On Stage

  Theatre critics throughout the United States gathered in the friendly city of for their annual conference during April 6 – 10, 2016. This was a return visit for and the Dual Critics of Jacksonville’s Entertaining U, as Philadelphia was the site of a prior conference in 1999. With this year’s enthusiastic group, we attended productions at several of Philadelphia’s fabulous professional theatres, participated in workshops, and discussed the role and challenges of modern theatrical criticism in today’s world with producers and other theatre professionals. Our opening reception was held at the Arden Theatre, now in its 29th season. We …

Despite her penchant for observational comedy, doesn’t move through the world mining for jokes. Life generously delivers truckloads of material that often manifests in lightning-quick, brain-to-mouth moments of comedy gold. “ I just think of stuff and say it. Sometimes stuff I think of that I think is funny, I say it on stage and the audience disagrees,” says Poundstone. “It happens less often the more years that I do it because I don’t care what profession you’re in. There’s always something to be said for experience. But I don’t really analyze it very much. I just like things that …

It creates a unique experience for an actor when art and life collide on stage. While playing the legendary , navigated the real life events of the Motown icon while the flesh and blood subject observed himself through Nager’s interpretation. Nager is Robinson in . Staged April 19-24 at the , Motown tells the true story of Motown founder and his journey from the boxing ring to the music industry. Gordy launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, and more while breaking down barriers. The production features classic songs such as ‘My Girl’ and ‘Ain’t No Mountain …

,  makes its Jacksonville debut Tuesday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. for one performance only . The off-Broadway show is at the intimate Terry Theater in the Times Union Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the show are on sale now at fscjartistseries.org or by calling (904) 442-2929. The New York Times called this musical comedy review “hilarious.” praised the show, which was inspired by the website OldJewsTellingJokes.com.  The website, created by , brought together comedians age 60 and older to relate hilarious jokes from the history of Jewish comedy.  Some of the narrative jokes became sketches dealing with adversity through …

ALHAMBRA THEATRE AND DINING REVIEW DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] The Alhambra Theatre opened William F. Brown’s retelling of ’s 1900 children’s novel, “” on March 23, 2016. The story is one that most children have grown up with, having read the book, and/or seen the film or stage musical. “The Wiz” is a super soul musical from an African-American perspective. “,” a winner of seven Tony Awards including one for the best musical, had an interesting beginning, as it was almost the Wiz that never was. The musical with book by and music and lyrics by opened in …

NORTHEAST FLORIDA CONSERVATORY REVIEW DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] Rodgers & Hammerstein’s landmark musical, “” is on stage at , 11363 San Jose Boulevard, Building 200 in Jacksonville. The production opened on March 11, 2016, followed by three additional performances during the opening weekend. Future scheduled performances include March 18 at 8:00 pm, March 19 at 2:00 and 8:00 pm, and March 20 at 2:00 pm. For information and reservations, call 904-374-8639 or visit nfconservatory.org “Oklahoma” has been on stage in Jacksonville many times since its debut in 1943 but there have been no productions in recent years that we …

A new voice academy with an emphasis on building confidence as well as vocal technique is opening a second location in Ponte Vedra Beach. The Lisa Kelly Voice Academy is owned and operated by Irish singing sensation and former Celtic Woman, Lisa Kelly. Kelly co-owns the academy with her husband and former Celtic Woman CEO Scott Porter. They opened the first location in Peachtree City, Ga. in January 2013 and she says Ponte Vedra Beach was the perfect fit for their second location. “Since the very beginning of my career I have always had a passion for teaching and sharing …

ATLANTIC EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE REVIEW DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] ABET opened the North Florida Premier of the hilarious comedy “” on March 11, 2016. It will be on stage through March 26 in Atlantic Beach. The wild and crazy duo of the Tuna franchise was created by , , and . They first launched “” in 1981, followed by “” in 1989 and “” in 1998. “Tuna Does Vegas” premiered in 2007 and it has finally made it to Jacksonville. Readers may be familiar with the other “Tunas,” but it has been a few years since one was done …

PLAYERS BY THE SEA THEATRE REVIEW DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] Jacksonville Beaches’ opened a three-week run of John Cariani’s quirky and whimsical play “Almost, Maine” in its Studio Theatre on March 11, 2016. “” was a play that almost wasn’t at all successful. It opened Off-Broadway in 2006, and had a brief run. A very brief run; it closed a month later after poor ticket sales. But after this unpromising beginning, other theatres discovered that the script, filled with both funny and tender romantic moments, has many desirable features. Set requirements are minimal, and casting is expansible; roles …