Jacksonville Performing Arts — Attraction in Jacksonville

I thought we had found a safe space for our children and family to learn and grow as Thespians. Our oldest participated in one show and had a good experience. It went so well our youngest and dear friend’s child wanted to join after being inspired. So we enrolled our children again for Charlotte’s Web. However, our experience with Charlotte’s Web, especially on tech night (the night before the show), was a complete shock and incredibly disheartening. Please read my review in its entirety so that you can be fully informed. This is my only recommendation.

It is disappointing, disturbing even, to read Nikki’s response to my very good friend, Dr. Lefebvre. Nikki stated that she understood our anger, frustration and the devastation as parents but especially the childrens. Her actions and the actions of her husband are incongruent with her stated values. Her response is not in the best interest for who matters most, the children. They are still grieving and processing the loss of performing, some for what would have been the very first time. Nikki has not reached out to see how our two children are doing nor our very good friend’s child. I hope she has reached out to other cast members.

She was extremely inappropriate to mention me and place untruthful blame on me and the children for decisions that she made as a director. The fact that she mentioned me at all was misguided. What is most unsettling in her response was that she neglected to state full and actual truths. I did watch the rehearsal this night only out pf protection for my children, my friends and the other cast members. I was thirty minutes late and Nikki DID yell at me, my daughters (CHILDREN) and friend’s daughter for being late. In shock, barely able to respond my own child came to my defense in stating one of our reasons, traffic. Nikki stormed off and I began to tell my youngest that maybe we should not stay because I didn’t want my children in an environment that was hostile. In hearing my conversations with my daughter her husband began yelling at me, attempting to justify why she was so angry. I ... *continued in picture I...

Jacksonville Performing Arts has been a home away from home for both of my daughters for the last five or six years. Yes, they both love acting and singing, but JPA is not just a "place" that will let them perform on the stage; rather, it's a safe, nurturing space where children and adults can grow and learn. Mrs. Nikki is passionate about bringing a quality arts program to the Jacksonville community; however, she is not merely driven by what the final performance looks like. Instead, she is motivated by helping each one of her students find the beauty of their full potential. In every performance I have attended at JPA over the years, I have seen a magical production put on by children and adults who believe in themselves because Mrs. Nikki believes in them. I have walked into the theater on days leading up to a show, and I have seen children and teens working on props and backdrops. Though Mrs. Nikki always has a vision, she wants her young actors to feel invested in what they are doing so that it's "their" production rather than "her" production. I don't just recommend JPA, I adore it. My children have become more confident, loving people because of their time spent with Mrs. Nikki, Mr. Pete, and the rest of the JPA crew. We would be lost...

JPA should be ashamed of themselves after cancelling "Charlotte's Web" on the eve of the performance "because the cast wasn't prepared." Then they had the audacity to blame and publicly humiliate the middle and elementary school kids for this lack of preparedness. After spending countless hours with her lines and conquering her fear of public speaking for her first play, my 11 year old daughter is crushed. She was sobbing last night and this morning about "being screamed at" in front of her friends despite knowing her lines and making every rehearsal. In fact our whole family is crushed as we even had grandparents fly in for this performance. I am appalled at the selfish decision by JPA to call off the show completely rather than reschedule. As a former USMC infantry officer and now surgeon, I understand the meaning of "the show must go on" even when the product isn't perfect. JPA clearly cares only about their reputation - not about the children who are learning to act. If you are considering patronizing JPA, I advise against it. They don't deserve the honor of spending time with...