A storm is coming to ‘Players by the Sea’ for Oct/Nov

This Halloween season will include a psychological thriller at Players by the Sea.  “Pontypool” is set to open on the Jacksonville Beach community theatre’s Studio Stage from October 26 and runs until November 3rd., for eight impactful shows.

A massive storm sends reports of people developing strange speech patterns and committing horrendous acts of violence in small-town Pontypool. Radio D.J. Grant Mazzy and the small staff at CLSY, trapped inside the radio station, desperately try to warn listeners about the virus and its unlikely mode of transmission.

Director Stephanie Natale Frus says that Pontypool “…is about the human condition — putting people in extreme circumstances and seeing how they are going to react.  I like to look at it as a snowball play — it’s the time of thing where once that actions start, it just rolls and rolls until ‘bam!’ it just stops.”  She continues to explain that Pontypool explores communication.  “The show specifically looks at communication through public broadcasting, public radio, media — which is really appropriate for our society right now.  The question is ‘why are we communicating this way so heavily?”

Pontypool looks at the psychological concept of flight vs. fright.  This play is an adaptation of Pontypool Changes Everything, a book and film by Tony Burgess.  His stage play is now being edited for this production to include local Jacksonville factors by Kelby Siddons.  The production in the Studio Theatre aims to be a truly immersive event — the production team is partnering up with folks from Sally Corporation to create an experience that draws from dark ride concepts.

“Pontypool”
DATES:      TIMES:
Fri., Oct. 26, 2018  8 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 27      8 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 29    8 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 30    8 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 31    8 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 1    8 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 2     8 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 3     8 p.m.

TICKETS: Regular tickets are $28, with a discounted price of $25 for Senior/Student/Military.  Showtimes are 8 p.m. from Thursday - Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.  The Thursday night performance is a Student Night, wherein students can receive half price tickets with a valid student I.D.  Advance ticket purchases are strongly encouraged.  Tickets are available on line, or by calling the Box Office at (904) 249-0289.

LOCATION: Players By The Sea Theatre
      106 6th Street North
      Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
      (904) 249-0289