A one-night-only musical and multimedia experience is coming to the Jacksonville Center for Performing Arts, bringing to life the final weeks and month of World War II. It is hosted by The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Proceeds will help fund an enclosed outdoor space at Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s inpatient Behavioral Health and Wellness Unit.
Slated for Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m., “The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day” is created, written and narrated by Bolles School alumnus John Monsky, cousin to the 2025-26 Florida Forum Speaker Series Co-Chair Kymberly Wolfson.
The event will feature rare photographs and personal accounts from historic figures like Ernest Hemingway, Lee Miller and J.D. Salinger, all of which will be accompanied by a live performance by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Broadway vocalists. Monsky’s work has been performed in storied venues, from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center to Boston Symphony Hall. This is the first time his work will be performed in his hometown of Jacksonville.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.thefloridaforum.com/.
Big Names, Bold Stories at Florida Forum
Monsky’s theatrical event heralds the arrival of the 2025-26 Florida Forum Speaker Series, also hosted by the Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital and co-chaired this year by Wolfson, Heather Creel and Kristina Powell. As it does every year, The Women’s Board brings a trio of speakers for three evenings of fascinating conversation and inspiring stories of determination, strength and courage.
Famed athlete and WNBA player Caitlin Clark kicks off the speaker series on Oct. 29. The Indiana Fever guard won the 2024 All-WNBA and Rookie of the Year honors. She is the founder of The Caitlin Clark Foundation, which seeks to “uplift and improve the lives of youth and their communities through education, nutrition and sport.”
Following Clark is Russian political dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza on Feb. 3. Kara-Murza was imprisoned after speaking out against the war in Ukraine for more than two years. He won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2024. Today he is a contributing columnist for the Washington Post.
Author, humanitarian and chef José Andrés concludes the series on March 31. Andrés is the co-founder of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit dedicated to providing meals at the frontlines of disasters following humanitarian, climate and community crises. With a deep passion for food, Andrés also owns José Andrés Restaurant Group, which operates 40 restaurants in the United States and the Bahamas.
Details about the upcoming speaker series will be available at https://www.thefloridaforum.com/.
