It’s been said time and time again that children and animals will steal and
upstage a show; well, the musical “Annie” at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining is no
exception. Filled with familiar music
and dance numbers from the original production, Tod Booth* has created fun
loving entertainment with the assistance of set designer Ian Black and the
choreography from Shain Stoff* and Brian Beach*. The show times have been adapted for the many
younger and mature audience attendees who come to see Annie, and the show is so
entertaining that everyone is thoroughly captivated.
Annie is a delightful Summer family show for the entire family. Young Jena Simmons was in the character of (Annie),
on Gala Night. The ingénue actress
belted out each and every song with zeal and gusto. You would be able to hear her clearly without
the assistance of microphones.
 |
| Lisa Valdini with Sandy |
She just appeared as (M’Lynn) in “Steel Magnolias”, the last show at the
Alhambra, and gave a stellar performance; yet Lisa Valdini*, the mean cantankerous
(Miss Hannigan) in Annie, sang, danced and had the crowd in stitches all night
long. Take a look at the photo and see
her and the well-behaved dog (Sandy).
You’ll love the way Lisa twists her posterior to the tune of “Easy Street”.
Another little actress who will steal your heart is seven-year-old novice
artist Lucy Feagins (Molly - Orphan).
This little lady will be headed for great things if she chooses to go further
in her acting career. She blossoms
during the Orphan songs “Maybe,” “Hard Knock Life” and “Fully Dressed”.
You may remember him in “9 to 5 the Musical” and “The Addams Family”,
nonetheless, Mark Poppleton portrays a wonderful (Daddy Warbucks) in “Annie”;
and Jennifer Medure is a compliment to him starring as (Grace Farrell). Her daughter Grace Medure is one of the
Orphans (Tessie) who grace the stage for the first time with her mom.
Chef DeJuan Roy was on target with his scrumptious meal. The Strawberry Bisque is cool and refreshing
and the Summer Fruit Salad is very tasty with Roy’s house made Honey Yogurt
Vinaigrette. This writer chose the
Chicken Veronique which was breaded and pan fried to perfection. The sides complimented the second course with
a delectable sauce.
You are invited to revisit memories of Annie from 1988 and 2009 with your purchase of the Alhambra’s 50th
Anniversary Commemorative Book that you can obtain online
or when you visit the theater.
“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
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
