PRESS RELEASE: MARCH 13, 2025

Florida School of the Arts presents “The Flick”

FloArts acting students Emma Begley, Jalen Hardy, and E. Noah Perez are characters who won’t deliver grand monologues or life-altering revelations—they fumble, they hesitate, they leave things unsaid. And in that, they are achingly real.

Florida School of the Arts presents “The Flick” March 28-30 in the black box theater. Seating is limited. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online in advance or at the box office one hour before showtime.

The show runs:

• Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 29 at 2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m.

In a rundown movie theater, three underpaid employees sweep up popcorn in the empty aisles and tend to one of the last thirty-five-millimeter projectors in the state. “The Flick,” by Annie Baker, is a hilarious and heartrending cry for authenticity in a fast-changing world. Paying tribute to the power of movies, the play paints a portrait of three characters and their working lives, heartbreaks and internal battles.

“At first glance, “The Flick” may seem like a simple slice of life,” said FloArts acting professor and play director Ryan Mahannah. “But beneath its long silences and awkward exchanges, lies something deeply profound: the struggle to belong, the fear of change, and the quiet heartbreak of unfulfilled dreams. The characters in this play don’t deliver grand monologues or life-altering revelations—they fumble, they hesitate, they leave things unsaid. And in that, they are achingly real.”

According to Mahannah, the play fearlessly confronts some of the most pressing issues in our society - racial stereotyping, sexual misconduct, and depression - just to name a few. “This play doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths; it holds up a mirror, challenging audiences to reflect on how we live, interact, and, ultimately, how we can change. This is what powerful theatre does—it provokes, disrupts, and dares us to be better,” he said. “The Flick” does all this and more, offering a raw, honest exploration of human connection and disconnection that lingers long after the final scene. This is the reason Annie Baker won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2014 for her writing of play.

“We encourage you to embrace the play’s stillness, its pauses, and its moments of discomfort,” Mahannah said. “Life rarely moves in tidy, dramatic arcs. Sometimes, it lingers in the in-between spaces. “The Flick” asks us to sit with that, to listen closely, and to find the beauty in what’s left unspoken.”

Content Disclosure: Includes themes of loneliness, friendship, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in everyday life. "The Flick" contains some mature language and themes, as well as moments of emotional intensity. Viewer discretion is advised, especially for younger audiences or those sensitive to certain topics.

The cast includes: Emma Begley, Jalen Hardy, E. Noah Perez, Matt Shook and Lillian Johnson.

Production includes: Zachary Petron, Assistant Director; Kendell Cheathem, Stage Manager; Chandler Caroccio, Sound Design; Kaylah Perry, Scenic Design; Cortnie Beatty, Costume Design; Brandall Kearse, Lighting Design.

Ryan Mahannah, Intimacy Choreographer; Tim Castell, Faculty Scenic Supervisor; Chandler Caroccio, Faculty Lighting Supervisor; Cortnie Beatty, Costume Shop Manager; Jailyn Ruemmeley, Hair, Wig and Make Up Design; Wyatt Richardson, Master Electrician; Javier Pinto, Master Carpenter; Kaylah Perry, Paint Charge; Matt Shook, Prop Master; Lillian Johnson, Wardrobe Lead; Kendell Cheathem, QLab Operator; and Lyle Lopez, Light Board Operator.

Costume Construction Crew: Taryn Spikes, Jasmine Bruce, Shera Hebblewhite, Jailyn Ruemmeley, Company of The Flick.

Scenic and Lighting Crew: Kaylah Perry, Wyatt Richardson, Katie Stephenson, Indigo Rygiel, Isreal White, Autumn Airey, Emily Hager, Javier Pinto, Emma Begley, Lena Hart, Lorelai Kissling, Mariengelis Gonzalez, Sophie Willis, Caleb Urbistondo, Izzy Petranick, Natalee Hardy, Brandall Kearse Jr., Zachary Petron, Matt Shook, Company of The Flick.

Florida School of the Arts is located on the St. Johns River State College Palatka Campus and serves the entire state of Florida. FloArts is part of the academic and administrative structure of SJR State and awards associate degrees in acting, dance performance, musical theater, stage management, theater technology, graphic design/new media and studio art. For more information, call (386) 312-4300 or visit FloArts.

“The Flick,” by Annie Baker, is a hilarious and heartrending cry for authenticity in a fast-changing world. Paying tribute to the power of movies, the play paints a portrait of three characters and their working lives, heartbreaks and internal battles.