Tag Archives: Celia Frank

The newly rebranded All Beaches Experimental Theatre launches its 27th season tomorrow at its new Neptune Beach home with the musical “James and the Giant Peach.” The show runs through Sept 30 (www.abettheatre.com). Director says the family-friendly musical based on the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl was the perfect choice to christen ABET’s new stage. “I think the story really resonates because it talks about finding your family and finding your home,” he says. “And that’s really what ABET is doing right now. It’s finding its place and finding its home, so I think this story works well right …

A DUAL CRITICS ATLANTIC BEACH EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE REVIEW ABET opened a two-week run (Oct 17 – Nov 5, 2017) – of “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel (1936 –2003). The play received the Obie Award and the Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play in 1970, followed by the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1971. The story is that of a dysfunctional family and is semi-autobiographical, as Zindel incorporates material drawn from his difficult teen years with an impoverished single mother, and his career as a chemistry teacher prior to his later success as a …

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 …

ATLANTIC BEACH EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW by DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM The Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre has opened a terrific Southern comedy at 716 Ocean Boulevard in Atlantic Beach Florida. “” opened on May 5 and will run through May 21, 2017. Call 249-7177 or visit abettheatre.com for additional information and reservations. “The Hallelujah Girls,” written by the team of Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jaime Wooten, is the funniest play we have seen so far this year. The playwrights (sometimes known collectively as Jones Hope Wooten) have written numerous successful comedies; several have made their …

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, …

  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 …

ATLANTIC BEACH EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE REVIEW A BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre () presented a special staged reading of the thought-provoking “” during August 12 – 14, 2016. The production wasn’t part of ABET’s regular season, but was a welcomed addition to our local theatre offerings. ABET’s staging was the Florida premier of the drama, by , which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2001. The playwright’s inspiration was based on memories of his grandmother’s struggles with illness in her later years. The play is set in New York City, in Greenwich …

BLACK PEARL SINGS Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre Review opened “,” a unique drama/comedy filled with songs, on November 30, 2015, which will continue through November 15 at their Atlantic Beach Theatre. For additional information and reservations, call 904-249-7177 or visit abettheatre.com. The are always thrilled to review a play which is not only great entertainment but is educational as well. We had seen this play in 2009 while on a weeklong trip to Sarasota, Florida; we saw several plays during this time, and considered “Black Pearl Sings” the best. The play takes the audience back to Depression era of the …