Pull out your fancy party duds and get a head start on Valentine’s Day! Sarah Boone and Company are pulling out all the stops at Theatre Jacksonville’s sixth annual cabaret benefit concert, Happily Red: Showstoppers! Saturday, February 9, 2008: An evening of musical magic celebrating February’s festive season of romance! With the support of leading sponsor, Pacer International, once again the theatre’s Executive Director and versatile vocalist Sarah Boone has outdone herself in creating, producing and performing in what has become Theatre Jacksonville’s signature annual fundraiser. Joining Sarah (whose professional cabaret credits include solo acts in New York at The Duplex, Don’t Tell Mama and The Triad) are guest vocalists Staci Cobb, Jim Goodell and Josh Waller – local powerhouse performers all! And dazzling audiences, in a very special guest appearance is none other than award winning star of Broadway, Film and Television Linda Purl. Ms. Purl, an accomplished singer, has performed her cabaret act at The Rose Tattoo, The Cinegrill, The Gardenia and The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, as well as Town Hall and 88’s in New York. Her lush, jazzy concerts in clubs and for conventions have moved critics to marvel at her song styling and personal interplay with her appreciative audiences. Noted critic Rex Reed described Ms. Purl in his New York Observer review: “An act that literally takes your breath away... she has an impressive range, perfect intonation and awesome phrasing. In a tired landscape of cabaret yawns, she is one solid hour of seamless enchantment.” Ms. Purl’s stage work includes Broadway turns in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; Getting and Spending and regional appearances as Portia in The Merchant of Venice at the Globe Theatre; Elsa in The Road to Mecca with Julie Harris at The Long Wharf Theatre; Regina in The Little Foxes and Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Rubicon; Lucy in The Three Penny Opera, Nora in Nora with Michael York, Barbara in Johnny On A Spot and Wanda in The Baby Dance - all at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Audiences will also recognize Ms. Purl from her work on television series including Matlock, Happy Days and First Monday. She has over thirty television and cable movie credits to her name as well as feature film credits that include Disney’s Mighty Joe Young. Ms. Purl has released two CD’s: Alone Together and Linda Purl: Out of this World (Live) 
Ms. Boone and company, bringing to life songs from the American Musical Theatre Songbook, will entertain patrons with works from vintage and contemporary composers such as Richard Maltby and David Shire, Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, David Friedman, Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. Leading the combo of local professional musicians will be Musical Director and pianist Eugene Gwozdz. (Folks will remember Eugene’s magic fingers from the last two years!) San Marco neighbor, Bank of America (directly across the street from the Harold K. Smith Playhouse) will open its doors at 6:30 pm for an hour long opening reception, providing the backdrop for a delicious sampling of light hors d'oeuvres and a tasty assortment of cheeses with wine (catered in part by Anthony’s Gourmet Catering). During the reception, partygoers may indulge in a silent auction of exciting items ranging from golf memorabilia to phenomenal works of art (bidding is also open during the show’s intermission in the theatre’s newly renovated upstairs lobby) in addition to participating in a drawing for fabulous travel getaways which include a four day, three night vacation package at a St. Augustine oceanfront retreat and a Savannah excursion complete with a gift certificate from Paula Dean’s restaurant, The Lady and Sons, y’all! The drawing tickets are a bargain at $10 each or 3 for $25. One drawing ticket buys you the chance to win any prize! Drawing tickets are available for purchase at the theatre during business hours, during the opening reception and at Happily Red’s intermission. Winners will be drawn during Act II of the performance. Tickets for Happily Red: Showstoppers! are only $60 and include the reception and concert. Reservations are a must! A limited number of VIP tickets are also available at $100 which includes a post-show celebration at Café Carmon: THE destination restaurant in San Marco Square. Tickets are on sale now for this one night only event! Don’t miss Happily Red: Showstoppers! Saturday, February 9, 2008! For information and tickets, call (904) 396-4425. |