BWW Interview: VITAL 5: This Weekend in Jacksonville TheatreApril 20, 2017'Whattya wanna do?'
'I dunno, what do YOU wanna do?'
'I dunno, what do YOU-'
Stop the madness, y'all. Jacksonville is the smallest big town I've ever seen, and although there is so much to do, it can be overwhelming trying to narrow it down. The Vital 5 is here to help you decide. This weekly feature breaks down my top 5 theatrical picks for the upcoming week. Share this to help your friends, and we can then all avoid the frustration of having to choose (well, kind of - you're on your own for dinner plans!)
BWW Feature: Northeast Florida Premieres A NEW BRAIN at The 5 & DimeApril 11, 2017The northeast Florida premiere of William Finn and James Lapine's A NEW BRAIN (1998) opens April 21st at The 5 & Dime's new, permanent space off East Adams Street in Jacksonville's core. A NEW BRAIN carries risks, much akin to that of the lead character's brain condition, but Josh Waller's soaring voice as Gordon Schwinn complemented by the fluid sound of a strong ensemble should top your to-do list next week.
BWW Review: THE DINING ROOM Delights at Douglas Anderson School Of The ArtsApril 6, 2017A.R. Gurney's THE DINING ROOM, a play in two acts, presents the audience with a series of vignettes with nearly 60 characters, all played by only 7 actors. Covering decades of family life for North Eastern "WASPS"s (white Anglo-Saxon Protestants), this disappearing upper middle class is poked fun at in moments, revered in others, and delectably exposed in Douglas Anderson School of the Arts' production of this Pulitzer nominated piece.
BWW Review: DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID is Making Waves in JacksonvilleMarch 22, 2017The curtain set sail as the orchestra led an overture riddled with recognizable tunes. Two rows behind me, an adorable little girl clad in turquoise fins and a long red wig bounced up and down in her seat, eager for the show to begin. From behind a brilliantly dressed proscenium, Diana Huey popped out through playful bubbles, singing "This is where I belong!" to open the 5th Avenue Theatre's touring production of Disney's The Little Mermaid. Huey, who leads as Ariel, is absolutely accurate in her first lines. Masterfully assuming the role of the stubborn little mermaid with a show-stopping voice, Huey is joined by a stellar cast of theatrical strength.