What's Happening: 'Jazz Up Spring,' 'Misery,' High Springs Art Walk

MARCH 15

“JAZZ UP SPRING”: The Santa Fe Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo will celebrate the work of jazz trail blazers Duke Ellington and Count Basie in the annual “Jazz Up Spring” concert at 7:30 p.m. March 15 in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall at the Northwest Campus of Santa Fe College, located at 3000 NW 83rd St. Tickets are $15 for adults; $9 for seniors, students, children and military service members; and free to SF students, faculty and staff with college ID cards. Tickets are available from the Fine Arts Hall box office at 395-4181 or online from Showpass at showpass.com/jazz-up-spring-2. The 15 students in the Jazz Ensemble and the eight students in the Jazz Combo will alternate music by the two composers throughout the concert. On the program are Ellington’s “Take the ‘A’ Train” and Neal Hefti’s “Li’l Darlin,” composed for the Count Basie Orchestra. A guest vocalist will perform on Ellington’s “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”

MARCH 15 THROUGH MARCH 17

“MISERY”: “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. Catch a performance at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays through March 17 at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, located at 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O. Tickets are $25 for general admission; and $20 for students, seniors, military and teachers. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit acrosstown.org.

MARCH 15 THROUGH APRIL 21

“ANTARCTIC DINOSAURS”: Step back in time and discover life beneath the ice in “Antarctic Dinosaurs.” 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 at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Rare fossils, touchable casts and interactive models bring the past to life while showcasing Antarctica’s distinctive dinosaur species. Examine a reconstructed forest, and encounter the early plants and animals that flourished in the once-green environment. Experience the extraordinary work that goes into digging for fossils with real equipment and a recreated quarry. Learn about the important research taking place in this frigid landscape and how it informs future changes to the world’s climate. This is a bilingual exhibit available in English and Spanish. Tickets are $10 for adults; $9 for Florida residents, seniors and non-UF college students; $7 for ages 3-17; and free for ages 2 and younger, UF students and museum members. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. It is located at 3215 Hull Road. For more information, visit floridamuseum.ufl.edu or call 846-2000.

MARCH 16

DOWNTOWN HIGH SPRINGS ARTWALK: The seasonal Art Walk events return to historic downtown High Springs from noon to 5 p.m. March 16, featuring 15 to 20 local artists and makers situated on the sidewalks of downtown. Downtown High Springs also offers many eclectic restaurants and shops showcasing High Springs’ walkable, charming, small-town hospitality they have become famous for. This seasonal event is an opportunity for local artisans and artists to demonstrate and display their talents and offer their works for sale in front of storefronts throughout the downtown area. Participating merchants will offer specials and sales during the event. For more information, call Unique Notions at 318-5719 or Lanza Gallery and Art Supplies at 474-1049. The downtown High Springs Facebook page also has more information at facebook.com/downtownhighsprings.

MARCH 17

SUNDAY ASSEMBLY: Sunday Assembly Gainesville will feature guest speaker Donna Waller, now retired professor emerita of history and political science at Santa Fe College. She taught courses in American political history and honors classes, and she continues to teach there and at other venues. She also is active in the League of Women Voters. The title of her talk is “State Legislatures: Ours and Theirs.” Music will be provided by Sunday Assembly musicians. Sunday Assembly Gainesville is a secular congregation that celebrates life at 11 a.m. the third Sunday of each month. The group will meet at the Pride Center located in the Springhill Professional Center,  3850 NW 83rd St., Suite 201. It also is possible to attend via zoom. Sunday Assembly Gainesville is a chapter of the Global Secular Sunday Assembly Movement. For more information, visit sagainesville.weebly.com or email SundayAssembly32601@gmail.com.

MARCH 21

“SING INTO SPRING”: The Santa Fe Singers will be joined by the Santa Fe Guitar Ensemble and the Voices Rising Community Chorus for the annual “Sing Into Spring” concert at 7:30 p.m. March 21 in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall at the Northwest Campus of Santa Fe College, located at 3000 NW 83rd St. Tickets are $15 for adults; $9 for seniors, students, children and military service members; and free to SF students, faculty and staff with college ID cards. Tickets are available from the Fine Arts Hall box office at 395-4181 or online from Showpass at showpass.com/sing-into-spring-2. According to organizers, this year’s concert is loosely themed around care for the Earth and for each other. The program includes songs that span centuries and different vocal styles. Featured music ranges from “El Grillo” (“The Cricket”), likely written by Josquin des Prez in the 1500s, to “Under the Sea,” Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s song from “The Little Mermaid,” a 1989 Disney animated film. Earth, Wind and Fire’s popular “September” is included, as is “The Storm is Passing Over” by Charles Albert Tindley, an African American Methodist minister and gospel music composer whose composition “I’ll Overcome Someday” is credited as the basis for the Civil Rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.” The combined choirs will close the concert with Brian Tate’s “We Are One,” an anthem adapted from Bible verses in Deuteronomy that carry a message of love and caring. For more information about “Sing Into Spring,” call 395-5296.

MARCH 22 THROUGH APRIL 14

“ORDINARY DAYS”: Experience the beauty of simplicity and the extraordinary in the ordinary with “Ordinary Days,” the newest production from the Gainesville Community Playhouse. 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. Catch a show at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays March 22 through April 14 at the Gainesville Community Playhouse, located at 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $24 for general admission, $20 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, visit gcplayhouse.org.

MARCH 23

“GISELLE”: 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. Set for March 23 at the Phillips Center, “Giselle” features guest artist Philadelphia Ballet’s principal dancers Oksana Maslova and Sterling Baca in the 7:30 p.m. performance, and Dance Alive National Ballet principals Carla Amancio with Tales Ribeiro at the 2 p.m. show. “Giselle” is a ghost-filled ballet — a romantic story in two acts featuring peasant girl Giselle and nobleman Albrecht. As it would happen, Giselle goes mad and dies, ending Act I. In Act II, the Wilis try to take revenge, but Albrecht is rescued by Giselle’s love. “Giselle” has been a popular ballet since its first performance in 1841. The Phillips Center is located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $35 to $65. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: Sunday Assembly, 'Sing Into Spring, 'Ordinary Days'