By Marilyn Painter
mail@floridanewsline.com
Act II Players, Mandarin’s Community Theatre, celebrated a successful July production of “Bright Star: The Musical” and announced its upcoming October performance of Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit.”
The Tony-nominated “Bright Star,” featuring music, book and story by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, took audiences on a journey of love, resilience and redemption set in the American South during the 1920s and 1940s. The heartwarming musical weaves together two timelines to tell a deeply moving story inspired by true events, featuring a soulful, bluegrass-inspired score.
The production was directed by Jacksonville native Juliet Fixel, a New York City choreographer and director who owns JFix Productions and Choreography, along with Ava Fixel, artistic director of Act II Players, and Ellen Milligan, musical director. Juliet Fixel also choreographed the show, and the local cast was joined by a performer from the New York area on summer hiatus.
“Act II Players is overflowing with gratitude for everyone who made our production of ‘Bright Star’ such a beautiful success,” said the theater group. “Whether on stage or behind the scenes, your support brought this story to life in the most magical way.”
The theater’s next production will be “Blithe Spirit,” Coward’s 1940s hit comedic play about skeptical novelist Charles Condomine who invites self-proclaimed medium Madame Arcati to his home for a séance. When the psychic accidentally summons the spirit of Condomine’s late wife, Elvira, his home and life quickly turn into chaos as the ghost torments both himself and his new bride, Ruth. The production will be directed by Ava Fixel.
“Blithe Spirit” will be performed the first weekend of October with four shows: Friday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 5, at 2 p.m.
All performances will be held in Act II Players’ Black Box Theatre, located at 3604 Cardinal Point Drive, Jacksonville. Ticket prices are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors 60 and older, and $15 for students, plus sales tax and processing fees. For more information, visit actiiplayers.org.
