Alhambra Dinner Theatre facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Entertainment/Restaurant |
| Founded | Jacksonville, Florida (1967) |
| Founder | Ted Johnson |
| Headquarters |
Jacksonville, FL
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United States
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Number of locations
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Jacksonville, FL |
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Key people
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Tod Booth Sr., Director/Producer DeJuan Roy, Food Service Director Craig Smith, Theatre Partners Managing Member |
| Owner | Theatre Partners |
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Number of employees
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125 |
The Alhambra Theatre & Dining in Jacksonville, Florida, is a special place. It is the oldest professional dinner theater in the United States that has been open without stopping. It is also the only professional theater in Northeast Florida. In April 2025, readers of USA Today voted it the best dinner theater in the whole country!
Contents
History of the Alhambra Theatre
The Alhambra was built in 1967 by a businessman from Jacksonville named Leon Simon. Later, in 1984, Tod Booth, Sr. bought it. He moved to Jacksonville from Chicago, where he worked as an artistic director for other theaters. His family has often helped with the theater. His daughter, Jessica Booth, and wife, Lisa Valdini, have acted in many shows. His son, Tod Jr., has also acted, directed, and managed the stage. He even became the general manager and director of the Alhambra's Children's Theatre.
In the 1970s, dinner theaters like the Alhambra often invited famous actors from movies, TV, and music to perform. The first big star at the Alhambra was Dawn Wells from Gilligan's Island in 1969. She starred in the play Barefoot in the Park. These stars could earn a good amount of money each week for six to eight weeks. They also enjoyed the nice weather in Florida. Tod Booth explained that when a star's career slowed down, they could perform in a dinner theater show. This one show could help them earn money for a year or two.
However, by the early 1980s, it became harder to hire big-name stars. Booth said that many stars could make more money in one day doing a commercial than they could from a whole dinner theater show. Also, they did not have to travel. Because of this, fewer famous people performed. Instead, the theater focused on promoting the show itself, rather than a specific star. The actors were still professionals with lots of experience in plays, movies, and TV.
Famous Performers at the Alhambra
Since the 1970s, many talented actors have performed at the Alhambra. Here are just a few of the well-known people who have been on stage:
- Barbara Eden in Social Security (2014)
- Barry Williams in The Odd Couple (2011)
- Jamie Farr in Lend Me a Tenor (2011)
- Joyce DeWitt in Remember Me (2012)
- Loretta Swit in Murder Among Friends (2013)
- Michael Learned in Driving Miss Daisy (2013)
- Sally Struthers in Hello Dolly (2012)
- Cindy Williams in Weekend Comedy (2013)
- Richard Karn in I Ought to Be in Pictures (2014)
The Alhambra Theatre offers a three-course dinner served right at your table. They also have a full bar. Guests who arrive early can enjoy a "happy hour" at the bar. The theater has a special stage called a Thrust stage. This stage design helps make sure that all 408 seats have a great view of the show. Many staff members have worked at the Alhambra for over 25 years, which shows how much they love the theater!
Brief Closure and Reopening
On August 31, 2009, the Alhambra Dinner Theatre had to close for a short time. This was because of a difficult economic period that affected how many people came to the shows and how much money the theater spent.
However, good news came on October 28, 2009! A group of local investors called Theatre Partners bought the theater. They announced that the Alhambra would open again on December 1, 2009, with the classic show A Christmas Carol. This play had been a favorite in Jacksonville for over 20 years. Tod Booth, the former owner, agreed to direct the shows, which were the main reason people came.
The food service also got an upgrade. DeJuan Roy, a popular local chef, took charge of the menu. He started changing the menu with each new show. Also, instead of a buffet, guests now received table service. The building itself was also made to look new and fresh with new floors, lights, paint, and table settings.
To celebrate the theater's return, the new owners held a free outdoor dinner show on November 7, 2009. Chef Medure cooked on a grill, and performers sang classic show tunes. It was also announced that the first show for the 2010 season would be High School Musical, starting on December 30, 2009.
Actors' Equity Association Do Not Work Order
The Alhambra Dinner Theatre is currently on a "Do Not Work" list from the Actors' Equity Association. This means that actors who are members of this association are not allowed to work at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre. If they do, they could be suspended or even permanently removed from their union. This rule also applies to other unions connected to the Associated Actors and Artistes of America, like SAG-AFTRA.
See also
