Jordan Higginbotham - Page 4

So, I saw this show when it was premiered in movie theaters and it had an incredible impact on me. How has this show affected you?

Everything is Rent at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville, FL. Jonathan Larson's Rent takes place in New York City in the Late 80's to early 90's. The audience follows a group of characters as they discover how important it is to embrace each day they are given because they do not know when it will be their last. Through the entire production on January 14, I could hear fans of the production laugh, sniffle, and applaud as the beautiful story unfolded.

The 2020 season is in full swing at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining in Jacksonville. Love Letters officially opened January 10. The play follows the story of two childhood friends who write each other letters for well over 40 years. The audience experiences children grow up from silly a?oeDo you like me? Yes or no?a?? to heartfelt a?oeI never realized how much I've always loved you until right now.a??

Interview with the actor playing Tom Collins (Shafiq Hicks). RENT will be in Jacksonville, FL beginning January 14.

Elf the Musical is a?oeSparklejollytwinklejingley!a?? The musical, based on the 2003 movie Elf, returns to Alhambra Theatre and Dining. Not only is it back, it is sold out! Audiences have rushed to get tickets in order to follow Buddy the Elf on his quest to find his father, Walter Hobbs. Elf the Musical is incredibly entertaining, funny, and jolly!

Good News! Wicked is back in Jacksonville! The prequel to The Wizard of Oz tells the story of the witches of Oz before Dorothy showed up. Surprise, Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West were friends! This was my fourth time seeing the spectacular show, and it is just as magical as the first time I saw it. During the entire performance, I had the biggest grin on my face out of sheer amazement and wonder.

A Bronx Tale had a one-night performance in Jacksonville November 13 and audiences loved it! The musical, based on the 1993 movie of the same name, follows Calogero. Calorgero is 8 years old and sees, what can only be described as traumatic to an 8-year-old. After this traumatic experience a man named Sonny takes him under his wing and teaches him the ways of the neighborhood. A Bronx Tale is filled with wonderful music by Alan Menken, great talent, and an intriguing story.

'It really has nothing to do with musical theater. I think just the nerves of getting out there in front of people and doing something that may be a little outside your wheelhouse gives you the confidence to do that. I took a lot of that in preparing for the role. I was much more nervous getting ready for the role. Once I was up there, I felt pretty good about it. I think it gave me the confidence to be on stage and deal with live crowds.'

Do you love musicals? Do you love true crime? Do you love insanity? Well, do I have the show for you! Jekyll and Hyde opened at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining and audiences were in awe. This is not a show where you will hear those laughing throughout the theatre, but more gasps of entertainment, horror, and applause for the talent. Jekyll and Hyde follows Dr. Henry, a doctor committed to his research. So much so that he becomes the subject of his own experiment. He is on a mission to eliminate evil from the world. As he concocts his a?oechemicalsa?? to eliminate evil, something goes terribly wrong. Dr Jekyll develops an evil and murderous personality named Edward Hyde, on the hunt for those who denied him the opportunity to conduct his experiment the proper way, i.e. not on himself. The show is astonishing and captivating and filled with immense talent!

Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs began performances September 18, and audiences are thoroughly enjoying it! The play follows the Jerome/Morton family living in Brighton Beach in 1937. Our narrator is Eugene Jerome (Evan Gray), who addresses the audience to fill us in on gaps we may not know. We follow multiple stories within this family that are captivating and filled with humor and emotion.

a?oeHoney, Honeya?? Mama Mia! Has begun performances at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining. The show composed of all ABBA music, follows Sophie Sheridan as she searches for her biological father. After stumbling upon her mother's diary, she discovers there are three possible men. Sophie comes up with the idea to invite all three to her wedding and there she will discover which one is her father. I, personally, was entranced by the music and could not believe how a story can revolve around the music rather than the music revolve around the story. The audience was thrilled to hear these classic songs come to life on stage!

Life truly is better "Under the Sea!" Disney's The Little Mermaid has begun performances at the Alhambra Theatre in Dining in Jacksonville. Audiences will be transported to the bottom of the ocean as they follow Ariel's story to becoming human, accompanied by twists, turns, and excitement. Audience members of all ages will be completely captivated by the performance.

Ain't Misbehavin' is 'Spreading Rhythm Around' Jacksonville. The Tony Award-Winning Musical honoring Fats Wallers' and the heyday of the Harlem jazz scene is currently showing at Alhambra. This musical stands out from many other because it does not have a plot to follow but is a combination of much of Wallers' music in one show. I personally did not know much of the music and the time period it was produced, and I believe it would have affected my experience greatly. If this is a time period and genre you are interested in, you will greatly enjoy the show!

Kinky Boots returned to Jacksonville for one night only, and audiences went crazy for it! It seemed half of Jacksonville showed up for the performance and were in love with the Tony-Award Winning musical. The show follows the story of a son who inherits a shoe factory and is not passionate about working in shoes. However, when a drag queen crosses his path, he has the idea to make a specific shoe product for drag queens. With music by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, all audiences are bound to be entertained.

Class is in session at the School of Rock and they're teaching Jacksonville all about rock-n-roll! The musical featuring music from Tony Award winner Andrew Lloyd Webber, is based on the 2003 movie School of Rock. The musical follows a man, Dewey Finn (Merritt David Janes), as he impersonates his best friend Ned Schneebly as a substitute teacher at Horace Green. When Dewey realizes he is in way over his head, he hears his students playing classical music. He decides he will teach them about rock-n-roll, and they will compete in 'The Battle of the Bands.' The musical displays amazing music, a great story, and life lessons for everyone to take away.

School of Rock is heading to Jacksonville! The musical, featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, will begin on April 16. I had the opportunity to speak with Layne Roate who performs as Ned, the geeky roommate. He is very excited to be in Florida and sharing the musical with audiences in the Sunshine State!

Big the Musical has begun performances at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining. Audiences enjoy reliving the classic movie with a musical twist. The cast is greatly talented and seems to be enjoying themselves in this musical.

Broadway fans gathered at the Times Union on March 30th to see The World of Musicals. The show features Emily Huddleston, Fearghal Curtis, Hollie Jones, Matthew James Duff, Rebekah Shearer, Sandra Bendrik, Amber Sylvia Edwards, Ciaran Olohan, Haydn Cox, and Kevin C. Olohan. The cast is SUPREMELY talented and an absolute joy to watch.

"Sugar. Butter. Flour" Waitress! Waitress has arrived at the Times Union and is blowing audiences away. The musical, based on Adrienne Shelley's movie of the same name, follows Jenna, a waitress at a small diner who is stuck in a loveless marriage. Jenna finds herself pregnant and is convinced it is time to chase her own dreams and build a better life for her and her unborn child. First, she must save enough money waitressing at the diner. Jenna meets her doctor, Dr. Pomatter, and things become very complicated. Waitress is filled with laughter, emotion, heartbreak, and pies!

Oliver! is performing now through March 17 at The Island Theatre in Fleming Island. The musical portrays the story written by Charles Dickens. The audience follows an orphan boy, Oliver Twist, in London who is bounced from orphanages to thieves, to relatives he did not know existed. Oliver gets into trouble here and there just trying to survive the streets of London. The musical was greatly entertaining, and the cast is quite talented.