A Dual Critics Review by Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom The 5 & Dime Theatre Company welcomed the theatre community to its new home and first permanent stage location with a dynamic production of Marsha Norman’s ‘night, Mother. The play opened on February 17 and will run through March 5, 2017 in at 112 E. Adams Street. The 5 & Dime is noted for its incendiary programming, beginning in 2011 with Fahrenheit 451 and continuing with cutting edge plays, many of which explore social issues. The company’s choice for launching their new season and production space is fitting; Kentucky playwright Marsha …

PLAYERS BY THE SEA THEATRE REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM in Jacksonville Beach Florida opened its first show of 2017 with “,” a musical which will be on their main stage through February 25th. Call (904) 249-0289 or visit playersbythesea.org for reservations. “City of Angels,” with book by and music by opened on Broadway in 1989, ran for 879 performances, and received 11 Tony nominations, winning Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book. London productions also garnered awards. But the only production locally was in 1993 at Theatre Jacksonville. So why hasn’t it been …

Phase Eight Theatre Company Review A Dual Critics Review by Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom , Jacksonville’s newest theatre company, launched its 2017-2018 season with Arthur Miller’s 1947 Tony Award winning “.” The production, at Riverside’s on Oak Street, had a three performance run during February 2 – 6, 2017. This moving theatrical classic traces the downfall of two Midwestern families four years after the end of World War II. The fathers, Joe Keller and Steve Deever, were neighbors and business partners who thrived during the war while manufacturing parts for military planes. When the war effort intensified, production quotas …

A BOOK REVIEW BY THE DUAL CRITICS, DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM Jacksonville’s is celebrating an anniversary throughout 2017: fifty years of presenting outstanding on-stage entertainment. As part of the celebration, the theatre commissioned the preparation of “Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 50 Years of Memories,” a commemorative book designed to capture and share the history, events and memories of the last five decades. The first edition of the book, written by and edited by , was published in December, 2016; we noticed a number of copies being purchased by patrons at the theatre’s 2016 New Year’s Eve Celebration. As theatre …

ALHAMBRA THEATRE AND DINING REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM Jacksonville’s continues its 50th year celebration by bringing back country music singer , one of the most popular artists to ever grace the Alhambra stage. She is appearing in “,” her trademark production, and is once again playing to sold-out crowds. If you want to participate in a lively walk with Patsy, we suggest calling 904-642-1212 for reservations. The show runs through February 19th, 2017 at 12000 Beach Boulevard. When the Alhambra first booked Gail Bliss some twenty years ago, she was a relatively unknown …

A LIMELIGHT THEATRE REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM St. Augustine’s opened “,” its first show of 2017 on the Matuza Main Stage on January 27 for a run through February 19. For reservations and additional information, call 904-825-1164 or visit limelight-theatre.org. Director , who is currently the Drama Instructor at St. Augustine High School, is making his Limelight debut with the show. While this classic play by , a Norwegian playwright, was written in 1890, Limelight’s version is a recent adaptation by Mark O’Rowe, an Irish playwright, and is a first for this area. …

A JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY/FLAGLER COLLEGE THEATRE REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM This past weekend and members of collaborated to present a four-performance run during January 19 – 22 of “,” a rock musical by and . The musical, which opened on Broadway in 2006, won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical; a 2015 revival gathered three Tony nominations. The only previous showing in this area that we know about was six years ago as part of the . The musical is based on an 1891 play by German playwright , the story is that of …

ATLANTIC BEACH EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre,, opened its first production of 2017 with “,” a spectacular musical which will remain on stage through February 5th. For reservations, visit www.abettheatre.com or call 904-249-7177. “Celebration” is unique: a musical fable unlike any you have previously seen in a theatre. You probably do know the composers: (words) and (music) are famous for their 1960 hit “The Fantasticks,” which ran Off-Broadway for 42 years, with 17,182 performances. The original production closed in 2002; a 2006 revival is still running Off-Broadway. In …

THEATRE JACKSONVILLE REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES The beloved and opened its first play of 2017 with an exciting and daring production of the Tony Award winning “”. It will be on stage at 2032 San Marco Ave in Jacksonville through January 29th. Call 396-4425 for ticket information. The story of is a well known children’s classic by that debuted as a play in 1904 on the London stage. It was published as a novel in 1911 and many adaptations have followed including multiple films, television productions and plays, notably an animated 1953 Disney film and a …

  PLAYERS BY THE SEA THEATRE REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM Jacksonville Beach’s opened its first play of 2017 with Sarah Ruhl’s “.” It will run through January 21 in the Grace Darling Studio Theatre at 106 6th Street North. For reservations call (904) 249-0289 or visit playersbythesea.org. The original Greek myth dates back for centuries, and has been retold many times in story, song, and film. Orpheus, a supremely gifted musician who charms both men and beasts with his lyre, falls in love with and marries Eurydice, a beautiful wood nymph. She dies …