Alhambra to Look Back, Look Forward with 50th Anniversary Season

Looking back. Looking Forward. That is the theme for the year-long anniversary celebration at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, the nation's longest running professional dinner theater. In late July of 1967, there was but one table - on an empty lot on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida, an unlikely spot 50 years ago for what would become an icon in the Jacksonville cultural landscape and within the national theater scene.

Set for two, that single table was covered by an elegant lace cloth, and adorned with matching napkins, silverware, stylish china plates and coffee cups and tall crystal glasses. In the middle of the small table stood an equally elegant candelabra holding five candles. What better way for the young gentlemen sitting there, TEd Johnson and George Ballis, to demonstrate their vision of the future. Today the Alhambra stands proudly as one of just a handful or remaining dinner theaters dotting North America. More important, after a half century the Alhambra is as vibrant as ever and new owners, led by Managing Partner, Craig Smith, are excited to announce it's line up for this very special season.

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 will open for three weeks on 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 $50.

The 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. In 1969, Wells starred in Barefoot in the Park and in 1973, Fairchild starred in The Paisley Convertible (ironically, also starring Bob Denver, who played Gilligan). Triano has been performing on and off Broadway in recent years, and of course Wells is best known for her tenure on the hit TV show, Gilligan's Island and Fairchild on Knots Landing and Dallas.

Said Smith, "For fifty years The Alhambra has been a place of Broadway quality shows and fine meals, but the Alhambra really is more of a place where people make memories. This theater is where we go to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries; it is where people came for the prom; it is the place of first dates and marriage proposals. Recently, the Alhambra has even been a place where people get married."

He added, "To me, when I walk through this theater, I can almost hear the voices of the memories. Some say The Alhambra is haunted and those are the voices of the ghosts, but I say she just shares a lot of stories - and a lot of joy. So as a thank you to the Alhambra for all she's given us over the last 50 years, we wanted to celebrate by breaking out all the stops with our schedule, events and talent. It is going to be a joyful year!"

Sticking to the theme of "looking back and looking forward," Smith says the Alhambra's 50th Anniversary line up features a mix of classic shows, "popular demand" shows and some new shows.

The season is as follows:

A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, starring Gail Bliss January 27 - February 19

Showboat February 22 - April 2

Dreamgirls April 12 - May 21

Steel Magnolias, starring Dawn Wells May 24 - June 25

Annie June 28 - August 13

Dixie Swim Club, starring Morgan Fairchild August 16 - September 24

The Addams Family October 4 - November 12

Christmas Carole, starring Tony Triano November 22 - December 24

The season will also be punctuated by 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 hosting a special New Year's Eve Gala featuring from Las Vegas, The Piano Men Tribute, starring Lee Alverson in a montage tribute to Elton John, Billy Joel and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Opened in 1967 as The Alhambra Dinner Theater, is the longest-running dinner theater in the country. The Alhambra has hosted legends such as Tony Curtis, Claude Aiken, Sid Cesar and Cesar Romero, and, recently the likes of Loretta Swit, Barry Williams, Jamie Farr, Sally Struthers, Joyce Dewitt, Michael Learned, Barbara Eden, Lisa Whelchel and Mike Farrell. The Alhambra was the place of Betty Grable's final acting role, and is featured in her biography. The Alhambra is also home to former Miss America, Orange Park (FL) native Leanza Cornett, who started at the Alhambra when she was 15. In November 2009, the Alhambra was purchased by Theatre Partners, LLC, headed by Jacksonville entrepreneur and Alhambra patron, Craig Smith as way to give back to Jacksonville and preserve what he believes is one of its cultural jewels.

Said Smith, "That subtle name change to the Alhambra Theatre & Dining symbolized not just a new identify, but a cultural change as well." Smith's group replaced the traditional buffet which featured the same menu each night with table-side service and a menu that changes with each show's themes. "We wanted to change every aspect of this experience, to make the Alhambra not just relevant again, but to make it a leader in Jacksonville's cultural renaissance. We broke the model and started over, but still managed to keep the charm, passion and joy to which our guests had become accustom."

When on the verge of the being shuttered in 2009 the Alhambra's season subscriber base had eroded from it's peak at about 4500 subscribers to less than 500, and it struggled reach even 50% capacity at discounted prices. Today, the Alhambra boasts a run-rate of 80-90% capacity, including several completely sold out shows in recent years, and, re-branded as Season Partners, a subscriber base of nearly 5,000. The theater employs more than 70 full-time staff, and donates tens of thousands of dollars and tickets annually to area charities. "Our job isn't just to sell seats to a great show, it's to be part of this community and supportive of things that are meaningful to our guests," said Smith. "We can only take credit for putting a good product together. I give all the credit to the Jacksonville community for rallying around this old girl and putting her back on the map. It's a journey that isn't finished, but we're off to a good start...that's more than 50 years in the making."

Tickets start at $35 for and range to $53. Ticket price includes dinner, show and parking. Season Partnership start at $267 for a six-show series. Call the box office at 904.641.1212 or at www.alhambrajax.com.

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