Tag Archives: Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre (ABET)

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW  The has joined in partnership with Actors Collective, one of Jacksonville’s newest theatre groups, to present a unique theatre experience during June 29 – July 7, 2019. The full name of the production is One by Tenn Plus Eight: Short Stories for the Stage, and brings multiple theatrical stories to life. Actors Collective (www.ActorsCollective.com) was founded by , who directed the show. Of note, she spent over twenty years immersed in New York’s theatre scene in roles that included producer, director, and actor. She returned to Jacksonville several years ago and has directed a number of …

A DUAL CRITICS ABET THEATER REVIEW The opened Alice in Wonderland on May 10 at 544 Atlantic Boulevard in . The show, sponsored by The Mary E. Haverty Foundation and John and Beverly Johnson, runs through May 26, 2019. Visit abettheatre.com or call 249-7177 for additional information and reservations. The book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, was written by Charles Dodson and published in 1865 under the pen name of Lewis Carroll. The book became a publishing sensation; Queen Victoria and Oscar Wilde were avid fans. It has never been out of print, has been published in over ninety languages, and continues …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW The All Beaches Experimental Theatre is staging a play (March 17 – 31, 2019) with an unusual name which was written by Lee Blessing in 1985. “Eleemosynary” means “of or relating to charity” and is of special importance to the narrative, as that’s the word that Echo, the youngest of the characters, spells correctly to win the National Spelling Bee Competition. This thought-provoking script explores the vicissitudes of mother-daughter bonds among three generations of women. It is an intriguing study of the ties that bind mothers despite their strong personality differences. The action takes place on …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW The All Beaches Experimental Theatre (ABET) opened “The Robber Bridegroom” on January 25th, 2019. This high-spirited musical is sponsored by John Johnson and runs through February 10th. The production by is the North Florida premier. The story is based on a 1942 novella by Eudora Welty adapted from a story the Grimm brothers included in their book of European fairy tales (published 1812); she changed the setting from Germany to Mississippi. The story was rewritten as a musical in the early 1970s, with book and lyrics by Alfred Uhry and music by Robert Waldman. This  version …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW  The All Beaches Experimental Theatre (ABET) opened its Christmas show November 30th, 2018. This holiday comedy, which runs through December 16th, is sponsored by John Johnson. The theatre is located at 544 Atlantic Boulevard in Neptune Beach, Florida. Visit abettheatre.com or call 249-7177 for additional information and reservations. If comedies are your thing, then this show, written by Jones Hope Wooten is for you. Never heard of Jones Hope Wooten? The name is a collective term for playwrights  Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten, three successful television writers who joined forces, moved South, and began …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW The Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre opened the final show of its 26th season with the hilarious comedy Red, White and Tuna. The theatre will be moving soon to 500 Atlantic Boulevard in Neptune Beach to begin its 27th season (which will open with James and the Giant Peach).  And while the theatre will continue to be known as “ABET,” the official name will be changed to “All Beaches Experimental Theatre.”    A famous admonition advises “Always leave them laughing!” and The Mary E. Harvey Foundation could not have selected a better play to sponsor to delight the …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW The Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre has opened the first show of its 26th season with “Floyd Collins,” a haunting musical based on true events. The show will be on stage through September 24th at 716 Ocean Boulevard in . For reservations, call (904) 249-9177 or visit abettheatre.com. The musical, with book by Tina Laundau and music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, was directed by ; Aaron DeCicco was the musical director. The story is that of William Floyd Collins, who was a cave explorer in Central Kentucky where miles and miles of underground caverns exist within …

When Carson Merry Baillie first approached Atlantic Beach officials in 1993 about staging live theatre in the former City Hall space, it signaled the beginning of a cultural renaissance at the heart of the seaside community. In 1991, the city administrative offices moved to a new city hall on Seminole Road and the old city hall was converted into a community center and named the in honor of longtime City Clerk, Adele Grage. Various community groups and organizations used the building for meetings and social activities. The City Commission granted , aka ABET, use of the former commission chambers and …

Selected as a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in Drama,  explores the complex relationship between a grandmother and her grandson and how their individual journeys through grief and loss ultimately bring them closer together. Playwright crafted a compassionate, intimate – and often funny – play that examines the love of the family and the healing power of trust. Directed by , 4000 Miles opens Friday at the (www.abetttheatre.com). This marks Jackson’s first time directing at ABET. She previously served as assistant director for ABET’s  earlier this year and directed  and It’s Only Monday at . “I majored in Theatre …