Theatre Reviews

To be or not to be. Ah, that is the question. Having seen the first performance of The Island Theater’s rendition of the Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged), I highly recommend that you ‘be’ at the theater to enjoy it before it fades away into the annals of history. Directed by , whom I recall as the extremely talented actress who portrayed Pinocchio in Shrek the Musical, the hilarious sharing of the works of Shakespeare by three of the most enthusiastic young men I’ve ever witnessed will forever be etched in my mind. Bobby Bickles, Vincent Bonilla, and Matt Felts …

The Pelican Awards are presented annually by Players by the Sea, Jacksonville Beach’s community theatre to honor the many contributions of its actors, musicians, technical staff, and volunteers. The celebration and awards ceremony for the 2017-18 ceremony was staged for a packed house filled with friends and passionate supporters. This year’s party was Black Tie Optional, and many attendees dressed as though in a fashion show. Note: While this is a free event, demand is high and seats are limited – if you’re planning on attending next year, you will need a reservation. The evening began at 6:00 pm, when …

By Madeline DeLorie Fleming Island’s The Island Theater opened Bus Stop by William Inge on August 10, 2018.  The production will run from August 10 through August 19 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Bus Stop by William Inge is a classic play known best by area audiences for the movie adaptation starring Marilyn Monroe.  The play itself was written and set in 1955.  The setting is not ignored by set designers Tricia Williams, Dave Baker and Whit Williams as they have created a working 1950’s diner mixed with rural touches of the Kansas Plains …

The 5 & Dime, Jacksonville’s downtown theatre, has opened “How I Learned to Drive.” This 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama written by Paula Vogel opened on August 10 and remains on stage through August 26, 2018. The theatre is located at 112 East Adams Street; additional information is available on the company’s Facebook page. For reservations, call (904) 637-5100 or visit www.The5andDime.org. “Drive” is a memory play; a dark coming-of-age story with mature themes mixed with humor at times. It’s a familiar story: these days, the news is filled with reports of powerful figures (almost all male) having used their positions …

Jacksonville’s Phase Eight Theater Company notably opened a two-week run of “Ruined” on August 3, with remaining performances scheduled for August 10 – 11, 2018. The production is being staged at in , a venue with ample free parking. The play, by Lynn Nottage, received the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.  Nottage has received multiple awards for her work, including a second Pulitzer (in 2017 for “Sweat”) and the New York Drama Critics 2004 Best Play award for the well-known “Intimate Apparel.” The play was commissioned by Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, where it debuted in 2008. Before writing, Nottage travelled to …

Jacksonville’s Alhambra Theatre opened “Kiss Me Kate,” a classic musical with a score filled to the brim with tuneful and thoughtfully fun songs. The production (August 1 – September 9, 2018) is staged at 12000 Beach Boulevard. Call (904) 641-1212 or visit alhambrajax.com for tickets and additional information. The musical, based on William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” features the fabulous music and lyrics of Cole Porter and is very funny. The Bard’s work was adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, who set it in Baltimore in the 1940s, where a theatre company is planning a production of …

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom, Dual Critics of EU Jacksonville On Sunday July 22, 2018, Theatre Jacksonville held its annual celebration honoring volunteers from the 2017 –2018 season. The theatre combines the annual awards ceremony with its membership meeting. This year, the celebration was held at the theatre. Board President, , began by summarizing the past season and its accomplishments. He enthusiastically announced that TJ has once again finished in the black, thanks to the many individuals and groups who have generously contributed funds. Contributors included local foundations and non-profit organizations, businesses, and city and state organizations. New members of …

Over the years, Jacksonville Beach’s Players by the Sea community theatre has presented a number of outstanding summer musicals. This year’s selection, staged during July 20 – August 12, 2018 is noteworthy in many ways. In 2008, “” was nominated for 13 Tony awards and won 4, including Best Musical and Best Original Score; in 2009, it was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Award for drama. The play presents a slice of life story in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. The community is ethnically diverse, with Hispanics being the largest group. The music and lyrics were …

A DUAL CITICS REVIEW Jacksonville’s Northeast Florida Conservatory, in cooperation with the Haskell Company, opened Disney’s delightful “” on July 20, 2018. The production will run through July 29 at 11363 San Jose Boulevard, Building 200. For reservations, call 904-374-8639 or visit nfconservatory.org. Under , Founder and Executive Director, the Conservatory opened its doors in 2010, offering private music lessons and a community orchestra. Dickson rapidly expanded programming and began to produce musicals in a neighborhood with little in the way of theatre. Disney’s “Newsies” is the thirteenth musical production staged, each with great success and many sold out performances. …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW The FSCJ Artist Series and the Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts debuted the thirteenth annual High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience (SMTE) on July 20th, 2018 with “,” Mel Brooks’ zany musical, which runs through July 29th. The musical is based Brooks’ 1974 black and white comedy-horror film by the same name. The film became and remains a cult passion; DVDs are available in public libraries and on-line, and it’s screened on television from time to time. Brooks wrote the lyrics and music for all but one of the songs in the adaptation (“Puttin’ …