Local Celebrities Make Cameos in Alhambra’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Audiences coming the see "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" at the new Alhambra Theatre & Dining will get a bonus the week of August 30. New owner Craig Smith announced the lineup of the Alhambra's Second Annual Celebrity Week, during which each of that week's seven shows will featur e a cameo appearance by some of Jacksonville's local media personalities and celebrities.

The big winner again, however, will be local charities that each celebrity will represent. The Alhambra is donating a portion of tickets sales from each show to the charity of that celebrity's choice. Additionally, to make it a friendly competition, the celebrity with the biggest draw - the one who essentially has the most tickets sold for their show -- will receive a bonus donation to his or her charity.

Said former Jacksonville Jaguar legend, Tony Boselli, "I'm excited about making my acting debut at the Alhambra. This is a unique way for us to raise money and awareness for the Boselli Foundation, and I think it will be a lot of fun."

"I've become a fan of the Alhambra since it reopened," said WTLV news anchor Patricia Crosby. She added, "I was flattered to be asked and I've very excited to be representing HEAL. They are an amazing organization and this is a really fun way to raise some money for them."

On their respective nights, each of the guest stars will appear in the same scene in the second act of the show. The scene is actually not in the original script and is being "written in" by Alhambra Executive Producer Tod Booth, Sr. "The guest stars are going to have a ball doing it, and the cast is excited," said Booth.

Currently lined up to perform at the Alhambra, and the charities for which they are raising money include:

Tuesday, August 30 Ron Littlepage, Times-Union St. Johns Riverkeepers

Wednesday, Aug 31 Bruce Hamilton, WJXT The Hope Chest

Thursday, Sept 1 Sharon Wilbur, WAWS Forsaken Generation

Friday, Sept 2 Mike Barz, WAWS Pat Barz Scholarship for Nursing Excellence

Saturday, Sept 3 (m) Patricia Crosby, WTLV The HEAL Foundation

Saturday, Sept 3 (e) Tony Boselli The Boselli Foundation

Sunday, Sept 4 (m) Robby Rose, WQIK Camp Tracy Home

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels premiered on Broadway in March of 2005 at the Imperial Theater, and ran for more than 625 appearances. The show was nominated for 10 Tony® Awards and its star, John Lithgow, whose role Booth is playing, won Best Actor. The story focuses on Freddy and Lawrence, two con men, making their living by faking their compassion for women with shocking stories about their fake fate. But the town isn't big enough for two con men, so they agree on a settlement: the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female target wins, the other leaves town. Dirty Rotten went on to the silver screen in 1988 and starred Steve Martin, Michael Caine and Glenne Headley, who won a Golden Globe® award for Best Up & Coming Actress. Starring in the Alhambra's version is Tod Booth, who is taking the stage for the first time in more than six years.

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" runs through September 18. Show times are 8:00 PM for evening shows Tuesday through Sunday. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the buffet starts at 6:30 PM. Matinees on Saturday are at 1:15 PM. Doors open at 11:00 AM and the buffet starts at 11:15 AM. Sunday matinee is at 2:00. Doors open at noon and the buffet 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. Call the box office at 904.641.1212 or visit on line at www.alhambrajax.com.

About the new Alhambra Theatre & Dining

The Alhambra Theatre is the nation's oldest continually operating professional dinner theatre and the only professional resident theatre 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, Loretta Swit. The Alhambra was the place of Betty Grable's final acting role. The Alhambra is also home to former Miss America, Orange Park 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.

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