Dr. Phillips Center announces grand opening of 5th venue: Judson’s Live

The long-awaited fifth venue of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will have its grand opening in February with a month of jazz performances, Orlando’s downtown arts center announced Thursday afternoon.

Judson’s Live, which has been in the works for more than five years, will officially open Feb. 6; the headliners for that night won’t be announced until Dec. 12, but two days later brings a performance by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

With the venue, the smallest of the center’s various performance spaces, the arts center is going for an upscale, listening-room vibe. Concerts there will feature a seasonally driven curated menu of shareable plates developed by Jason Klingensmith, the arts center’s executive chef. In addition, the announcement said, guests will be able to choose from craft cocktails, an “extensive brown spirits menu” and wine selected by the center’s in-house sommelier.

The announced concerts, which also include Keb’ Mo,’ Cécile McLorin Salvant, Joshua Redman and the Michel Camilo Trio, will be 90-minute experiences with about 50 minutes of performance time, the arts center said. Tickets range between $55 for McLorin Salvant and the Camilo Trio to $125 for Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. The food and drink cost extra.

The venue, which will accommodate more than 150 guests at table-style seating, is tucked behind Steinmetz Hall. The space has been part of the arts center’s plans for years; in early days, it was often referred to as “The Green Room.” When Steinmetz Hall opened in January 2022, the arts center had said Judson’s Live would follow in May, but various delays pushed the date back.

The venue is named for Judson Green, a former Walt Disney World executive, musician and philanthropist. He and his wife, Joyce, have donated more than $6 million to the arts center and both served on the board of directors. Green, who began playing piano at age 4, died in 2020.

“This venue will be an incredible place to celebrate jazz and shine a spotlight on renowned artists and other music genres, which was Judson’s dream,” said Joyce Green in the official announcement. “Judson and I were so thrilled to contribute to bringing this highly creative space to reality.”

Joyce Green, her family and Walt Disney World are joined by Brasfield & Gorrie and McGriff Insurance in sponsoring the grand opening. The venue itself was also supported by donations from Irving Matthews, Donna & Bill Wehner, Jacqueline Bradley & Clarence Otis and public money from the city of Orlando and Orange County.

Judson’s Live brings the total number of performance spaces at the arts center to five, following the Walt Disney Theater, the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, the outdoor Seneff Arts Plaza and Steinmetz Hall.

Dr. Phillips Center president Kathy Ramsberger said the new venue takes its cues from other notable music-listening spots.

“Dizzy’s Club, the Blue Note and the Elephant Room are some of the most remarkable music rooms our team used as inspiration for Judson’s Live,” she said in the announcement. “With the quality and standard of all of our venues, Judson’s Live will deliver unique experiences that will showcase local musicians, draw in world-renowned artists and continue to be a place of inspiration where people love to be.”

The Blue Note is in New York City’s Greenwich Village, while Dizzy’s Club at the city’s Columbus Circle is a Jazz at Lincoln Center venue. The Elephant Room is in Austin, Texas. All our well-known hotspots for jazz.

The first round of concerts announced offers both weekday and weekend shows throughout February into the beginning of March. Most nights, there are two performances, with showtimes generally at 7 and 9:30 p.m., and the occasional 5 p.m. Sunday show. Tickets go on sale Dec. 5 at judsonslive.org.

“Judson’s Live is another major achievement for our board of directors, donors, sponsors and city and county partners,” said Ed Timberlake, Dr. Phillips Center board chairman in a statement. “We look forward to more achievements in the future with the development of new venues and event spaces that draw even more visitors to the state of Florida and the region.”

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