A fire inside the Studio Theatre at Players by the Sea has caused widespread water damage throughout the Jacksonville Beach venue, suspending all operations and programming until further notice.

According to an email and Facebook post by Players by the Sea’s staff and board, the fire occurred while the facility was unoccupied. The sprinkler system activated as designed and successfully extinguished the blaze, but not before causing substantial water damage to the entire building. No injuries were reported.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining charts the rise of one of pop music’s most influential artists, from her early years as a teenage songwriter in 1950s Brooklyn to her triumphant debut as a solo singer-songwriter in the 1970s. Along the way, the story follows her collaborations with lyricist and husband Gerry Goffin as well as friendly rivals Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. The show is a jukebox musical, but with enough narrative depth to give the music emotional weight — each song arriving at just the right moment in Carole’s life.

Death comes suddenly for the six teenagers of Ride the Cyclone when a faulty roller coaster derails at a grim, run-down carnival. Trapped in a surreal limbo, the chamber choir of the St. Cassian High School of Uranium City, Saskatchewan, meets The Amazing Karnak, a mechanical fortune teller who offers one of them the chance to return to life. To earn their second chance, the teens must share their stories, revealing their deepest dreams, regrets and desires. As they each take the spotlight — sometimes with humor, sometimes with heartbreaking honesty — they wrestle with the randomness of fate and the legacy they leave behind.

Lumen Repertory Theatre’s production of Agnes of God offers a haunting, emotionally charged evening of theater, balancing psychological tension with profound spiritual inquiry. Under the direction of Joshua Britton Andrews and Brian Niece, this taut three-character drama unfolds with gripping intensity, drawing the audience into its web of doubt, faith and trauma.

Limelight Theatre’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone is a love letter to the Golden Age of musical theater — wrapped in humor, nostalgia and delightful absurdity. The show follows a socially anxious theater lover, simply called Man in Chair, who invites the audience into his world as he plays a record of his favorite (fictional) 1928 musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. As the record spins, the musical comes to life in his living room, complete with over-the-top characters, show-stopping numbers and theatrical mishaps, all filtered through his unreliable but endearing narration.

Few musicals carry the emotional weight and timeless urgency of West Side Story, and Alhambra Theatre & Dining’s latest production delivers a stirring, high-energy interpretation that pulses with life. A groundbreaking fusion of classical, jazz and Latin influences, West Side Story remains a modern classic, reimagining Romeo and Juliet through the lens of 1950s New York gang rivalry.

Theatre Jacksonville’s production of The Women of Lockerbie, directed by Jeff Grove, delivers a poignant and deeply human exploration of grief and resilience that intertwines personal loss and collective mourning against a visually stunning backdrop. With a carefully curated cast and a set that feels as alive as the characters themselves, this production creates an immersive, emotionally resonant experience.

The Alhambra Theatre & Dining production of Southern Fried Funeral is a deliciously funny and heartfelt exploration of family dynamics, Southern charm and small-town life. Packed with memorable characters, sharp dialogue and a healthy serving of humor, this show offers audiences a heaping plate of laughter, love and a touch of chaos.

The FSCJ Artist Series presented the non-Equity tour of Dear Evan Hansen for a one-night-only performance on Sunday, November 3, 2024. This production, a staple of modern musical theater, is brought to life by a talented cast led by Michael Fabisch as Evan Hansen. The performance captures the emotional core of the story — an exploration of isolation, truth and belonging that resonates deeply with today’s audiences.

Lizzie at The 5 & Dime takes audiences into the dark, feverish world of one of history’s most notorious true-crime stories: the sensational, bloody saga of Lizzie Borden. This rock musical delves into Lizzie’s tumultuous life, weaving together themes of oppression, desire and, ultimately, explosive female rage. With a modern, hard-hitting rock score, Lizzie reimagines the story, capturing the inner turmoil and fury of a young woman pushed to the brink.

When Jed Clampett unexpectedly strikes oil on his land in the Ozarks, he and his family — Granny, Elly May, and Jethro — find themselves millionaires and head to Beverly Hills to start a new life. The Clampetts’ simple, rural lifestyle collides hilariously with the world of 1960s high society, creating a series of comedic misadventures as they navigate wealth, snobbish neighbors and cultural clashes.

Bold City Opera’s production of Bluebeard's Castle is a feat of minimalism that feels grand in its design and powerful in its performance. With innovative staging in an octagonal church — uncannily echoing the shape of Bluebeard’s castle itself — the production brings an air of eeriness that enriched the audience’s sense of entrapment and mystery. Directed with attention to both intimate detail and operatic scale, the show unfolds in a space that melds seamlessly with the story’s Gothic tone.

At its core, Jekyll & Hyde is a study in the duality of human nature — how good and evil coexist within us, and the perilous line that separates them. Set in Victorian London, the story follows Dr. Henry Jekyll, a brilliant scientist obsessed with separating the moral from the immoral in mankind. When his experiments turn inward, he unleashes Edward Hyde, a malevolent force born from his own repressed desires. As Hyde’s brutal violence spirals out of control, Jekyll battles to reclaim his sanity, while those closest to him are caught in the crossfire of his self-destruction.

Lumen Repertory Theatre’s production of Tori Sampson’s brilliant and thought-provoking play, Cadillac Crew, brings a powerful blend of history, activism and personal struggle to the stage. Cadillac Crew explores the lesser-told stories of Black women on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement, compelling the audience to reflect on both the past and its enduring relevance today.

The Wedding Singer at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining brings the electric energy of the ’80s to life in a bold, colorful and heartfelt production. Directed by Shain Stroff, this reinterpretation of the beloved 1998 Adam Sandler movie captures both the nostalgic charm of the original and injects fresh, creative twists that make it a joy for both new audiences and longtime fans.

Stephen Sachs’s Bakersfield Mist, currently staged at A Classic Theatre, is a masterful blend of humor and existential contemplation. While it presents itself as a light comedy, the play cleverly forces audiences to question not only what constitutes art but also what defines authenticity — whether of an object, a person or a belief. Through this small but impactful two-hander, Sachs peels back layers of prejudice and societal expectations, using witty dialogue and dynamic conflict to leave us wondering what truly holds value.

Limelight Theatre’s production of Bright Star brings Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s bluegrass musical to life with a rustic charm and emotional depth that make the show soar. Under the direction of a thoughtful creative team, the production delivers powerful performances, innovative staging and a narrative that draws audiences into its world.

In a one-night benefit performance at the Adele Grage Cultural Center, Bing!, formerly known as The Near Disaster of Jasper and Casper will mesmerize audiences with its unique blend of fairy-tale whimsy and sharp modern humor. This solo show, masterfully written and performed by Jason Woods, is a brilliant display of theatrical craftsmanship.

Driving Miss Daisy at Theatre Jacksonville is an incredibly touching and beautiful production, effortlessly blending humor with poignancy. Set in Atlanta from the late 1940s to the early 1970s, it artfully and vividly chronicles the evolving relationship between Daisy Werthan, a headstrong Southern Jewish widow and Hoke Colburn, her patient and dignified chauffeur. As they navigate societal changes and personal growth, their deepening bond reveals layers of mutual respect and affection. Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play shines here, offering a heartfelt and profoundly moving exploration of prejudice and the transformative power of friendship.

Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists unfolds at Players by the Sea as a vibrant, audacious exploration of sisterhood, revolution and the power of storytelling. Set during the upheaval of the French Revolution, this play brings together four dynamic characters: playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, the infamous Marie Antoinette and Marianne Angelle. Marianne is a fictional embodiment of the free Black women who were vital to the revolutionary movements in Saint-Domingue, modern-day Haiti. Though their paths never crossed in reality, Gunderson brings them together in this bold, meta-theatrical drama, filled with modern language and self-referential wit. The production delves into themes of female empowerment and artistic expression, offering a fresh lens through which to view history.