Jo El Snyder
Theatre reviews and articles by Jo El Snyder
'Singin’ in the Rain' at Amelia Community Theatre Dazzles with Heart, Humor and High-Stepping Nostalgia
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.
'Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors' Slays the Stage with Laughs and Bites at Theatre Jacksonville
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.
A Visual Spectacle: 'Les Misérables' at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
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.
'A Christmas Story: The Musical' Unwraps New Holiday Magic at The Alhambra
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.