Cessy Newmon

A Super MAMMA MIA! Troupe Downtown

January 8, 2025

Feature·Music·On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

Unlike many of the numerous jukebox musicals around town this year, British playwright Catherine Johnson did not use the music of ABBA to write the musical about the group ABBA. Partnered with primary ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (some songs with Stig Anderson), she instead wove ABBA’s music through a unique storyline to take audiences on a romantic comedy

On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

A SIDE-SPLITTING EVENING with THE GOLDEN GIRLS

You don’t need to be a die-hard fan of the ’80s to have a side-splitting evening with THE GOLDEN GIRLS, THE LAUGHS CONTINUE, at the Performing Arts Center downtown. It’s fun for all ages and genders – over 18. It’s a very raunchy spinoff of its namesake sitcom that ran

Urine Good Hands at the 5andDime

Urinetown: The Musical, the quirky satirical musical comedy with music by Mark

Gypsy is on show at the Alhambra

Words by Cessy Newmon Rove over to the Alhambra for an evening

A Broadway-loaded FOUR PHANTOMS Experience

February 11, 2025

Feature·Music·On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

Whether it’s a version of the movie or one of myriad of productions on Broadway and other venues around the world, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is one of the longest-running and highest-grossing shows in Broadway and West End (London) history. It originated in London, as its author is none

RIVERDANCE is 30 years young

February 4, 2025

Feature·Music·On Stage·Theatre

Riverdance 30 – The New Generation is not only bringing new choreography to the show, but it is also introducing a new generation of dancers, none of whom were born when Riverdance first took to the stage 30 years ago. Emissaries for the show, Irish siblings Anna Mai and Fergus

SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL Antics at the Alhambra

January 12, 2025

Feature·On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

The Alhambra Theatre launches into 2025 with the fast-paced comedy, SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL, one of two plays by writing duo Osborne and Eppler. Set in Mississippi, SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL’s action takes place over several days in August in the home of Dorothy Frye (Peg Pachal), who has just lost her

It’s A CHRISTMAS STORY time at Alhambra

December 1, 2024

Feature·Music·On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

For fans of the 1983 classic comedy film, A CHRISTMAS STORY, hopefully you already have your tickets for Alhambra’s production. If not, the best you can do is their waiting list, since they are sold out! The show very closely follows the movie’s storyline of young Ralphie Parker (Keegan Carroll)

THE ILLUSIONISTS will add magic to your season

November 24, 2024

Downtown·Feature·On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

This Tuesday, for one night only, the record-breaking THE ILLUSIONISTS-MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS will be onstage at the Performing Arts Center in Jacksonville. Having originated on Broadway, the show features rotating performers who have wowed audiences around the world since 2012. Multi-award-winning Chris Cox – The Mentalist – has performed

Laughter isn’t foreign to THE FOREIGNER

November 12, 2024

On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

It’s Betty Meek’s Fishing Lodge Resort in Rural Georgia. The racist local building inspector, Owen Musser (Alan Morton), has cited the lodge for the brickwork needing replacement, and if Betty (Kelley Norman) can’t afford to fix it, she’ll have to sell cheap. It’s a familiar setting for local theatergoers with

Downtown we will rock you with THE ULTIMATE QUEEN CELEBRATION

October 16, 2024

Downtown·Feature·Music·On Stage·Uncategorized

This Friday (10/18), Jacksonville rock fans are going to get a special treat. THE ULTIMATE QUEEN CELEBRATION is coming to our city for one performance only. This is not a typical tribute or impersonation show, nor is it a story about Freddy Mercury and the original group. This is a

It’s a wedding party at THE WEDDING SINGER

October 5, 2024

Feature·Music·On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

Throw back to the days of disco, overdone perms for women and long hair for men, and you’ve got the makings of the party that is THE WEDDING SINGER. The show opens at a wedding reception, where lead singer Robbie Hart (Jake Pearce) is singing with his bandmates Sammy (Paul

Joseph in Technicolor at the Alhambra

July 2, 2024

Lifestyle·Theatre

What do a hoedown, cabaret, calypso and Elvis have in common? They are all part of the amazing story of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT now onstage at the Alhambra! This is a very family-friendly show, and the audience had kids to seniors. The show is so energetic and

Boeing, Boeing for liftoff off at Alhambra

May 30, 2024

Feature·On Stage·Theatre·Uncategorized

BOEING, BOEING, currently onstage at the Alhambra, is listed as the most performed French play in the Guinness book of world records. Marc Camoletti’s play (translated by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans) is a farce: a comedy that seeks to entertain by being exaggerated, improbable and absurd. The trick and