Liza Mitchell
February 17, 2020
Community, Feature, Jacksonville Beach, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre
When the now-defunct announced it was closing its doors with an unrealized production of an all-female production of Romeo & Juliet in the works, it took the spirit of collaboration to help bring the story to life Players by the Sea partnered with , artistic director of Self Produced Theatre, Romeo & Juliet Director Amy Canning Love and Assistant Director to create a space for this groundbreaking production. Romeo & Juliet will be staged Feb. 20-23 at in (www.playersbythesea.org). “I knew the directors and the leads were passionate about the project, so I never had doubts that they were going …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
November 5, 2019
Dual Critics, Events, Feature, On Stage, San Marco, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW: Something Rotten at Theatre Jacksonville Theatre Jacksonville officially opened on November 1, 2019 with the North Florida premier of what you will find is the funniest musical ever seen on this historic stage, “Something Rotten.” At least that was our reaction which, judging from the laughter and thunderous applause we heard, was also shared by the full-house audience on opening night. “Something Rotten” remains on stage through November 17th. The book is by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell with music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick. The musical officially opened on Broadway in April, …
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Liza Mitchell
August 2, 2019
Downtown, Feature, Neighborhoods, On Stage, The Elbow, Theatre
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 …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
June 19, 2019
Downtown, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, The Elbow, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Downtown Jacksonville’s has opened Falsettos, an award-winning musical. The production opened June 14, and will remain on stage through June 30, 2019. The theatre is located at 112 East Adams Street; additional information is available on the company’s Facebook page. For reservations, call (904) 637-5100 or visit www.The5andDime.org. Falsettos opened on Broadway in 1992, was nominated for seven Tonys, and won Best Book and Best Original Score; a 2016 revival was nominated for five Tonys. The play toured throughout the county during February 2018 -June 2019. The book is by James Lapine, with music, lyrics, and book …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
January 29, 2019
Atlantic Beach, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Jacksonville Beach’s Players by the Sea opened its first production of 2019 with “The Bridges of Madison County” on January 25th, which runs through February 16th. The theatre is located at 106 6th Street North in . For reservations call 904-249-0289 or visit playersbythesea.org. The musical is based on a novella of the same name by Robert James Waller, published in 1992. Many theatre-goers will be familiar with the story. The book was on the New York Times bestseller list for over three years, has sold over sixty million copies worldwide, and a 1995 film adaptation …
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Liza Mitchell
January 24, 2019
Feature, On Stage, Theatre
When Suzanne Hudson Smith first stepped into her new role as executive director of Players by the Sea, she was adamant that despite her theatre background, she had no plans to direct a show unless it was the right piece. When a last-minute calendar change added The Bridges of Madison County to the season schedule, she knew it was the opportunity she was waiting for. “Bridges of Madison County is a very intimate story that has so many little pieces to it. It’s what theatre does, in that we are able to present a story and the last piece that’s …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
September 24, 2018
Atlantic Beach, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
We attended the festive debut of the brand new home of the at 544 Atlantic Boulevard in , Florida on Friday, September 22, 2018. The theatre was founded by a number of years ago and named the Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre; their new name reflects their more expansive audience. Their new home is located in the Neptune Beach Plaza; excellent parking and pre-show dining opportunities are within walking distance. We were greeted with smiles by ABET’s Managing Artistic Director Ceila Frank and ABET board members. The opening show for the venue and the new season is “James and the Giant …
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Liza Mitchell
September 20, 2018
Atlantic Beach, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre
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 …
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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 …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
April 26, 2017
Downtown, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, The Elbow, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
5 & DIME THEATRE REVIEW A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW BY DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM The opened its very first musical in their new location at 122 Adams Street. The company and sponsors Rob & Donna Banks opened the Florida premier of the dynamic musical “A New Brain” on April 21, on stage until May 7, 2017. We wonder if anyone has written a book about where composers and playwrights find their subjects. If yes, the story of “,” which debuted in 1998, certainly would be included in that book. When composer experienced dizziness and partial paralysis in 1992 (the …
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