Hilarious - ‘Dixie Swim Club’ at the Alhambra

If you’re not a fan of musicals, like I am, then you’re probably putting off going to see the “Dixie Swim Club”.  Don’t make the mistake of staying away.  This presentation is a hoot!  The cast is a little different from the show that the Alhambra Theatre and Dining put on back in 2013, and you will be thoroughly entertained.  This five-woman cast is so funny as they portray a story about their relationships from year to year, yet there are some moments that might make you tear up.

When Morgan Fairchild* (Lexie Richards) came out on stage, she was greeted with a round of applause, ooh’s and aah’s.  Whatever she has done with herself through the years, she needs to just keep on doing it.  She looks great and was flawless with her lines as she informs the girls of her love life.   Morgan is a true actress, who portrays a real Southern Belle, and is in Jacksonville, Florida doing many on TV interviews during the day and then appears on the Alhambra stage in the evening; and twice on the weekends.

Morgan with WJXT First Coast Connect host

Vickie Daignault* (Sheree Hollinger) shakes her groove-thing, and is a very spirited, aerobic and vocal character.  Vickie will keep the ladies’ active and entertained with her lists of things to do.  Patti Eyler* (Dinah Grayson) is the one who is an expert martini maker and excels as a professional well-to-do legal advisor, but doesn’t have a love in her live.  Talk about the funniest character in the entire play, Brooks Ann Hayes Meierdierks (Vernadette Simms) is an instigator who will keep you laughing instead of crying over her haphazard family life.  And to round out the group, veteran Alhambra star Lisa Valdini* (Jeri Neal McFeeley) who is an ex-nun who becomes pregnant, leaves the convent and marries the babies’ daddy.  She’s a little naïve, yet she always sees the positive side of things.  The lives of these five women cover many years as they return to a familiar seaside cottage around North Carolina.  You won’t want to miss the ending.
             *Denotes Actors’ Equity Association*

Chef DeJuan has done it once again.  The entire meal is reminiscent of the Southern setting and is scrumptious.  This writer and her husband enjoyed the taste of both appetizers.  The Cornmeal-Dusted Baked Flounder was flaky and flavorful.  Chef’s Dejuan’s Food Network Award-winning canned Ham was very good, but remember that it is made of canned ham and is a little salty.  As always, you never need to add any condiments to Chef’s dishes.  So put the salt shaker down!

“Dixie Swim Club”
DATES: August 16 — September 24, 2017

Evening shows Tuesday through Sunday start at 7:50 p.m.  Doors open at 5:50 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 11:50 p.m.

DRESS: All 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.
  **Prices do NOT include gratuity or orders from the bar**

LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
       12000 Beach Blvd.
       Jacksonville, Florida 32246
       (904) 641-1212

TV veteran Morgan Fairchild makes her return to the Alhambra

Morgan Fairchild made her debut at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre opposite Arte Johnson in The Seven Year Itch.  As part of its “50 Years of Memories” celebration, Ms. Fairchild returns to the Alhambra, now the Alhambra Theatre & Dining, more than 40 years later as ‘Lexie’ in “Dixie Swim Club”.  If you did or didn’t get a chance to see the cast back in 2013, then you’re in for a real treat with some of the actresses from 2013 along with a couple of new ladies.

About Morgan Fairchild: Originally from Dallas, TX, Morgan Fairchild is one of America’s best-known actresses.  Her breakout performance as Constance Weldon Carlyle in Flamingo Road (Golden Globe Best Actress nomination), was followed by Racine in Paper Dolls, Jordan Roberts in Falcon Crest and she originated the role of Jenna Wade on Dallas.  Morgan broke ground playing Sandra Bernhardt’s lesbian lover on Roseanne, and an appearance on Murphy Brown earned her an Emmy® nomination.  Fairchild also recurred on NBC’s Friends as Chandler Bing’s mother, and most recently in Days of Our Lives playing Angelica Deveraux.

Off-Broadway Morgan played Skye in Geniuses, Lina Lamont Singin’ in the Rain, Chick Boyle in Crimes of the Heart (directed by Garry Marshall) and starred in national tours of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Lorelei Lee) and The Graduate (Mrs. Robinson).  Her recent appearance at the New Theatre was as Lexie in Dixie Swim Club, where she also played Angela Forrester in Murder Among Friends.  In addition, she portrayed Baroness Hardup in the Pinto, A Cinderella Christmas at the Pasadena Playhouse.  Feature films include: The Seduction with Andrew Stephens, Holy Man with Eddie Murphy, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Walk Hard with John C. Riley, Red-Headed Stranger with Willie Nelson and Campus Man with Kim Delaney.

Let’s talk about Dixie Swim Club: Five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships.  Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other's lives.  Dixie Swim Club focuses on four of those weekends and spans a period of thirty-three years.  As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another, through advice and raucous repartee, to get through the challenges (men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce, aging) that life flings at them.  And when fate throws a wrench into one of their lives these friends, proving the enduring power of "teamwork," rally 'round their own’ with the strength and love that takes this comedy in a poignant and surprising direction.

Dixie’s menu inspired by Executive Chef DeJuan: (Choice of One for each entree)
First Course: Tomato Basil Bisque or Country Ham Salad (spring mix, tomato, balsamic drizzle, baguette *GF* without baguette).

Second Course: Prime Rib (French green beans, herb-whipped mashed potatoes, au jus, creamy horseradish *GF*), or Baked Cornmeal-dusted Flounder (lemon butter, cauliflower rice, tomato, caper relish), or Food Network Award-Winning Canned Ham (panko-crusted ham with moutarde (mustard), fingerling potatoes, mushrooms, sautéed Swiss chard, light mustard crème), or Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas (cool ranch sauce, Spanish rice).

Third Course: Coconut Cream Pie, or Warm Peach Cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream.
*Gluten-Free* and Sugar-Free desserts available upon request

“Dixie Swim Club”
DATES: August 16 — September 24, 2017

Evening shows Tuesday through Sunday start at 7:50 p.m.  Doors open at 5:50 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 11:50 p.m.

DRESS: “Gala Night” (Friday August 18, 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.
   **Prices do NOT include gratuity or orders from the bar**

LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
       12000 Beach Blvd.
       Jacksonville, Florida 32246
       (904) 641-1212

What to expect from the Alhambra Theater and Dining for 2017

2017 shows marking 50 years of success

“Looking back.  Looking Forward” is the theme for the 2017 year-long anniversary celebration at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, the nation’s longest running professional dinner theater.  The season will begin with a throw-back of sorts, a limited run of “Come Blow Your Horn”, the first show ever performed at The Alhambra it will open for three weeks starting January 4.  Making it an even more special run, “Come Blow Your Horn” will be offered at a 50th anniversary price of two seats for only $50.

The 2017 season will also feature three Alhambra actors from by-gone eras and not-so-by-gone eras.  Dawn Wells will star in Steel Magnolias.  Morgan Fairchild will star in Dixie Swim Club.  And Tony Triano will return to the Alhambra, reprising his role as Scrooge in Alhambra holiday classic, Bruce Allen Scudder’s Christmas Carole.  Triano last performed at the Alhambra in 2013.  You may recall that Wells is best known for her tenure on the hit TV show, Gilligan’s Island and Fairchild on Knots Landing and Dallas.

Sticking to the theme of “looking back and looking forward,” Craig Smith (Managing Partner) says that the Alhambra’s 50th Anniversary lineup features a mix of classic shows, “popular demand” shows, and some new shows.  The seasons shows and dates are as follows:
A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline,    January 27 - February 19
  starring Gail Bliss
Showboat             February 22 - April 2

Dreamgirls             April 12 - May 21

Steel Magnolias,           May 24 - June 25

  starring Dawn Wells
Annie                June 28 - August 13

Dixie Swim Club,         August 16 - September 24

  starring Morgan Fairchild
The Addams Family        October 4 - November 12

Christmas Carole,        November 22 - December 24

  starring Tony Triano

The season began and will continue with some special events, including a signing party for the Alhambra’s commemorative coffee table book in December of 2016 and a 50th Anniversary Birthday Bash in December of 2017 with plenty of surprises in between.  The Alhambra is putting together its Alhambra After Dark Music Series line up.  It is also hosted a special New Year’s Eve Gala that featured from Las Vegas, The Piano Men Tribute, starring Lee Alverson in a montage tribute to Elton John, Billy Joel and Jerry Lee Lewis.  You may want to get your tickets early in 2017 for next New Year’s Eve.

PLEASE NOTE NEW SHOW TIMES: Evening shows Tuesday through Sunday start at 7:50 p.m.  Doors open at 5:50 p.m., and dinner will be served until 7:20 p.m.  Saturday Matinees begin at 1:15 p.m.  Doors open at 11 a.m. and the brunch ends at 12:45 a.m.  Sunday Matinees are at 1:50 p.m.  Doors open at 11:50 a.m. and the meal service ends at 1:20 p.m.

DRESS: “Gala Nights” (first Friday of any show) attire is “Dressy / Formal”.  All other shows could be “Business Casual” or “Sunday Best”.

TICKETS: 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