A vibrant 'Rent' at Players by the Sea shows its lasting impact. #Theater #MusicalMagic jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

A Raw, Resonant 'Rent' at Players by the Sea Proves Why the Musical Still Matters | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Players by the Sea delivers a powerful 'Rent' with strong performances, sharp direction and moments that remind audiences why the show changed musical theater.

Powerful vocals emotional depth and creative staging define Rent at Players by the Sea. Read the review jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

'Rent' at Players by the Sea stirs deep emotion and delivers unforgettable moments. See what stood out in our review jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

Little Women at Amelia Community Theatre Blends Bold Staging with Standout Performances | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Amelia Community Theatre’s Little Women, The Musical pairs vibrant performances with striking design, turning the March family’s struggles, humor and grit into a vivid story that feels immediate and…

From standout performances to thoughtful design choices, Amelia Community Theatre’s Little Women shows how classic stories can still feel timely. Full review here: jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

Little Women at Amelia Community Theatre Blends Bold Staging with Standout Performances | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Amelia Community Theatre’s Little Women, The Musical pairs vibrant performances with striking design, turning the March family’s struggles, humor and grit into a vivid story that feels immediate and…

If you think you know Little Women, this production may change your mind. Bold choices, strong cast and a lot of heart. Full review: jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

Little Women at Amelia Community Theatre Blends Bold Staging with Standout Performances | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Amelia Community Theatre’s Little Women, The Musical pairs vibrant performances with striking design, turning the March family’s struggles, humor and grit into a vivid story that feels immediate and…

This 'Little Women' has sword fights, swagger and a lot of heart. A strong cast and bold staging make it stand out. Full review here:

'Elf' Brings Sharp Energy and Big Laughs to the Alhambra | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA 'Elf the Musical' at the Alhambra delivers bright performances, fast transitions and standout choreography.

Kaylee Hendry’s “Never Fall in Love With an Elf” solo? Instant chills. 'Elf' at the Alhambra hits so many sweet spots. Review’s live.

'Elf' Brings Sharp Energy and Big Laughs to the Alhambra | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA 'Elf the Musical' at the Alhambra delivers bright performances, fast transitions and standout choreography.

'Elf' at the Alhambra is an absolute blast. Big laughs, standout vocals and a Macy’s scene that brings the house down. Review’s up now.

@theatrecritics.bsky.social

Raw Emotion and Stark Honesty Define ABET's 'A Moon for the Misbegotten' | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA ABET’s "A Moon for the Misbegotten" delivers raw emotion, striking design and standout performances in O’Neill’s tale of loneliness and redemption.

ABET’s A Moon for the Misbegotten finds raw beauty in O’Neill’s despair. Racaniello and Broughton light up Studio B in a deeply felt, finely tuned production.

Read the full review → jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

#Theatre #ABET #ONeill #JacksonvilleArts

'Harlan and Bronna Jump Out the Window' Is Wickedly Funny and Surprisingly Tender | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA At Lumen Rep, Michael Jacobs' 'Harlan and Bronna Jump Out the Window' premieres as an absurdist comedy mixing sharp satire with genuine poignancy.

An absurdist fever dream wrapped in wit and heart.
🎭 Harlan and Bronna Jump Out the Window premieres at Lumen Rep — from Broadway & TV writer Michael Jacobs.
jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

Holy Humor and Heavenly Harmonies in 'Nunsense' at Limelight Theatre | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA The [[theatre:Limelight Theatre]] production of [[production:2025 Nunsense]] is a joyful, laugh-filled romp that celebrates the playful side of musical theater. From start to finish, it brims with…

Holy hilarity at Limelight 🎭 'Nunsense' is a laugh-filled night where the sisters sing, dance and even rope in the audience. Divine comedy from start to finish!

The 5 & Dime's 'Gutenberg! The Musical!' Is a Delirious Comedy Triumph | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Smart and spectacularly stupid, *Gutenberg! The Musical!* at The 5 & Dime is a must-see comedy that celebrates and parodies everything about musicals.

'Gutenberg! The Musical!' at The 5 & Dime is gloriously stupid and gloriously smart — parody and love letter all in one. We laughed until it hurt.
Check out our full review 👉 jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

'Come From Away' at Alhambra Soars With Humanity and Heart | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Alhambra’s production of *Come From Away* captures the resilience, compassion and humanity of Gander’s response to 9/11.

'Come From Away' lands at Alhambra with heart and humanity. This production tells how Gander, Newfoundland welcomed thousands after 9/11, balancing grief with joy in unforgettable ways.

Review here 👉 jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

'Desperate Measures' Puts a Rootin’-Tootin’ Spin on Shakespeare at Theatre Jacksonville | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Theatre Jacksonville’s 'Desperate Measures' brings wild western charm to Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, with standout performances and sharp musical wit.

Come for the toe-tapping tunes, stay for the moral dilemmas (and the pratfalls). 'Desperate Measures' is a feast for belly and brain. Our review → jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

'Rhinoceros' at Limelight Theatre Blurs the Line Between Audience and Herd | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Limelight Theatre's Rhinoceros confronts the absurdity of mass conformity with chilling relevance and existential depth.

Limelight Theatre’s 'Rhinoceros' is a gut-punch of a production — absurd, immersive and terrifyingly relevant.
Clever casting and a roaring undercurrent of ideological dread make this one unforgettable.
📅 Runs through June 15
#Theatre #Absurdism #Rhinoceros @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Greenlight Theatre's 'Chicago' Is Gritty, Glitzy and Unforgettable | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Raw, riveting and razor-sharp — Greenlight Theatre Company's Chicago delivers grit, glam and powerhouse performances in a bold, intimate staging at Riverside Church.

Greenlight Theatre ’s 'Chicago' is gritty, glitzy and unforgettable. This fearless production turns a church basement into a jazz-soaked fever dream.
Read the full review: jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...
#JaxPlays #ChicagoMusical #GreenlightTheatre

'My Fair Lady' at Alhambra Theatre Dazzles with Charm and Impeccable Talent | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Jacksonville’s Alhambra Theatre delivers a dazzling 'My Fair Lady' production with top-notch vocals, elegant costumes and unforgettable musical theater magic.

From bold costumes to a standout ensemble, Critic Sara Orr explores why 'My Fair Lady' at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining is a gem in Jacksonville’s theater scene. Don’t miss her review. jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

Players by the Sea's 'Waitress' Finds a Soft Place to Land at the Ritz Theatre | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA When a fire broke out at Players by the Sea’s building in April, it brought their spring season to a sudden standstill. Smoke and water damage left the building unusable, and with the set built and…

Players by the Sea’s Waitress gets a new home at the Ritz Theatre after fire damage shuts down its beach venue. A story about pie, possibility and second chances finds its place in LaVilla. Full story: jaxplays.org/news/2025/05...
#jaxarts #waitressmusical #jaxhistory #theatre

David Alford Returns to Jacksonville Stage in Lumen Rep’s 'American Buffalo' | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Acclaimed actor David Alford returns to Jacksonville to star in Lumen Repertory Theatre's production of David Mamet's American Buffalo, opening June 13.

David Alford returns to Jacksonville for 'American Buffalo'
Mamet’s coin heist gone wrong lands at WJCT Studio B June 13 jaxplays.org/news/2025/05...

'MJ The Musical' Dazzles with Iconic Moves, Massive Scale and Heartfelt Tribute | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA 'MJ The Musical' Broadway tour delivers iconic hits, stunning choreography, immersive visuals and a powerful tribute to the legacy of Michael Jackson.

From Motown to “Man in the Mirror,” FSCJ Artist Series' 'MJ The Musical' flows like a mixtape built for memory and movement.

'Singin’ in the Rain' at Amelia Community Theatre Dazzles with Heart, Humor and High-Stepping Nostalgia | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Amelia Community Theatre’s *Singin’ in the Rain* blends sharp wit, classic choreography and a timely message about reinvention.

Big themes, bigger dance numbers. Singin’ in the Rain reminds us how art evolves with tech — and why we should too. #reviewsup

Orange Park Community Theatre's 'Steel Magnolias' Turns a Small Salon into a Big Emotional Journey | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA At OPCT, *Steel Magnolias* brings laughter, loss and lasting friendship to life in a tender, intimate production.

Orange Park Community Theatre’s 'Steel Magnolias' showcases the impact of strong ensemble work and meaningful local art.

'Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors' Slays the Stage with Laughs and Bites at Theatre Jacksonville | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Expect puppets, puns and perfectly timed scares in this giddy, gothic thrill ride packed with sharp wit, bold performances and a bite of romance.

Looking for proof that live theater is alive and thriving? This hilarious gothic spoof has it all.
🧛‍♂️ Review

No Stage, No Excuse: Jacksonville University Abandons the Arts | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA “You don’t get to market yourself as a place of discovery, growth and personal development while simultaneously telling your artists they don’t matter.”

“You don’t get to gut the arts and still call yourself a place of discovery.”
Chris Peterson's full editorial from @onstageblog.bsky.social is now published on JaxPlays.

Fire at Players by the Sea Causes Widespread Damage, Cancels Performances | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA A fire at Players by the Sea caused significant water damage and has suspended all operations at the Jacksonville Beach theater.

Jacksonville Beach’s beloved Players by the Sea has suffered a fire. Community companies like ABET and Greenlight Theatre are directly affected. The show must go on—but later.

There’s something special when the audience hums along to 'You’ve Got a Friend.' Carole King’s 'Beautiful' lives onstage at the Alhambra.

Limelight’s 'Sense and Sensibility' Brims with Chemistry, Comedy and Regency Charm | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Limelight’s *Sense and Sensibility* blends Regency charm with sharp comedy and heartfelt performances in a magnetic adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic.

Limelight Theatre revives Austen’s classic with energy, elegance and humor. 'Sense and Sensibility' is a hit.
🎟 Read the full review: jaxplays.org/reviews/2025...

A Visual Spectacle: 'Les Misérables' at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Experience the breathtaking spectacle of *Les Misérables* at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. A timeless tale of redemption, love and revolution brought to life with stunning visuals a...

Three hours. All sung. Every second compelling. 'Les Misérables' proves why it’s one of the most enduring musicals in theatre history.

From the Netherworld to Northeast Florida: 'Beetlejuice' Haunts the Stage in 2026 | JaxPlays: Live Theatre in Northeast FL & Southeast GA Broadway’s most mischievous musical is headed to Jacksonville. Beetlejuice brings big laughs, bigger visuals and a whole lot of afterlife energy to the stage May 12–17, 2026. Here’s why this weird, wi...

Dead funny, seriously good.💀 'Beetlejuice' is haunting Jacksonville for 8 shows only. Get ready for songs, sandworms and snark!