Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
December 9, 2019
Events, Feature, Holidays, Intracoastal, On Stage, Theatre
A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW: Elf – The Musical The opened its annual Christmas holiday show with the return of “Elf – The Musical” on November 29, which remains on stage through December 24, 2019. Last year’s production of this holiday classic filled with Christmas cheer was sold out in August, and played to full houses throughout the run. Managing Partner, , decided to reschedule the play this year so theatergoers who were disappointed that they couldn’t get tickets last year could see it. The current production also sold out in August, and Craig says it’s their “fastest-selling show ever.” So …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
August 13, 2019
Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Southside, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW: MAMA MIA! AT ALHAMBRA THEATRE & DINING Jacksonville’s has opened one of the most successful jukebox musicals ever with Mama Mia! featuring over twenty songs composed by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. ABBA-SOLUTELY FABULOUS FUN awaits ticket holders! This show marks the tenth year of the venue’s purchase by Managing Partner and Partners Bill Barnett, Fraser Bruns, and E. Karl Frisch. The musical, which premiered in London in 1999, has been wildly popular, having played to a worldwide audience of sixty million theatre goers. After making it to Broadway in 2001, it remained for almost six thousand performances before …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
April 2, 2019
Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Southside, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
A DUAL CRITICS ALHAMBRA THEATRE & DINING REVIEW Jacksonville’s Alhambra Theatre & Dining opened the third show of the 2019 season with the North Florida debut of BIG, THE MUSICAL, which runs through May 5, 2019. The theater is located at 12000 Beach Boulevard. Visit alhambrajax.com or call 904-641-1212 for reservations. Many of our readers may recall the 1988 Penny Marshall movie of the same name which starred a young Tom Hanks. Both Hanks and the screenplay received Oscar nominations. A musical followed in 1996, which opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theater, received five Tony nominations, and closed …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
October 30, 2018
Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Performing Arts Venues, Southside, Theatre
New York actors aspire to win a Tony, film actors want to win an Oscar. What do Jacksonville community theatre actors covet most? A role on stage at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre. An actor may perform with every theatre group in town, doing a variety of roles but when they finally land a role at the longest-producing dinner theaters in America, Jacksonville’s , you have reached the top in this area. Why? As Jacksonville’s full time professional theatre, you know you can perform with the pros. I know this question comes to mind. You thought the Alhambra is an equity …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
September 18, 2018
Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Southside, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Jacksonville’s Alhambra Theatre revives one of the most popular shows it has ever done with the staging of “” This musical about eight Catholic school students in the 1950’s debuted in 1979 and is based on an earlier novel by John Powers; he subsequently wrote the book for the play, while James Quinn and Alaric Jans added music and lyrics. The Alhambra’s production opened on September 12 and runs through October 11, 2018. At times, we are asked if those of other faiths can enjoy this show: our response is “Yes!” and is based on the …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
August 7, 2018
Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, Southside, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
Jacksonville’s Alhambra Theatre opened “Kiss Me Kate,” a classic musical with a score filled to the brim with tuneful and thoughtfully fun songs. The production (August 1 – September 9, 2018) is staged at 12000 Beach Boulevard. Call (904) 641-1212 or visit alhambrajax.com for tickets and additional information. The musical, based on William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” features the fabulous music and lyrics of Cole Porter and is very funny. The Bard’s work was adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, who set it in Baltimore in the 1940s, where a theatre company is planning a production of …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
April 23, 2018
Downtown, Dual Critics, Feature, On Stage, The Elbow, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
Downtown Jacksonville’s The 5 & Dime Theatre went back to 1970 – almost five decades ago – to present Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Company,” which opened on April 20th, 2018. Remarkably, this Tony Award winner is just as relevant today as when it first opened on Broadway. The production runs through May 6th, 2018, with evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays, a matinee on Sunday, April 29th, and both a matinee and an evening performance on Sunday, May 6th. See their Facebook page for tickets and additional information and tickets. “Company” revolves around Bobby, a New York man-about-town who is celebrating his …
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Liza Mitchell
October 30, 2017
Feature, Jacksonville Beach, Neighborhoods, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre
“Feed Me.” With just two simple words, a villain is born. Or sprouted, in this case, under curious circumstances during a solar eclipse of the sun. With an immensely talented cast, superb direction, spot-on vocals and expert puppeteering, Players by the Sea’s staging of Little Shop of Horrors is a riotous good time that is out of this world. “Little Shop of Horrors” is staged through November 18 at PBTS, 106 6th Street N. in Jacksonville Beach (www.playersbythesea.org). This delightfully campy musical directed by Jocelyn Geronimo is based on the sci-fi Broadway play by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. It …
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Dick Kerekes & Leisla Sansom
August 1, 2017
Dual Critics, Feature, Jacksonville Beach, On Stage, The Beaches, Theatre, Theatre Reviews
PLAYERS BY THE SEA THEATRE REVIEW Jacksonville Beach’s Players by the Sea and The Lazzarra Family Foundation presented the final show of the 2016 – 2017 season with the punk rock musical “American Idiot.” The production will remain on stage through August 12, 2017. Call 249-0289 or visit playersbythesea.org for additional information and reservations. Players is celebrating its 50th year anniversary. The theatre has staged many cutting-edge musicals during past seasons, and done them well. Many readers will remember “Pippin,” “Sweeny Todd,” “Memphis,” “La Cage Aux Folles,” and “Chicago.” With “American Idiot” this community theatre continues to live up to …
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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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