Eugène Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, now playing at Limelight Theatre’s Matuza Blackbox, is not merely a play — it’s a philosophical provocation. Written in 1959, this absurdist work remains startlingly resonant, especially in an age where ideological conformity and social contagion continue to shape public discourse.

In the razzle-dazzle world of Chicago, crime meets celebrity in a sultry, satirical musical set during the roaring 1920s. The story follows Roxie Hart, a housewife-turned-murderess who uses the media circus to climb her way to stardom. Alongside her is Velma Kelly, a vaudeville performer with her own murderous past and ambitions. As both women vie for the spotlight and the services of slick lawyer Billy Flynn, the lines between justice and showbiz blur into a glittering spectacle of manipulation, jazz and courtroom theatrics.

In early April, just weeks before opening night, a fire inside Players by the Sea’s Studio Theatre set off the sprinkler system. The flames were quickly put out — but not before smoke and water left the building in ruins. Rehearsals for Waitress had been underway for weeks. The set was built. The cast was ready. And then, everything stopped.

Jason Woods’ A Mad, Mad Wonderland! is a virtuosic, no-frills thrill ride: no set, no props, just Woods alone onstage with a whirlwind of characters he channels with uncanny precision and theatrical bravado.

MJ The Musical, the electrifying Broadway sensation, lands in Jacksonville with a show that not only pays homage to the King of Pop but also delivers a theatrical experience that is as grand as it is intimate. With its opening night at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, the production sets the stage ablaze with dazzling choreography, stunning visuals and a heartfelt tribute to Michael Jackson’s legacy.

Steel Magnolias at Orange Park Community Theatre invites audiences into the warm, familiar hum of a Southern beauty salon where hairspray is as essential as heart. Over the course of several years — and across changing seasons, hairstyles and life stages — six women gather to share gossip, swap advice and support one another through life’s joys and devastations. Set entirely in Truvy’s salon, the play chronicles the wit, warmth and resilience of its characters as they navigate friendship, family and loss.

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.

Sense and Sensibility, a play adaptation by Kate Hamill based on the 1811 novel by Jane Austen, is a Regency-era tale of family, womanhood and the delicate balance between logic and feeling. Hazel Robinson’s direction brings a dynamic theatrical take to this classic story and breathes new life into Austen’s world. Her vision preserves both the elegance of the society of the time and the emotional undercurrents of the characters, using movement, pacing and character dynamics to highlight the story’s timelessness.

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.

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.

Mamma Mia!, presented by the The FSCJ Artist Series, is a jubilant celebration that masterfully intertwines the timeless music of ABBA with a heartwarming narrative set against the idyllic backdrop of a Greek island. This production not only captures the essence of the original musical but also infuses it with a unique charm that leaves audiences dancing in their seats and humming long after the final curtain call.