Jacksonville.com August 16th 2011 by Charlie Patton
Lee Hamby, 36, is a proud graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. “I’m a big part of the DA alumni association,” he said.
So when fellow alum Krysten Bennett had the idea of putting on a show to raise money for an alumni scholarship fund, Hamby became involved.
He’s the director of “Showtime 25,” which will showcase current and former DA students singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, performing theater pieces and even reading poetry. Hamby also will appear on stage, reunited with members of Rhythm Junction, a jazz vocal group that performed together from 1988 to 1998.
His work on “Showtime 25” is part of Hamby’s busy life.
He’s just finished “Tommy” at Players by the Sea, in which he appeared on stage and also worked on sets and costumes. He’s directing the musical “Chicago,” scheduled to open the new season at Players next month. He’ll direct “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” which plays Theatre Jacksonville in December. And he’s a founding board member of the new 5 & Dime Theatre Company, based in Five Points, that will launch this fall with the performance of “Fahrenheit 451” at the downtown public library. He also does interior design consulting.
After graduating from DA in 1993, Hamby moved to Los Angeles and studied voice, then relocated to New York to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
About seven years ago he moved back to Jacksonville to be near his family. But he still auditions in New York. When casting was being held for a national tour of “Hairspray,” he was called back 13 times for the role of Edna Turnblad, the plus-sized Baltimore housewife who is always played by a man in drag. Ultimately, he was passed over for the part.
“I’ve been teased with the role,” he said. “I’m perfect for it but I’m not going to get it often because they like to cast some D-list celebrity.”
Earlier this year, he finally got the chance to do “Hairspray” at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, where he’s been working off and on for 20 years. Beginning at 16, he’s appeared in about 30 shows at the Alhambra, he said.
While he’s still acting, Hamby said more and more of his energy is going in to directing, something he’s never thought of doing until Joe Schwarz at Players by the Sea asked him to direct the Cole Porter review “Red, Hot and Cole” in 2005.
Hamby said what he loves about theater is what he also loves about directing. “It’s instant gratification,” he said. “You get immediate feedback.”
He said he became involved in “Showtime 25,” which is at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the school’s theater, because he feels a great loyalty to Douglas Anderson.
“It taught me so well,” he said. “My fondest memories are