Theatre Jacksonville
Press Release
January 10, 2020
Play based on true love story between C.S. Lewis and American poet Joy Davidman Gresham
When esteemed British author and professor C.S. Lewis first had tea in the 1950s with an American poet who had traveled to Oxford to meet him, he was a committed bachelor who had lived a relatively passion-less life. When Joy Davidman Gresham and her young son subsequently moved to England, their deepening friendship and her battle with illness challenge Lewis’s beliefs and ultimately change his life. The acclaimed drama Shadowlands, which tells their story, opens Friday, January 10, at Theatre Jacksonville and runs through Sunday, January 26.
Adapted from the original 1985 BBC television film that was based on Lewis’s biographical book Through the Shadowlands, Shadowlands premiered on Broadway in 1990 and was nominated for a Tony Award. It also won a London Evening Standard Award for Best New Play.
“The thought-provoking universal themes of love, loss, faith and doubt combine in this outstanding drama in a way that really speaks to the audience and provides a window into a very different side of C.S. Lewis,” said Theatre Jacksonville Executive Director Sarah Boone. “We are very honored to be bringing the Southeast debut of Shadowlands to this region to usher in a new decade of community theater – and to further celebrate our momentous 100th season.”
Shadowlands is directed by Gary Webber, a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and Jacksonville University, who also serves as senior pastor at Southside Baptist Church. The highly talented cast is composed of local volunteer actors. On Sunday, January 19th, there will be a Talkback panel discussion on grief and loss following the show.
“On the issues of pain and suffering, I can’t think of a modern writer who has done a better job of exploring these than C.S. Lewis. His authenticity appeals to everyone – religious or non-religious,” said Webber. “The cleverness of this play is the focus on Lewis’s transformation, understanding and empathy as he works through these issues in his own life.”
Shadowlands runs through January 26, and tickets are $26 for general public and $21 for students, seniors and military. Subscription packages for the remainder of the Mainstage season include Shadowlands and are now $90 for adults and $80 for students, seniors and military. Subscription packages also include:
· Love Quest, opening February 21 – A clever romantic comedy about the journey of two women into online dating
· Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, opening April 17 – A comedy of manners based on the acclaimed screenplay made famous by Spencer Tracy, Sydney Poitier, and Katherine Hepburn
· Matilda, opening June 5 – A captivating musical masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company based on the bestselling Roald Dahl children’s book
TITLE sponsorships are available for Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner and Matilda, and the $5,000 sponsorship includes show tickets, a full-page advertisement in each playbill and exclusive logo placement on banners. Sponsorship opportunities are available at other levels, including sponsorships for company logo or name placement on tickets.
Theatre Jacksonville is also embarking on a 100th Anniversary Endowment Campaign, which will form a nest egg to ensure secure future theater operations. The fund has already exceeded $600,000, which includes a matching gift from the Weaver Family Foundation.
Theatre Jacksonville is hosting a Big Hat & Jazz 100th Birthday Brunch in San Marco Square on Sunday, March 22. A limited number of brunch sponsorships are available for $1,000, which includes an invitation to a donor cocktail party at the theater, brunch tickets and donor recognition during the remainder of the season.
“As we enter the second half of our 100th season, we want to make sure that everyone in the city has a chance to recognize the contributions that Theatre Jacksonville has made over the last century – whether it is purchasing tickets to a great show, attending our fun brunch or donating to our Endowment Fund,” said Boone. “Thousands of Jacksonville residents are inspired by Theatre Jacksonville each year, and community support is vital for us to provide quality theater and educational opportunities for at least 100 more.”
To purchase tickets for Shadowlands or to make a donation to the 100th Anniversary Endowment, visit www.theatrejax.com. If you are interested in sponsoring a production, contact Theatre Jacksonville Executive Director Sarah Boone at (904) 396-4425 or [email protected].
Photography/Artwork:
“Calibri”,sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin” class=””<![endif] -->1. Theatre Jacksonville’s production of award-winning drama Shadowlands, the true love story of C.S. Lewis and an American poet, runs from Jan. 10-26.
“Calibri”,sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin” class=””<![endif] -->2. Every production in Theatre Jacksonville’s 100th season lineup is a Northeast Florida premiere, including acclaimed drama Shadowlands, which opens on Jan 10. (Photo credit: Jonathan Scherf)
About Theatre Jacksonville
Theatre Jacksonville was founded in 1919 as The Little Theatre of Jacksonville, with the capital for the 1938 construction of the historic facility donated by Carl S. Swisher. It was reincorporated as Theatre Jacksonville in 1969 and named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Theatre Jacksonville has provided 100 years of uninterrupted community theater in Jacksonville.
Theatre Jacksonville’s mission is to enrich lives and broaden cultural understanding through community participation in theater arts. In addition to providing more than 100 performances each season of outstanding community theater featuring a regional cast of exceptionally talented playwrights, musicians, actors, designers and stagehands, Theatre Jacksonville reaches hundreds of students each year through summer camps, classes, field trips and in-school presentations.
Theatre Jacksonville also uses art to advance issues of local concern. From supporting veterans to nurturing arts and recreation, it fosters community partnerships to advance the culture, health, and well-being of Jacksonville. As Theatre Jacksonville anticipates its future, it also seeks to build a strong operational foundation to ensure that, just as endowed funds support the theater building, endowed funds will support theater operations. For more information or to donate, visit www.theatrejax.com.