Artistic Director

Raines Carr serves as Artistic Director of ABET (All Beaches Experimental Theatre), one of Northeast Florida's longest-running professional theatre companies.

Founded in 1992, ABET has spent more than three decades producing adventurous contemporary plays, classics, new works, and theatrical experiences that challenge audiences while remaining deeply connected to the community. As Artistic Director, Carr is helping guide the company into its next chapter—one that honors ABET's history while creating new opportunities for artists and audiences throughout Jacksonville and the Beaches.

Building ABET's Next Chapter

Carr joined ABET at a pivotal moment in the company's history. Following years of producing in a variety of spaces—including its longtime home at the Adele Grage Cultural Center and a residency at Players by the Sea—ABET is working toward establishing a new permanent home in Atlantic Beach.

The new space represents more than a physical location. It is an opportunity to rethink what a small theatre can be.

Carr's vision for ABET is centered on creating a flexible, intimate environment where artists can take risks, audiences can experience theatre up close, and the company can serve as a home for both professional productions and community-based artistic activity.

The company's 35th season marks an important step in that process, celebrating ABET's history while looking toward its future.

Season 35: Coming Home

Season 35 represents both a celebration and a beginning.

With a new home on the horizon, ABET is developing a season that reflects the company's long-standing commitment to adventurous storytelling while expanding its programming through staged readings, community collaborations, educational opportunities, and partnerships with other Jacksonville arts organizations.

The goal is simple:

To create a theatre that feels both artistically ambitious and genuinely at home in its community.

For more information visit: abetjax.com

A selection of shows produced by Raines Carr at ABET