Jordan Higginbotham

“Welcome to the show to the history remix.” Six: The Musical is unlike anything I have ever seen. The unique rock musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, reveals the lives of King Henry VIII’s six ex-wives is captivating from the minute the curtain drops to the final bows.

“Because here is the thing, to know how it ends and still begin to sing it again, as if it might turn out this time.” Every Broadway fan can relate to this sentiment. We watch musicals and /or plays and brave the second act heartbreaks and conflict. We know exactly how it will end each time, but we come back every time. Hadestown is no different.

The entire cast was supremely talented and did a wonderful job bringing a classic movie turned stage musical to Jacksonville audiences.

Fiddler on the Roof premiered at Alhambra Theatre and Dining on August 4th, “ya ba diba diba diba diba diba diba dum!” The musical, which first premiered in 1964, takes place in Anatevka in 1905 just before the Russian Revolution. The musical is beautiful and a great experience for Jacksonville audiences.

The Alhambra welcomes guests to the summer show Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The musical based on the 1991 film. The audience observes the characters attempt to break the curse by bringing Belle and the Beast together. Audiences will recognize the iconic songs from the 1991 movie, and additional songs from the 1994 Broadway musical.

“Oh What a Night” at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining for the opening of Jersey Boys on April 28th! I have been to many shows at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining, and I am not sure the last time I saw so many audience members so excited to hear such iconic songs. Jersey Boys follows the creation and downfall of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Cady, the new student who learns that high school is like the jungles of Africa. She “Meets the Plastics” the top of the high school hierarchy, and learns how cruel queen bee, Regina George, is and her friends Janice and Damian create a “Revenge Party” to bring Regina down. We see each characters' growth, just as we all did through high school.

Arsenic and Old Lace opened at Alhambra Theatre and Dining on March 24th! The play was written by Joseph Kesselring and published in 1941 and follows the Brewster family including the responsible Mortimer Brewster, the eclectic Teddy Brewster, and the brother Jonathan Brewster, as well as the seemingly innocent aunts Abby and Martha Brewster.

Jesus Christ Superstar opened at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday March 21st. The groundbreaking Andrew Lloyd Webber musical first opened in 1971 and has been rocking theatre since. The musical is roughly based on the Gospel’s accounts of the events leading up the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the second show of the 2023 season at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining, opened on February 10th. The audience observed wonderful storytelling as the actors revealed how “The Chicken Ranch” got its start and was ultimately shut down when it was revealed to be a brothel of sorts.

Pretty Woman is stoppin’ awhile at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. Pretty Woman is based on the popular 1990 movie of the same name. Jacksonville audiences were completely nostalgic for the musical. Audience members could be heard making comments like “it’s the same dress!” or “look at them at the opera!” during the show.

The audience follows Aladdin on a journey from street rat to Prince Ali of Ababwa. He believes now that he is a prince, Princess Jasmine will fall in love with him (Senzel Ahmady). What he does not understand is she would love him simply for who he was, not because he was a prince. The musical was incredibly entertaining for audiences of all ages.

The musical is a fun time for the whole family!

Grumpy Old Men has opened at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining! The musical based on the 1993 movie follows two (as you guessed it) grumpy old men, John Gustafson and Max Goldman. The two had been feuding for decades, which all started with a woman they both liked. Years later, a new woman comes to town, and they are both vying for her affection.

What did our critic think of THE WIZARD OF OZ at Alhambra Theatre And Dining?The cult classic “Wizard of Oz” opened at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining on Friday night, and if you are looking for a sweet and nostalgic performance to distract you from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this is the show to attend.

“Hear the beat of dancing feet, It’s the song I love the melody of Forty-Second Street.” 42nd Street opened at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining on May 13th. The musical follows the production of a musical called “Pretty Lady.” We observed an extremely talented girl from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Peggy Sawyer (Julie Stewart) trying to make it on Broadway. We also see a washed-up Broadway actress, Dorothy Brock (Jennifer Medure), trying to make a comeback, who is struck down (no pun intended) with a broken ankle and can no longer perform. Thank goodness Peggy Sawyer (Stewart) can step into the role after the producer, Julian Marsh (James Aaron Skiba), sees she can dance circles around Dorothy Brock (Medure) and sings just as well. The classic musical for sure gives the classic vibes of a small-town girl making it big on Broadway.

Brighton Beach Memoirs began its run at Orange Park Community Theatre on April 1st. Make no mistake, this is no April Fools prank, the cast and crew have put on a lovely performance for Orange Park and the surrounding areas.

  “Have you heard there’s a rumor in St. Petersburg? Have you heard what they’re saying on the streets?” Anastasia has made its stop in Jacksonville! The musical based on the beloved 1997 movie, follows the story of the two Russian men attempting to pass off a street sweeper as the sole surviving member of the Romanov family. Little do they know she is truly the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov. Anastasia is a treat for the whole family! I should also mention, if you were a little girl born in the 90s obsessed with the movie, this will be a very nostalgic time.

It’s “nothin’ but a good time” at Alhambra Theatre and Dining in Jacksonville! Rock of Ages opened at Alhambra Theatre and Dining on March 25th and audiences went wild. The musical follows two aspiring artists making their way in Los Angeles. While we follow the two artists, a rally is going on to prevent the demolition of the Sunset Strip, where all the art and music is produced. With many popular songs of the 1980’s, audiences are sure to notice a few hits, maybe even bob their head to the rhythm.

Cats opened at Times Union Center for the Performing Arts on February 22nd. Jacksonville audiences were ecstatic to see the 1983 Tony Award winner for Best Musical. The musical follows the story of cats deciding which cat will go to “Heaviside layer”, based on the T.S. Eliot poem “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.”