Tag Archives: Joe Kemper

A  Dual Critics Review Douglas Anderson School of the Arts presented four performances of “My Fair Lady,” one of the best known and most beloved musicals of all time, during November 14 – 18, 2018. The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1965, won six Tony Awards, which included the Best Musical award. The wonderful classic music and songs were likely unknown to most of the DASOTA students, as the last time it was produced on a local stage was almost ten years ago. The story is based on George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion” (written in 1912), with book and lyrics …

Theatre Jacksonville began the 2018-19 season with the staging of Joseph Kesselring’s “” as the selection for its annual Classic in San Marco series (September 14 —30, 2018). Good reviews followed the play’s debut in 1941 and it has remained popular. It is one of the best dark comedies of all time; a comedy filled with hilarious frenzied activity, and the funniest play we have seen this year. As we waited for the opening scene, we were impressed by the interior of the Brooklyn mansion created by Tim Watson, the theatre’s Scenic, Lighting and Technical Director. The setting, which portrays …

Over the years, Jacksonville Beach’s Players by the Sea community theatre has presented a number of outstanding summer musicals. This year’s selection, staged during July 20 – August 12, 2018 is noteworthy in many ways. In 2008, “” was nominated for 13 Tony awards and won 4, including Best Musical and Best Original Score; in 2009, it was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Award for drama. The play presents a slice of life story in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. The community is ethnically diverse, with Hispanics being the largest group. The music and lyrics were …

Interview with Director Joe Kemper Before Hamilton lifted Lin Manuel Miranda to new heights, the Tony Award-winning playwright and cultural phenomenon made his mark with a spirited musical In the Heights honoring the memories of growing up in Washington Heights and traditions of his Puerto Rican heritage. closes out its 2017-18 season with the musical In the Heights Aug. 20 at Players by the Sea in . The production runs through Aug. 12. Set in the largely Hispanic New York neighborhood, the show is narrated by Usnavi, owner of the local bodega who longs to return to his native Dominican …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Theatre Jacksonville traditionally opens each new season with the production of a theatrical classic, and has launched the 2017 – 2018 season with an outstanding production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It will be on stage until the first of October. Call 904-396-4425 or visit theatrejax.com for reservations and additional information. For this production, has prepared a program which includes biographies of the cast and crew, and an extensive study guide with information about the author, the story, and the performance history of the play. We suggest checking out the guide before the curtain to enhance …

5 & DIME THEATRE COMPANY DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Jacksonville’s 5 & Dime Theatre opened the Florida premiere of African-American playwright ’s thought provoking drama “The Call” on August 11, 2017. The production will be on stage at their downtown theater at 112 Adams Street through August 27th. For reservations and additional information, visit www.the5anddime.org. During this first season in their new home, has staged an impressive program of new works seen for the first time in this city. The schedule for the rest of the year with “Evil Dead, The Musical” (October 13-28) and “HIR” (December 1-17), promises more of …

THEATRE JACKSONVILLE REVIEW DICK KEREKES & LEISLA SANSOM [email protected] and the presented the first production of 2016 with the North Florida premier of the 2005 Tony Award Winning musical “.” Set in Florence, Italy in 1953, it is the first bilingual Broadway musical. Some of the songs are sung in Italian and a bit of the dialogue is also in that language. The story is based on a short novel by , which was adapted as a musical by (music and lyrics) with a book by playwright , whose previous works include “Prelude to a Kiss” and “Reckless.” A 1962 …

LIMELIGHT THEATRE REVIEW St. Augustine’s opened the hilarious comedy/farce “” in the Koger-Gamache Studio Theatre on August 7, 2015. It will be on stage until August 30. Show times are at 7:30 pm Thursday-Saturday, with a 2:00 pm matinee on Sunday. This funny funny show was written by in 1982, his first play of many comedies with absurdist themes. Durang is back in vogue at age 66; his 2013 play “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” was awarded the Tony for Best Play and has been staged throughout the country during the past two years. A simple plot summary …

St.Augustine’s opened that wonderful family musical, “” on June 5, 2015; it will run through July 5, 2015 on the Matuza Main Stage. The theatre is located in downtown at 11 Old Mission Avenue, and has ample free parking available for patrons. Tickets are selling fast; call 904-825-1164 or visit limelight-theatre.org for reservations and additional information. The musical, with music and lyrics by collaborator , is on everybody’s list of top musicals. The play opened on Broadway in 1964, and was awarded ten Tonys. This classic musical is a joyride through the glory days of early New York and it …