Alhambra Theatre 50th anniversary party kicks-off

It’s going to be a BIG celebration coming to the Alhambra Theatre & Dining this month and there are a few tickets still available so you can be there to party with the best-of-the-best.  The Alhambra Theatre & Dining stands proudly as one of just a handful or remaining dinner theaters dotting North America.  After half a century, the Alhambra is as vibrant as ever with new owners, led by Managing Partner, Craig Smith, are excited to announce its culminating event, the “50th Birthday Bash”, set for Monday, December 11 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Alhambra Theatre.

In the summer of 1967, a press photo was taken of a single table on an empty lot on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida, an unlikely spot 50 years ago for a theater that would become an icon in the Jacksonville cultural landscape and within the national theater scene.  Set for two, that single table was covered by an elegant lace cloth, and adorned with matching napkins, silverware, stylish china plates and coffee cups and tall crystal glasses. In the middle of the small table stood an equally elegant candelabra holding five candles. What better way for the young gentlemen sitting there, Ted Johnson and George Ballis, to demonstrate their vision of the future.  Just a few months later, in December of 1967, the Alhambra opened its doors to the public as a place where guests came for a “night on the town,” adorned in gowns, tuxedoes and their best shoes.

Expected to be on-hand will be the Current and Former Owners; Jacksonville’s Mayor Lenny Curry; members of Jacksonville’s City Council including: Al Ferraro, Scott Wilson, Reggie Gaffney, Danny Becton and Jim Love; State Representative Tracie Davis; US Senator Bill Nelson; Matthew Davis of Senator Marco Rubio’s office, Alhambra’s Legacy Servers, long-standing season subscribers and some special guests who have milestones that began in 1967 (such as first dates or engagements), and other VIP’s.

Opened in 1967 as The Alhambra Dinner Theater, this establishment is the longest-running dinner theater in the country.  The Alhambra has hosted legends such as: Tony Curtis, Claude Aiken, Sid Cesar and Cesar Romero, and, recently the likes of Loretta Swit, Barry Williams, Morgan Fairchild, Dawn Wells, Jamie Farr, Sally Struthers, Joyce DeWitt, Michael Learned, Barbara Eden, Lisa Whelchel and Mike Farrell.  The Alhambra was the place of Betty Grable’s final acting role, and is featured in her biography.  The Alhambra is also home to former Miss America, Orange Park (FL) native Leanza Cornett, who started at the Alhambra when she was only 15 years old.


Managing Partner, Craig Smith

In November 2009 the Alhambra was purchased by Theatre Partners, LLC; headed by Jacksonville’s AlhaManmbra entrepreneur, Craig Smith, as a way to give back to Jacksonville and preserve what he believes is one of its cultural jewels.   Craig is quoted as saying, “For fifty years The Alhambra has been a place of Broadway quality shows and fine meals, but the Alhambra really is more of a place where people make memories.  This theater is where we go to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries; it is where people came for the prom; it is the place of first dates and marriage proposals.  Recently, the Alhambra has even been a place where people get married.”

Today, the Alhambra boasts a run-rate of 80-90% capacity, including several completely sold out shows in recent years (including Alhambra After Dark shows) with the help from its Season Partners subscriber base of nearly 5,000.  The theater also employs more than 70 full-time staff, and donates tens of thousands of dollars and tickets annually to area charities.

“Our job isn’t just to sell seats to a great show, it’s to be part of this community and supportive of things that are meaningful to our guests,” said Smith.  “We can only take credit for putting a good product together.  I give all the credit to the Jacksonville community for rallying around this old girl and putting her back on the map.  It’s a journey that isn’t finished, but we’re off to a good start…that’s more than 50 years in the making.”  He added, “To me, when I walk through this theater, I can almost hear the voices of the memories.  Some say The Alhambra is haunted and those are the voices of the ghosts, but I say she just shares a lot of stories - and a lot of joy!”

“50th Anniversary Party”
DATE: December 11, 2017
EVENING ITINERARY:
5:30 Reception in the Garden, celebrating original fountain
6:15 Seating for dinner, a culinary journey created by Executive Chef DeJuan Roy
7:00 Master of Ceremonies, Las Vegas’ Andy DiMino as Dean Martin introduces JAX’s original Elvis impersonator.
8:30 Formal presentations including Mayoral Proclamation by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry; presentation to the founding and current owners as well as a celebration of 50 years of Memories.
***Note: Proclamation could be held at 7:00 pending schedule.
8:45 Presentation of the birthday cake, a replica of the Alhambra building
9:00 Dancing to the big band sounds of The Chris Thomas Band

DRESS: “Dressy/Formal/Black Tie” or Semi-Formal

TICKETS: $129 and includes pre-event reception, dinner, dancing, take home gifts.
    **Price does NOT include gratuity, professional photos, or orders from the bar**

LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
       12000 Beach Blvd.
       Jacksonville, Florida 32246
       (904) 641-1212

'Come Blow Your Horn' starring the Booth family at the Alhambra

Remember to purchase your 50th Anniversary Book

If there is a “leading family” of Jacksonville theater, it may very well be the Booth family.  Marking their first time ever on stage together, Tod Booth, Lisa Valdini Booth and Jessica Booth will team up for the Alhambra’s production of the Neil Simon comedy, “Come Blow Your Horn”.  This was the first show ever performed at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining when it opened in 1967 so its reprisal is a fitting title with which to open the Alhambra’s 50th anniversary.  A limited run of only three weeks, tickets will be offered at a 50th anniversary price, just $50 for two seats.

Tod Booth was, of course, the most recent prior owner of the Alhambra, the nation’s longest-running professional dinner theater.  Mr. Booth has directed nearly every show at the Alhambra for the past 20-plus years and is currently the Creative Director for the theater.  During his early tenure, Booth starred in many shows, but has not taken the Alhambra stage since his 2012 role in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.  Lisa Valdini Booth has taken the Alhambra stage on many occasions, starring in countless roles.  She has also been the advertising “the voice” of Winn-Dixie supermarkets and runs the Alhambra’s summer theater camps.  Their daughter, Jessica Booth, now a University of Central Florida graduate working on Broadway, started her acting career at the Alhambra at nine years old.  She, too, has been in countless Alhambra shows, including: Shrek the Musical and Cinderella.  But this is the first time the three of them have acted together at the Alhambra (or anywhere), making it a historic evening and another page for the Alhambra’s scrap book.

If you’ve ever wanted to see what the Alhambra Theater & Dining was/and is all about, you now have the opportunity to see pictures, read stories and browse beyond the iconic walls of this historic dinner theatre.  The colorful “Alhambra Theatre and Dining, 50 Years of Memories” hardback coffee table book, will be a wonderful addition to any home and is available for $39.99, when you attend this performance.

“Come Blow Your Horn”
DATES: January 4 – 20, 2017

PLEASE NOTE NEW SHOW TIMES: Evening shows Tuesday through Sunday start at 7:50 p.m.  Doors open at 5:50 p.m., and dinner will be served until 7:20 p.m.  Saturday Matinees begin at 1:15 p.m.  Doors open at 11 a.m. and the brunch ends at 12:45 a.m.  Sunday Matinees are at 1:50 p.m.  Doors open at 11:50 a.m. and the meal service ends at 1:20 p.m.

DRESS: “Gala Night” (Friday Jan. 6, 2017) attire is “Dressy / Formal”.  All other shows could be “Business Casual” or “Sunday Best”.  To see the menu, click HERE.

TICKETS: Regular tickets $35 each; or get “Celebration Tickets” for $50 per couple.  Ticket prices include: a plated dinner served to your table, an incredible show and prime parking.  Group sales of 20 + are available upon request.  Price does NOT include gratuity or orders from the bar.

LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
       12000 Beach Blvd.
       Jacksonville, Florida 32246
       (904) 641-1212

Alhambra 50-year commemorative book available

Charles Day

If you’ve ever wanted to see what the Alhambra Theater & Dining was/and is all about, you now have the opportunity to see pictures, read stories and browse beyond the iconic walls of this historic dinner theatre.  Just in time for the Christmas holidays, this colorful “Alhambra Theatre and Dining, 50 Years of Memories” hardback coffee table book, will be a wonderful addition to any home.

Ted Johnson and Craig Smith

On Tuesday December 13, 2016, writer/author Charles Day was on hand, at the Alhambra, to autograph copies of his commemorative book.  It was truly amazing how people would come up and ask him if he recalled a moment in time, when that particular person made history doing something funny or was one of the original servers at the establishment.  Charles knew exactly where in the book, that the incident had been recorded, and he was able to point each story out to those random individuals.

Chef DeJuan Roy and Tod Booth

The next person who was there for the celebration was founder and visionary - Ted Johnson.  In late July of 1967, Mr. Johnson shared his insight with partner, George Ballis.  It took the two men only 152 days to bring their dream into fruition.  Johnson is such a go-getter that he decided to go skydiving to celebrate his 80th birthday over an October 2015 weekend.

Ms. "V and her book

Also present was another owner/actor and current producer/director - Tod Booth.  Tod has overseen the growth of the theater and remains devoted to the Alhambra.  Booth’s ultimate dream was to establish a new Alhambra that could seat 600 persons in the dining and banquet facility.  He has overseen many famous actors/actresses and developed many newcomers to the art of theatre.  Tod even found his bride, Lisa Valdini, who continues to grace the stage in some presentations.

It wouldn’t be a Dinner Theater without an Executive Chef and in 2011, Chef DeJuan Roy brought delectable dishes, service delivered to your table, and meals that never need any additional condiments.  He added gluten-free selections to every show, as he expounded on each show’s theme.  Gone is the cafeteria, self-serve style,  as elegance and variety has been added.

Tod, Ms. "V" and Craig

Current Managing Partner/Owner, who took over in 2009, is now the backbone of the Alhambra Theater and Dining.  He had first gone to the Alhambra as a teenager, an occasion worthy of family photographs (still made available for your memorable pleasure) that become keepsakes.  That’s how big a deal that a night at the theater use to be, and Smith wanted it to be a big deal again; and it truly is a big deal today.

Last, but not least is the many people who make things happen behind the scenes.  When you get the book, you’ll be reminded that it takes a village to make a prosperous dinner theater.  So many beautiful pictures, so many stories and so much history, you’ll be drawn into the pages of this memorable escapade from fifty years and the journey continues.