Impressive is the best way to describe the latest offering at Players by the Sea.

New Voices: Young Voices is in production through June 16 and features two new one-act plays written by local playwrights under age 18.

Players’ New Voices program, which was created by Bradley Akers in 2016, is a play development program. For the past three years, five local writers have had their work selected, workshopped, developed and produced. Playwrights Lauren Hancock and Worth Culver are the latest. They each worked with mentors who guided the yearlong process, resulting in a fully mounted production at the Jacksonville Beach community theater.

Although the stories are completely different, Hancock’s and Culver’s plays are staged together, separated by an intermission. During the development process, Hancock and Culver worked with Dramaturg Kelby Siddons, one of the first New Voices recipients, who helped them advance their stories into scripts. Stephanie Natale Frus skillfully directed both works.

Hancock’s Winter and I is a moving exploration of the relationship between an anxious, brilliant teen, Elinor, and her companion, Winter. Fueled by intellect, will, and whims, Winter alternately challenges and soothes Eli as she navigates others’ expectations. Catherine Tetzlaff and Abigail Douglas are believable as Elinor and Winter, and the story moves and flows under Frus’ direction. Brooklyn Murply and Reuben Oliva provide essential support.

Culver’s Barry Bianchi: Baltimore’s Best Bail Bondsman, An American Tragedy is an entertaining and fast- moving show with rapid-fire dialogue and physical humor. The play is set in Bianchi office, and the out-of-control action is hilarious and at times bordering on the absurd. Kerry Burke McCloud expertly plays the title character, and the show features a talented cast that includes Liz Gibson, John Sabino, Rachel Thompson, Gayle Featheringill, Christopher Humphries and Reuben Oliva.

Frus also served as scenic designer and Amy Hancock is the costume designer. The creative team includes stage manager Peggy McGuinness, production manager and lighting designer Jereme Raickett, sound designer Chinua Richardson. Jamie Getman and Sanaa Chambers are the run crew.

Opening night audiences enjoyed a talkback with Siddons, Hancock, Culver and Frus, offering insight into their creative process and vision.

New Voices: Young Voices is an enjoyable and inspiring experience. Kudos to Players for offering this outstanding program. Don’t miss this opportunity to support local, emerging artists.

Performances continue June 13, 14, 15, and 16 in Players’ studio theater. For tickets, call the Box Office at 904.249.0289 or visit www.playersbythesea.org.

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The 5 & Dime is taking its outstanding production of Buyer & Cellar on the road again. The show, recently presented and enthusiastically received at All Beaches Experimental Theatre (ABET), is coming to the Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine for encore performances March 22-24. Don’t miss seeing this gem of a show.

Written by Jonathan Tolins, Buyer & Cellar is a one-man, one-act show inspired by Barbra Streisand’s My Passion for Design. The play is set in her famous shopping mall basement and revolves around the character of Alex, an out-of-work Los Angeles actor who takes on an odd job and develops an unlikely friendship with Streisand.

Under the direction of The 5 & Dime’s Managing Director Lee Hamby, the production stars Bradley Akers, who shines in this outrageously funny show. While the play is fictional, Streisand’s book is real and the story references events and relationships that are true.

Akers delivers an impressive performance at Alex and the others he encounters during the show. He is captivating as he transforms seamlessly from character to character without missing a beat. The humor and energy make this 90ish-minute show fly by.

Hamby’s set design is clever and radiates with Streisand’s persona. The production team also includes Katie Cress as stage manager and lighting designer, Mike Yarick as projection designer, Cameron Sparks as projection operator and costume design by Hamby and Akers.

Performances of Buyer & Cellar at the Limelight Theatre are offered March 22-24. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $20 and available at https://limelight-theatre.org. The Limelight Theatre is located at 11 Old Mission Ave. in St. Augustine.

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Up next at the All Beaches Experimental Theatre is The Robber Bridegroom, opening on Jan. 25, and in production through Feb. 10.

The Robber Bridegroom is a musical with book and lyrics by Alfred Uhry and music by Robert Waldman. The story is based on the 1942 novella by Eudora Welty of the same name.

“It’s a southern folktale that’s described as a raucous hootenanny,” said Bradley Akers, who is directing ABET’s production. “The show is like a southern block party.”

The Robber Bridegroom is a Robin Hood tale featuring Jamie Lockhart, a dangerous, handsome, backwoods rogue who’s a gentleman by day and bandit by night. When he falls for the beautiful daughter of a wealthy planter, his world and code of ethics are turned upside down.

The Robber Bridegroom, which ran on Broadway in 1975-1976, features one of the only genuine bluegrass scores ever heard in a Broadway musical. The ABET creative team includes musical direction by Anthony Felton and choreography by Amanda Baillie.

“The music is why I wanted to do the show,” Akers said. “It’s one of the most interesting musical scores I have ever heard, and you don’t have to be a country music aficionado to fall in love with the score.”

Akers assembled a 10-member ensemble cast featuring several seasoned performers who are making their debut performance at ABET. The cast includes Brian Matthews, Shauna Clark, Sadie Akers, Brandon Hines, Ilana Gould, Leighton Baruch, Austin Kelley, Carly Barnes, Reed Marie Grubbs, and Jacquette Jantzen.

“This cast is such a fun group and working very hard to create a memorable experience for the audience,” Akers said. “The Robber Bridegroom is a gem of a piece and not something that you get to experience very often.”

Performances are offered Jan. 25, 26, Feb. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Advanced online tickets are $24, $12 under 18. Tickets at the door are $25, $15 under 18. The house opens 30 minutes before curtain.

For tickets, visit www.abettheatre.com or call (904) 249-7177. ABET is located at 544 Atlantic Blvd. in Neptune Beach.

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the hottest tickets in Northeast Florida. The show’s entire run has sold out except for an additional Pay What You Want Performance on Monday, May 7.

It’s easy to understand why this show is so popular. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is an award-winning play, adapted by Simon Stephens from a best-selling novel by Mark Haddon of the same name, fresh off of a successful Broadway run. Players presented its Northeast Florida premiere.

The story is about Christopher, a 15-year-old on the autism spectrum turned detective. He is out to find the person who killed his neighbor’s dog. As he interviews neighbors, he begins to uncover secrets about the people around him. Christopher’s discoveries fill him with emotion and anxiety that is difficult to process.

In addition to its compelling story, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time features very creative staging techniques, using technical elements to reflect Christopher’s thoughts and actions and demonstrate how those living on the spectrum experience life.

Players’ production is under the direction of Bradley Akers, who demonstrates brilliant vision to tell an authentic story that is both engaging and moving. Akers, who is also the creative team’s scenic and lighting designer, uses light, sound and projections to reflect and convey Christopher’s thoughts and actions.

Talent runs deep in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’s cast. Leading the production is Drew L. Brown, who delivers an impressive performance as Christopher that is genuine and demonstrates both physical and emotional finesse.

Gloria Ware and Everette Street present compelling, heartfelt performances as Christopher’s parents, and Cecilia Cristol is convincing as Siobhan, Christopher’s teacher. The outstanding ensemble also includes Amy Hancock, Joseph Stearman, Kerry Burke-McCloud, Neal Thorburn, Lauren Hancock and Peggy McGuinness.

The creative team includes stage manager Ramona Ramdeen, production manager Jereme Raickett, technical director and sound designer Nate Cimmino, scenic charge artist Katie Dawson and projection designer Brian Oakley. The costume designers are Amy Hancock and Caroline Guiler with properties by Claire Cimino.

Bravo to Players by the Sea for bringing this play to Northeast Florida. If you don’t have reservations, plan to attend the Pay What You Want show on Monday, May 7. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Front doors will open at 7 p.m., doors for seating will open at 7:30 p.m. Seating is first come, first served, so the best advice is arrive early.

For more information, visit playersbythesea.org or call 904.249.0289.

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Up next at Players by the Sea is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, a hit play that was on Broadway for two years and has won major theater awards in both the U.K. and the U.S. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night opens Friday, April 20.

Players is presenting the Northeast Florida premiere of this play, adapted by Simon Stephens from a best-selling novel by Mark Haddon of the same name. Players’ production is directed by Bradley Akers.

“I read the novel and I fell in love with it,” Akers said. “The script is brilliant. It takes you on an incredible literary journey.”

The story is about Christopher, a 15-year-old on the autism spectrum turned detective. He is out to find the person who killed his neighbor’s dog. In addition to its compelling story, the play has become very popular because of its creative staging, using technical elements to reflect Christopher’s thoughts and actions and demonstrate how those living on the spectrum experience life.

“We don’t talk about autism,” Akers said. “Autism is what Christopher lives with and we have dialogue about how his brain works.”

Leading the production as Christopher is well-known Jacksonville actor and Academy Award winning filmmaker Drew L. Brown.

“As Christopher, Drew takes us on a journey both physically and emotionally,” Akers said. “You don’t come across an artist like Drew every day. We’re so lucky to have him.”
The cast also includes Gloria Ware, Everette Street, Cecilia Cristol, Amy Hancock, Joseph Stearman, Kerry Burke-McCloud, Neal Thorburn, Lauren Hancock and Peggy McGuinness, with stage management from Ramona Ramdeen.

“The cast is amazing,” Akers said. “We have the right talent to bring it to life and the studio theater is the right space for it.”

April is World Autism Awareness Month, and Players by the Sea is hoping to raise awareness and celebrate the autism community through its outreach efforts.

“For audiences who see the show, I truly want them to realize that Christopher is just like you or me,” Akers said. “This is a powerful story about Christopher’s mind and the great lengths he will go to discover.”

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night opens April 20 and runs through May 5. Curtain is 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There will be a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday, April 29.

General admission is $23, $20 for seniors, students and military. Players offers half-price student tickets at all Thursday night performances.

There is an advisory warning for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. Players recommends parents of children under age 15 interested in seeing the production call the theatre to inquire about the advisory warning.

To purchase tickets or learn more, visit playersbythesea.org or call 904.249.0289.

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