The Alhambra Theatre & Dining will open its run of Neil Simon's Tony Award winning play, “Brighton Beach Memoirs”. From 1965 to 1980, Simon's plays and musicals racked up more than 9,000 Broadway performances, a record not even remotely touched by any other playwright of the era - and set even before the opening of his semi-autobiographical "Eugene Trilogy," of which Brighton Beach Memoirs is the first installment. In 1966 alone, he had four Broadway shows running simultaneously.
ABOUT THE SHOW: “Brighton Beach Memoirs” is the first in a trilogy of semi-autobiographical plays that depict a portrait of the writer as a young teen in 1937 living with his family in a crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up. These comedy-dramas - "Brighton Beach Memoirs” (1983), "Biloxi Blues” (1985) and "Broadway Bound” (1986) - were admired for the way they explored the tangle of love, anger and desperation that bound together - and drove apart - a Jewish working-class family, as viewed from the perspective of the youngest son, a restless wisecracker with an eye on showbiz fame. Eugene Jerome, standing in for the author, is the narrator and central character.
Dreaming of baseball and girls, Eugene must cope with the mundane existence of his family life in Brooklyn: formidable mother, overworked father, and his worldly older brother Stanley. Throw into the mix his widowed Aunt Blanche, her two young (but rapidly aging) daughters and you have a recipe for hilarity, served up Simon-style. This bittersweet memoir evocatively captures the life of a struggling Jewish household where, as his father states “if you didn't have a problem, you wouldn't be living here.”
The production is being presented by Rosenblum's; an iconic men's clothing retail store opened 126 years ago by the current owners' great grandfather. Said co-owner, Bob Rosenblum, “Our business has supported the cultural arts in Jacksonville for as long as we can remember, and we have wanted to partner with the Alhambra for a while. This show about a Jewish family overcoming its trials and tribulations, and riding with them on part of their journey, struck an obvious chord with us as the right show at the right time.” Added Richard Rosenblum, co-owner in the Rosenblum's, “Every family has a story to tell. Ours is not exactly this story, but the underlying themes hold true regardless of where you come from - that family, as irascible as they can sometimes be, is always the most important thing in life.”
“Brighton Beach Memoirs” had a pre-Broadway engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles on December 10, 1982, and following an additional pre-Broadway engagement at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, the play premiered on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on March 27, 1983 and transferred to the 46th Street Theatre, where it closed on May 11, 1986 after 1,299 performances and 7 previews. Matthew Broderick won a Tony Award for his performance in the play's first run.
ALL ABOUT THE MENU:
First Course (Choice of One) Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup, OR Home Run Salad with chopped romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, boiled eggs, green onions, green peppers, carrots, raisins, sliced almonds, Green Goddess dressing *GF*.
Second Course (Choice of One)Pierogi Shepherd’s Pie with ground beef and mixed vegetables and rich gravy, fluffy potatoes and cheese pierogies, OR Seafood Newburg with rice and asparagus, OR Chicken & Waffles - with cardamom syrup and strawberry butter; *GF* Option: Baked Chicken with natural au jus, potatoes, asparagus. OR Falafel with chopped salad and pilaf.
Third Course (Choice of One) Lemon Chiffon Cake OR Boston Cream Pie.
“Brighton Beach Memoirs”
DATES: September 18, 2019 through October 13, 2019
SHOW TIMES: Evening shows Tuesday through Friday start at 7:50 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner is served until 7:30 p.m. Saturday Matinees begin at 1:15 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the brunch served until 12:30 p.m. Sunday Matinees are at 1:50 p.m. Doors open at 12 p.m. and the meal is server until 1:50 p.m.
DRESS: “Gala Night” (Friday September 20, 2019) attire is “Dressy/Formal/Black Tie”, or Under the Sea. All other shows could be “Business Casual”, or “Sunday Best”. There is always complimentary Champagne and Hors d'oeuvres served in the lobby before dinner, on Gala evening and special pastries served after the show.
TICKETS: Prices range from $38 – $66. Ticket prices include: a plated three-course meal that changes for each show, and is served directly to your table; a Broadway-style performance and complimentary parking. Tickets may be purchases on line, or by calling (904) 641-1212.
**Prices do NOT include gratuity, professional photos, or orders from the bar**
LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
12000 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville, Florida 32246
(904) 641-1212
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