Theatre Jacksonville begins its next season on September 16 with its popular “Classic in San Marco” offering. Private Lives, written in the 1930s, is a brilliantly cynical Noel Coward comedy about love and marriage. The fantastical story about a once married couple details their unexpected meeting at a new hotel (where both are honeymooning after second weddings), their reunion and their subsequent fiery antics involving each other and new spouses.

“Originally premiering at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh and having many successful runs on Broadway with such stars as Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Private Lives is an ideal ‘Classic in San Marco,’ to kick off our 103rd season,” said Theatre Jacksonville Executive Director Sarah Boone. “It’s engaging, delightful, hilarious – and underneath the surface presents a more serious exposé of the chaotic nature of love and romance that still resonates with audiences today.”

Directed by William P.E. Davis, Private Lives will run from Friday, September 16 through Sunday, October 2. Evening shows begin at 7:30, with two Sunday matinees offered on Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. The cast includes Natalie Brown, Katie Johnston, Samantha Lewis, Rich Pintello and Christopher Watson. Tickets are $20 for All-Access Season Members and $25 for non-members.
Following Private Lives, the regular Mainstage lineup will include:

¨     Clue, opening November 4 – Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. Six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party at a remote mansion – and both cult-fans and newcomers will be left in stitches as they try to figure out WHO did it, WHERE, and with WHAT!

¨     Last Train to Nibroc, opening January 13 – With critics calling it reminiscent of Thornton Wilder, this touching portrait of two people searching for happiness is told through character studies of bookish May and charming young flyer Raleigh. They meet on board a cross-country train in December 1940, that also happens to be carrying the bodies of great American writers Nathanael West and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Audiences will love the blissfully sweet directness of this simply staged romance.

¨     Doubt, opening March 10 – The winner of a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award, John Patrick Shanley has woven a brilliant and powerful drama about a nun and Bronx school principal taking matters into her own hands when she suspects a young priest of an improper relationship with a student. The gripping story is “blunt yet subtle,” “manipulative but full of empathy for all sides,” and brings up “fascinatingly nuanced questions of moral certainty,” as reviewed by NY Newsdayand Variety.

¨     Four Weddings and an Elvis, opening April 21 – Written by Nancy Frick, this hilarious tale about a four-times-married-three-times-divorced owner of a wedding chapel in Las Vegas will have audiences laughing until their sides hurt. Four funny matrimonies are spotlighted, with truly memorable characters, and they bring new meaning to the phrase “What happens in Las Vegas…”

¨     Pippin, opening June 9 – Winner of four Tony Awards in 2013, including Best Musical Revival, Pippin is the story of one young man’s journey to be extraordinary and how he finds the secret to true happiness and fulfillment along the way. With an infectious and unforgettable score written by four-time Grammy winner Stephen Schwartz, this entertaining musical captivates audiences of all ages with its timeless story and universal message.

Tickets to all Mainstage productions are included with All-Access Memberships. Theatre Jacksonville maintains recommended COVID safety protocols to protect cast, crew and audience members, including optional mask-wearing and reduced lobby time. Distanced seating is also available upon request by calling the box office. Visit www.theatrejax.com for tickets and more information.