Art Links

• Amelia Community Theater
        Right around the corner from the pretty intersections of Front and Centre Streets in historic downtown Fernandina Beach is the Amelia Community Theater. What started out small in 1981 has grown to over 500 subscription memberships this year. It's certain to continue the upward trend with the lovely theatre, fun performances and lively cast members contributing to the long lasting success. Each year four to five major productions are staged, but that is only part of their community contribution. The Peppermint Players produce free shows for kids. Children's workshops, reader's theatre, melodrama and vaudeville shows are some of the additional programs you should take advantage of with ACT. Memberships are nice too, especially if you become a First Nighter, where you'll enjoy opening night festivities for each show with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, champagne and camaraderie.
• Amelia Community Theatre
        209 Cedar Street
• Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center
        Chances are you didn't even know there was a Brooklyn district in Jacksonville. Well, there is, and it's located between Park Street and Riverside Avenue near downtown. Formerly a thriving neighborhood, the area has been neglected for years but is now returning with a vengeance. Leading the renaissance is the Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center, where a cultural revolution is making the Jacksonville art scene sit up and take notice. Here's the deal: local artists lease space for galleries and work areas; arts publications take up office; and classrooms are developed to teach a variety of media to art lovers. It's not something happening in the future: it's real and going on now. Check it's schedule for classes and gallery openings.
• Florida Theater
        If every theater in America retained the beauty of yesteryear, they'd look like the Florida Theatre. Walking inside the 1923 landmark is a visual treat with its iron stair rails, stone floors and definitive Moorish feel. Having pre- theater drinks in the
• Koger Gallery of Art & Garden
        4160 Boulevard Center Dr.
• Limelight Theatre
        904.825.1164
• Orange Park Community Theatre
        A former Catholic chapel is home to Clay County's only live theater group. The lovely mission-style playhouse is located in an older, more refined neighborhood of Orange Park and has been the permanent home of the Orange Park Community Theatre since 1986. The organization has brought excellent community theater to its patrons since 1969, when its first production was launched. With one exception, every year has been a wonderful new season to theater lovers in Clay County. Four to five productions are staged annually, and as the theater is smallish it's best to make reservations quickly. Better yet, purchase season tickets as a gift to yourself. If you have an interest in learning about acting, check out some of the workshops offered for adults and children.
• Players By The Sea
   Finally, a home big enough for the talented thespians of Players-By-The-Sea. The amateur theater group moved into their new home on Sixth near Beach Boulevard in November. The move gives the theater needed space to mount more productions for more people. Up to 160 patrons can enjoy the six main stage productions each year. Additionally, the theater plans on developing new programs for children and smaller performances to stage in the black box theatre.
• River City Playhouse
        904.388.8830
• Stellers Gallery
        You'll easily find the Stellers Gallery in downtown San Marco. Located on the other side"" of the square, it's big sign is a giveaway. All brassiness is left outside, as the interior of the gallery is whispery yellow with high ceilings and beautiful moldings that discreetly announce your entree into an art lovers haven. Locally known for showcasing the work of C. Ford Riley, whose work is based on scenes from the woods and marshes of Northeast Florida, the Stellers Gallery is a great place to browse and further develop an appreciation for art. Ten galleries hold the works and their well-respected staff can offer consultation services and appraisals. A full framing selection is available for purchases or for works you already own.
• The Alhambra Dinner Theatre
        The Alhambra Dinner Theatre is a tradition among Jacksonville theater-goers. Arriving at the Spanish-style building, you are escorted to your table at one of three viewing levels. The nicely lit theater makes for a pleasurable dining environment with cocktail service and a delicious buffet. Allow enough time to enjoy your meal before the show begins. Each season, owner Tod Booth puts together a fabulous array of performances using professional equity association actors. Comedies, dramas, and musicals fill the subscription year, and the holiday season is a sellout with the ever-popular A Christmas Carol.
• The Ritz Theatre
        904.632.5555
• Theatre Jacksonville
        Theatre Jacksonville's art deco exterior is in keeping with its history. Built in the 1930's, the building still retains its grace and stature as a cultural institution of Jacksonville. It's also America's longest running, continually produced community theatre. The exceptional local talent makes each performance a haven for theatre lovers. Three to four shows are put on each season. Lush costumes and lavish sets ensure that nothing amateurish is on stage.
• Times Union Center for the Performing Arts
        Nestled in the narrow downtown bend of the St. John\'s River sits the new Times Union Center for the Performing Arts. A major renovation and construction transformed the former Civic Auditorium into a gem in 1996. Today, the three halls host cultural event