“Dog Wish”

FGCU’s Theatre Lab and Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center Present “Dog Wish”

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast University’s Theatre Lab invites the public to the opening of “Dog Wish,” Wednesday, April 3-7, and Wednesday, April 10-14 at the FGCU Theatre Lab located in the Arts Complex.  

     Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and a matinee performance on Sunday at 2 p.m.

     Purchase tickets at http://theatrelab.fgcu.edu, Tickets are $7 and will go on sale March 20.

     Performance dates at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, located at 2301 1st Street, Fort Myers, are April 15-17. Tickets cost $10. Cocktails are at 7:30 p.m. and curtain opens at 8 p.m. Purchase tickets at http://www.sbdac.com/events/page/2/.

     An original play created in collaboration with The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane University, “Dog Wish”explores the human-animal bond we share with man’s best friend. “Dog Wish” stages the diversity of human-dog relationships with a script based on interview narratives with animal behaviorists, K9 sheriffs, local rescues, animal assisted therapy providers, shelter technicians, and dog lovers of many stripes. 

     “Dog Wish” conveys heartwarming stories of unconditional love, confounding tales of abuse and dog fighting, and the joyful intimacies of humans' liveswith dogs—while revealing truths about the human animal.

     Notable interviews staged in “Dog Wish” include Patricia McConnell (author of “The Other End of the Leash” and radio personality on NPR’s “Calling All Pets”), Alan Beck (Director of Purdue University’s Center of the Human-Animal Bond), and Karen Lasker and Paula Brody of local non-profit The Brody Project, as well as FGCU professor of biology Charles Gunnels. 

     “Dog Wish” includes dance, movement, monologues, ensemble scenes, and film to share dynamic and entertaining stories from national and local experts and dog people about our endearing canine companions. 

     Scripted and directed by Michelle Hayford, Theatre Program Leader at FGCU.  All interviews and research conducted by FGCU students, cast, and Michelle Hayford.

     For more information, Hayford at mhayford@fgcu.edu, (239) 590-7541.