Scene Calendar: 'Crucible,' 'Color Purple,' Gator Gallup, Homecoming Festival and more
MUSIC
Lynyrd Skynyrd: 7 p.m. Friday, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340C A1A South, St. Augustine. Tickets: $65-$175. (904-209-0367, theamp.com) As Lynyrd Skynyrd approaches the 50th anniversary of the band’s critically acclaimed debut album “Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd” in 2023, they resonate as deeply with their multi-generational fan base today as when they first emerged out of Jacksonville in 1973. Few ensembles have had the deep impact in creating a lifestyle as Lynyrd Skynyrd has. The band travels forward with a primary mission of celebrating a legacy that honors all who have had a resonating contribution to the lives of hundreds of millions of fans globally.
Jon Pardi: 7 p.m. Saturday, Daily's Place Amphitheatre, 1 Daily’s Place, Jacksonville. Tickets: $29.75-$89.75 . (dailysplace.com/events, 904-633-2000) The singer will perform as part of his “Mr. Saturday Night” world tour.
THEATER
“The Crucible”: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets: $23 general admission, $19 seniors, $12 students. (gcplayhouse.org) The town of Salem falls into mass hysteria as a group of teenage girls accuse their neighbors of witchcraft in an attempt to avoid punishment after their own dabbling in the occult.
“The Color Purple Teen Edition”: 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday plus Oct. 14-15, 8 p.m. Thursday plus Oct. 13-14. Tickets: $18 general admission, $15 seniors, $12 students. (starcenter.ticketleap.com) This musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (and the popular 1985 Steven Spielberg film) spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story. Intended for audiences 13 and older.
ET CETERA
Gator Gallop: 9:30-11 a.m. Friday, Plaza of the Americas, University of Florida campus. Cost: $26 adults, $15 ages 5-15. (gatorgrowl.org) Two-mile fun run where students and members of the Gainesville community race through campus plus photo-ops, music, prizes and more. Registration includes a T-shirt and medal.
Homecoming Festival: 9:30 a.m.-noon Friday, Plaza of the Americas, University of Florida campus. Free. (gatorgrowl.org) Community event in support of local businesses and to promote student organizations featuring activities and free goodies from vendors.
Homecoming Parade: Noon-2 p.m. Friday, beginning at Norman Hall on 13th Street then turning right down University Avenue. Free. (gatorgrowl.org) The largest student-run parade in the nation featuring student organizations, local businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations all showcasing floats.
Frogs and Friends Friday: 2-3 p.m. Friday, Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave. Free; registration required. (bit.ly/frogfriday22) Family friendly event held every first Friday of the month at the picnic pavilion. Kids, accompanied by an adult, can join Morningside’s animal caretaker and learn about the canter’s amphibian and reptile friends.
Weekly Walk and Talks: 3-4 p.m. Friday, Tuscawilla Preserve, parking is available at the Micanopy Native American Heritage Park directly north from Tuscawilla Preserve. The Thrasher Trail can be found by traveling approximately 0.8 miles East of downtown Micanopy on Southeast Tuscawilla Road/Southeast 165th Avenue. Free. (facebook.com/AlachuaConservationTrust/events) Creek Family Day.
Fall Festival: 4-7 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays, noon-7 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 5, Coon Hollo Farm, 22480 N. U.S. 441, Micanopy. Tickets: $14 general admission, free ages 3 and younger. (bit.ly/chffall23) Annual fall family event featuring Karson’s Wild West Show, hay ride to feed cows, crop maze, pony rides, pig races, sack slide, train ride and more.
Drive-in Laser Show: 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Gainesville Raceway, 11211 N. CR 225. Cost: $39 per carload. (bit.ly/driveinlaser23) Family event featuring 360-degree laser projections, top music hits, vendors and food trucks.
First Friday Food Trucks: 5-8 p.m. Friday, Celebration United Methodist Church, 9501 SW Archer Road. Free entry; food for sale. (bit.ly/firstfrifoodoct23) Family event featuring food trucks, pickleball, yard games, a fully accessible playground and a screening of "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!"
First Friday Art Walk: 5-9 p.m. Friday, Mossman Hall, 301 SR 26, Melrose. Free entry; food for sale. (mossmanhall.com) “Old Florida/New Florida” featuring guest artists Gerald Clum, Jenna Valdes, Jeff Fitzgerald and Hunter Turner plus food trucks.
Newberry Cornfield Maze: 5-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 28, Hodge Farm, 20015 W. Newberry Road, Newberry. Cost: $20 cash general admission at gate; $25 online general admission; $15 cash ages 3-10 at gate; $20 online ages 3-10; free ages 2 and younger; $5 hay ride; $5 mechanical bull; $5 human hamster balls; $5 additional haunted house entry. (newberrycornfieldmaze.com) General admission includes entry into the maze and a haunted house ticket. Child admission is for maze entry only; haunted house tickets can be purchased separately. Take nice stroll through the maze during the day by trying to choose the correct path to find your way out. Beware when darkness falls there is nocturnal life awaiting your entrance at every twist and turn as you try to make your way out. Also featuring hay ride, haunted house and kids’ play area.
Peanut Patch and Corn Maze Halloween Festival: 5-11 p.m. Fridays, 3-11 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 28, 8656 SW 75th St. Tickets: $20 general admission, $12 ages 3-11, free ages 2 and younger; cash only. (peanutpatchandcornmaze.com) Annual fall family event featuring hayrides, corn maze, night maze, barrel train, horseshoe pit, corn hole, haunted house, kids’ play area, campfire and food booth.
Fall Festival: 6-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 21, Denmark Acres, 825 SW Wester Drive, Lake City. Tickets: $15.95 general admission, $12.95 ages 3-12, free ages 2 and younger. (denmarkacres.com) Fall family event in the Old West Town of Ravens Hollow, including Restless Slumber Cemetery, live music, hayride, Pioneer Playground, petting zoo, Kids Mining Company, games, food trucks and more. Pony rides and laser tag are available for an additional cost.
Corn Maze: 6-11 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays, 2-6 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 5, Hollow Oaks, 18005 NW 190th Ave., High Springs. Tickets: $15 general admission, $12 ages 4-12, free ages 3 and younger. (hollowoakscornmaze.com) Annual fall family event featuring interactive game in the maze-hayride (haunted at night), photo opportunities, “mini” maze, pumpkin bowling, slide, jump pad, bean bag toss, duck race, corn box and more.
“Falling in Love…Again”: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, 837 SE Seventh Ave. Tickets: $25 in advance, $35 day of event. (gospelmeetsjazz.com, cottonclubmuseum.com/events) Fundraiser for Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center featuring The Gospel Meets Jazz Band and special guests.
Lost Railroad Scary Train: 7-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 28 plus Oct. 29-30, Kirby Family Farm, 19630 NE 30th St., Williston. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the gate. (kirbyfarm.com) An intense train ride with darkness, gunfire, strobe lights, fog machines, fire, live reptiles, live spiders, other critters, loud noises and small spaces. You may get wet! This fundraising event on the farm is not recommended for small children.
Hippvanna: 9-10 p.m. Friday dance class, 10 p.m. Friday-1 a.m. Saturday dance party, Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets: $5 dance class, $10 dance party, $15 both. (thehipp.org) Marta and Salil from the Gainesville Bachata community will teach a bachata class, a partner dance originating in the Dominican Republic. Then, dance all night with DJ Elio Piedra providing the beats.
Flea Market: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 230, 20370 E. SR 20, Hawthorne. Free entry; items and food for sale. (481-4483) Items for sale plus pancakes-and-sausage breakfast and a lunch special.
Central Florida Peanut Festival: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Heritage Park, 116 N. Main St., Williston. Free entry. (bit.ly/peanutfest23) Annual family event.
Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park Sinkhole Guided Walk: 10 a.m. Saturday, Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, 4732 Millhopper Road. Cost: $4 per vehicle, $2 pedestrian or bicyclist. (bit.ly/devilsmill) Ask questions and learn about the area and its history while exploring the park with a ranger.
Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation Tour: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation, 8528 E. County Road 225. Tickets: $25 adults, $10 ages 2-11, free ages 1 and younger; $45 motorized-vehicle tours. (carsonspringswildlife.org, 468-2827, contact@cswildlife.org) Take a tour — on foot or in a tour vehicle — of Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation with big-cat feeding demonstrations and up-close encounters with the animals.
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Guided Tour: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Drive. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 ages 5-13, free for ages 4 and younger; free for members; group rates available. (kanapaha.org) Guided tour of the gardens.
Historic Haile Homestead Tour: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays, Historic Haile Homestead, 8500 Archer Road. Entrance: $5 ages 12 and older, free ages 11 and younger. (hailehomestead.org) The Historic Haile Homestead is unique in the nation for its "Talking Walls.''
Rooterville Animal Sanctuary Self-Guided Tours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Rooterville Animal Sanctuary, 5579 Darwood St., Melrose. Cost: Suggested $15 donation per person or $45 for a family of four. (rooterville.org) Take a map of the sanctuary at the gate to see highlights of Rooterville to help you find your way. Trolley tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze: 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Oct. 29, Branford Farm Stand, 27687 U.S. 129, Branford. Free entry; items for sale. (branfordfarmstand.com) Annual fall family event featuring pumpkin patch, crop maze and hayride.
Fall Festival: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Oct. 29, Amber Brooke Farms, 3250 NE 140th Ave., Williston. Tickets: $15. (amberbrookefarms.com/fall-festival) Pick pumpkins, get lost in a crop maze, pet animals in a petting zoo, pick flowers and vegetables, listen to live music and entertainment, and more. Plus, enjoy all of the farm’s year-round activities.
Horse Feeding: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Mill Creek Farm Retirement Home for Horses, 20307 NW CR 235A, Alachua. Entrance: Bag of carrots. (millcreekfarm.org) The Retirement Home for Horses provides lifetime care to elderly horses seized by law enforcement agencies, rescued by the SPCA or humane societies, as well as horses retired from government service such as police patrol or state and federal parks.
Fall Festival: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Oct. 29, Mayhem Ranch, 17830 SE 40th St., Morriston; organizers ask attendees to put “Mayhem Ranch” in map apps instead of using physical address. (mayhemranchfl.com/event/mayhem-ranch-fall-festival) Annual family fall event featuring pumpkin patch, crop maze, petting farm, mini cow town, produce market, live music, pig races, hay ride and more.
Oktoberfest: Noon-8 p.m. Saturday, World of Beer, 140 SW 128th St., Suite B, Newberry. Free entry; food for sale. (bit.ly/wobtober23) Annual fall event featuring German beers.
Oktoberfest: 6 p.m. Saturday, Homestead Park, 1050 NE Sixth Blvd., Williston. Free admission; food for sale. (bit.ly/willtoberfest23) Fall event featuring food trucks, beer and more.
Music 360: “Gustav Holst's The Planets”: 5 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 4, Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, 3000 NW 83rd St.Tickets: $8.22 for adults; $6.17 ages 4-12, ages 60 and older, UF affiliates, military and first responders. (bit.ly/theplanets23) An immersive journey of sight and sound as audiences experience the majesty of Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite “The Planets” while visiting the planets of the Solar System. Holst wrote “The Planets” between 1914 and 1916, and each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst.
“Eclipse”: 7-7:45 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 14, Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, 3000 NW 83rd St.Tickets: $8.22 for adults; $6.17 ages 4-12, ages 60 and older, UF affiliates, military and first responders. (showpass.com/eclipse) "Eclipse: The Story of Our Nearest Neighbor in Space" takes you on a journey of discovery to our nearest celestial neighbor. Learn about the origins, composition and mechanics of the moon. Discover how the ancients were able to predict eclipses with great accuracy, and find out when/where you can view the next eclipse.
Fall Festival and Corn Maze: 2-7 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Oct. 29, Crossroads Farm and Apiary, 3831 NW 156th Ave. Tickets: $10 general admission, free ages 2 and younger. (crossroadsfarmandapiary.com) Annual fall family event featuring pumpkin patch, bounce pad, hay ride, train ride, pumpkin chunkin', face painting, games, playground, animals, corn bin, hay bale jungle gym, u-craft, shopping, photo ops, beekeeping encounter (no live bees) and more.
Indigenous Peoples Day: Proclamation: 5:30 p.m. Monday, City Hall, 200 E. University Ave. Free. (bit.ly/ipdgville23) Reading of the proclamation that officially renamed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.
Trunk or Treat: 6-9 p.m. Monday, Newberry Parks and Recreation, 25515 NW Sixth Ave., Newberry. Free. (bit.ly/newberryhalloween23) Fall family event featuring games, candy and crafts.
“Break Every Chain” Master Class Luncheon: 11 a.m.-2:10 p.m. Tuesday, Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, 837 SE Seventh Ave. Tickets: $40. (cottonclubmuseum.com/events) Professor Fran T. Close will lead a discussion on "Living in America while Black" and “The Psychological Impact on Mental Health and Wellness in African Americans.” Dr. Michael Patterson will present and discuss "America's Secret and Successful Strategy, Disenfranchising Unwed Fathers / Legitimizing Fatherhood.” Vivian Filer also will offer her remarks. The event will be moderated at the luncheon and on the Zoom presentation by Dr. Madie Mosley.
Sweetwater Wetlands Park Wednesday Bird Walks: 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays through May 29, 2024, Sweetwater Wetlands Park, 325 SW Williston Road. Admission: $5 per vehicle; $2 for pedestrians, vans and bikes. (alachuaaudubon.org) Discover the rich diversity of birds at one of north central Florida's premier birding hotspots during a two- to three-hour guided walking tour. Birders of all levels welcome. Walks are led by volunteers from Alachua Audubon Society with assistance from Sweetwater Wetlands Park rangers.
Barnyard Buddies: 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays through May 29, 2024, Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave. Free. (bit.ly/barnbuds) Weekly program where youngsters, with an adult, can meet and greet farm animals by helping staff with afternoon feeding. Animals love donations of carrots, squash, apples, sweet potatoes and melons.
Screaming for Safety: 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Kiwanis Safety City, 1025 NE 13th St. Free. (bit.ly/scream4safety23) Annual fall family event featuring trunk-or-treating, games, and businesses showcasing their services and resources.
Indigenous Peoples Day: Museum Nights at the Harn: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Harn Museum of Art, 3259 Hull Road. Free. (bit.ly/ipdgville23) Experience art and culture from across indigenous communities.
ART
Artisans' Guild Gallery: Linda Blondheim's Front Porch Chilli Party, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Join Linda and poet Sarah Carey for poetry, art and good eats on the porch; Fall Market planned for Sunday. 224 NW Second Ave. (378-1383, artisansguildgallery.com)
Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention: “Tom Petty: Among the Wildflowers,” exploring the joys, pains and creative awakenings Petty experienced when pouring his soul into his magnum opus, on display through December; “Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion,” featuring 40 full-scale machines that were built after in-depth study of Leonardo da Vinci’s designs by a group of scientists and skilled craftsmen in Florence, Italy, on display through Jan. 7, 2024. Tickets: $12.50, $10 seniors and college students, $7.50 ages 5-17, free ages 4 and younger. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. 811 N. Main St. (371-8001, cademuseum.org)
Cedar Key Arts Center: “Cathie Christie Permanent Collection” and “Grace Lord” photography on display through Oct. 30. 457 Second St., Cedar Key. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (543-5801, cedarkeyartscenter.org)
Florida Museum of Natural History: “Antarctic Dinosaurs” on display through April 21, 2024. Today, Antarctica is a forbidding land of snow and ice, but 200 million years ago it was a lush, wooded habitat where dinosaurs thrived. Uncover the history of the world’s southernmost continent and the unique species that have called it home in this interactive, family friendly experience. Tickets: $10 adults; $9 Florida residents, seniors and non-UF college students; $7 ages 3-17; free ages 2 and younger, UF students and museum members. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 3215 Hull Road. (floridamuseum.ufl.edu, 846-2000)
Gainesville Fine Arts Association Gallery: “100 Years of Art — Anniversary Celebration Exhibition” on display through Oct. 21; “2016 Board of Directors” on display through Oct. 21; “Growth” on display Oct. 25-Nov. 18; “Winter Showcase 2023” on display Nov. 22-Dec. 20. Gallery hours are 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 1314 S. Main St. (gainesvillefinearts.org, info@gainsevillefinearts.org)
Harn Museum of Art: “Jerry Uelsmann: A Celebration of His Life and Art,” commemorating a beloved UF artist, teacher, colleague and friend through an overview of his creative life, including 37 photographs laid out chronologically, on display through Feb. 18, 2024; “Under the Spell of the Palm Tree: The Rice Collection of Cuban Art” on display through Jan. 7, 2024. “Under the Spell of the Palm Tree” is drawn exclusively from the collection of Susie and Mitchell Rice, and offers a glimpse into the complexity of culture and history that has inspired Cuban art throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century. Guest curators Gabriela Azcuy and David Horta will utilize the work of a broad range of artists in the Rice Collection to display an inclusive view of Cuban art, reflecting on its current dynamic and the existence of new geographies as an essential part of its reality. Through more than 70 works representing 53 artists, the exhibition will present the narrative of a “crossing” — a virtual crossing of the seas as well as a crossing of generations, of artists living or having lived both in Cuba and in the Diaspora; “Gateway to Himalayan Art” on display Feb. 6, 2024-July 2024. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 3259 Hull Road. (392-9826)
Matheson History Museum: “Alachua’s Queer History” on display Oct. 14-28. Temporary gallery interpreting the history of the LGBTQ+ community featuring recently acquired collection from the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida. The gallery will take a broad view of Gainesville’s queer community and its important institutions during the fight for equality while displaying memorabilia and artifacts from that time; “We Are Here: Stories From Multilingual Speakers In North Central Florida,” an exhibition that illustrates the immigration journeys of the North Central Florida community through stories that hold power in multiple languages; “Return to Forever: Gainesville’s Great Southern Music Hall,” showcasing dozens of John Moran‘s performance photos from his two years as the Great Southern Music Hall house photographer. Also featured is a display of Bo Diddley artifacts, including one of Bo’s signature square box guitars. Written by music journalist Bill DeYoung and designed by historian Rick Kilby, this unique exhibit celebrates a golden age in the University City’s musical history, the likes of which may never be seen again; “When Johnny Came Marching Home: Some Gave All – All Gave Some,” remembering those who came home from war with both physical and mental wounds, on display outside. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. 513 E. University Ave. (378-2280, mathesonmuseum.org)
Melrose Bay Art Gallery: Wood sculpture and carvings in cypress by Bob Bird on display through Oct. 29 with an Artwalk reception 6-9 p.m. Friday. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday or by appointment. 103 State Road 26, Melrose. (475-3866, melrosebayartgallery.com)
Santa Fe College’s Blount Hall: A large art collection from local collector Hector Puig on display. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Corner of West University Avenue and North Sixth Street.
Sweetwater Print Cooperative: "Out of the Dark," a Mike Donovan exhibit of pictures drawn on black scratchboard, some with color added. Show closes at noon Oct. 25. Gallery hours: By appointment. 117 S. Main St. (514-3838)
University Galleries: “Valerie Brathwaite. Works on Paper.” on display through Nov. 18, features drawings by the Trinidad and Tobago-born artist that transformed the history of Venezuelan art. Curated by Macarena Deij Prado, this exhibition is part of the [On View: Curatorial Studies] series and will be held at the Gary R. Libby Focus Gallery. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. 400 SW 13th St. (arts.ufl.edu/university-galleries)
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 14, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Live music on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
Voices Rising Community Chorus: 3 and 7 p.m. Oct. 15, First United Methodist Church, 419 NE First St. Cost: Suggested donation of $10-$20. (vrccgainesville.org) Celebrating its 10th anniversary with the fall concert “From Stage and Screen,” featuring songs from musicals and films. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Bread of the Mighty Food Bank.
Music at Holy Trinity: 4 p.m. Oct. 15, Holy Trinity Church, 100 NE First St. Free; donations accepted. (holytrinitygnv.org) “Three Centuries of Music for Cello” concert featuring Tim Mutschlecner on the cello and Tiffany Fung on piano. Music of Shostakovich, Haydn and Dvořák. Reception (wine and hors d’oeuvres) follow concert. Live streaming begins 5 minutes prior to the concert, and also can also be viewed afterward.
Nobuntu: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $20-$40, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Hailing from Zimbabwe, the all-woman a cappella quintet Nobuntu is recognized internationally for its sparkling energy, breathtakingly rich voices and inventive performances that cover the gamut from gospel to traditional Zimbabwean songs to Afro-jazz. Augmented only using minimal percussion, they emphasize pure voices, authentic dance movements and the use of traditional instruments.
UF Carillon Annual Halloween Spooktacular: 7:20 p.m. Oct. 17, Century Tower Carillon, 375 Newell Drive, University of Florida campus. Free. (arts.ufl.edu) Listeners are encouraged to find a location at least 100 feet from the tower for an optimal listening experience.
Nick Carter: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $45-$90. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Sparking his career at 12 years old, Nick Carter became an international pop superstar as the youngest member of iconic boy band Backstreet Boys. Known for his boyish good looks and heartthrob status, Carter’s 23-year entertainment career has spanned far beyond the stages of sold-out arenas, with an array of projects in television and film, and as a philanthropist and author.
Balourdet Quartet: 2 p.m. Oct. 22, Squitieri Studio Theatre, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $35, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) One of the hottest new string quartets on the classical music scene, Balourdet Quartet is made up of individuals filled with raw passion for chamber music. Formed in 2018, the quartet received the Gold Medal at the 2020 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Second Prize at the 2019 Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition, and the top prize at the Borciani Competition in Italy in 2021.
Playlist at the Pointe: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 27, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) A live band will perform. Food will be available from area restaurants.
Ndlovu Youth Choir: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $20-$40, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Known for their soul-stirring performances and fresh from their “America’s Got Talent” showcase, Ndlovu Youth Choir brings a message of hope, love and togetherness. The choir’s repertoire is an exciting mix of traditional South African genres with pop, rock, jazz and EDM.
Steep Canyon Rangers: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $20-$40, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Although they received a boost when they collaborated with Steve Martin, Steep Canyon Rangers built a large audience with their interpretations of bluegrass, folk and string music. The genre-defying sextet mixes elements of folk rock, country and pop to create something unique, innovative and completely original.
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. Nov. 11, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Live music on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
Alexa Tarantino Quartet: 7 and 9 p.m. Nov. 17, UpStage at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $50 for 7 p.m., $35 for 9 p.m., $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. Alexa Tarantino is an award-winning jazz saxophonist. Named one of the Top 5 Alto Saxophonists by JazzTimes Critics’ Poll, Tarantino has established herself as a high-octane, dynamic performer. While she and her bandmates approach the set with tradition firmly in mind, they bring an invigorating way of looking forward.
Luca Mundaca: 7 and 9 p.m. Nov. 18, UpStage at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $50 for 7 p.m., $35 for 9 p.m., $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. With more than 138,000 monthly listeners and millions of plays on Spotify, Luca Mundaca is an artist in her prime. Mundaca uses her stunning voice to bring about great intimacy and emotion. Her work has been featured in movies including “End of Watch” and “The Visitor,” TV shows such as “Californication” and “Mistresses,” and the Brazilian telenovela “Ti Ti Ti.”
UF Carillon Studio Recital: 1:55 p.m. Nov. 19, Century Tower Carillon, 375 Newell Drive, University of Florida campus. Free. (arts.ufl.edu) Listeners are encouraged to find a location at least 100 feet from the tower for an optimal listening experience.
Playlist at the Pointe: 7-9 p.m. Nov. 24, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) A live band will perform. Food will be available from area restaurants.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $45-$75, $20 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Make the holidays swing with Big Band Holidays. A celebrated tradition under the music direction of Wynton Marsalis, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra features vocalist Ashley Pezzotti. An uplifting event perfect for the entire family. Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year alongside fellow music lovers with soulful arrangements of classic holiday songs.
UF Carillon Annual Holiday Concert: 1:55 p.m. Dec. 3, Century Tower Carillon, 375 Newell Drive, University of Florida campus. Free. (arts.ufl.edu) Annual holiday concert. Listeners are encouraged to find a location at least 100 feet from the tower for an optimal listening experience.
Jazz on the Green: 7-9 p.m. Dec. 9, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Live music on the stage in the promenade, food and drinks, lawn games and more.
Christmas Cantata: 7 p.m. Dec. 10, North Gainesville Baptist Church, 6203 NW 39th Ave. Free. (bit.ly/xmascantata23) A Christmas cantata is a cantata, music for voice or voices in several movements, for Christmas.
Playlist at the Pointe: 7-9 p.m. Dec. 15, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) A live band will perform. Food will be available from area restaurants.
Gainesville Orchestra Presents: Season's Greetings: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Santa Fe College, Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall, 3000 NW 83rd St. Tickets: $15-$45. (gainesvilleorchestra.com) A symphonic season's greetings. Ring the bells … resound the organ! An international celebration of the most joyous time of the year, including Saint Saens' exalted "Organ" symphony, “Dances” with Tchaiskovsky, special guests, surprising favorites and a finale sing-a-long.
Florida Carillon Festival: 6:15 p.m. Dec. 16, Century Tower Carillon, 375 Newell Drive, University of Florida campus. Free. (arts.ufl.edu) Listeners are encouraged to find a location at least 100 feet from the tower for an optimal listening experience.
New Year’s Eve Eve: 7-10 p.m. Dec. 30, Tioga Town Center, 13085 SW First Lane, Newberry. Free. (bit.ly/nyee23) Elio Piedra will perform under the stars. Piedra is a musician, drummer, entertainer, singer, arranger, composer and voting member at LARAS & NARAS Academy. He was born in Cuba and began his musical career at the age of 10 at the Arts Conservatory Raul Sanchez. At 15, he gained entry into the National Conservatory of Music Carlos Hidalgo, where he continued to hone his craft, even touring Cuba with the symphony orchestra. Piedra immigrated to the United States at the age of 20 and began playing with many notable musicians in Miami. He eventually relocated to Gainesville, where he lives with his wife. Highly in demand, Piedro splits his time between live shows, drum instruction and touring with his group, Elio’s Quartet. Visit the Town Center restaurants for dinner before the show, or to grab take-out to enjoy during the concert.
American Spiritual Ensemble: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $20-$40, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) American Spiritual Ensemble began as a dream of performing and preserving the music of the American slave spirituals to keep the art form alive. These songs now stand as a testament to the strength found through faith during times of hardship as well as a unifying force among all people. The chorale is made up of some of the finest classically trained soloists in the United States who have sung in opera houses and theaters around the world.
Young Concert Artists on Tour: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30, 2024, Squitieri Studio Theatre, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $35, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Young Concert Artists on Tour is a new program that brings together a unique chamber ensemble of the most extraordinary young artists to cities in North America. This dynamic performance features rarely heard instrumentation that combines voice with violin, cello and piano.
Twisted Pine: 7 and 9 p.m. Feb. 1, 2024, UpStage at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $50 for 7 p.m., $35 for 9 p.m., $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. New roots string band Twisted Pine draws audiences across the UK and the U.S. with their lush harmonies and daring, forthright and charismatic songwriting. Of bluegrass origin, this quartet has developed its own unique style with layered sound that echoes Indie pop. Their voices blend into unexpected harmonies and grooves together in instrumental interplay.
Alfredo Rodriguez Trio: 7 and 9 p.m. Feb. 2, 2024, UpStage at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $50 for 7 p.m., $35 for 9 p.m., $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. Over the past decade, Cuban-born pianist Alfredo Rodriguez has gone from a young local artist to a globally recognized Grammy nominee with three critically acclaimed releases. Schooled in the rigorous classical conservatories of Havana, Rodriguez’s riveting artistry is informed as much by Bach and Stravinsky as by his heritage and jazz roots. Discovered at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival by Quincy Jones, Rodriguez has distinguished himself as the definition of jazz and improvisation without boundaries.
The String Queens: 7 and 9 p.m. Feb. 8, 2024, UpStage at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $50 for 7 p.m., $35 for 9 p.m., $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. Praised for authentic, soulful and orchestral sound, The String Queens is a dynamic trio that inspires audiences to love, hope, feel and imagine through stirring musical experiences. With a repertoire that spans from Baroque to jazz to the Hot 100 Chart, The String Queens act as a bridge between classical music and mainstream pop with an exhilarating journey through time and musical genres with arrangements from the heart.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $40-$65, $20 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) The internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra crafts each performance with thoughtful consideration toward creative ways to merge the power of music with the spirit of exploration.
New York Voices: 7 and 9 p.m. Feb. 15, 2024, UpStage at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $50 for 7 p.m., $35 for 9 p.m., $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. New York Voices has taken the best classic jazz and moved it to new levels. Shaped by Brazilian, R&B, classical and pop influences, their performances at top venues including Carnegie Hall allow them to be considered one of the most exciting vocal ensembles in the country.
Six One Five Collective: 7 and 9 p.m. Feb. 16, 2024, UpStage at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $50 for 7 p.m., $35 for 9 p.m., $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. Steeped in a mix of Americana, folk, country and pop, Six One Five Collective is a Grammy-nominated collaborative effort and creative brainstorm of four artists reminiscent of bands like Fleetwood Mac and Little Big Town. With an eclectic mix of high-energy music, original pieces and hit songs they have written for artists such as George Strait, Kesha, Kelly Clarkson and Sister Hazel, Six One Five Collective has carved a distinctive niche for themselves.
Arod Quartet: 2 p.m. Feb. 25, Squitieri Studio Theatre, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $35, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) The Arod Quartet skyrocketed to international attention when they won the coveted First Prize at the 2016 ARD International Music Competition in Munich, having already taken First Prize at the Carl Nielsen Chamber Music Competition in Copenhagen in 2015. They later served as the BBC New Generation Artists from 2017 to 2019. Since then, they have firmly established themselves in performance and recording at the forefront of string quartets by dazzling audiences around the globe.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $25-$45, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Ladysmith Black Mambazo has celebrated more than 60 years of joyous and uplifting melodies. Within this music are the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African traditions. The a cappella vocal group has created a spirit that has touched a worldwide audience, and garnered praise and accolades from a wide body of people, organizations and countries.
Ying Li: 2 p.m. March 17, 2024, Squitieri Studio Theatre, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $35, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Twenty-four-year-old pianist Ying Li has received top awards in numerous national and international competitions. Beginning piano at the age of 5, she has studied in Beijing, Philadelphia and at The Juilliard School. Since then, Li has performed with many leading orchestras such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony and the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, among others.
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: 7:30 p.m. March 19, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $20-$40, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Canada’s reigning couple of Celtic music is coming to the Phillips Center — and they are bringing their family with them! Natalie and Donnell Leahy’s high level of skill and palpable joy at playing the fiddle together has earned them both industry acclaim and built up a loyal fan base. They combine their talents to give audiences an electrifying musical experience.
Pat Metheny: 7:30 p.m. March 20, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $40-$60, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Twenty-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist Pat Metheny is known to bring something unique to every performance. This show is no exception, focusing on the various ways of playing solo he has explored across the decades in an evening that will be very special. The set features personal and fan favorite tracks from his nearly 50-year career, creating an almost orchestral range from bass to soprano within the realm of guitar.
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields: 7:30 p.m. March 24, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $45-$75, $20 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Music director and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell returns to the stage to lead the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Retaining the flexibility and spirit of their origin as a small, conductorless ensemble, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields has gained an enviable international reputation as one of the world’s finest chamber orchestras. Renowned for their polished, innovative interpretations of distinctive orchestral music, they present both symphonic and chamber repertoire on a grand scale at prestigious venues around the globe.
Harold López-Nussa: 7 and 9 p.m. April 11, 2024, UpStage at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $50 for 7 p.m., $35 for 9 p.m., $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. Pianist Harold López-Nussa reflects the richness of Cuban music with his distinctive combination of classical, folkloric and improvisation. This fresh take is an exhilarating personification of the ritmo of the modern music scene’s bustling soul. With astonishingly fresh performances that showcase the full range and richness of the genre, López-Nussa has earned significant national and international awards in the classical and jazz worlds.
The Crane Wives: 7 and 9 p.m. April 12, 2024, UpStage at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $50 for 7 p.m., $35 for 9 p.m., $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. A four-piece indie band, The Crane Wives defies musical stereotype with eclectic instrumentation and lively stage presence. They perform homegrown Indie folk with candor and touching, soulful harmonies, and are not afraid to experiment with jazz influences and instruments.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Weekly Walk and Talks: 3-4 p.m. Oct. 13, Santa Fe River Preserve, 27025 N. SR 121, Alachua. Free. (facebook.com/AlachuaConservationTrust/events) Flora-and-fauna hike with Our Santa Fe River.
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 13-29, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O. Tickets: $25 general admission; $20 students, seniors, military and teachers. (acrosstown.org) In this infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to 19th century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up … and the carnage has only just begun!
McIntosh 1890s Festival: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 14, 5835 Avenue G, McIntosh. Free entry; items and food for sale. (mcintosh1890sfestival.com, facebook.com/mcintoshfestival) Annual event in its 50th year featuring live oak canopies up and down the streets and avenues of Victorian homes providing shade and a festive backdrop musical entertainment from bluegrass to country and gospel, food vendors and 280 juried vendors.
Fall Festival: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 14, Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, 4990 NE 180th Ave., Williston. Tickets: $12 adults, $5 ages 6-13, free ages 5 and younger, free for quarry members. (cedarlakeswoodsandgarden.com/upcoming-events) Serene botanical haven will be transformed into a vibrant autumn wonderland. Attendees can immerse themselves in the stunning colors of the season and enjoy a variety of activities that capture the essence of fall.
Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 14, Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave. Free. (bit.ly/ipdgville23) Native dancers and drummers will showcase dances indigenous to this land. A living history encampment will take attendees back in time to showcase the Potano/Timucuan people who called the Gainesville area their home.
Downtown High Springs Artwalk: Noon-5 p.m. Oct. 14, downtown High Springs. Free entry; items and food for sale. (facebook.com/downtownhighsprings/events) Monthly event featuring local artists and makers, as well as specials from downtown businesses.
“Stories of Immigration: Sharing, Learning and Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors”: 4 p.m. Oct. 14, Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave. Free; registration required. (mathesonmuseum.org) Stories about immigration from immigrant neighbors — and bring your own stories to share. Facilitated discussion about the different immigration journeys and experiences represented in the community plus resources for better supporting and learning about immigrant neighbors.
Sunday Assembly: 11 a.m. Oct. 15, Pride Center located in the Springhill Professional Center, 3850 NW 83rd St., Suite 201. Free. (SundayAssembly32601@gmail.com, sagainesville.weebly.com) Sunday Assembly will host guest speaker Shelley Samec, a waste alternative specialist with Alachua County’s Solid Waste and Recovery Department. She will be speaking on “Recycle Right!” She suggests that people might bring items about which they have questions, and she will be bringing items for discussion. Music will be provided by Sunday Assembly musicians with the opportunity to sing along. It also is possible to attend via Zoom.
Book Launch: 3 p.m. Oct. 15, Santa Fe Center for Innovation and Economic Development, 530 W. University Ave. Free. (happysailorbooks.com, contact@happysailorbooks.com, 954-440-9240, instagram.com/happysailorbooks) Richard Rosengarten, author of “With My Little Spade,” will fill the room with storytelling and poetry as well as sign books. Kids can engage in fun and educational activities inspired by the book.
Weekly Walk and Talks: 3-4 p.m. Oct. 20, Tuscawilla Preserve, parking is available at the Micanopy Native American Heritage Park directly north from Tuscawilla Preserve. The Thrasher Trail can be found by traveling approximately 0.8 miles East of downtown Micanopy on Southeast Tuscawilla Road/Southeast 165th Avenue. Free. (facebook.com/AlachuaConservationTrust/events) Pride hike with the Pride Center of North Central Florida.
Bat Fest: 10 a.m. Oct. 21, Lubee Bat Conservancy, 1309 NW 192nd Ave. Tickets: $30 beer garden plus general admission, $10 general admission, $5 ages 5-12, free ages 4 and younger. (lubee.org) Annual family event featuring the world's largest bats, native species, more than 90 vendors, Kids Zone, educational talks and more.
Weekly Walk and Talks: 3-4 p.m. Oct. 27, Blues Creek Ravine Preserve, Northwest 69th Avenue; accessed by foot or bicycle. There is no parking at the trailhead. Parking is available on the shoulders of Northwest 71st Street. Free. (facebook.com/AlachuaConservationTrust/events) Guided hike.
“Swan Lake”: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $35-$65. (performingarts.ufl.edu) The story of a prince whose fiancée has been transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer. Presented by Dance Alive National Ballet.
Tioga Outdoor Movie Night: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, Tioga Town Center, 133 SW 130th Way, Newberry. Free. (tiogatowncenter.com) Tioga movie night featuring “Ghostbusters.” Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and enjoy the movie under the stars.
Bored Teachers: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $30-$50. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Bored Teachers presents the 2023 “We Can’t Make This Stuff Up” comedy tour featuring the funniest teacher-comedians in the world. Their hilarious skits have amassed hundreds of millions of views on the Internet, and they’re all joining comic forces on the stage.
Florida’s Heritage Gardening: All day Nov. 4, Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave. Free; registration required. (mathesonmuseum.org) Event focusing on fall gardening in Florida, including a lecture by Dr. Sarah Cervone of the Florida Heritage Foods program. She will talk about her work with the project, Florida’s traditional garden plants and the importance of promoting heritage gardening methods.
“Mean Girls”: 8 p.m. Nov. 8, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $45-$75, $20 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Direct from Broadway, “Mean Girls” is the hilarious hit musical from book writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (“Legally Blonde”), and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (“The Book of Mormon”). The story of a naïve newbie who falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies.
Tracing Your Ancestors : 4 p.m. Nov. 11, Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave. Free; registration required. (mathesonmuseum.org) Genealogist Tatanya Peterson will share how she traced her family line back to Hampton and Grace Hathcock, her four-times great grandparents, who were enslaved on the plantation of James Chesnut near Alachua. Learn about the discoveries she made and the steps she took in her research. Karen Kirkman, a volunteer transcriber, will discuss how to access and query the online Alachua County Ancient Records, and what might be discovered there.
“The Addams Family”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 17-Dec. 10; no performance Thanksgiving day, Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets: $23 general admission, $19 seniors, $12 students. (gcplayhouse.org) In the kooky, upside-down world of the Addams family, to be sad is to be happy, to feel pain is to feel joy, and death and suffering are the stuff of their dreams. Nonetheless, this quirky family still has to deal with many of the same challenges faced by any other family, and the spookiest nightmare faced by every family creates the focus for this musical: the Addams kids are growing up.
Downtown High Springs Artwalk: Noon-5 p.m. Nov. 18, downtown High Springs. Free entry; items and food for sale. (facebook.com/downtownhighsprings/events) Monthly event featuring local artists and makers, as well as specials from downtown businesses.
Tree Lighting Ceremony Opening Night: 6-11 p.m. Nov. 23, Poe's Hawthorne Community Christmas Display, 2605 SE CR 219A, Hawthorne. Free; donations accepted. (bit.ly/poeholiday23) Family holiday walk-through display featuring light displays with more lights added every day. Parking at Eden Baptist Church, 2405 SE CR 219A.
“The Ultimate Christmas Show”: 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 24-Dec. 23, Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets: $20-$50. (thehipp.org) This audience favorite is back! “The Ultimate Christmas Show” (abridged) bursts with festive, slapstick fun as these cheerful comedians celebrate all of our favorite holiday traditions — at the same time.
“A Christmas Carol”: 1 and 4 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays Nov. 25-Dec. 23 plus 7 p.m. Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Dec. 21, 1 p.m. Dec. 22 and 3 p.m. Dec. 22, Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets: $20-$50. (thehipp.org) “Bah, humbug!” to dashing through the snow and sleigh rides in Florida. Staying true to the weighty themes of the original novel while delivering a gripping story, cheerful holiday music and genuine laughs for the whole family, “A Christmas Carol” is one of Gainesville’s favorite holiday traditions.
Holiday Market: 1 p.m. Nov. 25, The Vineyard North, 14365 U.S. 19, Chiefland. Free entry; items and food for sale. (thevineyardnorth.com/events) Annual holiday market.
Country Christmas Festival: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 1, Douberly Farms, 14351 NE CR 339, Trenton. Free entry; items and food for sale. (bit.ly/CCF23A) Family event featuring more than 75 vendors, food trucks, live music, Santa, and more.
Paula Poundstone: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $30-$50, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Described as one of the bravest and best improv comics of our time, Paula Poundstone can be heard regularly on NPR’s news quiz “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” and podcast “Live from the Poundstone Institute.” Poundstone’s shows are a steady stream of self-deprecation, sarcasm, current events, and stories about her cats and kids.
Tree Lighting and Holiday Market: 8 p.m. Dec. 1, Shoppes at Thornebrook, 2441 NW 43rd St. Free entry; items and food for sale. (shoppesatthornebrook.com) Thornebrook decorated in winter wonderland attire as organizers herald the holiday season with an annual tree lighting. Featuring music on the outdoor stage and arts and crafts vendors throughout the plaza. Participating stores will be open late.
“Twelfth Night”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 1-17, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O. Tickets: $25 general admission; $20 students, seniors, military and teachers. (acrosstown.org) Shakespeare’s most sophisticated comedy is a riotous tale of hopelessly unrequited passions and mistaken identity. Duke Orsino is in love with the noblewoman Olivia. She, however, has fallen for his servant Cesario, who is actually Viola, a woman disguised as a man, who loves Orsino — confusion is rife. Meanwhile, Olivia’s arrogant steward Malvolio is cruelly tricked by her uncle Sir Toby Belch, his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and the maidservant Maria into believing his mistress loves him.
Cane Festival: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 2, Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Road, Newberry. Cost: $8 per vehicle; correct change required and limit eight people per vehicle. (friendsofdudleyfarm.org) See an original Florida working farm as they grind sugar cane and boil it into syrup. Old-time demonstrations include woodworking, blacksmithing and butter churning, quilt drawing, children's games and toys, old-time music and washday. Also the Dudley Farm Market and vendors.
Country Christmas Festival: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 2, Douberly Farms, 14351 CR 339, Trenton. Free entry; items and food for sale. (bit.ly/ccf23a) Family holiday event featuring more than 75 vendors, food trucks, live music, Santa and more.
Christmas Chaos Fun Show: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 2, Williston Horseman's Park, 803 SW 19th Ave., Williston. Tickets: See website for more information. (willistonhorsemans.com) Equestrian event featuring fun for children and those who still play like them.
UF Craft Festival: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 2-3, Stephen C. O’Connell Center, 250 Gale Lemerand Drive. Cost: $6 general admission; $5 general admission with coupon; free ages 13 and younger, and military with ID Children; $4 UF students; $3 UF students with coupon. (oconnellcenter.ufl.edu) Annual event that showcases handmade crafts from more than 200 vendors.
Town of Bell Christmas Parade: Small Town Christmas: 2 p.m. Dec. 2, Railroad Lane, Bell. Free. (bit.ly/bellparade23) Annual event in its 43rd year.
Holiday at Santa Fe College: 2-3 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. Dec. 2, Santa Fe College, Fine Arts Hall, 3000 NW 83rd St, Tickets: $15 adults; $9 seniors, students and military; free ages 12 and younger. (showpass.com/holiday-at-santa-fe-2) SF Performing Arts, SF Teaching Zoo, SF Planetarium and SF Little School collaborate to bring a thrilling performance to young and adult imaginations alike. Watch Perry the mouse and Santa Claus journey through the forest to make it snow in the Fine Arts Hall. Enjoy holiday music during this interactive and educational performance, followed by a meet and greet with the animals in the lobby.
Light Up Tioga: 5-8 p.m. Dec. 2, Tioga Town Center, 13085 SW First Lane, Newberry. Free entry; items and food for sale. (bit.ly/lighttioga23) Annual tree-lighting and holiday festival featuring live entertainment, Santa visit, food trucks, dance performances, surprise appearances, arts and crafts, local vendors and more.
High Springs Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2, 23517 NW 185th Road, High Springs. Free. (facebook.com/HSChamberOfCommerce) Annual holiday festival.
Parade of Lights and Fireworks Display: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2, along the Suwannee River, Fort Fanning Park, Fanning Springs. Free. (bit.ly/pol23a) Boat Parade of lights and fireworks display on the Suwannee River at dark. The best public viewing areas are at Fort Fanning Park, Anderson boat ramp just across the bridge, or the Suwannee Belle restaurant.
A Country Christmas: 5-9 p.m. Dec. 8 plus Dec. 15-16, Elrod Acres, 3679 Thunder Road, Green Cove Springs. Tickets: $10 general admission, free ages 1 and younger, $35 four-pack. (acountrychristmasllc.ticketleap.com/a-country-christmas-event) Annual holiday event in its second year featuring Santa, streets will be lit with more than 750,000 Christmas lights, hot chocolate, food trucks, vendors, live Nativity, live music, holiday characters and more.
Festival of Lights: 5-9 p.m. Dec. 8-24, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive, White Springs. Tickets: $4, free ages 2 and younger. (stephenfostercso.org/event-4573763) Annual family holiday event featuring vomplimentary popcorn, hot cocoa, marshmallows by the bonfire, Santa, food and craft vendors, kids' crafts and more.
“Cinderella”: 7 p.m. Dec. 8-9 plus 1 p.m. Dec. 9, Phillips Center for Performing Arts, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: TBA. (bit.ly/cinder23) Annual holiday performance presented by Danscompany.
Tioga Outdoor Movie Night: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, Tioga Town Center, 133 SW 130th Way, Newberry. Free. (tiogatowncenter.com) Tioga movie night featuring “The Santa Clause.” Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and enjoy the movie under the stars.
Christmas in Columbia Holiday Market: 9 a.m. Dec. 9, Olustee Park, 169 N. Marion Ave. Free entry; items and food for sale. (bit.ly/xmasincolumbia23) Holiday event featuring arts and crafts vendors, children's activities, food trucks and live entertainment.
Old-Fashioned Christmas: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 9, Trenton City Park, Southeast Fifth Avenue, Trenton. Free entry; items and food for sale. (bit.ly/ofc23trenton) Craft and vendor event.
“Little Scrooge”: Matinee performances scheduled; see website for more information, Dec. 9-10, PK Yonge Performing Arts Center, 1080 SW 11th St. Tickets: TBA. (pkyonge.ufl.edu/extracurricular/performing-arts-season) “Little Scrooge” is an extremely creative, kid-friendly adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol.” When an adolescent Eben Scrooge strikes it rich and makes $1 million by inventing a popular phone app called “Where’s Fluffy” that can help a person find a lost pet, he loses sight of what really matters in life. Eben’s own life is taken over by greed. Worse, he actually stole the idea from his best friend, Bobbie Cratchitt, who now works for Eben, trying to raise money to buy the medicine that will help heal her little brother, Tiny Tim, who has crippled legs. The show is loaded with lots of Christmas songs, sung a cappella. There also is a talking mirror to jolt Eben into seeing the reflection of the way his life will be if he doesn’t change. The Ghost of Christmas Past (a surfer dude), the Ghost of Christmas Present (a beautiful spirit with an attitude) and the Ghost of Christmas Future (an eerie figure in white) help Eben to discover the true meaning of Christmas. Suitable for kids of all ages.
Christmas in the Quarry: 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 9, Dec. 16-17, Dec. 20 and Dec. 22-23, Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, 4990 NE 180th Ave., Williston. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 ages 6-13, free ages 5 and younger, free for quarry members. (cedarlakeswoodsandgarden.com/upcoming-events) Walkthrough light show designed to dazzle. Families can stroll amongst billions of lights among the 20-acre botanical garden while enjoying treats from a cookie and cocoa station, and join in some of the family holiday crafts for kids to take home. Santa also will visit.
High Springs Christmas Parade: 6 p.m. Dec. 9, Main Street, downtown High Springs. Free. (facebook.com/HSChamberOfCommerce) Annual Christmas parade.
Holiday Open House: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 9, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park,18700 S. CR 325, Cross Creek. Cost: TBA. (marjoriekinnanrawlings.org/event-5130023) Annual holiday event. More info TBA.
Holiday Mingle: 2-5 p.m. Dec. 10, Prairie Creek Lodge 7204 SE CR 234. Free; donations welcome in support of ACT's conservation efforts. (alachuaconservationtrust.org) Outdoor celebration of this year's conservation victories with light food, drinks and holiday cheer. Picnic blankets and chairs from home are recommended for the musical performance.
“A Christmas Story” 40th Anniversary: 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and Dec. 13, Regal Butler Town Center 14, 3101 SW 35th Blvd. Tickets: $15.05 general admission, $12.90 children. (fathomevents.com/events/A-Christmas-Story-40th-Anniversary) Special screening of the holiday classic. It's the final days before Christmas in early 1940s Cleveland, and 9-year-old Ralphie wants one thing from Santa more than anything else: a Red Ryder Carbine Action Air Rifle. As he trudges through the snow to school, faces the neighborhood bully and visits a malevolent department store Santa Claus, Ralphie connives, conspires and campaigns for the most fabulous Christmas present ever in this heartwarming, hysterical and sweetly nostalgic holiday film. Based on stories by Jean Sheppard.
“The Nutcracker”: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Dec. 17, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $30-$60. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Presented by Dance Alive National Ballet. Everyone needs a hero, and in this case she’s a girl. Clara saves the Nutcracker prince, and to thank her, he brings her on a magical journey to the Kingdom of the Sweets, where the exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy puts on a regal show.
Lowe's Kids Workshop: Holiday Delivery Truck: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 16, Lowes, 2564 NW 13th St. and 15910 NW 144th Terrace, Alachua. Free; registration required. (lowes.com) Calling all little elves! Create a jolly holiday delivery truck that’s also a gift card holder. In-store only.
Operation Santa Delivery: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 16, Santa Fe College, North Fields, intersection of Northwest 39th Avenue and Northwest 91st Street. Free entry; items and food for sale. (facebook.com/lifesouth) Come see Santa arrive, not by sled or by reindeer, but by helicopter! This event is a carnival-like celebration featuring Santa’s grand entrance on a ShandsCair helicopter, photos with Santa, and vendors with free games, arts and crafts, and food.
Chip Travers Memorial Christmas Toy Drive: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 16, Williston Horseman's Park, 1610 SW Eighth Terrace, Williston. Cost: Unwrapped, new toy or monetary donation. (bit.ly/ctmemorial23) Annual toy drive in its second year in remembrance of Chip Travers. All toys go to kids in need at Christmastime.
Winter Outdoor Market: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 16, Williston Horseman's Park, 1610 SW Eighth Terrace, Williston. Free entry; items and food for sale. (bit.ly/wom23a) Winter outdoor market featuring live music, local vendors, food trucks and more.
Downtown High Springs Artwalk: Noon-5 p.m. Dec. 16, downtown High Springs. Free entry; items and food for sale. (facebook.com/downtownhighsprings/events) Monthly event featuring local artists and makers, as well as specials from downtown businesses.
Class with Clara: 4 p.m. Dec. 16-17, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $25, free for spectators. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Join the charming Clara, heroine of “The Nutcracker” ballet, for a princess-style ballet class onstage in the Kingdom of the Sweets. Training not required. Street shoes acceptable, but participants can dance in socks or ballet shoes. Company dancers will be available to help as well, so participants will have the most possible attention given. Special gifts will be handed out following the class. Intended for children.
Charity Ball of St. Nicholas: 7-11 p.m. Dec. 16, GFWC Alachua Woman's Club, 14565 Main St., Alachua. Tickets: $75. (alachuawomansclub.org/charity-ball-of-st-nicholas) Annual holiday event to support the Alachua Woman’s Club “Community Service Projects” supporting youths in the city of Alachua. Featuring silent auction, wine and beer bar, food, DJ and dancing, and a special visit from St. Nicholas, including photo opportunities.
New Year’s Eve Party: 8 p.m. Dec. 31, Amvets Post 444, 13751 NE 52nd Place, Williston. Free. (bit.ly/avny23) New Year’s Eve party featuring live music by Hiredguns.
“Little Women”: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 19-Feb. 4, 2024, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O. Tickets: $25 general admission; $20 students, seniors, military and teachers. (acrosstown.org) A four-women adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy transform into women before our eyes and experience love, loss and the ever-glowing warmth of the March family hearth.
Parsons Dance: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $25-$45, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Parsons Dance is known for its energized, athletic and joyous style. For more than 30 years, Artistic Director David Parsons has combined his choreographic gifts and talent for training passionate, highly skilled dancers into a solidified position as one of the world’s leading companies. Their stunning work flawlessly combines the movements and gestures of modern dance with the precision and discipline of classical dance to create a program that delivers a spirited evening for all ages.
“Next To Normal”: 7 p.m. Jan. 24-25, 2024, previews, then 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays Jan. 26-Feb. 18, 2024, Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets: $25. (thehipp.org) Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride with “Next to Normal,” the groundbreaking Tony Award-winning musical that explores the highs and lows of a modern-day family struggling with mental illness. With an electrifying rock score and heart-wrenching lyrics, this show will leave audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
“Kong’s Night Out”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays Jan. 26-Feb. 11, 2024, Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets: $23 general admission, $19 seniors, $12 students. (gcplayhouse.org) You think you know the whole story of the classic 1933 film “King Kong?” Think again! In the film, Broadway producer Carl Dennam sets out to capture a terrifying 40-foot ape, King Kong. The bait? Beautiful blond actress Ann Farrow. When first mate Jack rescues Ann from the beast, Dennam traps Kong and transports him to Manhattan to star in a Broadway show. But lovelorn Kong has other ideas! He escapes, rampaging throughout the city in search of Ann.Now, here’s the backstory: Producer Myron Siegel’s entire career has been constantly sabotaged by Dennam. So, Siegel is furious when he learns that Dennam has booked a “mystery” show to open in the theater next door to where Siegel’s next show will open the very same night. Siegel gathers his entourage — his sassy, ex-stripper mother, his gangster henchman, his Hungarian backer, and his wide-eyed niece — and concocts a plan to find out what the mystery show is all about and prevent Dennam from ruining his show. As this screwball comedy unfolds, there are mistaken identities, pies in the face, cat fights, kidnapping, ape fights, deceit, underhandedness and even some romance as Siegel and his entourage collide with Dennam, Ann and Jack to save Siegel’s show.
“Love in the Swamp”: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $27-$55. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Presented by Dance Alive National Ballet. Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day” more than Love, and DANB gives you love in abundance! A fun and fantastic show, it sets the mood with the DANB men in Gator orange and blue dancing exuberantly down the aisles. Brian Chung’s magnificent work of love, “Touch Closer,” and resident choreographer Judy Skinner’s ode to Paynes Prairie, “Another Time … Another Place,” with poetry by Lola Haskins and images from Matheson History Museum following. The finale is a joyous celebration of dance framed by remarkable video projections of Gainesville landmarks by Houston Wells. Family friendly event.
“Come From Away”: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $45-$75, $20 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) On Sept. 11, 2001, the world stopped. On Sept. 12, their stories moved us all. This stirring and inspiring musical takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of the small town of Newfoundland that opened its homes to 7,000 stranded travelers on Sept. 11. During that fateful week, cultures clashed and nerves ran high — but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. Celebrate the best of humankind and the best in all of us.
“Misery”: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, March 1-17, 2024, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O. Tickets: $25 general admission; $20 students, seniors, military and teachers. (acrosstown.org) “Misery” follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash by his “No. 1 fan,” Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Sheldon is convalescing, Wilkes reads his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Wilkes forces Sheldon to write a new “Misery” novel, and he quickly realizes Wilkes has no intention of letting him go anywhere. The irate Wilkes has Sheldon writing as if his life depends on it — and it does.
Step Afrika!: 7:30 p.m. March 5, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $25-$45, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Step Afrika! is dedicated to the tradition of stepping, blending percussive styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, and traditional African and contemporary dance into a compelling experience. Much more than just movement, they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation. This blend of technique, agility and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with hearts pounding.
“Jesus Christ Superstar”: 7:30 p.m. March 13, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $45-$75, $20 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Celebrating its 50th anniversary, a mesmerizing new production of the iconic musical phenomenon returns to the stage. Originally staged by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, this production won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival garnering unprecedented reviews and accolades. Appealing to both theater audiences and concert music fans, this production pays tribute to the historic 1971 Billboard Album of the Year while creating a modern, theatrical world that is uniquely fresh and inspiring. “Jesus Christ Superstar” is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Gethsemane” and “Superstar.”
“Ordinary Days”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays March 22-April 14, 2024, Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets: $23 general admission, $19 seniors, $12 students. (gcplayhouse.org) Experience the beauty of simplicity and the extraordinary in the ordinary with “Ordinary Days.” This intimate and introspective musical follows the lives of Deb, a graduate student who loses the notebook that contains all of her notes for her thesis somewhere on the streets of New York; Warren, a struggling artist and professional cat sitter who finds the notebook; and Jason and Claire, a couple inching toward marriage who can’t seem to completely figure each other out. Through a series of chance encounters and unexpected connections, their individual stories begin to intersect, revealing the profound impact that everyday encounters can have on our lives.
“Giselle”: 2 and 7:30 p.m. March 23, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $35-$65. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Presented by Dance Alive National Ballet. The ultimate romantic ballet, “Giselle” is the tragic story of a beautiful, young peasant girl who falls in love with a nobleman disguised as a commoner. Ultimately dying of a broken heart, she becomes one with the “Wilis,” ethereal ghosts of unmarried girls. Family friendly performances.
“White”: 7 p.m. March 27-28 previews, then 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays March 29-April 14, 2024, Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets: $25 previews, then $20-$50. (thehipp.org) When a major museum seeks to showcase diverse voices in its next exhibition, Gus, an artist, enlists Vanessa’s help to create an audacious new artistic persona of color to get him in the show. From there it all spins out of control in this modern comedy, exploring white privilege, racial politics and the fine line between appropriation and opportunity.
“On Your Feet!”: 7:30 p.m. March 30, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $45-$75, $20 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) The inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believe in their talent — and each other — to become an international sensation: Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
360 Allstars: 4 p.m. April 14, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $25-$45, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) An energy-packed performance for the whole family complete with basketball, breakdancing, beatboxing, acrobatics, BMX biking and more. 360 Allstars is a supercharged urban circus showcasing the phenomenal physical fusion of the artistry from street culture.
“Private Lives”: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, April 19-May 5, 2024, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O. Tickets: $25 general admission; $20 students, seniors, military and teachers. (acrosstown.org) Elyot and Amanda, once married and now honeymooning with new spouses at the same hotel, meet by chance, reignite the old spark and impulsively elope. After days of being reunited, they again find their fiery romance alternating between passions of love and anger. Their aggrieved spouses appear, and a roundelay of affiliations ensues as the women first stick together, then apart, and new partnerships are formed.
“Cabaret”: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, April 19-May 5, 2024, Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O. Tickets: $25 general admission; $20 students, seniors, military and teachers. (acrosstown.org) In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close, a garish master of ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all of their troubles at the Cabaret. With the emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, “Cabaret” explores the dark, heady and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Cliff, a young American writer newly arrived in Berlin, is immediately taken with English singer Sally Bowles.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: 7:30 p.m. April 23, 2024, Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets: $25-$45, $12 UF students. (performingarts.ufl.edu) Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is a world-famous, all-male, classically trained ballet troupe that delivers hilarious parodies while performing both men’s and women’s roles. Described as “a kick from a steel toe cap in a silky pointe shoe,” this irreverent, beloved dance troupe is celebrating its 50th anniversary season of toeing the line between high art and high camp with their humorous blend of deep knowledge of ballet with absolute silliness. Their performances offer satire of the rigid world of dance through their playful, fresh, tongue-in-cheek concept.
“Treasure Island”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays May 24-June 9, 2024, Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets: $23 general admission, $19 seniors, $12 students. (gcplayhouse.org) Picture a world where pirates rule what we call Earth. Humanity’s desire to find hidden treasures will take them to heights they never imagined. Based on the masterful adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, “Treasure Island” is an epic adventure from Ken Ludwig. It begins at an inn on the Devon coast of England, and quickly becomes an unforgettable tale of treachery and mayhem featuring a host of legendary swashbucklers including the dangerous Billy Bones, the sinister two-timing Israel Hands, the brassy woman pirate Anne Bonny, and the hideous form of evil incarnate Blind Pew. Sail the vastness of space to find Captain Flint’s treasure in this coming-of-age tale that is out of this world! Join Jim Hawkins as he navigates the universe longing for adventure with the infamous Long John Silver, perhaps the most famous hero-villain of all time. Silver’s greedy quest for gold, coupled with his affection for Jim, cannot help but win the heart of every soul who has ever longed for romance, treasure and adventure.
“In The Heights”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays July 19-Aug. 11, 2024, Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets: $23 general admission, $19 seniors, $12 students. (gcplayhouse.org) “In the Heights,” created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood — a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can decide which traditions you take with you and which ones you leave behind.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Scene Calendar: Homecoming Parade, Frogs and Friends, Weekly Walks
