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Island Players catch audiences with ‘The Mousetrap’

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players are smashing previous attendance records with their newest production, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.”

Director Heiko Knipfelberg assembled a talented cast for the production, the longest-running play in history. The crew knew attendance would be good, but selling out every seat for every performance was a surprise.

The Island Players staff found that requests for tickets could not be fulfilled shortly after the beginning of the second week of the run. According to the theater’s box office staff, the combination of a record number of season subscriptions and providing both online and in-person sales resulted in demand beyond availability.

To celebrate its 75th season, the Island Players also host receptions on different nights of each show as a small token of thanks to the many season ticket and single ticket holders who sustain and support the theater. The receptions also provide audience members a meet and greet with some of the many Island Players volunteers who staff these receptions.

The next play will be “Communicating Doors,” a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Preston Boyd and co-produced by Sato Real Estate. Run dates are March 7-24.

The curtain rises Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.theislandplayers.org. Box office sales will begin on Monday, Feb. 26. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday and opens for Sunday matinees at 1 p.m. for “will call” tickets only. The box office can be reached at 941-778-5755.

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