‘Assisted Living: The Musical’ comes home to Arts-Bonita

Submitted
·2 min read

In its first regional appearance in more than eight years, “Assisted Living: The Musical” returns to The Hinman Auditorium at Arts-Bonita for three performances.

There are two matinees, at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24. There is a single evening performance at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 23.

“Assisted Living: The Musical” first came to national attention about 10 years ago when a News-Press story about it was picked up by the Associated Press, and requests for performances began to build. After two New York workshops and an Equity opening in San Francisco, authors Compton & Bennett now tour nationally.

“Assisted Living: The Musical” is a slice-of-life show, with two actors – Rick Compton and Betsy Bennett –playing 18 different residents of Pelican Roost, the party school of retirement communities.
“Assisted Living: The Musical” is a slice-of-life show, with two actors – Rick Compton and Betsy Bennett –playing 18 different residents of Pelican Roost, the party school of retirement communities.

“Assisted Living: The Musical” is a slice-of-life show, with two actors – Rick Compton and Betsy Bennett –playing 18 different residents of Pelican Roost, the party school of retirement communities. They all bloviate, pontificate and celebrate their every day.

The show has been done by the duo more than 500 times, in a wide variety of venues. From El Portal in Hollywood, CA to the iconic Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ and from the 140-seat Stage 2 Theatre at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts to the 2300-seat Tropicana Showroom in Atlantic City

The shows at The Hinman are special. The Hinman at Arts-Bonita was the last venue in this region that “Assisted Living: The Musical” played, back in 2016. Additionally, Arts-Bonita (nee Bonita Art League) was the first place it was performed. Remarkably, it was also the where the concept for the show emerged. It happened after a Compton & Bennett performance when the executive director needed a title “now” for an additional date. The vision of a walker in the parking lot inspired the name.

Music Director Jeremy Goodman orchestrated the show and travels with Compton and Bennett. Jeremy accompanies every performance on piano, and hires, rehearses and conducts the show's on-stage bands.

The script is licensed to other theatre troupes through Broadway Licensing. It’s been produced by more than a dozen companies throughout the country.

Compton & Bennett can also be seen in their record-busting run of A Cracker at The Ritz, a non-political social satire. It has been maxing out The Moe at Arts-Bonita on alternating Tuesdays since January 2023, with some time off for touring.

Tickets for “Assisted Living: The Musical” at The Hinman can be purchased at artcenterbonita.org or call the box office at 239-495-8989.

More The rich getting richer? Naples was the only Florida city to make this list about wealth

And Lee Health: An important component of recovery – cardiac rehabilitation

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: ‘Assisted Living: The Musical’ comes home to Arts-Bonita