Stories

Beatles mania strikes again! Across the Universe tickles the ears and eyes of audiences across the nation by revealing an enchanting plot, told strictly through Beatles lyrics. Director Julie Taymor, known for directing “Frida,” created a magical story line that never ceases to entertain the senses.

Evan Rachel Wood, of Thirteen, shines as the lead role, Lucy, an All-American, girl-next-door turned war protester, while co-star Jim Sturgess plays Jude from Liverpool, England. New to the American eye, Sturgess delivers quite a performance, one that makes this contributor believe we will be seeing much more of him in the future.

Michael Emerson is an award-winning American actor who has starred onstage, in movies, and currently plays Ben Linus on the hit television series Lost. He also happens to be a good friend of Flagler art professor Don Martin.

On Oct. 25, 12 lucky students in Martin’s Creativity: Art of Possibility class got to interview Emerson during a conference call in the Heade art studio. Emerson was in Hawaii, filming the new season of Lost.

Ladies and gentlemen, a musical extravaganza is upon us. The Talleyrand Music and Arts Festival held at Metropolitan Park in Jacksonville promises to be a day jam-packed with music, food and people, so get there early to find parking.

The Flagler Theatre Department’s upcoming show “Vanities” is an insightful play about three small-town girls who are growing up together, and growing apart, during a turbulent time in history, said Alicia Mangelsdorf, a senior theatre major and the play’s stage manager.

With the opening of several art galleries, a raw food restaurant and the new Rockin’ Bean Coffee Shop, West King Street has recently become quite a progressive part of town.

A new organic market and vegan deli has just joined this up-and-coming location. The Present Moment Market, which is affiliated with the neighboring Present Moment Café, provides a small amount of fresh produce, a vegan deli and a number of other organic products.