HANK & MY HONKY TONK HEROS Opens At Alhambra, 7/24-8/19

The Zach Brown Band performed this morning on the Today Show. Blake Shelton is a coach on the wildly successful television program, The Voice. Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop artists of a generation. Country music’s current success could only have happened with the hard work of its legendary founders. Award winning, critically acclaimed actor/singer Jason Petty brings his critically acclaimed tribute to Hank Williams to Jacksonville’s iconic Alhambra Theater & Dining from June 24 through August 19.

Petty has been written about in Variety, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The New York Post and a host of other media for his uncanny ability to capture the sounds of Hank Williams. Petty has won an Obie Award® for Best Actor portrayal as Hank Williams. Hank & My Honky Tonk Heroes takes theater-goers back in time to the very beginnings of country music and pays homage not only to Williams, but to other country legends such as George Jones, Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Acuff and many more. Petty recreates such Williams hits as I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Your Cheatin' Heart, Hey Good Lookin', Cold Cold Heart and more.

The Show features a live four-piece band, and, according to most reviews, is more like a concert than a play. According to Alhambra Managing Partner, Craig Smith, “This show will be similar to the Patsy Cline and Buddy Holly shows – two of our most popular shows. So folks who loved those will love this show, too.” He continued, “I have read so much about Jason. It is amazing to me the acclaim he has gotten doing this show. It sells out around the county. He’s been written about in Rolling Stone – Rolling Stone! – so you know he is the real thing. We are all excited to have this show back at the Alhambra.”

The Menu: As he does for all of the Alhambra’s shows, new Executive Chef DeJuan Roy has created a menu unique to the themes of the show. For Hank & My Honk Tonk Heroes, Roy take diners to Williams’ Alabama roots starting with a choice of salads, Summer Mixed Green Salad featuring mixed greens, sliced strawberries, oranges, sweet & spicy pecans, and feta cheese, finished with a light summer vinaigrette, or a Hopping' John Salad featuring black-eyed peas, sweet corn, fresh bell peppers, and red onion tossed in herb vinaigrette. For entrees, guests can choose from an Alabama Smoked Chicken with white barbeque sauce served with squash casserole and braised seasonAl Greens, or Fried Catfish dusted in a cornmeal blend served with hush puppies, Smoked Gouda grits, and braised collard greens, or Boneless Beef Short Ribs served with Cornbread soufflé and slow cooked pole beans. For dessert, choose from Peanut Butter Pie served in an Oreo crust, topped with fresh whipped cream and garnished with homemade peanut brittle, or Peach & White Chocolate Bread Pudding finished with blackberry anglaise. The Alhambra’s dinner service is now plated and served to the table.

Hank & My Honky Tonk Heroes runs July 24 through August 19. Shows start at 8:00 PM for evening shows Tuesday through Sunday. Doors open at 5:45 PM and dinner will be served until 7:30 PM. Matinees on Saturday are at 1:15 PM. Doors open at 11:00 AM and brunch starts at 11:15 AM. Sunday matinee is at 2:00. Doors open at noon and the meal start at 12:15 PM. Group sales are available. Regular pricing for tickets starts at $42 for adults and $35 for children. Ticket price includes dinner, show and parking. Call the box office at 904.641.1212 or www.alhambrajax.com.

About the new Alhambra Theatre & Dining

The Alhambra Theatre is the nation’s longest continuously operating professional dinner theatre and the only professional resident theatre between Atlanta and Miami. Opened in 1967, The Alhambra has hosted legends such as Tony Curtis, Claude Aiken, Sid Cesar and Cesar Romero, and, recently, Sally Struthers, Barry Williams, Loretta Swit and Jamie Farr. The Alhambra was the place of Betty Grable’s final acting role. In November 2009, the Alhambra was purchased by Theatre Partners, LLC, headed by Jacksonville entrepreneur and Alhambra patron, Craig Smith as way to give back to Jacksonville and preserve what he believes is one of its cultural jewels.