What's Happening: 'How a great Theatre Saved a Dying Town,' water park community day, more

JULY 7 THROUGH JULY 9

“A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER”: Getting away with murder can be so much fun — and there’s no better proof than the knock-’em-dead hit show that’s earned unanimous raves and won the 2014 Tony Award for best musial: “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder!” The newest production from the Hippodrome Theatre is the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, an heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by — you guessed it — eliminating the eight pesky relatives who stand in his way. Monty also has to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s his cousin, but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars. Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance … and be done in time for tea. Catch a show at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays through July 9 at the Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets are $35 to $45. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org.

JULY 8

“HOW A GREAT THEATRE SAVED A DYING DOWNTOWN”: Learn more about the Hippodrome Theatre at 4 p.m. July 8 at the Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave., or online via Zoom. Award-winning author Richard Gartee will discuss his book “The Hippodrome Theatre First Fifty Years,” and the program will focus in part on the role the theatre’s move to the old post office building played in the formation of Gainesville’s historic preservation effort and the revival of its downtown business district. Joining Gartee will be former Hippodrome general managers Mark Sexton and Jessica Hurov, who will speak to the positive contribution the Hippodrome’s presence continues to bring to the city and its place as the centerpiece of Gainesville’s artistic community and cultural icon. The event is free, but registration required at bit.ly/gtsd or bit.ly/gtsdzoom. Gartee, a longtime subscriber and patron of the Hippodrome, is an award-winning novelist who has had six novels, five collections of poetry, and 15 nonfiction books published. “The Hippodrome Theatre First Fifty Years” is his 27th full-length book. Learn more about his writing career and books by visiting gartee.com. Sexton acted in Hippodrome plays from 1977 to 2003, and served as general manager during its most explosive period of growth from 1996 to 2004. He is presently the communications and legislative affairs director for Alachua County Government. Hurov began her career at the Hippodrome as marketing director in 2005. She was later promoted to general manager, and became managing director from 2014 to 2018. Hurov is presently tourism development manager of the Alachua County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

JULY 9

WATER PARK COMMUNITY DAY: Camp Kulaqua opens its River Ranch on specific Sundays during the spring and summer at a discounted rate with no reservations required, and it will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. July 9. The venue features a 15,000-square-foot wave pool as well as a lazy river, water slide and volleyball courts. The public is allowed to bring food and coolers, but no glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the water park. Camp Kulaqua requests that modest swimsuits be worn. The water park is located at 23400 NW 212th Ave. in High Springs. The discounted rate is $16.50 per person; free for children ages 3 and younger. Future community days include Aug. 6 and Aug. 13. For more information, visit kulaqua.com.

JULY 14 THROUGH JULY 16

2023 GFAA ARTIST STUDIO TOUR: The Gainesville Fine Arts Association has announced this year's studio tour lineup with a kickoff party at GFAA Gallery from 6 to 9 p.m. July 14 and the full studio tour of 27 artists at 19 studios all weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 15-16. The GFAA Artist Studio Tour is a self-guided tour through working artist studios in and around Gainesville. The tour showcases fine art and fine craft in a broad range of media and styles. While on the tour, visitors will witness the creative process through examples and impromptu demonstrations. Tour visitors will have the opportunity to purchase a wide range of original artwork directly from the artists. The tour is free and open to the public. Visit gfaastudiotour.org to learn more about the tour and participating artists, and to find a map with all studio locations. The roster of artists includes: Sequential Artists Workshop’s comic artists and the GFAA Member Summer Showcase exhibit in Studio 1; printmaker Leslie Peebles in Studio 2; potter John Snyder in Studio 3; painter Jane Medved in Studio 4; potter and sculptor Steve Howell, and landscape painter Jeff Ripple in Studio 5; painter Sue Kelman in Studio 6; photographer and painter Michelle Nagri, and painter Peter Senesac in Studio 7; visual artist/paper investigator Amy Richard in Studio 8; encaustic mixed media artist Debra Lindberg and photographer Wes Lindberg in Studio 9; painter/mixed media artist Christine Brundige, mixed media artist Jay Winter Collins, mixed media artist Candace McCaffery, fiber artist Linda Krause and jewelry artist Sandra Matasick in Studio 10; potter Kate Shakeshaft Murray in Studio 11; painter Linda Blondheim in Studio 12; painter Mandy Macias in Studio 13 ; glass artist Jacquelyne Collett and photographer Ann Ramsden in Studio 14; printmaker Diana Tonnessen in Studio 15; acrylic painter Alfred Phillips in Studio 16; fused glass artist Bettianne Ford in Studio 17; painter Adrienne Gonia in Studio 18; and potter Darrell Adams in Studio 19. Information about this event also can be found at fb.me/e/2xjMl3wkB and instagram.com/seeartbuyart.

ONGOING

“WE ARE HERE: STORIES FROM MULTILINGUAL SPEAKERS IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA”: Immigrant inclusion requires us to think about languages other than English, and to listen to the stories that people carry through their languages and their cultures. “We are Here” — the newest exhibition at the Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave. — highlights stories from 60-plus people who speak multiple languages in North Central Florida. Through visual collages that centralize cultural images, “We Are Here” illustrates the immigration journeys of the North Central Florida community through stories that hold power in multiple languages. These stories include examples of successes, struggles, hopes, injustices, and dreams of a more inclusive and just community. The goal is to showcase these stories, make visible the language diversity present in the community, and advocate for all neighbors’ right to access information in their preferred languages. The Matheson has partnered with curators and designers Valentina Sierra Niño and Laura Gonzales, the Rural Women’s Health Project, Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative, Language Access Florida, and UF’s Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere with support from the Humanities Fund for this original and exciting exhibition.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: 2023 GFAA Artist Studio Tour, 'We Are Here,' more