Bill Ratliff – Folio 2.0 / EU Jacksonville

The Immigrant: An Upbeat, Limited-Set Story at Players by the Sea’s Studio Theatre

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom January 20, 2020 Dual Critics, Events, Jacksonville Beach, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Jacksonville Beaches is always coming up with new ideas. Last year, they created a “Second Season” to expand their offerings. The plays, most with limited sets and costuming, are staged in the Studio Theatre, which has about eighty seats. The first play of this venture was “Memories of Ruby Mae” in September, 2019. Players did not sell tickets for the play but did accept donations. This year they staged “The Immigrant,” during January 9 – 11. “The Immigrant” was written in 1985 by multi-talented Mark Harelik, an American television, film, and stage actor, and playwright. The play …

Theatre Jacksonville Launches its 100th Season with "Twelve Angry Men", Photo by Maya Adkins

Theatre Jacksonville Launches its 100th Season with a Great Cast in “Twelve Angry Men”

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom September 16, 2019 Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, San Marco, Theatre, Theatre Reviews

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW: TWELVE ANGRY MEN AT THEATRE JACKSONVILLE Theatre Jacksonville launched its 100th Season on September 13, 2019 with a winner when they chose Twelve Angry Men for their annual Classic in San Marco series. The production runs through September 29, 2019; the program provides extensive background information. is located at 2032 San Marco Boulevard, in Jacksonville, Florida. Visit theatrejax.com for additional information or call 904-396-4425 for reservations. Note: Mark your calendar now: The 100th Season Celebration is scheduled for March 22, 2020. Details will be provided at a later date. This courtroom drama by Reginald Rose began as a …

Theatre Jacksonville’s 98th Volunteer Awards

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom July 27, 2018 Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Performing Arts Venues, San Marco, Theatre

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom, Dual Critics of EU Jacksonville On Sunday July 22, 2018, Theatre Jacksonville held its annual celebration honoring volunteers from the 2017 –2018 season. The theatre combines the annual awards ceremony with its membership meeting. This year, the celebration was held at the theatre. Board President, , began by summarizing the past season and its accomplishments. He enthusiastically announced that TJ has once again finished in the black, thanks to the many individuals and groups who have generously contributed funds. Contributors included local foundations and non-profit organizations, businesses, and city and state organizations. New members of …

Mamma Mia, Theatre Jacksonville, Events, Concerts, Theatre, Art, Happenings, Restaurants & All Things Jacksonville, Florida. EU Jacksonville Newspaper serves more than a million readers across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, including St. Augustine, Orange Park, The Beaches, and Fernandina. Founded in 1978, our printed newsprint magazine and editorial news platform grants readers 24/7 online access to current events and happenings in their beloved River City on the First Coast of Florida. #eujax

DUAL CRITICS REVIEW: Mamma Mia! at Theatre Jacksonville

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom June 11, 2018 Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, San Marco, Theatre, Theatre Reviews

The phenomenal musical “Mamma Mia!” danced its way onto Theatre Jacksonville’s stage on Friday, June 8th, 2018, where it will remain until the final performance — a matinee — on Sunday, June 24th. Call 904-396-4425 or visit theatrejax.com for reservations. The production is being sponsored by Industry West, a home furnishings company featuring modern design, with a newly opened store in San Marco Square. We describe “” as phenomenal for three reasons. First, the production is a jukebox musical which debuted in 1999 and was built around the songs of ABBA, a Swedish pop group which was immensely popular in …

MAN OF LA MANCHA: Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre Review

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom March 11, 2018 Atlantic Beach, Dual Critics, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews

ABET opened “Man of La Mancha,” winner of five Tony Awards, on March 9, 2018, which will remain on stage though March 25. The musical was written by Dale Wasserman, with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. For reservations call (904) 249-7177 or visit abettheatre.com. Two separate sets of people are reading this review. The first set includes all those who have never seen the 1965 musical, which ran for over 2,300 performances after making its way to Broadway. You need to know a bit about the plot. The musical is based on a novel by Miguel …

Family, Gender Identity, and Power: “HIR” at the 5 & Dime Theatre

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom December 4, 2017 Downtown, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Theatre, Theatre Reviews

A DUAL CRITICS 5 & DIME THEATRE REVIEW Jacksonville’s opened its production of “HIR” on December 1, 2017; it will remain on stage through December 17. This provocative and sometimes hilarious comedy/drama explores domestic issues of family, gender identity, and power. Advisory, R-rated for language and sexual situations. Sitting in your seat before the action begins, you will be viewing an interior that includes a living room and kitchen, and looks like it was inspired by an episode from TV’s “Hoarders.” Piles of dirty clothes fill the length of the stage, and old soda cans lie on the floor. There …

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

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 …

PLAYERS BY THE SEA PELICAN AWARDS 2016

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom August 24, 2016 Dual Critics, Feature, Jacksonville Beach, On Stage, Theatre

BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] held its annual on Sunday, August 20, 2016 at its theatre at 106 North Sixth Street, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The name for the awards was chosen many years ago, back when the theatre was located just one block from the ocean, where pelicans were frequent visitors. Players moved into its current expanded home in 1999 and has been ever-changing; delighting theatre-goers with facility upgrades year after year. Look for even more changes in the future, as the entrance will soon have a garden and palm trees. The Pelicans are Players’ version of …

“ALL THE WAY” politics revealed

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom April 25, 2016 Dual Critics, Feature, Jacksonville Beach, On Stage, Theatre, Theatre Reviews

PLAYERS BY THE SEA THEATRE REVIEW DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] Politics seems to be on every American’s mind at this time, with news about the presidential race filling television screens and newspapers throughout the country. The timing of the opening at Players by the Sea of “All the Way,” Robert Shenkkan’s award-winning political drama, could not have been more opportune. The play, which portrays the extraordinary efforts of President Lyndon Johnson to get the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, is informative, exciting, and inspiring. This must-see show opened on April 22, 2016, and will run through May …

powerful and creative: ‘THE WHALE’

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom November 16, 2015 Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Theatre, Theatre Reviews

The opened Samuel ’s overwhelming play “The Whale” on November 13, 2015. Performances are staged at , located in Jacksonville, Florida in the Riverside neighborhood, and will continue through November 22, 2015. Tickets are available on-line or at the door; for additional information and reservations visit www.the5anddime.org. “” has a provocative script with powerful and creative performances in all five roles. The play is set in present time in a seedy low-rent apartment occupied by Charlie, an intelligent guy with a master’s degree who teaches writing to students over the internet. Charlie never leaves home; he wouldn’t even be …