THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Opens 12/30 at Alhambra

Until his untimely death in 1959 at age 23, Buddy Holly changed the way the country heard music. On December 30, back by popular demand, Buddy -- The Buddy Holly Story will play at America's longest running professional dinner theater, the Alhambra Theatre & Dining, giving the Jacksonville market a chance to learn about and celebrate the life of the man who changed music forever.

Critically acclaimed and a winner of the Tony® Award for Best Musical, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story tells the story of the three years in which he became the world's top recording artist with a show that features over 20 of Buddy Holly's greatest hits including "Peggy Sue", "That'll Be The Day", "Oh Boy", "Not Fade Away", "Everyday", "Rave On", "Maybe Baby", "Raining In My Heart", Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba", and the Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace." More than 20 million people in 20 countries have seen Buddy, in which the magical talents of Buddy Holly have been shared live with many more people than the real Buddy Holly ever had the chance to perform to. An all-ages show, the incredible legacy of the young man with glasses, whose musical career spanned an all-too-brief period during the golden days of rock 'n' roll, continues to live on in Buddy.

Said Alhambra Managing Partner, Craig Smith, "We typically don't repeat shows this soon, but, honestly, not a wee has gone by since 2012 in which someone hasn't asked me when Buddy Holly is coming back." He added, "my goal is always to give our audience what they want, and they want the fun, drama and music of Buddy Holly."

Tod Booth, Creative Director and Producer said, "Buddy Holly's brief life has become the stuff of legend. Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story is a celebration of that legend and catches that unique mixture of innocence, determination, humor and charm that was Buddy Holly and wraps it up into a an energetic musical package.

After an inauspicious start at Decca Records in Nashville, Buddy and the Crickets sign a contract with up-and-coming innovative record producer, Norman Petty. Within hours of meeting they start to record Buddy's biggest hit "That'll Be The Day" which will rocket up the charts to number one in a matter of weeks. Buddy Holly & the Crickets suddenly become the hottest act in the country. The Crickets travel to New York, where Buddy meets and -- after a courtship, which takes all of five hours -- proposes to Maria Elena Santiago, the receptionist of his music publisher. Newly married and ambitious, Buddy completely shifts his focus to New York and an inevitable rift develops between him and the Crickets. The band split and Buddy unexpectedly finds himself having to pursue a solo career. The 'Winter Dance Party 1959' is a tour that travels by bus through the Midwest, quenching the teenage thirst for the new music called Rock & Roll. Here, Buddy's final performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, with Ritchie Valens ("La Bamba") and the 'Big Bopper' J.P. Richardson ("Chantilly Lace") is recreated. After the concert, Buddy breaks his promise to his pregnant wife not to fly as he and the other two headliners board a small plane and fly off into the night for Moorhead only to crash into a ploughed field shortly after take-off. There are no survivors.

The tragedy snatches away the lives of three of the world's most dynamic musical talents - Buddy Holly (22), Ritchie Valens (17) and the Big Bopper (28) - and as the legend says, it was "the day the music died..."

"Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story" runs December 30 through February 3. 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 brunch 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 $38 for adults and $35 for children. Ticket price includes dinner, show and parking. Call the box office at 904.641.1212 or at www.alhambrajax.com.

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