THEATRE JACKSONVILLE ANNOUNCES ITS 104TH SEASON

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 8, 2023) –Theatre Jacksonville has slated an outstanding lineup of productions for its upcoming season – the 104th consecutive year in a row for the playhouse, the oldest community theater in Florida and one of the oldest in the country. From thought-provoking plays on the Holocaust and book banning to situational comedies to a groovy 1960s musical, this season’s offerings do not disappoint and offer something for everyone.
The 104th season includes:

Classic in San Marco:
¨     The Diary of Anne Frank, opening September 21, sponsored by the Together Strong Community Fund – Premiering on Broadway in 1955 (only 10 years after Anne Frank’s death and eight years after the publication of her actual diary), this story of a young girl’s resilience, optimism and extraordinary spirit during two and a half years spent hiding from Nazi persecution is a must-see. It offers hope in today’s world, as well as a startling reminder of how the Holocaust turned the world upside down. The play garnered a Tony Award, the Pulitzer Prize and a Critic’s Circle Award. In order to accommodate Jewish High Holy Days Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the play will run for two weeks, with two performances each Saturday.

Mainstage Productions:
¨     Just Desserts: A Musical Bake-Off, opening November 3 – Five strangers put their hearts, reputations and baking skills on the line to become the crème de la crème of bakers at a county fair. For some, the bake-off will mean the end of their dreams; for others, it’s a new beginning. Audiences will delight in sharing the personal journeys of each contestant in this sweet and savory musical comedy.

¨     On the Market, opening January 12 – Premiering for the first time due to Theatre Jacksonville’s relationship with talented writer Jason Odell Williams, this modern romantic comedy deals with love, loss, and finding your “forever home.” It follows a former singer, now realtor, struggling with the modern dating scene after two years of being a widow. When she receives a mysterious note from her dead husband telling her it’s time to “move on,” her life is turned upside down.

¨     Alabama Story, opening March 8 – Inspired by true events in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1959, this play contrasts two simultaneous stories. As the Civil Rights movement is brewing, a children’s book about a black rabbit marrying a white rabbit stirs the opposing passions of both a segregationist state senator and a no-nonsense state librarian. At the same time, childhood friends – an African American man and a woman of white privilege – are reunited in adulthood, providing a private counterpart to the public events swirling in the state capital. This production is both thought-provoking and a cautionary tale for the world we are currently living in.

¨     Picasso at the Lapin Agile, opening April 19 – In this absurdist comedy written by Steve Martin (yes, THAT Steve Martin), Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso meet in a Parisian café in 1904, just before the Theory of Relativity and Cubism transformed the science and art worlds, respectively. With ridiculously engaging merriment, the two spar with each other and café regulars about art, science, inspiration, love and the promise of the 20th century (even including a visitor time-warped in from a later era).

¨     SHOUT! The Mod Musical, opening June 7 – With its irresistible blend of hip-swiveling hits, far-out fashions and fab dance moves, this groovy musical takes audiences back to the music style and freedom of the 1960s through five gals coming of age during the dawning liberation of women and glorious days that made England swing. With such international favorites as “To Sir With Love,” “Downtown,” “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Goldfinger,” this smash hit is entertaining and downright fun.

The season will also include quarterly presentations of Stories on Stage, which is a collaboration with True Story Studios featuring Katie Rubin. Each Stories on Stage production, typically held on Sunday evening, features local adult storytellers presenting stories around a certain theme.

“We are incredibly privileged to bring this phenomenal lineup of shows to our audiences for our 104thseason,” said Executive Director Sarah Boone. “It is very meaningful to our staff and our volunteers to present productions that are not only examples of outstanding art and that entertain, but that also engage audiences in topics and situations that are relevant for ethical and societal issues we are facing today. We have also updated our membership levels to give our supporters more ways to choose a ticket package that works for their needs.”

Ticket packages are available at three levels:
·      Gold All-Access Memberships include the entire Theatre Jacksonville season, including Mainstage productions, the Classic in San Marco, Stories on Stage and all Extra productions.
·      Silver Season Subscriptions include tickets to the five Mainstage productions. Tickets will be extra for the Classic in San Marco and other special productions.
·      Bronze single tickets are offered on a show-by-show basis and will be $31 each.

Prices are as follows:
Gold All-Access Membership
Before June 30 Early Bird:
Individual Adult Member (18-59 years old): $150
Individual Senior/Military Member (60+ or military ID): $130
After June 30:
Individual Adult Member (18-59 years old): $170
Individual Senior/Military Member (60+ or military ID): $150
All individual memberships receive one complimentary All-Access Pass that includes all Theatre Jacksonville season productions. Additional show tickets will cost $22, as available.

Silver Season Subscription
Before June 30 Early Bird:
Individual Adult Member (18-59 years old): $120
Individual Senior/Military Member (60+ or military ID): $100
After June 30:
Individual Adult Member (18-59 years old): $140
Individual Senior/Military Member (60+ or military ID): $120
All individual subscriptions receive one complimentary ticket for each of the five Theatre Jacksonville Mainstage productions. Additional show tickets will cost $25, as available.

For more information about the 104th season lineup, ticket packages, or to apply to be a storyteller for Stories on Stage, visit www.theatrejax.com.

Sponsored by the Sons of Norway, it is a concert of Norwegian and Nordic classical music, performed by the San Marco Chamber Music Society,  The musicians will be the Jacksonville Symphony’s concertmaster Adelya Nartadjieva, violinist Chris Chappell, violist Ellen Olson, cellist Brian Magnus, oboist Eric Olson, and clarinetist Giovanni Bertoni.

After the concert, we’ll have a reception with Norwegian desserts.  This concert is free.  It will take place at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3976 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL  32207.  St. Mark’s is wheelchair accessible.

The education department at Theatre Jacksonville has been hard at work since February on its Junior Mainstage production, which will be April 29 and 30. The hilarious and heartfelt Puffs is the story of three potential heroes trying to make it through a magic school that proves to be very dangerous for children.

“Our show this year is a nod to wizard-philes everywhere and those who enjoy the world of magic,” said Theatre Jacksonville Education Director Ron Shreve. “Our fantastic cast and crew have been working tirelessly since February and are thrilled to present Puffs to their friends and family.”

Performances are Saturday, April 29 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, April 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. In addition to the Junior Mainstage production each spring, educational offerings at Theatre Jacksonville include ongoing monthly theatre classes for both kids and adults and popular summer camp for ages 7-14. Spots are going fast for summer camp, so be sure to sign up soon.

Visit www.theatrejax.com for Junior Mainstage tickets or more information about education programs at Theatre Jacksonville.