Theatre Happenings

Theatre Happenings

Aurora Jacksonville Black Arts Festival

Stage Aurora Theatrical Company, Inc. will present the Aurora Jacksonville Black Arts Festival, a week-long festival showcasing the African-American experience and culture in relation to the human experience in the arts and humanities, July 24-30 at its new performance space at 5188 Norwood Ave., Jacksonville.

The festival invites African-American performers and creative artists of all kinds to participate in free activities on three different stages. The festival will feature such nationally known artists as T'Keyah Crystal Keymah ("That's So Raven," "Cosby," "In Living Color"), Ella Joyce in "A Rose Among Thorns," a one-woman show based on the life of Rosa Parks. E-mail contact@stageaurora.org or call (904) 765-7372.

"She Loves Me"

Fernandina Little Theatre's summer production is "She Loves Me," a charming musical set in the 1930s in Budapest. The story of two shop employees who are unaware they are each other's pen pal, features a large and talented cast: Erin McKenzie, Michael Flynn, Jenny Wagner, Josh Tyler, Daniel Foster, Bill Raser and Thaxton Rowe, with Jean Schreiber, Michelle Van Deren, Kristian Lund, Beverley Allen, Abby Ford, Linda Janca, Ryan Smith and Carol Roe. The production is directed by Kate Hart; musical direction is by Erin DuFault.

Performances are July 11, 12 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $17.50. Performances July 15 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and July 20 at 2:30 p.m. are $18.50. Tickets are available at FLT, 1014 Beech St., Wednesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m.-noon, and one hour before curtain, and at the UPS Store in the Publix shopping center, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

'Spitfire Grill'

Amelia Community Theatre, 209 Cedar St., presents "The Spitfire Grill" by James Valcq and Fred Alley. This country-flavored musical, based on a film by Lee David Zlotoff, is about a young woman who is paroled from prison and begins working at the Spitfire Grill in a small Wisconsin town.

The town's economy is depressed and the restaurant is for sale, with no takers. When they decide to hold a raffle, with the grill as the prize, things start ''cooking at the Spitfire Grill.'' Show times are at 8 p.m. July 17-19, 24-26 and 30-31 and Aug. 1-2 and at 2 p.m. on July 27.

Tickets are $18 adults and $10 students. Box office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and two hours before curtain. Call 261-6749.