'THE RAT PACK', THE 39 STEPS and More Set for Alhambra Theatre & Dining's Fall 2014 Line-Up

The Alhambra Theatre & Dining, the longest running professional dinner theater in the United States is quickly turning into one of its busiest venues. In additional to its traditional slate of Broadway-quality theatrical productions, the Alhambra will be host to two concerts, a two-day show starring Tina Lifford of NBC's Parenthood, which is a fundraiser for Generation W, and a fundraiser for First Coast No More Homeless Pets. All of this comes on the heels of consecutive sold-out shows for the iconic theater, and just before they announce their 2015 schedule.

On July 30, The Rat Pack Live and Swingin' will transport audiences back to a time when life was a lot less complicated as this unforgettable trio excited audiences nightly in the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. With so much talent on stage together, these wild, wonderful performers set a standard for all those who came to Vegas during the swinging' 60's. The Rat Pack Live & Swingin' re-creates these amazing performances with incredible authenticity. They look, sound and act just like the real Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin, including the comedic on-stage antics and costumes. This extremely talented cast will have the audience actually believing it is Frank, Dean and Sammy. They seem to transcend reality by becoming the characters they depict and they do it with genuine love and admiration for the characters they portray. This show runs for just five performances through August 3. Tickets are $59 and include a three course dinner and parking.

On July 29, First Coast No More Homeless Pets will host its Pawparrazi Gala fundraiser at the Alhambra. This event, which does not feature an Alhambra performance, but instead a runway fashion show, gourmet seated dinner, live music and a silent auction, will raise money to help support the organization in their endeavor to find pets a home in our area. Tickets are available through their website at www.fcnmhp.org.

On August 6, the Alhambra will open a new show, Alfred Hithcock's The 39 Steps, a mystery comedy. "The 39 Steps" is the two-time Tony Award-winning hit which ran a record-breaking 1135 performance from January 2008-January 2010. The amazingly brilliant cast of four plays over 140 characters in this fast-paced comedy that's great fun for everyone in the family from ages 9 to 90. The New York Times calls it "Absurdly Enjoyable" and the Daily News says, "It's a dizzy delight!" Tied into The 39 Steps will be the return of the Alhambra's Celebrity Week, in which members of the media and other celebrities will take a cameo role during each night's performance that week, with proceeds from the gate being donated to their selected charity. The 39 Steps will run through September 7.

On August 25-26th, television and film actor Tina Lifford, who currently appears in NBC's Parenthood, will star in The Circle, a play she wrote and stars in. Lifford brings together seven women with various cultural backgrounds who wish to be treated better than they have been. Through dramatic, heartbreaking and comedic monologues, the sister circle reaches a pivotal point where the baggage is weighing heavy and it's time to let go. It's time for a declaration. "My mission is what I call inner-fitness and what I call inner-fitness is the important development of skills and practices for mental, emotional and spiritual well-being," explains Lifford, who holds a Master's degree in spiritual psychology. "The Circle is an extension of my mission which is to bring inner-fitness to life. That means to get people to begin to interact with themselves in a way that acknowledges that they have a worthy self." The Circle is a fundraiser for Generation W, a local women's support organization. Tickets range from $85 to $125 and include the show, dinner and parking. At the higher end, the event includes a pre-show reception with Ms. Lifford and a post-show "talk back," in which audience members get to discuss the themes and issues presented.

Brumo's Motors presents the classic, Man of LaMancha from September 10 - October 12. Telling the tale of Don Quixote, this classic musical is always an Alhambra favorite.

October 15-19, the Alhambra will feature the last show in its 2014 Alhambra After Dark Music & Supper Club series, "Adventures in Parrotdise," a four day tribute to Jimmy Buffett featuring several of the original Coral Reefers, in what they say is "the closest thing to being at a Buffett show."

And on October 22 through November 19, the Alhambra will show The Drowsy Chaperone, a zany show-within-a show musical comedy.

Said Managing Partner Craig Smith, "This is going to be one hectic fall season for us, and I cannot wait. We've got new shows, fundraisers, concerts, celebrities and great menus. This is going to be a lot of fun, and tickets are already selling fast. Being more than just a dinner theater was our vision for the Alhambra when we re-opened it five years ago, and it is wonderful that our dream is being realized. And it's only going to get better."

Ticket prices and show times can be found on the Alhambra's website at www.alhambrajax.com or by calling the box office at 904.641.1212. All Alhambra shows include dinner and parking, and each show will feature a different menu themed to the performance.

The Alhambra Theatre & Dining is the nation's longest continuously operating professional dinner theater and the only professional resident theater between Atlanta and Miami. Opened in 1967, The Alhambra has hosted legends such as Tony Curtis, Claude Aiken, Sid Cesar and Cesar Romero, and, recently, Michael Learned, Lance Nichols, Sally Struthers, Barry Williams, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr and most recently, Barbara Eden. The Alhambra was the place of Betty Grable's final acting role. In November 2009, the Alhambra was purchased by Theatre Partners, LLC, headed by Jacksonville entrepreneur and Alhambra patron, Craig Smith as a way to give back to Jacksonville and preserve what he believes is one of its cultural jewels.

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