What's Happening: 'Three Musketeers,' 'Misery,' Sock Hop Gala and more

MARCH 8 THROUGH MARCH 9

“THE THREE MUSKETEERS”: A swashbuckling romp abounds with comedy, danger and romance. Featuring lavish sword fights and sweeping romance, this adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel “The Three Musketeers” evokes a time where honor and love ruled all. To fulfill his dream of becoming a musketeer, young D'Artagnan heads for Paris and into a world of romance, intrigue and action. On the way, he meets Milady, the alluring agent of Cardinal Richelieu, and confronts a mysterious swordsman known as the formidable Count de Rochefort. Once in Paris, D'Artagnan unwittingly challenges all three of the Inseparables — Athos, Porthos and Aramis — to a duel, but when the cardinal's guards arrive, D'Artagnan joins with the musketeers, turning the sword fight into a musketeer victory. Soon he is called to action again to rescue the intriguing Constance Bonacieux, the queen's seamstress, with whom he falls immediately in love. Through Constance, D'Artagnan learns of the cardinal's plot to destroy the queen and embraces the chance to prove himself worthy of Constance and of the uniform of a musketeer. Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D’Artagnan declare war on the cardinal and stand: "All for one and one for all." Catch a show at 7 p.m. March 8-9 at the Buchholz High School Auditorium, located at 5510 NW 27th Ave. Tickets are $10 for general admission online, $8 for students and seniors online, $12 for general admission at the door, $10 for students and seniors at the door, $10 each for purchases of 10 or more tickets, and free for BHS faculty. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit buchholzdrama.com.

MARCH 8 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, March 1-17, 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 8 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 9

30TH ANNIVERSARY SOCK HOP GALA: Join the Matheson History Museum to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a sock hop in the former American Legion Hall. This ticketed event will hearken back to the days of Teen Time and high school dances in the museum building — including several performances in 1965 by Tom Petty's first band, the Sundowners. Break out your best pair of socks for an evening of live music, food and dancing the night away. The museum also will be celebrating the opening of its newest exhibition: “Weaving a Community: 30 Years of the Matheson History Museum.” The exhibition takes an all-encompassing view of the Matheson's history and its origins — from the Matheson family’s arrival in the 1850s to the museum today. Catering will be provided by Hill's BBQ, and music will be provided by the local band The Impostors. Bring your dancing shoes. The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. March 9 at the Matheson History Museum, located at 513 E. University Ave. Tickets are $30 for the general public and $25 for Matheson members. For more information, visit mathesonmuseum.org.

MARCH 13

MITCH MCKAY’S PIANO STUDENTS: Students of Associate Professor of Music Mitch McKay will play the college’s full-size Steinway concert grand piano in a free recital beginning at 6:30 p.m. March 13 in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall at the Northwest Campus of Santa Fe College, located at 3000 NW 83rd S. Admission is free, and tickets are not required. Six Santa Fe College students as well as two guests will perform in the recital that will include music by Chopin, Bach, H. Leslie Adams and more. The college’s Steinway Model D Concert Grand piano was acquired in 2011 from the University of Florida, where it was used in performance and signed by the renowned pianist André Watts. SF is the first member of the Florida College System to be named an All-Steinway School, a title reserved for colleges and universities with 90% or more Steinways and that meet the manufacturer’s standards for use, maintenance and security of the pianos. McKay has a master’s degree in music from Arizona State University and a doctorate in piano performance from Michigan State University. He was hired to teach piano at SF after graduating from Michigan State in 2012. In addition to teaching piano, he has also taught music theory and music appreciation. McKay has performed with the Brigham Young University-Idaho Symphony Orchestra and at Steinway Hall in New York City. He has adjudicated various piano competitions in the Southeast, and his students have gained recognition in competitions that include the Florida Promotion of Music Club’s Sonata Festival, the Florida Federation of Music Clubs Festival and the Alcorn State University Piano Competition. For more information about the recital and/or SF’s piano program, call McKay at 395-5144.

MARCH 13

“JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR”: Celebrating its 50th anniversary, a mesmerizing new production of the iconic musical phenomenon “Jesus Christ Superstar” returns to the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 13 at the Phillips Center, located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $45 to $75 and $20 for UF students. 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.” For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.

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 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.

ONGOING“WEAVING A COMMUNITY: 30 YEARS OF THE MATHESON HISTORY MUSEUM”: In the late 1980s, Gainesville had a well-documented and researched history, numerous nationally-recognized historical sites, and multiple civic organizations centered around the preservation and proliferation of local history. What it did not have was a centralized place dedicated to that rich local history, where the accumulated knowledge and artifacts of the last two centuries could be housed and protected. This year, the Matheson History Museum will commemorate its 30th anniversary of meeting that need. To celebrate, “Weaving a Community” will take an all-encompassing view of the Matheson's history and its origins. The exhibition reveals the museum's roots through the history of the Matheson family, the American Legion Hall and the wider civil society. It presents its history in an unbroken tapestry, revealing interesting and intertwined threads that tie the museum, the history of Gainesville and the community together. The museum’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and is located at 513 E. University Ave. For more information, call 378-2280 or visit mathesonmuseum.org.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: Piano concert, 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and more