On a bright February afternoon, a seemingly simple building bearing Spanish accents appears to sit quietly along a narrow street in the oldest town in America.
But the stillness is deceptive. This is a place of great drama, mysterious doings, soaring vocals and lots of laughter. And at any given time, it is abuzz with activity.
This is the Limelight Theatre, the only community theatre organization in St. Johns County that owns its own building. In its 33 seasons, it has weathered hurricanes, a pandemic and challenging budget cuts to enrich the culture, educate future thespians and offer the public high-quality live performances.
In a city that provides an astounding range of artistic and cultural opportunities, Limelight Theatre remains a pillar for the community, a place where the magic of the stage is alive and well. And it’s a kind of home for those who live to create.
“I believe that Limelight is a very special little theatre,” said Executive Director Sherrie Provence. “We want to create a haven for creative people, just a safe place where people can have a sense of belonging, a family type of atmosphere where the cast and crew are part of something bigger than just themselves.”
And, quite literally, there is always something going on.
As one cast takes its final bow, another is already rehearsing the next show. Casting is underway for the show that follows that one, and preparations are being made for yet another show. Workshops and acting classes for all ages are being conducted, and young performers in the KidzfACTory program are preparing to present their own musical. Backstage, the remnants from a recently struck set rest side-by-side with new sets under construction.
All of this requires clockwork-precision scheduling.
“It’s buzzing all the time here,” said Provence, laughing.
Setting the Stage
Limelight Theatre was the brainchild of two friends, Anne Kraft and Jean Rahner, whose husband Tom had founded the theatre program at Flagler College. (Jean Rahner would go on to found a second theatre, A Classic Theatre, in 2005.)
Limelight’s first production opened on Aug. 28, 1992, at the Monson Bayfront Inn in St. Augustine. It continued to operate there for almost two years. In 1994, the theatre was granted nonprofit status as a 501(c)3 organization. It went on to produce shows at a variety of locales, including a small building on U.S. 1.
Then, in 2001, a grant from the Joukowsky Family Foundation made it possible for the theatre to purchase the 10,000-square-foot building at 11 Old Mission Ave., formerly the home of the St. Johns County Council on Aging and, before that, the Ramada Inn cafeteria. Today’s main stage was originally a dining hall and the workshop backstage had been the kitchen.
A $398,000 state grant received in 2006 allowed the theatre to replace the roof, install new air conditioning and heating, and sound and light systems. The lobby and restrooms were renovated, and the Matuza Black Box theater was constructed, giving Limelight two stages.
For 18 years, the theatre was under the direction of Beth Lambert. When she retired in 2021, the board of directors conducted a nationwide search and ultimately hired Provence in 2022.
This year, the building is 50 years old, making it a historic site. This will allow Limelight Theatre to apply for grants that hadn’t previously been available.
Season 33
Today, big things are happening at Limelight.
The theatre is in the midst of its 33rd season. The most recent show, a dramedy titled “Crimes of the Heart,” closed on Feb. 2. “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a musical comedy, opens on Feb. 21 and runs through March 16. The show is a unique take on classic Broadway musicals of the 1920s and features a Jazz Age score by Tony Award-winning collaborators.
“Sense & Sensibility,” based on the classic Jane Austin story, runs from April 4 through April 19.
Following that, “Fly By Night” takes the stage from May 9 through 25. Described as a “darkly comic rock-fable,” the show is set in 1965 during the New York City blackout.
Next up will be Eugène Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros.” It’s an absurdist show with a serious message and runs from May 30 through June 15.
The big summer musical, “Hairspray,” runs from July 18 through Aug. 10. The show is set in the Baltimore of 1962 and follows a quirky teenager who finds a degree of fame dancing on a local TV show and uses that to speak out for racial integration.
“We tried to get the rights to that for three years,” said Provence.
Programs, classes and more
Limelight Theatre generally stages eight or nine shows each season. Many are musicals, though there is an occasional drama, comedy or mystery.
But that isn’t all.
The theatre has a thriving education program for ages 4 through 18, and an adult acting class that meets twice a week. The youth program will present Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” on March 28-30.
That program has a rolling enrollment, so young theatre enthusiasts can join anytime. Then, as future shows come up, the theatre posts audition times on its website.
In the upcoming summer program, children and youths will present three age-appropriate shows.
Something new at Limelight is Kaleidoscope, a monthly gathering of artists who share their songs and poetry in a kind of nightclub atmosphere. It’s free to join in, and the bar is open so that patrons can get snacks and drinks.
“It’s been a big hit,” said Provence.
While Kaleidoscope is meant to give a space to younger artists, all are welcome.
In another exciting development, the theatre has partnered with the Saint Augustine Film Festival and the St. Augustine Film Society to start screening films, especially older, regional or avant-garde films.
The plan is to hold Wednesday matinees and perhaps some Sunday showings when possible.
The projector purchased by the theatre to make that happen will also allow the stage shows to use projected backdrops, opening up new possibilities.
In addition, Limelight Theatre hosted standup comedians as part of SJC Cultural Events’ Sing Out Loud Festival in September.
Beyond performance art, Limelight regularly displays the work of local artists. One of these is Sue Schwartz, who paints some of the theatre’s scenic backdrops but is also a notable fine artist.
A Career in Comedy
On March 2, Limelight Theatre will present “A Conversation with Tony Hale: A Career in Comedy” at Lewis Auditorium in St. Augustine.
Audiences will have an opportunity to hear from the actor who played Buster Bluth in “Arrested Development” and Gary Walsh in “Veep,” where he appeared alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
The three-time Emmy winner has appeared in numerous films and has provided character voices in “The Tale of Despereaux,” “The Angry Birds Movie” and more. He was the voice of Forky in “Toy Story 4” and Fear in “Inside Out 2.”
He has played twin brothers on the Disney+ original “The Mysterious Benedict Society.” His children’s book, “Archibald’s Next Big Thing,” is now a popular Netflix series.
Provence wanted to hold this fundraiser at Flagler College to offer students an affordable price. The first 200 Flagler students can attend for free.
Tickets for this event are $50 for adults, $15 for students and admission for a family of four is $100 (call the box office). Flagler students beyond the first 200 pay only $15 with ID.
There is also a VIP after-party with drinks and dessert at the Casa Monica Resort & Spa, 95 Cordova St., St. Augustine. VIP tickets are $300 apiece, or two for $500, and include VIP seating.
Tickets are available at www.limelight.ludus.com or by calling the box office at 904-825-1164. Use the promo code PVRECORDER to save $5.
The program starts at 7 p.m. Lewis Auditorium is located at 14 Granada St., St. Augustine.
Spotlight on funding
In June, Gov. Ron DeSantis cut about $32 million in state grants that fund arts and culture organizations. That meant tens of thousands of dollars in lost revenue for the Limelight Theatre, a third of its budget.
The loss of funds came just when Limelight was preparing to pay licensing fees. When those aren’t paid in full, the theatre cannot get the rights to its shows. As a result, Limelight had to cut one show from its season.
Unfortunately, losing a show also meant losing revenue that would have been generated by ticket sales for that show. And funding is needed not just to produce shows, but for important capital projects related to the building itself.
The theatre staff scrambled to find sponsors to help out.
Fortunately, generous donors stepped up. For instance, Ned and Paula Skinner sponsored “Crimes of the Heart.”
Ray and Linda Matuza have donated more than $50,000 over the years, and last year, philanthropist Inez McDonald donated $100,000.
But sponsors are needed at all levels. It takes between $2,500 and $10,000 to sponsor a show. Donations can be made through the theatre’s website or by calling Provence.
Until the day when state grants are restored, the theatre continues to seek ways to raise funds.
Beyond funding, the theatre needs volunteers and interns. There are multiple ways to help out: building sets, running lights, ushering shows and much, much more.
“There’s always something to do,” said Provence.
Tickets and more
Provence said she always seeks out shows that include an element of hope.
“We want to create messages that leave people with something positive,” she said. “We say on our website: ‘Be the light. Share the light. Limelight.’”
Next season, she is trying for a theme of “faith.”
“Faith in mankind, in love, in a higher power … we need that in our lives,” she said.
The theatre will announce the shows for its 34th season soon, and Provence said it’s going to be a big one.
To learn more about Limelight Theatre and what it offers, or to purchase tickets, go to limelight-theatre.org. Also, the box office is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The phone number is 904-825-1164.
