Alhambra Dinner Theatre set to reopen Dec. 1

[JeffreyS]

Alhambra Dinner Theatre set to reopen Dec. 1
http://jacksonville.com/business/2009-10-27/story/alhambra_dinner_theatre_set_to_reopen_dec_1
The show continues, and the stage lights at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre are apparently coming back on.

Craig Smith, the Jacksonville businessman who’s been trying to buy the Alhambra since it closed two months ago, said he and his partners have finalized all the paperwork. The theater will reopen Dec. 1 with “A Christmas Carole,” the production it has done every December for more than 20 years.

The Alhambra opened in 1967 and was one of the nation’s oldest dinner theaters when it closed in August. Tod Booth, who had owned the theater since 1985, said the economic downturn took too big a toll on his attendance and finances to continue.

Smith, former co-owner of Beaches Limousine and Transportation until he sold it in 2006, is the managing member of a group of investors â€" Karl Frisch, Fraser Burns, William Barnett, Nikki Schonert and Smith â€" called Theatre Partners, which now owns the theater.

Booth will continue to produce the plays and musicals â€" he flew to New York Tuesday morning to hold auditions for next year â€" but Smith will be in charge of the rest of business. The 2010 season will proceed with the same productions announced back when the Alhambra was open, though a couple may swap places.

Rest of storyhttp://jacksonville.com/business/2009-10-27/story/alhambra_dinner_theatre_set_to_reopen_dec_1

[copperfiend]

Hopefully they clean it up a bit and improve the food.

[JeffreyS]

With Mathew Medure providing the food it should now be a great part of the experience.

[KenFSU]

Absolutely fantastic news.

[Atari007]

Freaking awesome!     

[stjr]

Alhambra Open House yesterday kicks off reopening season of shows:

A revived Alhambra Dinner Theatre ends short-lived hiatus
Jacksonville icon of 42 years, the dinner theater opens for a new season.

    * By Matt Coleman
    * Story updated at 1:27 AM on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009

Reports of the Alhambra Dinner Theatre's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

The Jacksonville cultural institution closed Aug. 30 after 42 years of dancing and dining.

But it was back in full force Saturday for an encore.

Almost 800 people celebrated the Alhambra's return to show business with an outdoor dinner show.

Theater performers provided the entertainment with rousing renditions of tried-and-true show tunes. Chef Matthew Medure manned the grill to keep up with the constant demand for free cuisine.

The Alhambra, 12000 Beach Blvd., one of the nation's longest-running dinner theaters, was purchased by a group of Jacksonville investors in late October.

Craig Smith, the managing member of the investors group, said renovations have begun on the theater's trademark interior. He said he wanted to update the look but still keep things familiar for longtime customers.

"Everyone's trying to take a peek inside and check out the new look," Smith said. "Everything - from the floors to the plates - is brand new. We designed it with one thing in mind - we want the Alhambra to be the date-night spot in Jacksonville."

Bobbie Barnes, 81, remembers the theater in its heyday.

She said she was heartbroken when she heard about the closure. She's had season tickets for almost 20 years, and her son performed on stage in productions more than a decade ago.

"Going to the Alhambra was always a special event," Barnes said. "I would always buy two tickets - one for me and one for a friend. I'm so glad it's back."

  Selling season tickets, Becky Uibel is busy with patrons at the newly reopened Alhambra Dinner Theatre.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-11-08/story/a_revived_alhambra_dinner_theatre_ends_short_lived_hiatus

[Cricket]

Thanks for that great news! Hopefully there will be renewed interest and new patrons realizing it could have been closed forever.