Leanza Cornett to Lead Alhambra's NUNSENSE

At the Grand Opening Gala tonight of the holiday classic, Christmas Carole, Managing Partner Craig Smith announced a special homecoming performance for one of the Alhambra's – and Jacksonville's – own. Former Miss America and Jacksonville native, Leanza Cornett, will play the lead role in Nunsense. Nunsense will kick off the Alhambra's 45th season when it opens on December 30. Ms. Cornett will be in residence for the show's entire run.

Raised in Jacksonville and first taking the Alhambra stage at age 15, Leanza Cornett is a 1989 graduate of Terry Parker High School. She was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2006. She was crowned Miss Winter Park and Miss Florida in 1992 and Miss America I 1993. As Miss America, she became the first beauty queen to adopt AIDS prevention as the theme of her year of service. She has also served as a host for several television shows, including Entertainment Tonight (1994–1995), New Attitudes (1998), and Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? (2000), and made television guest appearances in television shows such as Melrose Place, The Tick, and Fear Factor.

In addition, she currently serves as a reporter for Animal Planet's coverage of the Eukanuba AKC National Dog Show programs and hosts the "On The Block" show on DIY Network.

Said Smith about Cornett returning, "When we discussed closing the theater in 2009 and then told her about the homecoming event to launch our campaign to save it, the first thing Leanza said was 'I'll be on a plane and be there.' The place means as much to her as it does to us, and she wanted to do anything to help us, including coming her from LA at her own expense." He continues, "She has such a wonderful voice and it's been so long since she's been on stage with us. It will be a remarkable homecoming for her, and an historic moment for the Alhambra."

Said Cornett of her return to the Alhambra, "I am so excited to come back where my love of theater all started." She added, "And to be at the new Alhambra and experience the Jacksonville audience again is a real joy. Tod Booth is one of my favorite people and certainly my favorite director and I am thrilled to be under his wing once again."

Nunsense is one of the longest-running off-Broadway musical comedies of all time. Set in the convent of The Little Sisters of Hoboken, a few nuns from the convent of have pooled their talents to produce a benefit. They need to raise money to bury four of their colleagues who are being stored in the school's cafeteria freezer. The unholy problems began one night when 19 sisters went off to play bingo. On their return, they found the other 52 members of the convent lying face-down at the dinner table. It seems that the cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, had mistakenly served a double dose of botulism to the nuns. As one nun explains the incident, "For 52, bon appetite was also bon voyage." After a greeting-card sale, there was only enough money to bury 48 sisters, which is why four bodies are in the freezer and a group of nuns are on the stage singing, dancing and offering Roman Catholic comedy routines.

"Nunsense" opens December 30, 2011 and runs through February 5, 2012. Show times are 8:00 PM for evening shows Tuesday through Sunday. Doors open at 6:00 PM and dinner starts at 6:30 PM. Matinees on Saturday are at 1:15 PM. Doors open at 11:00 AM and lunch starts at 11:15 AM. Sunday matinee is at 2:00. Doors open at noon and the meal starts at 12:15 PM. Group sales are available. Tickets start at $42 for adults and $35 for children. Ticket price includes dinner, show and parking. See www.alhambrajax.com for details.

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