Great seats - great shows - great 2017/2018 Times Union Theatre season

The FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by Vystar Credit Union, is thrilled to announce the 2017-18 Broadway in Jacksonville season, filled with award-winning blockbusters and family favorites. Next season’s lineup will feature Broadway in Jacksonville’s debut of Tony and Grammy Award®-winning BEAUTIFUL– The Carole King Musical along with the Tony Award®-winning audience favorites Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Disney’s THE LION KING, and CHICAGO. All performances will be at the Times-Union Center.

“I am pleased to announce our 2017-18 Broadway in Jacksonville Season – our 52nd year of presenting outstanding entertainment on the First Coast,” said Dr. Milt Russos, executive director of the FSCJ Artist Series. “It will be a season of Tony Award®-winning blockbusters with three productions currently on Broadway.”

He further stated, “Disney’s The Lion King is an amazing and stunning show that the entire family will enjoy.  I am very enthusiastic about Beautiful, The Carol King Musical. It is well written and provides so much insight into one of America’s songwriting icons. The Sound of Music is breaking records on its national tour and Chicago, continues to entertain audiences worldwide.”

Four-Show Broadway Subscription:
The Sound Of Music      October 31-November 5, 2017
Disney’s THE LION KING    January 31- February 11, 2018
BEAUTIFUL–The Carole King Musical   April 10-15, 2018
CHICAGO                May 17-20, 2018

The Sound of Music - The beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony®, Grammy® and Academy Award®-winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss” and the title song, “The Sound of Music.”

Disney’s THE LION KING - More than 90 million people around the world have experienced the phenomenon of Disney’s THE LION KING, and now you can, too. Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this landmark musical event brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway.  Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals.  THE LION KING also features some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.  There is simply nothing else like THE LION KING.

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King’ s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

Chicago is the longest running American musical and shows no sign of ever slowing down! Chicago is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording. Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.  The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the “celebrity criminal.” Chicago is produced by the Tony Award producing team Barry and Fran Weissler with a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Season tickets to the FSCJ Artist Series’ 2017-18 Broadway in Jacksonville Season, sponsored by Vystar Credit Union, are on sale now with four-show package prices starting at just $152. Season ticket prices vary depending on the show time, day of the week and seating location.  A renewal brochure and invoice has been mailed to current FSCJ Artist Series subscribers and should arrive within the week.

Current subscribers can renew online with no seat changes at www.fscjartistseries.org, or by calling (904) 442-2929 or (888) 860-BWAY, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Current subscribers may also mail their invoices to the FSCJ Artist Series Box Office, 501 W. State Street, #109, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Upon renewing, current subscribers have the opportunity to request changes to their seating location. In addition, current subscribers who renew before May 8, 2017 will be rewarded for their loyalty and continued support with an additional savings of $10 off per season ticket subscription they renew.

New subscribers can order their season tickets to reserve their seat now for all four shows long before single tickets are available to the public. New subscriptions may be ordered online at fscjartistseries.org, or over the phone by calling (904) 442-2929 or (888) 860-BWAY, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Subscriber benefits include: guaranteed package pricing, access to the best seats in the house, priority access to purchase additional tickets for friends and family, seat locations, exchange privileges, free lost ticket replacement, access to other FSCJ Artist Series events- many at a discount.

VIP Seating is available to contributors to the FSCJ Artist Series at five levels: Angel, Producer, Benefactor, Patron and Donor.  Donor contributions start for as little as $150. Call (904) 442-2929 or visit fscjartistseries.org to learn more about the additional benefits available through the VIP Theater Club.

Groups of 10 or more are eligible to a discount on tickets to most shows.  To receive the best pricing, reserve your group tickets before June 7, 2017.  Groups may begin placing reservation requests at this time by calling (904) 442-2947 or emailing groupsales@fscjartistseries.org.

Performances for the FSCJ Artist Series’ 2017-18 Broadway in Jacksonville Season are Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. CHICAGO will have an alternate performance schedule beginning Thursday through Sunday for six performances. Tuesday and Wednesday evening subscribers will be given the opportunity to choose to attend any performance of CHICAGO at no additional cost.  Although we will make every effort to secure comparable seating for these subscribers, seating will be subject to availability and comparable seating cannot be guaranteed.

Camp Broadway® prepares for 2017 artistic students this Summer

Camp Broadway®, presented by the FSCJ Artist Series, returns to Jacksonville for its 17th year from Monday, June 12 – Friday, June 16, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the FSCJ Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts on Florida State College at Jacksonville’s South Campus.  Applications are still being accepted for Camp Broadway®, and tuition is $575 per camper.  Spaces are limited and Camp Broadway® fills up quickly, so register your camper today!  Visit CampBroadwayJax, contact Amanda Faye at (904) 442-2932, or email for more details.

Camp Broadway® introduces young people to the world of life on-stage and behind the scenes. Campers work with Broadway directors, choreographers, and musical directors to receive training in acting, scene study, improvisation, music theory, solo and ensemble singing, movement, and dance. This five-day performing arts program offers each camper the opportunity to expand his or her creative talents, build self-esteem, learn the art of collaboration, and gain a fuller respect and understanding of musical theatre.

Camp Broadway® has been proclaimed the “Camp of Dreams” for starry-eyed kids who are just beginning to dream of being on Broadway.  It is a self-contained summer workshop that travels around the country bringing Broadway to kids.  The 40 hours of camp include singing, dancing and master classes for kids ages 10 to 17.  No singing, dancing or acting experience necessary - just a willingness to have fun and a curiosity about what happens on stage and behind the curtain.

With authentic Broadway instructors teaching dance routines and musical numbers at the same break-neck speed as a real Broadway show, Camp Broadway® is a fun-filled week of activities designed to teach kids about the serious business of live theater.  One activity is our annual Salute to Singin' and Dancin' Kids™ (a special luncheon where campers meet and hear about the various theater jobs from real theater professionals).  This year, campers will perform either “Peter Pan” or “Shrek” depending on their age group.  The performance will take place on Friday, June 16, 2017 from 4-6 p.m. at the conclusion of camp.

This year, campers have the option to receive an exclusive offer of two half priced tickets to RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA (the 2013 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical, will play the Times-Union Center for a limited engagement from June 13-18, 2017) with their camp registration.  Restrictions apply.  *Valid on Tuesday night performance only.  Offer is buy two tickets at half price each.  Facility fee and service charges not discounted. Offer valid until 3 p.m. on June 13, 2017. Must be registered for Camp Broadway and paid in full.  Call the box office at (904)442-2929.  Limited to two half price tickets per camper.  Offer may be withdrawn at any time and not valid on previously purchased tickets.  With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA combines the story's classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists.

Dawn Wells stars in 'Steel Magnolias' at the Alhambra in JAX

In 1974 Dawn Wells (Mary Ann of Gilligan’s Island) last appeared at the Alhambra Theatre playing the lead in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park.  Ticket started at $7.50, the Alhambra Dinner Theater served a buffet and she was directed by George Ballis.  More than 30 years later, as part of its “50 Years of Memories” celebration, Ms. Wells will once again star at the Alhambra.  This time Tod Booth will be directing “Steel Magnolias” and Wells will be playing Ousier Boudreaux.

Wells, of course, gained notoriety in the late 1960’s classic television show, Gilligan’s Island.  She played the girl-next-door, Mary Ann Summers.  While forever etched in television folklore, Gilligan’s Island only ran for three seasons.  Meanwhile, in addition to acting, Wells is a producer, author, spokesperson, journalist, motivational speaker, teacher, and Chairwoman of the Terry Lee Wells Foundation - focusing on underprivileged women and children in Northern Nevada.  She has also served on the alumnae board of Stephens College and is co-founder of the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald Tennessee. A fourth generation of Reno, Nevada, Miss Wells represented Nevada in the Miss America Pageant of 1959.

About the show: The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done.  Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle, the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser; an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby, is about to marry a "good ole boy."  Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life.  The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strengths gives the play and its characters, a special quality of love, feisty women and sisterhood comradery.

“Steel Magnolias”
DATES: May 24 — June 25, 2017
SHOW TIMES: Evening shows Tuesday through Sunday start at 7:50 p.m.  Doors open at 5:50 p.m., and dinner begins at 6 p.m.  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 May 25, 2017) attire is “Dressy/Formal/Black Tie”.  All other shows could be “Business Casual” or “Sunday Best”.  To see the menu, Click HERE.
TICKETS: Prices range from $38 – $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

Cinderella will be finding her Prince Charming in JAX

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, the 2013 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of The King & I and The Sound of Music, will play the Times-Union Center for a limited engagement.  With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA combines the story's classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists.

More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting.  She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn't let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness.  She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place.  She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too.

CINDERELLA has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and original book by Oscar Hammerstein II.  Originally directed by Mark Brokaw, the tour is directed by Gina Rattan and choreographed by Josh Rhodes.  Music adaptation and arrangements are by David Chase and music supervision is by Valerie Gebert. Orchestrations are by Bill Elliott and are adapted from the original Broadway orchestrations by Danny Troob.  CINDERELLA was written for television debuting in 1957 starring Julie Andrews.  In 2013, the show made its long-overdue Broadway debut.

The CINDERELLA tour is produced by Work Light Productions. CINDERELLA was produced on Broadway by Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman, Stephen Kocis, Edward Walson, Venetian Glass Productions, The Araca Group, Luigi Caiola & Rose Caiola, Roy Furman, Walt Grossman, Peter May/Sanford Robertson, Glass Slipper Productions LLC/Eric Schmidt, Ted Liebowitz/James Spry, Blanket Fort Productions and in association with Center Theatre Group.  For more information visit Facebook & Twitter: @CinderellaBway.

 “Cinderella”
DATES:         TIMES:
Tues., June 13, 2017    7:30 p.m.
Wed., June 14      7:30 p.m.
Thurs., June 15     7:30 p.m.
Fri., June 16       8 p.m.
Sat., June 17      2 & 8 p.m.
Sun., June 18      1:30 & 7p.m.

LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
Moran Theater
300 West Water St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202