Long before his research was featured in The New Yorker, and long before he stood on stage at Carnegie Hall or led sold-out performances at the Kennedy Center, John Monsky was a Jacksonville kid with a fascination for flags.
His passion started young — not with textbooks or lectures, but with fabric and stitching. Monsky began collecting American flags in his boyhood, not just for their design, but for their history. He’d research where they came from, what battles they flew over and who might have held them. The tactile connection to the past through the flags led Monsky to discover hidden corners of history and discovery that would eventually be at the core of his revered productions.
A Bolles School graduate, Monsky studied history at Yale, earning prestigious awards before pursuing law at Harvard and serving as an attorney in the U.S. Senate committee investigating the Iran-Contra affair. Today, he’s a senior partner at Oak Hill Capital in New York — but his true passion continues to be uncovering the stories behind pivotal moments in American history.
His acclaimed series, “American History Unbound,” blends storytelling, live orchestration, archival photography and theatrical performance. Monsky’s work has been featured on PBS, CNN, CBS and NBC, captivating audiences with productions that bring the past to life through an emotional, immersive lens.
Now, for the first time, he’s bringing one of his most celebrated productions back to his hometown.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, “The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day” will take the stage at Jacksonville’s Moran Theater for a one-night-only event. Performed alongside the Jacksonville Symphony and Broadway stars from “Hamilton,” “Company” and “Mean Girls,” the show recreates the final 11 months of World War II — from the beaches of Normandy to the fall of Berlin — through a gripping multimedia experience.
Featuring soaring period music, rare photography and film and the words of witnesses such as Ernest Hemingway, Lee Miller, Robert Capa and the 761st Tank Battalion, the production honors the many who sacrificed for our country.
It’s a full-circle moment for Monsky — returning to the city where his love for history began, using art to honor the past and support the future. All proceeds from the event benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital, funding a new outdoor therapeutic space and family support programming for children receiving behavioral health care.
For Jacksonville families, many of whom have personal ties to the military, “The Eyes of the World” is more than just a performance — it’s a tribute, a teaching moment and a bridge between generations.
The Sept. 30 event launches the 2025-26 Florida Forum Speaker Series, a four-part fundraising series presented by The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Proceeds from the forum support Wolfson’s new Behavioral Health and Wellness Unit, providing compassionate and individualized care for children and families.
Tickets are priced at $85 to $250. Purchase tickets for “The Eyes of the World” at tinyurl.com/eyesoftheworldjax, where you can also see more about the full Florida Forum series — featuring Caitlin Clark, Vladimir Kara-Murza and José Andrés.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7 p.m. The Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, Moran Theater is located at 300 Water St. For further information, go to womensboardwch.com/eyes-of-the-world.
