On Stage

by DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM St. Augustine’s Limelight Theatre has opened Maxwell Anderson’s THE BAD SEED. It will be on stage in the Koger-Gamache Black Box Theatre until November 24 at 11 Old Mission Street. Call 904-825-1164 or visit www.limelight-theatre.org for reservations. In 1958 in the musical “Gigi,” French singer Maurice Chevalier’s song “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” became a hit, with lyrics that included “. . . Those little eyes so helpless and appealing, One day will flash and send you crashing through the ceiling.” Mr. Chevalier obviously never met the seemingly sweet, charming and well mannered eight-year-old …

by DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM Stanton Prep presented the Christopher Segel stage version of “The Mouse That Roared,” October 31 – November 2, 2013 on campus in the Stanton Auditorium. The play was adapted from the 1954 book by Leonard Wibberley, but if you know anything about the mouse, it is probably because of the 1959 black and white movie of the same name starring comedian Peter Sellers in multiple roles. The film has found a home on cable television, where it can be viewed from time to time. The play has not been produced often, probably because it …

by DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM The College of Fine Arts Division of Theatre and Dance at Jacksonville University opened a two-weekend run of EURYDICE by playwright Sarah Ruhl. The play continues at Swisher Theatre on the campus of JU on November 1, 2 at 7:30 PM, with a final performance on Sunday November 3, at 3:00 PM. For tickets, call 256-7677, for further information about the play or upcoming performances, see arts.ju.edu. Sarah Ruhl has taken the classic Greek myth of Orpheus and looked at it through the eyes of his wife, Eurydice. The original emphasized the life of …

by DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM Theatre Jacksonville and the Florida East Coast Railway presents the Florida premiere of “Lombardi,” on stage at 2032 San Marco Boulevard through November 9. For reservations call 396-4425. This play about football legend Vince Lombardi should be of special interest to theatre goers in the Jacksonville and North Florida area, since we are the home of the National Football League’s Jaguars. Lombardi is considered one of the greatest coaches of the game, leading the Green Bay Packers to five League championships and the first two Super Bowl championships. Playwright Eric Simonson based the drama …

by DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM ABET has opened a delightful comedy/drama LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE. The play is about memories of the past that are recalled as nine women remember the clothing they wore at significant points in their lives. It will be on stage at 716 Ocean Blvd in Atlantic Beach, Florida until November 9. Call (904) 249-7177 for reservations and information or visit www.abettheatre.com. Author Ilene Beckerman wrote an autobiographical illustrated book of the same name. The book explored humorous and stressful times in the author’s life, and related memories of the clothing she wore …

by DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM Jacksonville’s Alhambra Theatre & Dining has become a tropical island until December 1, as the classic and acclaimed musical “South Pacific” has arrived. Call 641-1212 for reservations. When “South Pacific” debuted in 1949, it was a groundbreaking musical. It preceded the Civil Rights movement and boldly portrayed how damaging and painful racism could be. The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is known for its memorable songs. They include the romantic “Some Enchanted Evening,” the mysterious “Bali Ha’i,” the humorous ” I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” the rousing “Honey Bun,” and the …

by DICK KEREKES Players by the Sea opened the controversial dramedy, “Quills” in their Studio Theatre at 106 Sixth Street North, in Jacksonville Beach. This show will run through November 2nd. Call 249-0289 for information and reservations. This play is based on a true story about the life of Marquis de Sade. Playwright Doug Wright has taken some drama liberties in putting this into a play but the essential startling facts are as history has recorded them. The plot follows the last years of de Sade’s life which he spends in an insane asylum as a punishment for this pornographic/erotic …

by DICK KEREKES In any critics life there are red letter nights. The production of “ELEGIES”, presented October 17-19 at Pangea Live was one of those.This is an after the fact review, not by choice, but since 5 & Dime is a nomadic group with no permanent theatre home, they cannot always obtain a location for 2 or 3 weekends. This play written in l989 by Bill Russell was inspired by the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and confronts the ever present epidemic of HIV/AIDS head on. As an audience we met 31 people who have died from HIV/AIDS who …

MAMMA MIA! announces casting for the upcoming 2013-2014 tour, which returns to Jacksonville’s Times-Union Center’s Moran Theater October 18-19, 2013 for three performances only! Leading the cast of 30 of MAMMA MIA! is Georgia Kate Haege as “Donna Sheridan,” the independent single mother whose carefree past catches up with her on the eve of her daughter’s wedding. Bride-to-be “Sophie Sheridan” is played by Chelsea Williams; her fiancé “Sky” is played by Chris Stevens. Gabrielle Mirabella and Carly Sakolove play Donna’s best friends and former back-up band, “Tanya” and “Rosie,” (respectively) who reunite with their best friend on the island for …

by DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM Great songs and fine singing were the name of the game on October 11,12,13, at Terry Concert Hall on the campus of Jacksonville University. The musical theatre department presented Walter Bobbie’s A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING, a musical revue featuring thirty-four songs by the legendary team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. This musical debuted in New York in 1993 and was nominated for two Tonys, for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. The show contains songs from several of the greatest hits in musical theatre, including “The King and I,” “Cinderella,” “South Pacific,” …