With both local playhouses — the City Repertory Theatre in Palm Coast and the Flagler Playhouse in Bunnell — taking a break for the month of August, we turn our attention for this month’s entertainment section to other venues.
Daytona Beach Bandshell
Tribute performances continue for the month of August at this oceanside venue.
Listed below are the dates with the name of the band giving tribute to the corresponding tribute listed in parentheses:
Fri., Aug. 5: “Back in Time” (Huey Lewis and the News)
Sat., Aug. 6: “Livin’ on a Prayer” (Bon Jovi)
Fri., Aug. 12: “Purple Masquerade” (Prince)
Sat., Aug. 13: “Smokin” and “Renegade” (Boston and Styx)
Fri., Aug. 19: “The Wildflowers” (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
Sat., Aug. 20: “Turnstiles” (Billy Joel)
Fri., Aug. 26: “Ultimate Garth Brooks” (Garth Brooks)
Sat., Aug. 27: “Highway to Hell” (AC/DC)
All performances begin at 7:15 PM. The Bandshell is located at 70 Boardwalk, Daytona Beach, 32118.
Tickets available online by going to the venue’s website at www.daytonabandshell.com. Select the event you are interested in attending and click on the white button with the words, “Buy Tickets” in green lettering. Accessible seating available upon request when tickets are purchased. Purchase tickets day-of-show in person starting four hours prior to the performance at the Bandshell’s ticket office.
Parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis across the street from the Bandshell at the Ocean Walks Shoppes in the Ocean Center parking garage and other surface lots within walking distance. Accessible parking is also available in the parking garage with a total of 31 spaces located in the northeast and southwest corners on each level near the elevators. Parking cost varies by day. Contact the parking garage directly at (386) 916-3953 for specifics.
Road Trip and Some Laughs
Driving to Jacksonville doesn’t take too long: Only about an hour and half.
If you are looking for some humor with a room to spend the night before driving back home, the Comedy Zone located at 3130 Hartley Road inside the Ramada Inn just off Interstate 295 and San Jose Boulevard in Jacksonville’s Mandarin neighborhood has your ticket.
The Comedy Zone brings in all calibers of comedians and begins its August schedule with a big name.
Darrell Hammond of Saturday Night Live fame has a five-appearance gig starting at Thurs., Aug 4 at 7:30 PM with two shows on Fri., Aug. 5 and Sat., Aug 6 at 7:30 and 10 PM both nights.
Other comedians scheduled for August are as follows:
Felipe Esparza, 2010 winner of “Last Comedian Standing,” is slated for five shows the following week Aug. 11 through Aug. 13 with the same show times as above.
Carolanne Miljavac, a Christian comedian and mom to four kids, is scheduled for a one-night appearance on Sun., Aug. 14 at 7 PM.
Bill Bellamy, creator of the phrase, “booty call,” is on tap for six shows over two weeks starting Thurs., Aug. 18 at 7:30PM. His showtimes and dates follow the same schedule as Esparza and Hammond with the addition of a Sun., Aug. 21 appearance at 7 PM.
Finishing out the month of August is Michael Blackson, aka “The African King of Comedy.” His performances begin on Thurs., Aug. 25 and run through Sat., Aug. 27, with the same schedule as Esparza and Hammond.
Doors open one hour before each show. The Comedy Zone is divided into two sections: The Inner Circle and the Outer Circle. Seating is first-come, first-serve, but as per its website, the Comedy Zone guarantees seating within the purchaser’s circle choice.
The Inner Circle seating provides attendees a greater opportunity to interact with the comedian during the performance. The Outer Circle, which runs along the outside edge of the seating area, certainly isn’t a nosebleed section, but is a bit further away from the performer for those attendees that want to laugh but not possibly get drawn into a segment of the comedian’s act.
Prices vary for each performer. Check ticket prices on the Comedy Zone at its website: www.comedyzone.com. Click on performer to purchase tickets. You will be transferred to www.eventticketscenter.com.
The Comedy Zone offers a full selection of drinks and food. Friday nights feature all-you-can-eat crab legs. Must be 21 years of age to attend.
Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine
The final performance of Season 30 features the musical, “Parade,” with its preview night on Thurs., Aug. 4 and regular performances running from Fri., Aug. 5 through Sun., Sept. 4. The musical is presented on the Matuza Mainstage, the 125-seat venue of the Limelight Theatre located at 11 Old Mission Ave. in St. Augustine.
Terrific Tuesday, when tickets are discounted to $17, is Aug. 9.
The lyrics and music for “Parade” was written by Jason Robert Brown, an American musical theatre composer who has won three Tony Awards for his work on “Parade” and “The Bridges of Madison County.”
“Parade” tells the story of the 1913 trial, later imprisonment and 1915 lynching of Leo Frank, a Jewish American factory worker accused of raping and murdering Mary Phagan, a 13-year-old who also worked at the factory. Without spoiling too much more of the plot, we can tell you that Frank was hung in Milledgeville, Georgia, where the story unfolded and that some good did come from his death. While antisemitic tension in Georgia grew at this time, the Jewish Civil Rights organization and the Anti-Defamation League were both birthed as a result.
This musical isn’t recommended for children. It addresses mature topics without hesitation.
Online ticket purchases are available at the Limelight’s website: www.limelight-theatre.org/box-office/. The Limelight’s physical box office at the theatre property is open Tues. through Fri. from 10 AM to 4 PM, on Sat. from 10 AM to 2 PM, on Sundays one hour before showtime and is closed on Mon. It is open one hour before evening showtimes.
Tickets for the musical are $27 each. Student RUSH tickets available 30 minutes prior to any performance, if available, are $10. Student identification required. — Amy Armstrong