On March 8, the smart and sensitive play Alabama Story opens at Theatre Jacksonville, bringing to life a Civil Rights-era tale about thorny racial issues, inspired by true events in 1959 Montgomery, Alabama. Alabama Story provides a clever juxtaposition of thought-provoking material — the potential banning of a children’s book about the marriage between a black and a white rabbit contrasted with the story of a childhood friendship between a Black man and a woman of White privilege.
“We knew we had to bring this amazing play to Jacksonville to provide a cautionary tale that these same issues – documented here from the late 1950s – are sadly still plaguing us today,” said Theatre Jacksonville Executive Director Sarah Boone, who remembers reading the very same children’s book as a child. “The topics of book banning and race relations are still making headlines and causing divisions. It is our ultimate hope that theater can bring people together to examine what divides us and help us recognize those things that we all have in common – the best of humanity.”
Directed by Amy Love, Alabama Story will run from Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 24. All evening shows will be at 7:30 p.m., and there will be two Sunday matinees on March 17 and 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets are included with Gold All-Access Season Membership and Silver Season Subscription packages. Bronze single tickets are $31.
Following Alabama Story, the final two productions of the Mainstage 104th season will include:
¨ Picasso at the Lapin Agile, opening April 19 – In this absurdist comedy written by Steve Martin (yes, THAT Steve Martin), Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso meet in a Parisian café in 1904, just before the Theory of Relativity and Cubism transformed the science and art worlds, respectively. With ridiculously engaging merriment, the two spar with each other and café regulars about art, science, inspiration, love and the promise of the 20th century (even including a visitor time-warped in from a later era).
¨ SHOUT! The Mod Musical, opening June 7 – With its irresistible blend of hip-swiveling hits, far-out fashions and fab dance moves, this groovy musical takes audiences back to the music style and freedom of the 1960s through five gals coming of age during the dawning liberation of women and glorious days that made England swing. With such international favorites as “To Sir With Love,” “Downtown,” “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Goldfinger,” this smash hit is entertaining and downright fun.
The season will also include quarterly presentations of Stories on Stage. The next offering in the series will be Sunday, March 3.
For more information about the 104th season lineup, ticket packages, Alabama Story or Stories on Stage, visit www.theatrejax.com.
Related Events
Theatre Jacksonville is ending its 105th consecutive season with a delightful musical comedy, Desperate Measures, opening on June 6. Based on the book by Peter Kellogg, who also wrote the lyrics, and with music by award-winning composer David Friedman, this witty and wild musical transforms Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure plot into a Western setting complete with a hot-headed young cowboy. The dangerously handsome Johnny Blood puts his fate into the hands of a colorful cast of characters when his life is on the line. In 2018, Desperate Measures won Best Musical at the Outer Critics Circle and OBA awards and Best Music and Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards.
“There’s no better way to finish the season than to delight audiences with a gleeful production like Desperate Measures,” said Theatre Jacksonville Executive Director Sarah Boone. “It has been a terrific year for our organization, and celebrating with joy and laughter on the stage is an ideal way to celebrate the beginning of summer.”
Desperate Measures will be directed by Daniel Austin and features Aly Blakewell, Alec Hadden, Brennan Moritz, Morgan Perry, Chris Robertson and Neal Thorburn. Shows will run from June 6 through 22, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and three matinee performances at 2 p.m. on June 15, 21 and 22. New to this year, the last Saturday performance of each show will be a 2 p.m. matinee.
The 106th season lineup was announced last month, and season memberships and subscriptions are available with an early bird discount until May 31. Ticket packages are available at three levels:
· All-Access Memberships include tickets for the entire Theatre Jacksonville season, including Mainstage productions, the Classic in San Marco and all Extra productions.
· Season Subscriptions include one ticket to each of the five Mainstage productions. Tickets will be extra for the Classic in San Marco and other special productions.
· Single tickets are offered on a show-by-show basis and will be $31 each.
Prices are as follows:
All-Access Membership
Before June 1 Early Bird:
Individual Adult Member (18-59 years old): $150
Individual Senior/Military Member (60+ or military ID): $130
After May 31:
Individual Adult Member (18-59 years old): $170
Individual Senior/Military Member (60+ or military ID): $150
All individual memberships receive one complimentary All-Access Pass that includes all Theatre Jacksonville season productions including The Classic in San Marco and Seasons Extra. Additional show tickets will cost $22, as available.
Season Subscription
Before June 1 Early Bird:
Individual Adult Member (18-59 years old): $120
Individual Senior/Military Member (60+ or military ID): $100
After May 31:
Individual Adult Member (18-59 years old): $140
Individual Senior/Military Member (60+ or military ID): $120
All individual subscriptions receive one complimentary ticket for each of the five Theatre Jacksonville Mainstage productions (does not include the Classic in San Marco and Season Extras). Additional show tickets will cost $25, as available.
Also, later this summer, Theatre Jacksonville will undertake its second collaboration with The Florida Theatre to present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in concert on August 23 and 24 – starring Tony Award winner Cady Huffman. Tickets are available by visiting www.floridatheatre.com.
For more information about Desperate Measures, the 106th season or A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, visit www.theatrejax.com.
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