have passed through TNP’s doors and “our momentum is deafening” as the company swings the sledgehammer into its next chapter (Breaking Ground On Our New Renovation | 5th Avenue South). From financial resilience to bricks-and-mortar expansion, Bryce Alexander’s executive leadership has propelled The Naples Players to new heights while preparing it for the future.

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Community Engagement: A Theater for the People

If strategic vision and growth are the pillars of Bryce Alexander’s leadership, community engagement is the heart that pumps blood through everything he does. Alexander’s guiding question has always been, “How can we serve the community?” He doesn’t see The Naples Players as just an arts organization performing for the public – he sees it as a community partner actively improving lives. His tenure is filled with examples of TNP stepping off the stage and into the community in creative, impactful ways.

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One of the most dramatic illustrations came when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. As stages around the world went dark in 2020, Alexander proved his adaptability and commitment to service. He kept all 25 of his full-time staff on payroll and quickly redeployed the theater’s talents to help the public. TNP’s costume department began sewing face masks for healthcare workers, and the scene shop built plexiglass intubation boxes to protect hospital doctors. “One of the first things we did as a staff was ask: What are the ways we can give back?” Alexander said of those early pandemic days (Gulfshore Strong - Gulfshore Life).

 

The 2019-2020 season had “went off script,” but Alexander improvised brilliantly. With the Sugden Theatre closed, he led his troupe to “light up the internet” instead – producing free virtual concerts, comedy shows, storytimes, classes, and even one of the nation’s first full-length Zoom play productions. (Their online performance of Becky’s New Car is believed to be among the first digital theater productions in the country. For a time, when it was safe, they even moved shows outdoors to local parks and the zoo. In a one-of-a-kind collaboration with the Naples Zoo, TNP’s youth troupe staged Madagascar Jr. alongside live animals and zookeepers, an innovative crossover of art and science that delighted audiences. “It allowed us to show the synergies between art and science,” Alexander noted – adding wryly, “It’s too bad it took a global pandemic to teach us that lesson.” Through these efforts, TNP maintained its connection with patrons and continued to fulfill its mission of community enrichment when people needed it most. Alexander’s mantra during the crisis was simple: find ways to help. That mindset earned him widespread respect – Gulfshore Life magazine anointed him a “Champion of the Arts” for leading TNP’s extraordinary pandemic response.

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Even beyond emergencies, Alexander has embedded TNP deeply into the community through outreach and partnerships. Under his leadership, inclusivity and accessibility have become hallmarks of The Naples Players. The theater’s new Wellness Through the Arts initiative, launched during Alexander’s tenure, offers therapeutic arts programs in collaboration with local health and social service organizations. For example, TNP teamed up with the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center to create a unique program blending improv theater with equine therapy for those with special needs. They also forged an agreement with Collier County Public Schools to install theater education programs in middle and high schools, bringing arts into classrooms and reaching students who might never have set foot in a theater. These partnerships illustrate Alexander’s belief in meeting the community where it is – using theater as a tool to support education, health, and social well-being.

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Alexander has also encouraged TNP to use its platform to lift up other causes. In 2021, despite TNP sustaining $1.6 million in losses from the pandemic, he prioritized “looking outward” and helping fellow nonprofits. During the run of the comedy Calendar Girls, for instance, TNP organized a fundraiser to combat local food insecurity, donating proceeds to area food banks. “Everybody is always raising money for themselves,” Alexander said. “We asked: ‘Why don’t we raise money WITH other organizations that benefit our community?’ It feels radical, but it is the basis of being a community-centric organization. We’re excited to continue that.” This ethos – leveraging the arts to support broader community needs – has endeared TNP to Naples residents and nonprofits alike. It’s also redefining what a community theater can be: not just a place to see shows, but a force for good in the region.

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At The Naples Players itself, community engagement thrives through a culture of volunteerism and inclusivity. As a community theater, TNP relies on hundreds of volunteers, and Alexander has cultivated an environment where volunteers feel valued and enriched. “TNP does a great job of reminding us why we’re all here volunteering – for nothing more than the love of theatre,” says volunteer actor Austin Gardner, who adds that the opportunity to perform at such a high level “has made me a better person." Fellow volunteer Jennifer Mance agrees that “there’s something special about TNP and the magic that’s created here. You don’t just meet talented people, but lovely and nice people… so genuinely kind and supportive.” Testimonials like these speak to the welcoming, passionate community that has flourished under Alexander’s leadership. He has opened TNP’s doors to people of every age and ability, ensuring anyone who wants to participate in theater can find a home.

From Broadway-seasoned professionals to first-time performers, all are invited to collaborate on TNP’s stage.

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And for audience members, Alexander has expanded accessibility with sensory-friendly performances (sometimes called relaxed performances) that accommodate those with autism or other sensitivities, as well as touch-tours for visually impaired patrons and “Pay What You Can” ticket programs for low-income families. Each year, TNP also grants over $50,000 in scholarships so children across Collier and Lee counties can attend theater classes and camps regardless of their financial means. These initiatives have broken down barriers to the arts, building an audience that truly reflects the whole community.

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Perhaps most telling is how the community has engaged with TNP in return. Naples has rallied around the theater’s growth and mission – from city officials unanimously backing the renovation to donors contributing millions for its capital campaign. During Hurricane Ian in 2022, when much of the city was reeling, The Naples Players opened its doors as an emergency relief center, providing free childcare, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and a quiet space for displaced residents and small business owners. It even loaned its building to the SBA for a Disaster Recovery Center. These actions reinforced TNP’s status as a community pillar. “We thought, ‘How can we serve the community?’ And, in turn, the community served us,” Alexander observed, reflecting on the reciprocal support between TNP and Naples through crises. The theater’s ability to survive and thrive, he insists, is thanks to the people it serves. It’s a virtuous cycle: by engaging the public in meaningful ways, TNP has inspired intense public investment in return.

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A Legacy of Visionary Leadership

Bryce Alexander’s executive leadership of The Naples Players illustrates how strategic vision, organizational growth, and community engagement can interweave to transform a local arts organization. He has shown that a theater can honor its heritage while boldly innovating – all with the community at the center of every decision.

 

The impact is evident in the vibrant, resilient company TNP is today. As one local business journal noted, Alexander and his counterparts are “enhancing the economic impact” of the arts in Southwest Florida and pushing Naples onto a larger cultural stage. More importantly, ask anyone involved with TNP and they’ll tell you about the personal impacts: the volunteer whose confidence blossomed on stage, the student who found their passion in a drama class, the donor who sees their gift touching lives, or the audience member who felt “like getting a warm hug” walking into the theater.

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Alexander’s leadership has earned accolades from outside observers, but perhaps the highest praise comes from these everyday stories. Media profiles have dubbed him a “Champion of the Arts” and one of the “Men of the Year” for guiding TNP through adversity and into a new era. Yet Bryce Alexander remains focused on the collaborative ethos that got them here. “Our volunteers and patrons bring us our greatest pride,” he wrote in a letter to supporters. “We’re not just building a beautiful new facility – we’re building community.” In an informal speech at the renovation groundbreaking, he swung a sledgehammer into an old theater wall, symbolizing both an end and a beginning. Out of the memories of TNP’s past, Alexander is helping raise the framework of its future – one that looks brighter than ever, powered by a shared passion for the arts and for community.

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Through strategic foresight, relentless growth, and genuine public service, Bryce Alexander has not only led The Naples Players to new heights – he has shown how executive leadership can turn a theater into a true community treasure.