‘AFTHOTWTTF’ hits Players By The Sea with a jolt

Slap-Stick comedy comes to Players By The Sea with its latest rendition of the Tony Award winning Broadway hit, “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum”.  You still have an opportunity to experience this fast-paced comedy.  I wouldn’t wait too long if I were you.  This writer almost didn’t get a seat during the second week, but we were able to acquire one.  Don’t procrastinate!  Order your tickets today.

It’s not just a musical or a regular play, but AFTHOTWTTF reminds you more of the antics from watching TV shows like: The 3 Stooges, Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy or Monty Python.  This JAX Beaches cast has resurrected this presentation through the costumes, vocals, periodic set designs, choreography, and a fantastic six-piece band (Alexander Hernandez, Woodwinds; Andrew Phoenix, Drums & Keyboard II; Carson Smisek, Trumpet; Erin Barnes, Keyboard I; Kimberly Zielinski, Violin and Sean Tillis on Bass).

Hats off to the entire cast of this production including: Pseudolus – Al Emerick; Hero – Billy Speed; Philia – Julie Harrington; Hysterium – Paepaeala Pimienta; Senex – Allen LaMontagne; Domina – Amy Allen Farmer; Marcus Lycus – Christopher Humphries; Miles Gloriosus – Jimmy Alexander; Erronius – Jim Warren; Gymnasia – Chelsea Black; The Geminae – Shauna Clark and Anna Fleece; Vibrata – Kimberly Cooper York; Tintinabula – Amanda Jackson; Panacea – Charity Zappone & The Proteans – Jake McGraw, Chinua Richardson, and Kris Stam.  We in the audience, expected Jim Warren to make it around the block “one more time”.

About the production: “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum” is a hilarious Tony-winning musical and a non-stop laugh-fest.. The show takes us back to Ancient Rome for a unique and unforgettable production.  Pseudolus is the laziest slave in Rome, and has one wish, to purchase his freedom.  When his master and mistress leave for the day, he finds out that the young master has fallen in love with a virgin in the house of Marcus Lycus, a slave dealer specializing in beautiful women.  Pseudolus concocts a deal in which he will be freed if he can procure the girl for young Hero.  Of course, it can't be that simple as everything begins to go wrong. — John Vogel
Come early or stay late and see the meaningful art work of 15 Arabic Women.  The display will be in the lobby gallery from Jan. 24th - Feb. 15, 2020. (See two selections in the photo above).

“A Funny Thing Happened
ººOn the Way to the Forum”

DATES:     TIMES
Thurs., Feb. 6   8 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 7    8 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 8    8 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 9    2 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 13   8 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 14    8 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 15    8 p.m.

TICKETS: Tickets are on sale now at playersbythesea.org or by calling the Box Office at 904.249.0289. General admission is $28 per ticket and Senior/Student/Military tickets are available for $25. Thursday Nights are Student Nights at PBTS with $14 tickets for students with a valid student I.D. at the door.  Group rates are available for parties larger than 15 people.

LOCATION: Players By The Sea Theatre
      106 6th Street North
      Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
      (904) 249-0289

‘A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum’ showing up at PBTS

Players by the Sea’s first classic musical comedy of the New Year opens very soon!  “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum” has been called “Broadway’s greatest musical farce.” It’s a timeless comedy that dates back to its Broadway premiere in 1967. But the cast and creative team working on the production here at Players will stun you with their fresh talent and take on the classic.

The cast consists of 18 actors, spanning from teenagers to seniors. Some of them have studied theatre professionally and others just participate because they love being on stage.  The cast is ready to present their exceptional comedic talents with you!  Here’s who you can expect on stage for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: {Pseudolus) – Al Emerick; (Hero) – Billy Speed; (Philia) – Julie Harrington; (Hysterium) – Paepaeala Pimienta; (Senex) – Allen LaMontagne; (Domina) – Amy Allen Farmer; (Marcus Lycus) – Christopher Humphries; (Miles Gloriosus) – Jimmy Alexander; (Erronius) – Jim Warren; (Gymnasia) – Chelsea Black; (The Geminae) – Shauna Clark and Anna Fleece; (Vibrata) – Kimberly Cooper York; (Tintinabula) – Amanda Jackson; (Panacea) – Charity Zappone & (The Proteans) – Jake McGraw, (Chinua) Richardson, and Kris Stam.

Al Emerick who plays Pseudolous says, “There’s a real diverse split between ages and experience but everyone is in this thing together and has been since the start.  Forum takes us back to Ancient Rome for a unique and unforgettable production.  Pseudolus, a devious slave, makes a deal to win his freedom by playing matchmaker for his lovesick master, Hero. Rife with pompous generals, domineering parents, and wiley courtesans, this hilarious Tony-winning musical is a non-stop laugh-fest with “something for everyone!”

Billy Speed, Jacksonville native, plays Hero.  He went to school for Music Theatre at Oklahoma City University, the same school that musical sensations Kristin Chenoweth and Kelli O’Hara graduated from.  But the ensemble also has teachers, a retired engineer, a dentist and high school students who help to complete the cast.  Despite different walks of life, each cast member has been able to come together through the production process, and bond over their love for the theatre.

“A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum” takes us back to Ancient Rome for a unique and unforgettable production. Pseudolus, a devious slave, makes a deal to win his freedom by playing matchmaker for his lovesick master, Hero.  Rife with pompous generals, domineering parents, and wiley courtesans, this hilarious Tony-winning musical is a non-stop laugh-fest with “something for everyone!”  Emerick says, “You should buy tickets to this show because you will have the opportunity to walk away in tears from laughter and your face will hurt from the smiles.”

“A Funny Thing Happened
ººOn the Way to the Forum”

DATES:     TIMES
Fri. Jan. 24, 2020  8 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 25      8 p.m.
Thurs., Jan. 30   8 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 31    8 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 1    8 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 2    2 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 6   8 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 7    8 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 8    8 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 9    2 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 13   8 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 14    8 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 15    8 p.m.

TICKETS: Tickets are on sale now at playersbythesea.org or by calling the Box Office at 904.249.0289. General admission is $28 per ticket and Senior/Student/Military tickets are available for $25. Thursday Nights are Student Nights at PBTS with $14 tickets for students with a valid student I.D. at the door.  Group rates are available for parties larger than 15 people. (PBTS will have a special celebration for the 24th so get your tickets now to experience the magic of Opening Night at the theatre!)

LOCATION: Players By The Sea Theatre
      106 6th Street North
      Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
      (904) 249-0289