Tag Archives: Rodney Holmes

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

“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 …

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 …

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 …