Martin last came to Jacksonville,
FL in 2018; and he’s coming back once again.
AEG Presents has announced that The LIT AF Tour, hosted by Martin Lawrence, will embark
on another nationwide tour in 2020. The
25+ date tour will kick off on Friday, January 31, 2020 in Washington D.C. at
the Capital One Arena including a stop in Jacksonville, Florida at VyStar
Veterans Memorial Arena on May 8, 2020 (featuring Rickey Smiley, DeRay Davis, Jay Pharoah,
Tommy Davidson, Benji Brown in
JAX), and conclude on
Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Other stops include Barclays Center and Little
Caesars Arena in Detroit.
“Martin has proven to be a real touring force over the last
years selling out marquee arenas across the country. His enduring film and TV resume is timeless
and it has been such a pleasure and honor to work with one of the most
legendary comedy forces in the business,” says Jesse Stoll, Senior Talent
Buyer for AEG Presents. “Following on
the heels of Bad Boys III, he is bringing some of his biggest and baddest
friends on the road continuing the LIT AF brand and bracing the world for a
killer comedy explosion!”
“Being on the road with this group of funny AF comedians is a blast,” says
Lawrence. “Bringing the tour back out on the road is always exciting, no two
shows are the same and we all bring something different to the party.”
The LIT AF Tour 2020 follows the anticipated release of Bad Boy For
Life, and Lawrence’s 2018 LIT AF Tour, presented by AEG. 2018’s tour
spanned 35 cities, more than 280k+ tickets sold, and grossed more than
$18million. The star-studded line-up included: Rickey Smiley, DeRay Davis,
Michael Blackson, Jay Pharoah, and Bruce Bruce. 2020’s line-up introduces new talent to the
bill such as Lil’ Rel, Lil’ Duval, Hannibal Burress, and Tommy Davidson. Line-up varies by city, and details can be
found on the website below.
‟Martin Lawrence
2020 Lit Af Tour”
JAX DATE: Friday May 8, 2020
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS: The full tour itinerary is listed on the
tour’s website. For ticket information
and lineup by city, please visit HERE.
LOCATION: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
300 A Philip Randolph Blvd., Downtown
Jacksonville,
FL 32202
(904)
630-3900
Teatro Lirico D'europa’s La Traviata will play Jacksonville’s Times-Union Center
January 30, 2020 for one performance only!
G. Verdi’s La Traviata is set in 19th Century Paris and is the famous
story of a young man, Alfredo Germont, who falls deeply in love with a wealthy
French prostitute, Violetta Valery. Without
Alfredo’s knowledge, his father visits Violetta and asks her to give up her
relationship with his son because it has brought shame upon their entire
family; the generous woman agrees. At the conclusion of the tragic story, Violetta
dies of tuberculosis in the arms of Alfredo.
Teatro Lirico D’Europa was created in 1988 by
the late Yves Josse, a former ballet divo and brilliant French arts promoter,
and Giorgio Lalov, a young Bulgarian opera singer who made his debut at Teatro
alla Scala, Milan, at the age of 25 while participating in Scala’s famous
international training program for young singers. The collaboration between Josse and Lalov was
a huge success in a very short time, resulting in tours with over 250
performances a season throughout France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Japan,
the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Sicily, and Portugal. The tours included performances for: Opera
Dijon, performances at Salle Pleyel in Paris; Okinawa Performing Arts Center,
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen; Theatre Carre in Amsterdam; Congresshaus in
Zurich; Theatre Trinidade in Lisbon; Teatro Atlantida in Barcelona; Salida de
La Compania in Madrid; Teatro Cervantes, Madrid; Teatro Bueno Vallejo, Madrid;
Teatro Lope de Vega in Seville; Le Cirque Royale in Brussels & L’Atrium
Theatre on the Island of Martinique.
“La
Traviata”
DATE: Thursday,
Jan. 30, 2020 TIME: 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Times
Union Center Performing Arts
Moran Theater
300 West Water St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
TICKETS: start at $25 for adults and $12.50 for children
(12 and under), plus applicable fees, and may be purchased at their box office, by calling (904)
632-5000 between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, or online 24/7 at fscjartistseries.org. Discounts for groups of 10+ may
be available by calling (904) 632-5050.
‘Home’! It is a physical
manifestation of our identity. As a
built environment it is imbued with social and cultural meaning, while it
provides shelter, security, and a place for our daily activities. Home is the surrounding landscape, both public
and private. Home is also an emotional
space where we find a sense of belonging and attachment.
Home is a complex concept that has a diversity of meanings for all of us, but
especially for those who are displaced. In this exhibition women, from Iraq, Syria,
and Egypt share their experiences of home...from tables where tea connects
friends and family to the trauma of war and the need to seek refuge. Home has often been neither ‘here’ nor ‘there’,
but somewhere in-between.
For all of the women whose stories are told in this installation, this city has
become their home. The process of
integration is long and complicated, filled with frustration and joy, new
experiences and the heaviness of all that has been lost. Preserving their cultures, building new
relationships, and feeling welcome and whole in a new place is how most now
define home.
As these women create a space where empathy flows freely, they are also
countering the dangerous rhetoric, war mongering, and restrictive immigration
policies that are far too prevalent, today and throughout America’s history. We are all asked to recognize and reject the
xenophobia and racism inherent in the calls ‘to go home’, knowing that it is in
the honoring of our differences and the connectedness of our humanity that our
shared home is strengthened.
The works displayed in the Players By The Sea’s lobby gallery are a selection
of those that were in the original exhibition held at Yellow House in
the Fall of 2019, which included the works of 15 women. The show is the result of a partnership among:
Artugee, an organization that uses art as a means for social connection,
economic empowerment, and advocacy for Arab American women making their home in
Northeast Florida; the Florida Immigrant Coalition and We Are All America
organizations; and Yellow House, an organization committed to the intersection
of art and social justice. It was co-curated by Malath Alarnosi, Basma Alawee,
and Hope McMath, director of Yellow House.
Players by the Sea is thrilled to bring this work to the local community. The community will be able to witness this
work when they buy tickets to see “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the
Forum”, Players by the Sea’s first musical of 2020. Tickets are available online now, or by calling (904) 249-0289.
You won’t want to miss this cultural
experience!
DATES:
Meaningful artwork presented in lobby gallery
January 24 — February
15. 2020
LOCATION:
Players By The
Sea Theatre
106 6th Street North
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
(904) 249-0289
 |
| Wanda Willis |
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is pleased to welcome Wanda Willis
as Director of Community Development, a significant appointment that will
support the Museum’s vision of being one of the country’s most relevant and
accessible art museums. Her tenure
begins on February 3, 2020.
Strengthening the Museum’s efforts to be an inclusive arts and culture
institution for all, the Director of Community Development will be the Museum’s
senior outreach officer, and will be responsible for extending the Museum’s
brand, mission and identity into the Northeast Florida community — and, in
collaboration with the CEO, inviting the community into the Museum.
“Ninah Cummer imagined that the Museum she founded would be a ‘center of
beauty and culture for all of Jacksonville,’” said the Cummer Museum’s
George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director & Chief Executive Officer, Dr.
Adam Levine. “The Director of
Community Development is a structural addition to the Museum’s staff that
ensures we achieve our founder’s inclusive vision, and there is no person
better-suited for this role than Wanda Willis. Her reputation and
accomplishments in this community speak for themselves, and her dedicated track
record of strengthening some of Jacksonville’s anchor institutions will add
tremendous value to the Cummer.”
A leader with extensive experience in relationship development and strategic
planning, and a supporter of arts and culture in Jacksonville, Willis will lead
the Museum’s efforts to cultivate meaningful partnerships with various
stakeholder institutions and promote strong community engagement. Most recently, Willis worked at the Florida
State College at Jacksonville Foundation as Associate Director of Development
for Major Gifts; previously, she served Edward Waters College as Assistant Vice
President of Institutional Advancement. She currently is president of the Bold City
Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and has served on numerous boards and
committees for organizations that include WJCT, Teach for America, Women’s
Giving Alliance, Junior League of Jacksonville and the Bridge of Northeast
Florida.
“The vision of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is to be a vital
partner that connects diverse audiences and is inclusive and representative of
our community,” said Wanda Willis. “I am both honored and thrilled to be
a part of the team, enhancing the work they already have done to enrich our
community and create an institution for all to enjoy and experience. I look forward to fostering a sense of
belonging among our audiences, connecting visitors to the arts, gardens and
each other, creating new relationships with engaged partners and, most
importantly, welcoming everyone to the Museum.”
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(904) 356-6857
Hours of Operation & Admission
Her last time here in JAX was 2018, and she was fabulous. Showtime
Australia’s acclaimed tribute concert The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute
to Whitney Houston starring Belinda Davids is making its second visit
to the U.S., following rave reviews of its debut tour last year. The show will play Jacksonville’s Times-Union
Center on January 26, 2020 for one performance only. In fact, the positive feedback last year was
so overwhelming that many of those venues have already locked in encore
performances.
Producers are determined to also visit some of the regions that missed out last
year, such as the North Western states, and take in as many new venues as
possible in order to introduce the show to fresh audiences.
Producer and Director of the show, Johnny Van Grinsven, explained the reaction
he received to the first U.S. tour: “Actually, the overwhelming reaction we
got from people was ‘surprise’. So many
people said they weren’t expecting that level of show, and people who haven’t
seen Belinda before are always shocked to hear her voice in real life because
it really is unique, she really is a very special talent. But now they’ve heard
her firsthand they can’t get enough of it and that’s why we’re coming back to
the U.S. so soon – pure demand.”
A five-piece band, backing vocalists and troupe of choreographed dancers and
acrobats will again accompany Davids on stage in the full-scale concert
production which also boasts state-of-the-art sound, custom-designed lighting,
LED walls, theatrical effects and a swath of delicately hand-crafted gowns and
costumes.
All of Houston’s most memorable tunes are lined up for Davids’ treatment during
the two-hour production, including Pop highlights I Wanna Dance With
Somebody, How Will I Know and I’m Every Woman, favorites from her
movie career such as Queen of the Night and Exhale (Shoop Shoop) and
of course all her most iconic and timeless ballads including I Have Nothing,
Didn’t We Almost Have it All, Run to You, One Moment in Time and I Will
Always Love You.
Davids is quoted as saying, “U.S. audiences are amazing, they truly
appreciate Whitney’s legacy and her music is very personal to them and you can
feel that from the stage. To look out
and see people feeling every note and nuance and emotion that you sing is so
intimate. That’s what it’s all about. I can’t wait to go back.”
*This production is presented by Showtime Australia which is not affiliated
with the Estate of Whitney Houston. For
more information, visit Belinda’s website.
Pick up your tickets today!
“The Greatest Love of All:
A Tribute to Whitney Houston”
Starring: Belinda Davids
DATE: Saturday, July 21, 2018
TIME: 8 p.m.
Take a look HERE to see if she will be coming to a venue near you.
LOCATION: Times
Union Center Performing Arts
Moran Theater
300
West Water St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
TICKETS: start
at $44, plus applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased at our box office from
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, by calling (904) 632-5000, or online 24/7 at. Discounts for
groups of 10 + may be available by calling (904) 632-5050.
Update: Jan. 29. New caterer to be announced through the Stage Aurora website.
“Dinner With Booker T.”, written and
performed by Darryl
Reuben Hall, will be presented February 8, 2020 6:30PM at Worsham Hall
located at 1100 Stockton Street, Jacksonville, FL. The dinner show will be presented dinner-theatre-style.
About the Show: Darryl Reuben Hall takes the audience on a journey into
the life of Booker T. Washington by portraying the many friends and enemies
that kept him strong in the fight for equality from a United States Officer to
a General, a Coal Miner to Mrs. Ruffner, 14 characters in all. Due to its historical nature, some may find
some of the language offensive as narrative follows southern newspaper
headlines as well as comments made by senators and other politicians alike. "Dinner with Booker T." is an inside historical look into the life of one of
America's greatest orators and leader of the Negro race, Mr. Booker T.
Washington and based on his rise from slavery, to student, to educator, to
national and worldwide leader. This
60-minutes work is comprised of original rhetoric, research, song, dance,
speeches, historical dialogue, and visual presentations. Mr. Booker T. Washington was catapulted to
national acclaim following his 1895 Atlanta Exposition Compromise Speech.
Darryl Reuben Hall has been noted for his philanthropy, theater directing, show
production and acting in such theatrical shows as: “A Raisin in the Sun, Bag
It, Black Arts Festival, Colored Museum, Color Purple, Crowns, Dream Girls
Driving Miss Daisy, Fences, FRAT House, Friends, God’s Trombones, Harlem of the
South, Little Shop of Horrors, Louis N Ella, Miss Ever's Boys, Motown, Respect,
Sinner Man, Soldier’s Story, The Me Nobody Knows, Three Divas, To Kill a Mockingbird,
Steel Magnolias, and The WIZ” and other notable productions too numerous to mention along
with other venues in cities across the US and other countries. Hall has appeared with several actors/actresses
including: Angela Robinson, Ella Joyce, Melba Moore Ertha Kitt & Scott
Whitehurst - just to name a few.
“Hall does a brilliant job at capturing the realistic nature of the dinner's
backlash.” - Brooke Clariday, Theatre Reviews. “Hall is earnest in his characterization
of Washington.” - Nancy Bishop-Third Coast Review.
Get your tickets today because tomorrow may be too late.
“Dinner With Booker T.”
Starring: Darryl Reuben Hall
DATE: Sat.,
Feb. 8, 2020 TIME: 6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Good Shepherd Episcopal
(Worsham Hall)
1100 Stockton Street
Jacksonville, FL. 32204
TICKETS: Admission: $45 includes dinner. For tickets and more information, please
contact Stage Aurora Theatrical Company at (904) 765-7373 or visit Brothers
2000 (904) 768-6004 located at 5238-1 Norwood Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32208. You may also purchase tickets at Stage Aurora Box Office.
