David Girard – Folio 2.0 / EU Jacksonville

Socially Relevant Drama “Sweat” Depicts American Working Life at The 5 & Dime Theatre

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom August 9, 2019 Downtown, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, The Elbow, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 362

A DUAL CRITICS THEATRE REVIEW The 5 & Dime, Jacksonville’s theatre company, , which will remain on stage through August 18, 2019. The production was made possible by the financial support of . The play, written by Lynn Nottage, debuted at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015, was awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and opened on Broadway in 2017, where it received three Tony nominations, which included Best Play. The story is that of factory workers facing unforeseen and unimaginable changes in what Nottage has described as the American de-industrial revolution. The script is based on two years …

A Cautionary Tale: 5 & Dime A Theatre Company Presents Pulitzer Prize-Winning Drama ‘Sweat’

Liza Mitchell August 2, 2019 Downtown, Feature, Neighborhoods, On Stage, The Elbow, Theatre 742

5 & Dime A Theatre Company is taking a step away from the “living room” plays into the dingy pall of a blue-collar Pennsylvania bar with Sweat, the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Lynn Nottage. Sweat explores the complex ecosystem of a factory town collapsing under its own weight. Poverty isn’t entertaining but it makes for compelling theatre when it’s dissected down to the bone. , a founding member of 5 & Dime, is thrilled to present this stark portrayal in its Northeast Florida premiere. “It is definitely a very serious, important story. It will definitely make people think. It’s …

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 …

Jacksonville’s Answer To Saturday Night Live: Awkward Silence Comedy Troupe

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom September 30, 2017 Comedy, Downtown, Dual Critics, Feature, Neighborhoods, On Stage, The Elbow, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 1,639

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Jacksonville’s answer to Saturday Night Live is Awkward Silence Jax, a comedy troupe that presented a new show called “Everything’s Fine” during September 22-23, 2017. Both performances played to a sold-out house at . The was founded in 2014 by JU graduate who had been very active in local theatre during his student days. After graduation, he traveled to Chicago’s Second City to study improvisation techniques, and after returning to Jacksonville has shared his knowledge with very talented local performers. The program listed twenty sketches covering a wide assortment of topics. While several of the titles …

Fine Acting in 5 & Dime’s “Topdog/Underdog”

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom June 26, 2017 Downtown, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 1,819

Jacksonville’s 5 & Dime Theatre opened Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize winning drama “Topdog/Underdog” on June 19, 2017. The production will remain on stage through July 2 at their theatre, which is downtown at 112 East Adams Street. This show has two characters, African-American brothers Lincoln and Booth. Their names were reportedly bestowed by their thoughtless and negligent father as a joke. Booth is portrayed with convincing assurance by , a Douglas Anderson School of the Arts graduate who is now attending St. Augustine’s Flagler College as a theatre major. His Booth is uneducated, unemployed, and rash; a womanizer whose ambition …

From Screen To Stage “FENCES” at PBTS

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom March 21, 2017 Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 932

PLAYERS BY THE SEA THEATRE REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM Jacksonville Beach’s and sponsors Scott and Nancy McLucas opened “,” by (1945-2005) on March 17, 2017. The play, which received the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for drama, along with a Tony for best play, will remain onstage in the Grace Darling Studio Theatre through April 1. We suggest that readers who want to see the production — which is one of this year’s most outstanding plays — make reservations immediately. The studio theatre has limited seating, and we’re predicting a sold-out house for almost all …

“RED, WHITE AND SCREWED” – AWKWARD SILENCE

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom July 19, 2016 Atlantic Beach, Comedy, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 648

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW by DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] Awkward Silence JAX, a sketch comedy troupe founded in 2014, presented its latest Jacksonville performance during July 16-17, 2016 at to sold out audiences. They have previously performed in a number of shows in Northeast Florida, and branched out with an appearance at the 2015 Orlando Fringe Festival. For , they presented twenty-five skits of varied lengths on varied subjects; many were focused on political topics and seemed ripped directly from current news headlines. Of course, , Republican presumptive presidential nominee, received much of the attention (presumptive, as we …

“ALL THE WAY” politics revealed

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom April 25, 2016 Dual Critics, Feature, Jacksonville Beach, On Stage, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 664

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 …

a Vote For Laughter ‘ “MEIN TRUMP”

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom September 28, 2015 Atlantic Beach, Comedy, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 733

MEIN TRUMP AWKWARD SILENCE JAX COMEDY TROUPE REVIEW DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSON [email protected] a comedy troupe based in Jacksonville, Florida, presented a two-performance show at on September 25, 26, 2015. The Dual Critics reviewed the troupe’s initial stage appearance last year, in November, 2014, at . After that successful and very funny production, they applied to the Orlando Fringe Festival and were awarded a performance spot. Their appearance was well received, they learned a lot about preparation and promotion, and hope to return this year, so they can bring share their talents with a wider audience. As you can …

High Wattage Cast In AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom June 10, 2015 Dual Critics, Feature, Jacksonville Beach, On Stage, Theatre, Theatre Reviews 782

in Jacksonville Beach opened “,” on June 5, 2015, for a three-weekend run through June 20. The play, which had over 600 Broadway performances, has received wide critical acclaim and garnered multiple Tony Awards, while playwright Tracy Letts was awarded the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for drama. is no stranger to North Florida audiences. Players has staged two of his plays, “” and “,” in past seasons; both were excellent and well-received by audiences. Like many playwrights, Letts uses personal experiences for his work. If you read the Dramaturg notes in the program, you will learn, that yes, Mr. Letts had …