Tag Archives: Jeremy Ferri

"In the Heights" by Jacksonville University’s Department of Theatre is a Dancing Delight

“In the Heights” by Jacksonville University’s Department of Theatre is a Dancing Delight

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Jacksonville University’s Department of Theatre has staged three performances of “In The Heights” at the during January 17 -19, 2020. The musical was a blockbuster, with book by Quiara Alegria Hudes and music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. A Broadway opening in March 2008 garnered a Pulitzer prize nomination for Drama, thirteen Tony nominations and four awards: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography, Best Orchestration. And as you probably know, Miranda didn’t stop there – he wrote and starred in “Hamilton,” which was nominated for sixteen Tonys in 2016, won eleven awards, and received the …

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Romeo and Juliet: An Immersive Experience with Jacksonville University’s Theatre Program

Romeo and Juliet: An Immersive Experience with Jacksonville University’s Theatre Program

Jacksonville University’s Theatre Program presented “Romeo and Juliet,” William Shakespeare’s masterpiece, during October 1 – November 3, 2019. The tragedy of the star-crossed lovers was staged in the Swisher Theatre and directed by Deborah Jordon. Scholars think The Bard wrote the play around 1594; a printed edition was released in 1597. And while we don’t know the date or location of the play’s debut, we do know that Renaissance plays were longer than those of today; productions could easily extend to three or four hours. From the director’s perspective, some editing was needed. She shortened the stage time to two …

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High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience with the Newsies, The Musical by Disney, Newsies, FSCJ Summer Theatre

High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience with the Newsies, The Musical by Disney

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW The and the are presenting the 14th annual with the staging of Disney’s Newsies during July 19 – 28, 2019. This wonderful summer program was created by , Director of the Wilson Center and Managing Producer of the Summer Musical. The center is located at 11901 Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida.  Newsies began as a musical film in 1992, was adapted for the stage in 2011, and debuted on Broadway in 2012, winning Tonys for Best Original Score and Best Choreography. The extravaganza is filled with energetic singing and dancing combined with history.  The story is based …

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'Young Frankenstein' FSCJ Summer Musical

‘Young Frankenstein’ FSCJ Summer Musical Theatre Review

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW The FSCJ Artist Series and the Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts debuted the thirteenth annual High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience (SMTE) on July 20th, 2018 with “,” Mel Brooks’ zany musical, which runs through July 29th. The musical is based Brooks’ 1974 black and white comedy-horror film by the same name. The film became and remains a cult passion; DVDs are available in public libraries and on-line, and it’s screened on television from time to time. Brooks wrote the lyrics and music for all but one of the songs in the adaptation (“Puttin’ …

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“Bye Bye Birdie” a rollicking stroll through the 1950’s

Take a rollicking stroll through the late 1950’s at ’s production of . The American classic is in good hands with director , who’s worked with OPCT since 2001. The original Broadway play is quite different from the beloved 1963 film adaptation starring Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke. Both stories are based on Elvis’s 1957 army draft and the chaos that ensued among crazed teenaged girls of the time. The musical opens in the offices of the Almaelou record company. Agent Albert Peterson, played by , is distraught. He’s entered the office only to find that his company’s biggest star, …

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“Hairspray” is loaded with great voices and zany characters

THEATRE JACKSONVILLE REVIEW and present the blockbuster musical “” on stage at 2032 San Marco Avenue in Jacksonville, Florida during June 12-27, 2015. For reservations, call 904-396-4425 or visit theatrejax.com. The musical, which is based on a 1988 film, debuted on Broadway in August, 2002 and was a big hit from the beginning, with audiences at 99% capacity for the first year. The story is based on events related to Baltimore’s real life “Buddy Dean Show,” a popular televised teen dance show that was on the air from 1957 to 1964. The play received eight Tonys, and had a six-year …

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The Pirates of Penzance – OP Community Theatre review

OPTC opened its final show of the season with a bit of theatrical magic, an absolutely and incredibly charming revival of the  operetta “”. This show is over one hundred years old, but has retained its charm and popularity, as evidenced by the enthusiastic audience, who responded with repeated and prolonged applause and laughter throughout the show. It is not to be missed. The story revolves around Frederic (played with great comic flair and a wonderful voice by ) who is leaving the group of sentimental and lovable pirates since his apprenticeship is over.  plays Ruth, his nanny; she is …

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