What's Happening: 'Kong's Night Out,' 'Next to Normal,' 'Boeing, Boeing'

FEB. 9 THROUGH FEB. 11

“KONG’S NIGHT OUT”: 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, in “Kong’s Night Out,” the latest production from Gainesville Community Playhouse, audiences can find out 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. See a performance at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 11, at the Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $24 for general admission, $20 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit gcplayhouse.org.

FEB. 9 THROUGH FEB. 18

“NEXT TO NORMAL”: 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. Catch a performance at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, or 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 18 at the Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets are $25. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org.

FEB. 9 THROUGH FEB. 25

“BOEING, BOEING”: “Boeing, Boeing,” the 1960s French farce adapted for the English-speaking stage, features self-styled Parisian Lothario Bernard, who has Italian, German and American fiancées, each a beautiful airline hostess with frequent “layovers.” He keeps “one up, one down and one pending” until unexpected schedule changes bring all three to Paris, and Bernard’s apartment, at the same time. See how it all unfolds at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 25 at the High Springs Playhouse, 23416 NW 186 Ave. in High Springs. Tickets are $15 for general admission, and $10 for students and ages 65 and older. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit highspringsplayhouse.com.

FEB. 9 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.

FEB. 9

VALENTINE'S SWING DANCE: Friends, sweethearts and music lovers can twirl the night away at the annual Santa Fe College Valentine’s Swing Dance beginning at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in the lobby of the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall at Santa Fe College’s Northwest Campus, located at 3000 NW 83rd St. The semi-formal event will include light appetizers and free swing dance instruction. Tickets are $10 per person and are available from the Fine Arts Hall Box Office at 395-4181 or online at showpass.com/valentines-swing-dance-2. From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., experienced instructors will teach the basics of swing dance. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., SF Associate Professor of Music and Band Director David L. Smith will conduct the two groups providing live music for the evening — the Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Combo. The bands will play a total of 10 selections that include such jazz standards as “Take the ‘A’ Train,” made famous by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra; the Count Basie Orchestra’s “Li’l Darlin”; and the signature Benny Goodman number, “Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing),” written by Louis Prima. Of course, no Valentine’s Swing Dance would be complete without a rendition of “My Funny Valentine,” a show tune from the Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart coming-of-age musical “Babes in Arms.” Over the years, “My Funny Valentine” has been covered by celebrities such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker.

FEB. 10

“LOVE IN THE SWAMP”: Nothing says Happy Valentine’s Day more than love, and Dance Alive National Ballet gives you love in abundance! “Love in the Swamp” sets the mood with the DANB dancers in Gator orange and blue dancing exuberantly down the aisles. Brian Chung’s work of love, “Touch Me Closer” — a work that received three standing ovations at the Association of Arts Professionals in New York — and a new work by DANB’s Jose Ramos will touch the audiences’ hearts with its passion and tenderness. Resident choreographer Judy Skinner’s ode to Paynes Prairie, “Another Time … Another Place,” with poetry by Lola Haskins and images from the Matheson History Museum follows. The dancers and poet do, indeed, take their audience back to another time, where ladies wear white dresses, and children play with sticks and tumblebugs. A simpler time that had its own stresses and joys. Assistant Artistic Director Andre Valladon then performs his signature solo, “Los Hermanos,” to UF professor Welson Tremura’s throbbing guitar and vocals. The sensuality, rhythm and expressive power in this piece by Tuttle takes over the stage. The finale is a joyous celebration titled “… L’Amour.” This work has been an audience (and dancer) favorite for more than 20 years, toured from Costa Rica to the Midwest and beyond. Assistant Artistic Director Andre Valladon once again takes the stage in control of this highly entertaining work — a spectacular dance showcasing the effortless physicality, technical prowess, expressive power and humor of the dancers. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $27 to $55. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.

FEB. 16

RHYTHM ACROSS BORDERS: TRAILBLAZING WOMEN OF CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE IN THE USA: Join the Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship for a community seminar featuring three of the earliest founders of internationally recognized Bharata Natyam dance companies in the U.S. This event will celebrate the artists' journeys as scholars, performers and choreographers, showcasing their achievements as transformative contributors to the arts. Local dance school directors will join in a discussion on the invaluable role immigrants play in shaping and enriching the cultural fabric of our society. Guest speakers are Rathna Kumar, founder and director of Anjali Center for Performing Arts in Houston; Ranee Ramaswamy, founder and founding artistic director of Ragamala Dance Company in Minneapolis; and Hema Rajagopalan, founder and artistic director of Natya Dance Theatre in Chicago. Local guest artists will include Mathura Alladi, director of Jathiswara School of Dance and Music; and Vinata Vedam-Mai, director of Nrityakshetra school of Dance and Music. The free event begins at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at UF Innovate, located at 747 SW Second Ave. Free parking will be available in the lot south of the building. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit fb.me/e/XqIymHff.

FEB. 18

SUNDAY ASSEMBLY: Sunday Assembly Gainesville will feature guest speaker Barbara Oberlander, a retired professor emerita of history at Santa Fe College. She presents talks about historical personages. The title of her talk will be “She’s in the Capital: Mary McLeod Bethune.” 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.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: Valentine's Swing Dance, 'Love in the Swamp,' more