Alhambra Dinner Theatre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alhambra Theatre & Dining

Type	Private
Industry	Entertainment/Restaurant
Founded	Jacksonville, Florida (1967)
Founder	Ted Johnson
Headquarters	Jacksonville, FL , United States
Number of locations	Jacksonville, FL
Key people	Tod Booth Sr., Director/Producer DeJuan Roy, Food Service Director Craig Smith, Theatre Partners Managing Member
Owner	Theatre Partners
Number of employees	125

The Alhambra Theatre & Dining in Jacksonville, Florida, is a very special place. It is the oldest professional dinner theater in the United States that has been running without stopping. It's also the only professional theater in Northeast Florida that has its own resident acting group. A dinner theater is a place where you can enjoy a delicious meal and watch a live play or musical at the same time!

History of the Alhambra

The Alhambra Theatre was built in 1967 by a businessman from Jacksonville named Leon Simon. Later, in 1984, a man named Tod Booth, Sr. bought it. He had moved to Jacksonville from Chicago, where he worked with other theaters.

Tod Booth's family often helped out at the Alhambra. His daughter, Jessica Booth, and wife, Lisa Valdini, performed in many shows. His son, Tod Jr., also helped with acting, directing, and managing 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, or music to perform. This was a big draw for customers. For example, in 1969, Dawn Wells from Gilligan's Island starred in a play called Barefoot in the Park at the Alhambra. These stars could earn good money for performing for a few weeks. It was a way for them to continue acting and enjoy the Florida weather.

However, by the early 1980s, it became harder to get really big names to perform. Tod Booth explained that stars could earn more money doing a short commercial than a whole play. Also, many of the older stars were no longer around. So, the Alhambra started focusing on promoting the play itself, rather than just the famous actor. The performers were still professionals, with lots of experience on stage, in movies, and on TV.

The theater offers a delicious three-course dinner and a full bar. Many guests arrive early to enjoy happy hour at the bar. The stage is a special "Thrust stage," which means it sticks out into the audience. This design helps all 408 seats have a great view of the show. Some staff members have worked at the Alhambra for over 25 years!

Famous Performers at Alhambra

Since the 1970s, more than 100 famous people have performed on the Alhambra stage. Here are some of them:

A Short Break and Reopening

On August 31, 2009, the Alhambra Dinner Theatre closed for a short time. This was because of a tough economic period, which made it hard for them to get enough customers and pay their bills.

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. Their first show was Christmas Carole, a play that had been a favorite in Jacksonville for over 20 years.

Tod Booth, the former owner, agreed to come back and direct the shows. The food service also got a big upgrade. A popular local chef named DeJuan Roy took charge of the kitchen. He started changing the menu with each new show. Instead of a buffet, guests now enjoyed table service. The building also got a fresh new look with new floors, lights, paint, and table settings.

To celebrate the theater's return, the new owners hosted a free outdoor dinner show on November 7, 2009. A chef cooked on a grill, and performers sang classic show tunes. It was a fun way to welcome back this important local landmark. They also announced that the first show for the 2010 season would be High School Musical, starting on December 30, 2009.

See also

• List of dinner theaters
• Cabaret