Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:
- The state’s chief financial officer takes a granular interest in city finances, as a budget vote looms on Tuesday.
- JEA’s old home gets a new lease on life with a purchase offer from Live Oak Contracting.
- The fallout over Charlie Kirk's death continues, as concerns about speech freedoms mount.
- The city celebrates landing the FHSAA tournaments and considers a $400,000 grant to kickstart a local film project.
- The Jax Jumbo Shrimp (aka The Honeydrippers) face stiff competition from the Snot Otters and the Bathtub Donkeys in the nationwide minor league battle over best alternate identity.
Guests:
- Nate Monroe, executive editor at The Tributary.
- Randy DeFoor, attorney and former Jacksonville City Council member.
- Anthony Austin, anchor at First Coast News.
- David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union.
Then, a local staging of a classic play adds a layer of creativity and compassion through the use of double-casting. Tennessee William’s groundbreaking 1944 script for The Glass Menagerie introduced audiences to the concept of a “memory play,” told through the narrator’s imperfect and emotional recollections. In its version, APEX Theatre employs actors with physical challenges and neurodiverse perspectives, sharing the lead roles with two other actors playing siblings Laura and Tom.
Guests:
- Ian Mairs, managing director at APEX Theatre.
- Jack Gallison, actor playing Tom.
- Sophie Somaru, actor playing Laura.
- Ailee Somaru, Sophie’s mom.