Wednesday, October 10, 2018

‘1776’ Broadway Musical coming to the Alhambra in JAX


It's the summer of 1776, and the nation is ready to declare independence... if only our founding fathers can agree to do it!  1776”, presented by Fleet Landing, follows John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia as they attempt to convince the members of the Second Continental Congress to vote for independence from the shackles of the British monarchy by signing the Declaration of Independence.

This 1776 will open at Jacksonville’s iconic Alhambra Theatre & Dining (winner of “Best Dinner Theatre” for the 5th straight year) on October 17.  1776” puts a human face on the pages of history as the audiance sees the men behind the national icons: proud, frightened, uncertain, irritable, charming, often petty and ultimately noble figures.  These men are determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation.

Starring in the lead as John Adams is
Kevin Anderson.  
Kevin has starred in over 30 film and television productions and over 30 stage productions worldwide from Steppenwolf (35-year ensemble member) to Broadway, Off-Broadway, Dublin, and London’s West End.  He has been nominated for a Tony Award, (Death of A Salesman), Outer Critics Circle Award (Come Back Little Sheba), Golden Globe, Viewers for Quality Television, TV Critics Association Awards (Nothing Sacred), and has won Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards (Death of A Salesman), and Theatre World and Jefferson Awards (Orphans).  Some of his most memorable performances include: Orphans (with Albert Finney), Sleeping with the Enemy (with Julia Roberts) Sunset Boulevard (with Patti Lupone), RFK in Hoffa (with Jack Nicholson), and Biff in Death of a Salesman.  He is perhaps best known for his performance as Father Ray in ABC’s Nothing Sacred.

About the Menu:
Executive Chef Dejuan Roy will be cooking up a culinary experience fitting of Jacksonville’s iconic dinner theater, the longest-running such theater in America.  First Course (choice of one): Sweet potato soup *GF* (Contains Peanuts), or Cesar salad with cornbread croutons *GF* without croutons.  Second Course (choice of one): Slow Roasted New York Strip with au gratin potatoes, zucchini squash, carrot medley *GF; Aunt Mae’s Fried Chicken Alabama BBQ sauce, gravy, buttery white rice, lima beans; New England Broiled Cod with tomato, basil, garlic sauce, vegetable spaghetti, oven-roasted fingerling potatoes *GF*; Vegetable & White Bean Chili over brown rice.  Third Course (choice of one):
Centennial Parfait or Apple Galette with fresh whipped cream.  (Gluten-free & sugar-free desserts available upon request).

  1776

A Musical Revelution
DATES
: October 17 — November 18, 2018

FALL/WINTER SHOW TIMES: Evening shows Tuesday through Sunday start at 7:50 p.m.  Doors open at 6 p.m. (Gala Night at 5:30 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 12:50 p.m.  Sunday Matinees are at 1:50 p.m.  Doors open at 12 p.m. and the meal is server until 1:30 p.m.

DRESS: “Gala Night” (Friday October 19, 2018) attire is “Dressy/Formal/Black Tie”.  All other shows could be “Business Casual” or “Sunday Best”.

TICKETS: Prices range from $38 – $64.  Ticket prices include: a plated dinner served to your table, a Broadway-style performance and prime parking.  Group sales of 20 + are available upon request.
    **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

‘The Simon and Garfunkel Story’ comes to JAX

Now seen by over 1/4 million people worldwide, The Simon & Garfunkel Story” is coming to Jacksonville’s Times-Union Center on October 25, 2018 for one performance only.  Since its SELL OUT in London's West End, The Simon & Garfunkel Story is now the world's leading theatre show concerning the iconic duo.  The band made their mark on musical history, becoming countercultural icons during the social revolution of the 1960s with the surprise hit The Sound of Silence.  Further cementing their fame, their music can be heard throughout the 1967 movie The Graduate.  The duo would later be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story features the duo alongside a full live band and state of the art video projection and lighting.  Using photos and original film footage, this one of a kind show will feature all the duo’s hits including: 'Mrs. Robinson,' 'Cecilia,' 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' 'Homeward Bound' and many more.  More than a tribute, this theatrical concert is an evening not to be missed. Get your tickets fast!

Reviews: "Fantastic” - Elaine Paige, BBC Radio 2.
    “Authentic and Exciting” - The Stage

The Simon & Garfunkel Story

DATE: Thurs. Oct. 25, 2018
TIME: 7:30 p.m.

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

TICKETS:start at $44 plus applicable fees, and may be purchased online at FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by VyStar Credit Union (the official presenter of the Jacksonville show), at their box office, or by calling (904) 632-5000 between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.  Discounts for Groups of 10+ may be available by calling (904) 632-5050.

‘Augusta Savage Exhibit’ showing only at the Cummer Museum

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens announces its upcoming fall and spring exhibition “Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman.”  The exhibition, one of the most significant organized by the Museum in its history, will open in October for a rare double-run through April 2019. Savage is a Green Cove Springs, Florida native who became a noted Harlem Renaissance leader, educator, artist, and catalyst for change.

The exhibition assembled by the Cummer Museum from 21 national public and private lenders presents Savage’s small and medium-size sculptures in bronze and other media alongside works by artists she mentored.  Many of the works that will be on display are rarely seen publicly.  It took more than three years for guest curator and art historian, Jeffreen M. Hayes, Ph.D. to plan and assemble.  The Museum’s Savage Exhibition Planning and Community Advisory Committee includes museum trustees and notable Black leaders and artists: Carol Alexander, Dustin Harewood, Barbara Harrell, Marty Jones, Princess Simpson Rashid, James Richardson, and Adonnica Toler.

In addition to the exhibition, the Museum has created a companion catalogue that chronicles the history of this important Black artist.  Published internationally by London-based firm D Giles Limited, this hardcover book further explores Savage’s impact and legacy.  Contributors include Jeffreen M. Hayes, Ph.D., Kirsten Pai Buick, Ph.D. (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque), Bridget R. Cooks, Ph.D. (University of California, Irvine), with a foreword by Dr. Howard Dodson, Jr., Director Emeritus of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.  The book is available in October on Amazon and at the Cummer Museum Shop.

When its double-run concludes in April, “Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman” will travel nationally to the New-York Historical Society, the Palmer Museum of Art at Pennsylvania State University, and the Dixon Gallery & Gardens (Memphis).  This marks the first time a Cummer Museum-organized exhibition of this scale will travel to multiple national venues.

Savage (1892 – 1962), a female sculptor, overcame poverty, racism, and sexual discrimination to become one of this country’s most influential artists of the 20th century, playing a pivotal role in the development of some of this country’s most celebrated artists, including: William Artis, Romare Bearden, Gwendolyn Bennett, Robert Blackburn, Gwendolyn Knight, Jacob Lawrence, and Norman Lewis.

While Savage’s artistic skill was widely acclaimed nationally and internationally during her lifetime, this exhibition provides a critical examination of her artistic legacy, positioning Savage as a leading figure whose far-reaching and multifaceted approach to facilitating cultural and social change is especially relevant in terms of today’s interest in activism.

A prodigious and highly-acclaimed artist in her own right, Savage achieved excellence through talent, self-determination, and vision, ultimately creating sculptures and large-scale commissions that elevated positive images of Black culture into mainstream America.  As a leader in the Harlem Renaissance, she worked with other leaders, writers, musicians, and artists to showcase the contributions of Black culture.  She was the first Black woman to open her own gallery, challenging exclusive arts institutions to recognize the talent of Black artists.  As a community organizer and teacher, Savage’s commitment to mentorship and education became a model for other art schools run by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).  Savage is best known for “The Harp” her commissioned sculpture for the 1939 World’s Fair, and is recognized in American Black history as an educator and important community leader.

“The Cummer Museum is committed to presenting a broad calendar of temporary exhibitions with the capacity to illuminate diverse areas of art history and artistic production,” said Holly Keris, acting director of the Cummer Museum. “The Museum embraces themes and topics with strong community relevance that challenge our audience’s preconceived opinions. The Augusta Savage exhibition is a proud testament to our commitment to the community.”

The Museum seeks to connect its resources to contemporary issues, increase engagement by providing new perspectives on familiar and unfamiliar concepts, and cement the Cummer Museum as the place in Jacksonville where visitors can connect the arts to their everyday lives.

“Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman” can be viewed and enjoyed with regular Museum admission during the exhibition dates.  As always, it is free for anyone in the community on Florida Blue Free Tuesdays from 4 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday evening and again on Weaver First Saturday Free for All, held the first Saturday of each month.  A full companion program and events calendar will support the exhibit and additional community events, private tours and receptions can be booked in conjunction with the exhibit by visiting this link.

DATES: Fri., Oct. 12, 2018 to Sun., Apr. 7, 2019

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
  829 Riverside Avenue
  
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
  (904) 356-6857

  Hours of Operation & Admission