Cessy Newmon

Gypsy is on show at the Alhambra

August 25, 2024

Words by Cessy Newmon Rove over to the Alhambra for an evening of GYPSY for a wonderful time. Take a colorful memoir, add a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and you get the fascinating fable that exceeds the infamy of the original character of Gypsy Rose Lee. While not biographical, the story

On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

A SIDE-SPLITTING EVENING with THE GOLDEN GIRLS

You don’t need to be a die-hard fan of the ’80s to have a side-splitting evening with THE GOLDEN GIRLS, THE LAUGHS CONTINUE, at the Performing Arts Center downtown. It’s fun for all ages and genders – over 18. It’s a very raunchy spinoff of its namesake sitcom that ran

Urine Good Hands at the 5andDime

Urinetown: The Musical, the quirky satirical musical comedy with music by Mark

Downtown we will rock you with THE ULTIMATE QUEEN CELEBRATION

This Friday (10/18), Jacksonville rock fans are going to get a special

Keeping Company at Orange Park Community Theater

February 14, 2020

On Stage·Theatre·Theatre Reviews·Uncategorized

Company, a 1970 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, was among the first musicals to deal with adult themes and relationships and is not for young audiences (cautions on language and subject matter). To quote Sondheim, “Broadway theater has been for many years supported by upper-middle-class people with

Bewitchingly ‘Bell, Book and Candle’ at Orange Park Community Theatre

October 22, 2019

Feature·On Stage·Orange Park·Theatre·Theatre Reviews

For the second show of its 50th Anniversary season, (OPCT) took on the 1950 classic, Bell, Book and Candle. In a bewitchingly fun version, the audience, to paraphrase Aunt Queenie, was giggling and giggling (and laughing) pretty consistently throughout. Considering this script is almost 70 years old and has spawned

A Beauty of a Start to a 50th Season at Orange Park Community Theatre

September 9, 2019

Family·Feature·On Stage·Orange Park·Theatre·Theatre Reviews

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast With a rendition of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast that had everyone laughing, clapping, ooh-ing and aah-ing, kicks off its 50th Anniversary season. For a small stage, this theatre touts big talent. Director brings to life a show that delights the senses of young and

Pride & Prejudice, Northeast Florida Conservatory

No Prejudice for this Pride-Worthy Performance by Northeast Florida Conservatory

July 18, 2019

Feature·Mandarin·On Stage·Theatre·Theatre Reviews

With performances at Mandarin Presbyterian Church before moving to Atlantic Blvd., the presents the classic Pride and Prejudice, running through July 21. Based on the novel by Jane Austen, it is set in the early 1800’s England and is a romantic sparring match touching on manners and morals. It is

Mamma Mia, Valdosta State University’s Peach State Summer Theatre Has a Crazy Line-Up!

July 6, 2019

Family·Feature·Get Away·On Stage·Theatre·Theatre Reviews·Travel & Tourism

Peach State Summer Theatre is a professional summer stock theatre located on the lovely University campus in Valdosta, GA. Each summer, some 60 talents gather for ten-weeks to rehearse, build and present three musicals in repertoire. has produced professional summer musical theatre since 1990. Just two hours from Jacksonville, Valdosta

The Music Man: 76 Trombones are on Parade at Orange Park Community Theatre

June 12, 2019

Dual Critics·Feature·On Stage·Orange Park·Theatre·Theatre Reviews

The last show of ’s season is The Music Man. This classic musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, was not only based on Willson’s boyhood in Mason City, Iowa, but the role of Marian was based on a real person, Marian Seeley of Provo, UT, a medical

One Toe’s in the Funny Bone at Orange Park Community Theatre

March 8, 2019

Feature·On Stage·Orange Park·Theatre·Theatre Reviews

Orange Park Community Theatre just opened One Toe in the Grave, a comedy by Jack Sharkey. You may have previously seen a Sharkey play and not realized it, as he wrote under four pseudonyms as well as his own name. He didn’t start writing for stage until in his thirties,

OPCT's Dixie Swim Club, Orange Park Community Theatre

Dive into Enjoyment with OPCT’s Dixie Swim Club

January 17, 2019

Feature·On Stage·Orange Park·Theatre

Orange Park Community Theatre’s third show this season is The Dixie Swim Club, a touching comedy by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. Even though this is a rather prolifically performed script, it remains popular. The relevance of the characters in the story consistently cuts across generations and communities

NE FL Conservatory Grows its Repertoire with Three’s a Family

January 17, 2019

Feature·Mandarin·On Stage·Theatre

This past weekend, the NE Florida Conservatory debuted its first non-musical (straight) show as they expand their artistic stage outreach beyond vocalists by adding straight plays to their repertoire, Three’s a Crowd, a comedy written by Phoebe and Henry Ephron, opened on Broadway in 1943. It has not been widely

A Supernatural Horror: ‘The Univited’ at Orange Park Community Theatre

October 23, 2018

Feature·On Stage·Orange Park·Theatre·Theatre Reviews

Orange Park Community Theatre’s (OPCT) second production for this season, by well-known author Tim Kelly, is Halloween-themed for the time of year. Even the ladies at concessions are in the spirit of the season. The old house at Cliff’s End, owned by the young Stella Meredith (), has stood vacant