I attended opening night of "Urinetown" last night. Performances are held at The Jacksonville…read moreBallet on Atlantic Blvd. The theatre is small and quaint. Talent is local and volunteer. Jacksonville has talent. This was my 2nd production at this tiny theatre. If you have never been follow them and put a show at the top of your list!

What a great local theater! It is the perfect place for an intimate evening of song and dance…read more Showstoppers was my first show at this theater but it won't be my last. There is not a bad seat in the house. They have a nice lobby with a small art display to match their current running show. The lobby is a nice space to enjoy intermission where you make donations for snacks and drinks. And the local talent we have here in Jacksonville is incredible. I can't wait to see more from the singers and actors in our community.

I have to say that the production of Young Frankenstein that I saw last night was probably the…read morefinest performance I have ever seen at Orange Park Community Theatre. The utilization of the stage and isles, the talent of the actors, and the overall energy of the production were truly outstanding. What stood out most to me was the actress who portrayed Frau Blücher. She absolutely stole the show with her hilarious facial expressions and gestures, which conveyed so much joy and enthusiasm for the role. The gentleman who played the Monster was hilarious, and the actor portraying Inspector Kemp had me laughing throughout the performance. The young man who played Dr. Frankenstein clearly immersed himself in the character and appeared to genuinely enjoy every moment on stage. Overall, I can honestly say this was the best performance I have ever seen at Orange Park Community Theatre. I want to commend both directors for their remarkable work in bringing out the talent of every cast member and for their creative use of the stage. Despite the constraints of a smaller performance space, the actors moved seamlessly and worked together as a cohesive ensemble, never appearing crowded or out of sync. Congratulations to everyone involved on an exceptional production. It was an absolute joy to watch.

Love this little theater with a big heart!! So many great actors, performers and always a fun…read morelineup every season! They have made some updates to the interior as well, and the lobby and bathrooms. Such much fun for a group to see something LIVE and won't break the bank!!

I moved to Jacksonville recently from California and I am always on the lookout for new places to…read morecheck out. There is a building I pass every day near my home which caught my eye right away. Its stone façade and bright yellow sign flanked by two Medieval Knights, with the words "The Arena" across it in large block lettering stood out in comparison to its neighbors, a church and a discount furniture store. I quickly put on my detective cap and began scouring the internet for any explanation or reviews but information was sparse. I eventually found the website... The Arena | Jacksonville's Premiere Concert Venue... "The Arena is definitely one of Jacksonville's premiere and edgiest night scenes. With four stages, and full audio-surround sound, you will be blown away..." I ear marked it as a place to check out in the future. As Halloween grew closer The Arena began to look more and more like an off-beat community haunted attraction. A giant, ominous, clown face appeared over the door along with some additional lights and carnival décor. A new sign was added, "Carnevil". Of course I got back on the internet and found, "Welcome to Carnevil! The darkest and final act of the circus empire..." From the description it sounded pretty scary, I don't really do scary, but it was Halloween and we had no other plans and it was FREE. Now let me tell you, the free thing immediately set off some red flags, nothing is free but curiosity got the best of us. We invited some friends, put on our costumes and headed to the Arena but it was completely full and they sent us away with priority tickets for the next showing. Sunday night just my fiancé and I went back. Like I said, I don't really do scary well and as I stood in line my heart was racing. They announce that we are about to go in and once we are inside we will not be allowed to leave until the end. Honestly, we were half convinced that this place lures unsuspecting people in and keeps them forever... how else does a "Premiere Concert Venue" have almost no internet presence and NO reviews? The whole experience started off great. Creepy ghosts shambled through the lines, small groups were let into the theatre at a time, entering through a miniature haunted maze with all the scares and screams as a professional haunted house. There were plenty of scares for the audience while we waited for the show to start. The play had a great campy/spooky community theatre feel complete with frightening clowns, quality makeup, sound and lighting effects. Over and over I kept thinking, "How is this free?" and then it started... "drugs", "sex", "rebelling against authority"... "sin". Suddenly I realized I was at church. A preacher dressed as a cop stood center stage asking the audience to raise their hands, come up and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to avoid a hell worse than the clown camp we just witnessed. I want to be clear... I do not have a problem with this being a church function; I appreciate the local church for pulling together a great community event... I do have a problem with being completely ambushed. Nowhere on TheArenaJax.com does it mention its affiliation with Victory Church. To solicit itself as one of the country's premier, edgy music venue, "showcasing a spectrum of internationally renowned artists" is more than slightly misleading. I have to say, I felt a bit violated to be lured into what appeared to be a fun community theatre, told I could not leave until it was over and then force fed a religious message while adults in scary masks and makeup stood blocking the exit. Here is the TL;DR: The production quality is great for a free event. I really enjoyed the first hour and a half of my experience. I would even encourage people to check out one of their events but be advised... this is a religious venue affiliated with its neighboring church. You will be held inside the building and asked to approach the stage to accept their message.

I have seen the Carnevil show twice now and I absolutely love it. Yes, it wasn't for the faint of…read moreheart, but it was awesome nonetheless. I am not one to like scary things but after seeing the show I had to see it again. The storyline and characters are well-made and very nice people. They put all they had into making this show work and after the show you get to meet them and get to know them personally. The theatrics of it were stunning and very luring and the sound effects blew me away. I loved how well the actors dressed up and scared people. They'd pop out of the dark, they sang along to hit songs from Slipknot and they made it a very good memorable experience. Along with the thrills they made some funny remarks during the show which made it more enjoyable and fun. If they were able to keep the show going on for more days I would go to all of them. For free it was worth it- if I had to pay, it would've been totally worth it. At the end of the show there was a part where a character made a statement about being "lost" and how he was able to come to terms with himself. Yes, they help people to believe but even if you aren't into Christianity or religion at all it didn't matter. They wanted people to remember the show and to tell everyone else back home about it. They wanted to inspire people to not be afraid and to become more than what people think of you. They don't force any part of religion on anyone and they don't force people into a prayer at all. They merely want to help people and for the people who were just there for the show, they got to see how much hard work and dedication the actors put into this to make it fun and memorable and thrilling. I absolutely loved it and would go to many more shows for the rest of my life for the experience. Amazing job well done.

First time taking Salsa lessons and this was such a great experience…read more Alley made it easy to follow along and went over each section step by step, I will be be back and eventually be a pro:) Met some of ten students and everyone is super nice and welcoming for some it was also their first time.

I've tried several dance studios around town and Dance Salsa Jax is easily my favorite. It has,…read moreunequivocally, the best group lessons in town, and they're the cheapest too. They also have three fun social events a month: a dance party, a non-dance activity (e.g. karaoke, indoor rock climbing, or go-karts), and Rueda in the Park (a group dance in Memorial Park). The Director, Ally, has created a warm, friendly atmosphere. I remember once, in my early days at the studio, going out the door after a group lesson when I heard her shout "no one leaves without a hug." I turned around, went back in, and got my hug. Dance Salsa Jax is a nonprofit that rents space at two studios. They teach the most common Latin dances, Salsa (Sunday afternoons in Avondale) and Bachata (Wednesday evenings on Old St. Augustine Rd.). Ally also offers reasonably-priced private lessons. I'm glad I found this place, my home dance studio.

Every Barre class is different and challenging. The teachers are all helpful, and they make sure…read moreyou get the most out of each class by checking in with each student during the workout. The staff up front is always friendly and makes you feel welcome. Come a couple times, and you will be hooked! I love Zumba as well Jenni is a really good instructor :) Zumba is my favorite workout! I so look forward to coming to class here in Jacksonville beach . The staff is positive and motivating, the studio is clean and inviting, and the workout kicks butt! I get the most compliments on my fitness when I'm coming regularly. It's such a fun way to stay in shape . Definitely take Jennis classes !!!

Highly recommend!!! The entire staff here is so kind and welcoming! My daughter is the dancer. I am…read moreso impressed with the end of year recital they put on. It is top notch. My daughter talks about the recital ALL year.

The teachers are very knowledgeable, make sure everyone wears masks, & checks temperatures. Range…read moreof classes: hip hop, acrobatics, ballet, theater, & many more. Reasonably priced! Recommend Mr. Kyle but everyone's great!

My daughter has been dancing at Bravo for six years and has loved every minute. I cannot say enough…read moreabout the owners, Hailey and Kyle. We moved an hour away from the studio this year, but I refuse to change studios because Hailey and Kyle get to know each child individually and know just how much to challenge my daughter and how to support her. She is very shy but has found a family in her class and teammates, and she truly trusts, not just Hailey and Kyle, but all of her instructors. Since joining their competition team last year, my daughter's skills have improved exponentially, and I can see her confidence has, as well. Hailey and Kyle are both unbelieveably talented, passionate dancers and extremely genuine, kind human beings. I am so proud that my daughter has the privilege of learning from them.

Thoroughly enjoyed watching Alabama Story. It was in a smaller theater but I felt that made the…read moreexperience more authentic. I couldn't speak highly enough about the actors, set makers, directors, etc. Had a great time and looking forward to returning.

A Shakespeare play performed by a dedicated and energetic crew. Upon arriving I wasn't sure what to…read moreexpect when presented with a small stage. I was impressed by the magnitude of lines memorized. The Shakespearean language is hard enough to follow, I can't imagine speaking it. Complimentary beverages were served during intermission. Looking forward to attending future productions by ABET.

Wow! What a super cool space!! I went for a local screenplay…read morereading and learned that there is a regular schedule of events year round!! Seating is mostly folding chairs and they do have cushions (yay). Some people may also choose to sit on the stairs or in the small loft space overlooking the room and stage. There is a restroom and a foyer area right when you enter. The entrance is through a shadowy alleyway covered by trees so it can be easy to miss. I can't wait to check out their open mic "slam" nights!