'Sweeney Todd' onstage at OCT. Fun things to do this weekend in Ocala/Marion
THIS WEEKEND
'10 Things Every Human Should Read'
The Marion County Literacy Council and Marion Cultural Alliance are presenting this special lecture series hosted by R.J. Jenkins at the Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala. "The public is invited to attend one or all in this series of spirited, conversational, no-reading-required talks about 10 powerful moments in literature (poems, paragraphs, stories, ideas,)" organizers say. The lectures are free, but registration is requested at mcaocala.org The next talk will be at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 8. It's a discussion of Edith Wharton’s "The House of Mirth." Five more sessions are planned through Sept. 15. The schedule can be found at mcaocala.org under the "exhibits and events" tab. For questions, contact gallery@mcaocala.com or call during gallery hours at 352-369-1500.
'Sweeney Todd'
This show kicks off the Ocala Civic Theatre's new season. The show is onstage Sept. 7-24. Show times, ticket information and more at https://ocalacivictheatre.com/
Exciting Explorers
This new exhibit at the Discovery Center will be up Sept. 9-Jan. 6. The center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. "This new exhibit allows guests to go on a high-seas adventure or trek into dark tombs filled with artifacts. Children and adults will learn how explorers discover new worlds while navigating and expanding their knowledge of uncharted territories," organizers say. "Take on the role of archeologist and learn how artifacts are preserved or become a scientist and use your imagination for future discoveries."
General admission is $8 per person/$28 for a family of four. The Discovery Center will be closed Aug. 27-Sept. 8 for installation of the new exhibit. More at 352-401-3900 or www.mydiscoverycenter.org.
WindFM Rocks the Reilly: Wall of Echoes, a Pink Floyd tribute
This act takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $25. More at reillyartscenter.com
Eirinn Abu
The saxophonist will perform at 3 p.m. Sept. 10 as part of the Countryside Presbyterian Church Concert Series. The concert will be at the church, 7768 SW State Road 200, Ocala. Free. Love offering taken. For additional information, call 407-276-5699.
COMING SOON
Ira Holmes International Film Series at the College of Central Florida: ‘EO’
The film series starts its season Sept. 12 with the 2022 Polish film “EO.” The film will be screened at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., and 7 p.m. at the CF Ocala Campus, Building 8, Room 110, 3001 SW College Road. Films at CF are free; at the museum, they are free for Appleton members and film series members but others must pay museum admission. Films may contain mature content. More at CF.edu/FilmSeries.
16th annual Applaud the Arts
This gathering, organized by the Marion Cultural Alliance, will be held at 5 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Marion Theatre, 50 S. Magnolia Ave., Ocala. Signature cocktail, special photo ops, prizes, roaming movie characters and a discussion of the 1920s Paris art scene led by Tyrus Clutter beginning at 5:45 p.m. A screening of the film “Midnight in Paris” follows at approximately 6 p.m. Tickets $20.
KT Tunstall
The singer/songwriter will be onstage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $35. More at reillyartscenter.com.
Concert pianist Faith O'Brien
O'Brien will give a free solo performance 6-7 p.m. Sept. 15 in Stegman Hall at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 7525 U.S. 41, Dunnellon. All are welcome. This concert is the kickoff event for St. John's new "Organ Replacement Fund." No admission fee, but attendees are asked to donate to the fund. More at 352-489-3166.
Florida history lecture
Rebecca Johnston, English professor at Santa Fe College and a novelist, will speak “on the history of World War I as it intersects with Florida history” at 2 p.m. Sept. 17 at Green Clover Hall, 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala, organizers say. Reception to follow at the nearby Marion County Museum of History & Archaeology. Admission is free for members, $5 for nonmembers.
52nd annual Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition
This exhibition will be up at the College of Central Florida Webber Gallery Sept. 25-Oct. 26. “Visitors will see a diverse array of both traditional and experimental designs created with water-soluble media on materials from paper to clay-coated surfaces to illustration board,” CF said in a news release. Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Sept. 29. The Webber Gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Free. The gallery is located on the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 SW College Road. More at www.CF.edu/Webber or (352) 854-2322, ext. 1664.
Second annual ‘Legends of the Fort’
This event will be 6-9 p.m. Sept. 30 at Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E. Fort King St., Ocala. Guided lantern tour, games, education. Parking onsite; refreshments available for purchase. Tickets must be purchased online. No walk-up ticket sales the night of the event. General admission is $10. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legends-of-the-fort-tickets-690853179457?aff=erelexpmlt. More at www.ocalafl.gov/recpark, 352-368-5517, or follow @OcalaRecPark on Facebook.
Oktoberfest at the WEC
This event will be 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on consecutive Saturdays: Sept. 30 and Oct. 7. The location is Expo 1 at the World Equestrian Center, 1284 NW 87th Court Road, Ocala. Beer, food, games, live music and dancing. Adults: $42 per person; children younger than 12, $25; children 5 and younger, free with purchase of adult ticket. More at https://www.showclix.com/event/oktoberfest-2023
King of the Sun Concert Band
The band will perform at 2 p.m. Sept. 30 and 3 p.m. Oct. 1 at the MTI Auditorium, 1614 SE Fort King St., Ocala. "There will be marches, Broadway tunes, big band numbers, a vocal soloist" and more, organizers said. Free admission; donations accepted. More at https://www.kingdomofthesunband.org/
‘Hotel Transylvania’
This PG movie will be screened at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at Citizens’ Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave., Ocala. It’s part of the city’s After Dark in the Park movie series. Free. Popcorn, drinks and other refreshments available for purchase. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. More at 352-368-5517 or www.ocalafl.org/recpark.
An Evening with Sister Hazel
The Gainesville band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $30. More at reillyartscenter.com
Ocala Civic Theatre: Rattlebox at the Reilly - 'Witch'
This dark comedy will be onstage Oct. 5-15 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. More at reillyartscenter.com
McIntosh 1890s Festival
The 50th edition of the festival will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 14 in downtown McIntosh, U.S. 441 between Ocala and Gainesville. Arts, crafts, antiques, custom jewelry, homemade goodies and more.
Classic Albums LIVE: The Police - ‘Synchronicity’
This concert will be onstage at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $25. More at reillyartscenter.com
Mahler and the ‘Breath of Life’
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra performs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 and 3 p.m. Oct. 22. “Be the first to witness the world premiere of Florida composer Paul Richards’ newest masterpiece, “Breath of Life,” featuring acclaimed baritone soloist Anthony Offerle. The evening culminates with Mahler’s 'Symphony No. 1,' ” organizers say. More at reillyartscenter.com
'The Hound of the Baskervilles'
This whodunit mystery, presented by College of Central Florida Visual and Performing Arts students, will be live onstage Oct. 26-29. Performances times: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26-28 and 3 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for non-CF students. Purchase, starting Sept. 6, at cf.universitytickets.com or at 352-873-5810. Tickets are free for CF students, faculty and staff with valid I.D. More at CF.edu/VPAEvents.
ONGOING
'From Books to Brush Strokes: Art Inspired by Stories'
This exhibit will be up Sept. 1-30 at the Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala. "The Marion Cultural Alliance, in partnership with the Marion County Literacy Council, invited local creatives to submit artworks inspired by literature and the written word," organizers say. More at mcaocala.org.
‘The Unscene South’
This exhibition will be up at the Appleton Museum of Art through Jan. 28. “A little-known population of Blacks lived free in the United States, long before Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery,” the museum says on its website. “Through Charles Eady’s paintings, ‘The Unscene South’ shares evidence and details of their existence, and presents opportunities to view the realities of their daily lives, seeking to eliminate many misconceptions about Blacks and the South.”
The Appleton is at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. More at www.appletonmuseum.org or (352) 291-4455.
'Caught Up in History and Captured on Film: Randy Batista’s Photographs of Florida and Cuba'
This exhibition is up through Jan. 28 at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Gainesville-based photographer Randy Batista "uses his lens to document his life and travel adventures," the Appleton says in a news release. "Comprised of silver-gelatin prints developed from film, the images in this show focus on Florida and Cuba — two places that have had a profound impact on the artist. Having lived in both locations, the artist’s awareness of place, time and cultural heritage are evident in his quiet but alluring street photography, landscapes and portraits." More at www.appletonmuseum.org or (352) 291-4455.
‘Bold and Inspired: Native American Regalia’ by Diana Lee and ‘Abstract Island Expressions’ by William Lee
These art exhibitions, the work of married couple Diana and William Lee, will be up through Jan. 4 at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala. Both exhibits are free and open to the public. The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. "Bold and Inspired" is on the first floor and "Abstract Island Expressions" on the second. More at (352) 629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces.
‘Tony A. Blue, American Painter’
This exhibition from Tony Blue is up through Jan. 9 at the Ocala International Airport, 1770 SW 60th Ave., Suite 600, Ocala. This show “explores Blue’s expressionist, abstract paintings,” which are “inspired by Florida’s tropical natural landscape,” the city says in a news release. The exhibit is free and open to the public. More at www.artoftonyblue.com, (352) 629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org and www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces.
Eternal Summer
This exhibition is up at the Appleton Museum, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, through Sept. 24. “ 'Eternal Summer' features paintings, prints, photographs and more that celebrate the theme of summer in Florida," the museum says. More at https://www.appletonmuseum.org/
‘The Beauty of Nature and Recyclable Refuse’
This art exhibition from Albert Bevilacqua is up through Jan. 8 at the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration building, 828 NE Eighth Ave., and the Eighth Avenue Adult Activity Center, 830 NE Eighth Ave. The building are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free exhibit is open to the public. More at (352) 629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org and www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
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‘Patternz’
This art exhibition from Kelsey Mahoney is up through Dec. 12 at Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. It is free and open to the public. City Hall is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. In a news release, the city says this exhibit “highlights Mahoney’s recent abstract work of detailed, vibrantly colored, mosaic-like ink drawings.” More at www.facebook.com/kelseymahoneyartist, (352) 629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces.
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This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala's weekend entertainment highlights include 'Sweeney Todd' at OCT
