A sold-out Little Women: The Musical opened at Amelia Community Theatre on Saturday night and wastes no time upending expectations. After receiving her twenty-second rejection letter, this time from a publisher who deems her story “tasteless and vulgar,” Jo March vents her frustration to her friend Professor Bhaer. Intrigued, he asks what the story is about, and Jo perks up immediately. “Blood and guts stuff. It’s all the rage. The magazines and periodicals are full of it!”

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is writing loud for all to hear, so let’s talk about Elf, which debuted at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining on Friday night. The Alhambra has a long, outstanding reputation for putting on the finest holiday shows year after year, and this year’s presentation of Elf is no exception.

Singin’ in the Rain has entertained audiences since 1952 with a universal story that still resonates 72 years later: the fear of advancing technology stealing our jobs. The message may be sandwiched between snappy dance numbers, but it’s there. Change is coming. Adapt and innovate — or get left behind. Amelia Community Theatre in Fernandina Beach recently brought the beloved classic Singin’ in the Rain to life on stage.

I was spellbound the moment I heard that Theatre Jacksonville was performing Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, and was drawn to opening night in a slow, hypnotic trance.

The FSCJ Artist Series presentation of Les Misérables is a visual spectacle the likes of which I have never seen. At times, I sat slack-jawed in disbelief, staring at the living painting before me. The harmonious fluidity of set changes, lighting and actors hitting their marks is like a cyclone — ripping through the stage, tearing things apart, only to magnetically reassemble into something new.

When I heard that Alhambra was staging A Christmas Story: The Musical, my first reaction was, “Here we go again.” Another beloved movie turned into a hollow, uninspired musical? But boy-howdy, was I off target.

Alhambra Theatre & Dining’s rendition doesn’t just capture the charm of the movie — it outshines it. It’s sharp, witty and bursting with energy, delivering laughs and heart like Ralphie landing a perfect shot on Black Bart. This isn’t just another adaptation; it’s a Christmas triumph!