‘Annie’ opens at the Alhambra with local child star in lead role

Jacksonville, Florida resident 10-year old Carly Juliana Barnes is cast as the lead in the Alhambra Theatre & Dining’s upcoming production of “Annie”.  Selected from an open casting call of more than 110 girls, Carly is one of two talented young leading ladies that perform as Annie.  She is joined by Jena Simmons of Jupiter, Florida.  A much-celebrated Broadway musical, Annie continues the Alhambra’s 50th Anniversary Season.  For the fourth consecutive season, the Alhambra’s summer family show is sponsored by Snyder Heating & Air Conditioning of JAX, FL.

This is an Alhambra debut for both actresses.  Ms. Barnes will split the role 50-50 with Jena Simmons.  Ms. Simmons credits include: Les Misérables and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr. at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.  She also appears on “Investigation Discovery” and various TV commercials for companies including: hhgregg, Chrysler, and Universal Studios.  Other than acting camp at Players by the Sea in Jacksonville Beach, Ms. Barnes is new to live theater.  She does have two short film credits, including: “Innocent Pact,” playing both twins who lost their parents at a young age, and “Starling” in which she played Lucy, a sick child living in the wilderness with her brother and friends.  Barnes attends the Discovery School in Jacksonville Beach, FL.

About the show: The girls (Jena Simmons & Carly Juliana Barnes) play an orphan in a facility run by the mean Miss Hannigan and believes her parents left her there by mistake.  When a rich man named Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks decides to let an orphan live at his home to promote his image, Annie is selected.  While Annie gets accustomed to living in Warbucks’ mansion, she still longs to meet her parents.  So Warbucks announces a search for them and a reward, which brings out many frauds – and a touching musical.  “Annie” is based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, and the musical's songs "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life" are among its most popular musical numbers.

About the menu (which also features a children’s menu): For every show, Alhambra Executive Chef DeJuan Roy creates a new menu borrowing from the show’s themes.  The menu for Annie includes: First course (choice of one) strawberry bisque with cilantro crème fraiche; or a summer fruit salad with peaches, grapes, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, sunflower seeds, honey yogurt vinaigrette.  Second course (choice of one) rigatoni and house-made giant meatball with Romano cheese; or charred Romanesco chicken Veronique with jasmine rice, broccolini, tear drop tomatoes; or pan-seared snapper with a pink grapefruit buerre blanc, risotto, sautéed spinach; or New York-style vegetable flatbread pizza with pasta salad.  the Dessert course includes: a choice of Pink Lemonade Cake or Snickers Tart with caramel, chocolate, peanuts, whipped cream.
The children’s menu includes: chicken fingers, French fries, sausage flatbread, and mixed vegetables, dessert same as the adults above.

“Annie”
DATES: June 28 — Aug. 13, 2017

SPECIAL SHOW TIMES: Please note the summer family show, “Annie”, begins twenty minutes earlier than normal show times.  Evening shows Tuesday through Sunday start at 7:30 p.m.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner begins shortly afterwards.  Saturday Matinees begin at 1:15 p.m.  Doors open at 10:50 a.m. and the brunch begins at 11 a.m.  Sunday Matinees are at 1:50 p.m.  Doors open at 11:50 a.m. and the meal is server starting 12 p.m.

DRESS: “Gala Night” (Friday June 30, 2017) attire is “Dressy/Formal/Black Tie”.  All other shows could be “Business Casual” or “Sunday Best”.

TICKETS: Prices range from $35 – $62.  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