Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre – Folio 2.0 / EU Jacksonville

REVIEW: Wait Until Dark at All Beaches Experimental Theatre

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom November 6, 2018 Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 546

ABET, All Beaches Experimental Theatre, opened its second production of the season, at his new home 544 Atlantic Blvd, Neptune Beach with the classic thriller, Wait Until Dark. This play by Frederick Knott debuted in 1966 and ran for 373 performances. It had star power with Lee Remick in the lead for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Warner Bros-Seven Arts made a movie that starred Audrey Hepburn who won an Academy Award for her role. This play is an electrifying thriller about a young lady named Susy who is blind due to an auto accident. While in …

10 Reasons to Support Arts and Culture in Jacksonville

A.S. MacLeod August 14, 2018 Art News, Community, Feature, On Stage, Public Art, Urban Planning, Visual Art 362

Cultural organizations and artists are poised to assist the City as they address their social priorities, including: Public Safety, Economic Development, Neighborhood Development, Youth Engagement, and Health and Wellness. The work of cultural organizations and artists expand far beyond just our sector. We have to dismantle the misconception that arts and culture exist in a silo and instead provide examples of how art and culture are woven into the fabric of every day life. In 2017, the U.S. News and World Report noted, “Jacksonville is growing. The region witnessed an ignition of the arts and music scene, stimulating business development …

ABET Opens Final Show in Old Location: RED, WHITE AND TUNA

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom May 6, 2018 Atlantic Beach, Dual Critics, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 516

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 …

Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre, ABET, Floyd Collins

Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre Review: FLOYD COLLINS

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom September 19, 2017 Atlantic Beach, Dual Critics, Feature, History, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 217

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 …

The First 25 Years of Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre: A BOOK OF STAGES

Liza Mitchell September 2, 2017 Atlantic Beach, Feature, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre 136

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 …

ABET CELEBRATES 25 YEARS WITH “Hallelujah Girls”

Liza Mitchell May 5, 2017 Atlantic Beach, Events, Feature, On Stage, Theatre 273

The closes out its 25th season with an ensemble production celebrating the bond of friendship. Directed by ABET’s artistic director , Hallelujah Girls by , and is a southern comedy about five feisty females from Eden Falls, Georgia who come together in SPA-DEE-DAH!, an abandoned church-turned-day-spa to overcome their obstacles and launch their new, improved lives. “This season has been an important landmark season for . I’m extremely proud of the cultural enrichment we have been able to bring to the audiences over these past 25 years,” said Frank. “In planning this season, I wanted it to be varied, challenging, …

Compassionate, Intimate, and Often Funny “4000 MILES” at ABET

Liza Mitchell March 6, 2017 Atlantic Beach, Feature, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre 109

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 …

ABET’s Avant-Garde Musical Fable ”Celebration”

Liza Mitchell January 15, 2017 Atlantic Beach, On Stage, Theatre 287

Billed as an “Avant-Garde Musical Fable,” tells the story of a young Orphan who stumbles upon the home of Edgar Allen Rich, who is the wealthiest man in the world, on what is revealed to be a magical New Year’s Eve. Among the guests of Mr. Rich is the beautiful fallen Angel, who becomes the subject of a ritualistic battle for her love. Celebration runs Jan 20–Feb 5 at the . (249-7177, www.abettheatre.com) directs the ABET stage debut with musical director and choreographer . Celebration stars , , , and features Brian Keith Champion, Lucas Hopper, Matt Krieger, Kimberly Cooper …

Shakespeare’s ‘original Game of Thrones’ MACBETH

Liza Mitchell October 27, 2016 Atlantic Beach, Feature, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre 288

When casting her adaptation of Macbeth, director issued a call to arms for ‘courageous, playful, versatile actors for ‘a pared down, jacked up version of Shakespeare’s Scottish play’. Siddons selected 10 accomplished actors to bring her reimagined version of the ‘original Game of Thrones’ to the stage. This showing of marks the company’s first staging of a Shakespeare production and is also the ABET stage debut of in the title role and as Lady Macbeth. Opening Friday, Macbeth is staged through Nov. 6 at ABET, 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach (www.abettheatre.com, 249-7177). “The cast has a natural aptitude for …

DUAL CRITICS REVIEW: Merrily We Roll Along at ABET

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom September 14, 2016 Atlantic Beach, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 267

ABET THEATRE REVIEW DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] The opened the Florida premier of the musical “” on September 9, 2016. The production will be onstage through September 26. The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 1981, is based on a 1934 play by and . It hasn’t been staged frequently, probably because it is so challenging for the actors, musicians, and directors. But as far as we know, director embraces challenging works, and this play was no exception. He was ably assisted by actor/director . The book is by , while the music and …