Apex Theatre presents spin on holiday classic and a cozy cabaret

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The Apex Theatre studio in Ponte Vedra Beach will present a series of seasonal events which celebrate the sights and sounds of Northeast Florida during the holiday season. Their holiday series kicks off with Eb Scrooge: A Southern Fried Carol, a contemporary adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic A Christmas Carole set in Jacksonville.

Featuring a world of grits and gravy, red velvet cake, along with an occasional glass of sweet tea, Eb Scrooge captures present-day life in Northeast Florida, while maintaining the spirit of the classic, beloved tale of greed and redemption. It features a cast of young artists from the Ponte Vedra Beach area as well as professional guest artists Andy Nance and Brooks Anne Meierdierks in the leading roles of Scrooge and Bertha.

 

The theatre will also include Home For The Holidays: a cozy cabaret experience featuring the vocal talents of the young artists from Apex Theatre Studio and also featuring notable Northeast Florida writers Laura Lee Smith and Teri Grimm and storytellers Derek Coghlan, Toni Philips, and Kevin Bodge. “We wanted to create the feeling of families gathered around the table singing songs and swapping tales with a festive table of treats and beverages,” said Ian Mairs, Managing Director. “Our newly expanded black box theatre has a lovely, intimate vibe and we are blessed with some truly remarkable storytellers from the region.”

 

In addition to performances, the studio is hosting its second annual Festival of Trees: A Canned Goods Drive for local food pantries. Local businesses will decorate a tree displayed in the lobby of Apex Theatre Studio. Audiences are encouraged to “vote” for their favorite tree by placing a donated canned good beneath it. The tree with the most canned goods will be declared the winner. “This is a fun way for the community to give back and brings the focus into what really matters: helping others,” said Raines Carr, Associate Director. The Festival of Trees will kick off on Saturday, Dec. 7 with a tree trimming party and concludes on Sunday, Dec. 22 with an open house event for the public. The display will be open daily, except Sunday, from 1-5 p.m. and one hour before performances.

 

Performances for “Eb Scrooge” are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 2 p.m. Dec. 15.. Performances for “Home for The Holidays” are Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. each night.

Tickets are available at www.apextheatrejax.com.

Apex Theatre Studio (Black Box) Theatre, 5150 Palm Valley Road, Unit 205, Ponte Vedra, Florida, 32082.