‘Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q’ continues corporate sponsorship

“Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q”, a Corporate Partner of the Florida Theatre since 2019, has announced its renewed support of the Theatre.

“The arts play such a pivotal role in the direction Jacksonville is headed,” said Josh Martino, President of Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q. “Anything from music and concerts to the arts, Florida Theatre keeps giving to this community year after year.”

"The historic Florida Theatre is pleased to play its part in providing Northeast Florida with the music, dance and theatre programs that are part of what gives Jacksonville the unique character that we have all come to appreciate, and expect, as residents of a great city,” said Florida Theatre President, Numa Saisselin. “The Theatre earns 85% of its annual budget from its business activities, and support from the business community, like our returning Corporate Partner Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q, helps to close that small budget gap every year and keep the Florida Theatre and its programs something special for our community.”

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre's official web site floridatheatre.com.

About Florida Theatre: Located in downtown Jacksonville, Florida, the historic Florida Theatre first opened its doors in 1926, and is famous for a series of six Elvis Presley performances in 1956 covered by Life magazine. Restored and reopened in 1983 as a nonprofit performing arts center, today the Florida Theatre is recognized as one of the Top 10 most attended theatres in the US under 2,000 seats according to Pollstar magazine, and the #1 most attended sports and entertainment venue in the State of Florida under 2,000 seats according to VenuesNow magazine. The theatre is managed by The Florida Theatre Performing Arts Center, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, and is an active promoter of its own programing. 175-200 music, dance, theatre, comedy and arts education performances take the Florida Theatre stage every year. In recent years the theatre has been seen on Showtime (Larry Wilmore), AXS TV (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Netflix (Katt Williams), and heard on NPR (Whad’ya Know?).

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ is back in JAX

The Florida Theatre is pleased to announce the return of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with New Digital Picture and Sound on October 30, 2021.

The ultimate Halloween movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is now a cult classic, preserved by the Library of Congress! This 1975 musical is a tribute to the science fiction “B Movies” of the 40’s and 50’s. Its amazing cast included then-young actors Tim Curry as mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as our heroine and hero, Meat Loaf, Jonathan Adams, and Charles Gray.

Back by popular demand, this annual event is hosted by Karissa Wade and features live music by 4Play. Bring your costumes, bring your props (no meat, please), and come early for the live music!

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
 (New Digital Picture and Sound)
DATE: Sat., Oct. 30, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $15

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
       128 East Forsyth Street.
       Jacksonville, FL 32202
       (904) 355 - ARTS (2787)

Comedian ‘Bert Kreischer’ announces ‘The Berty Boy Relapse Tour’

Coming off of his hugely successful outdoor run, the Hot Summer Nights Tour 2020, as the first-ever stand-up comedian to embark on a drive-in comedy tour, renowned comedian, podcast host, and author Bert Kreischer announced today The Berty Boy Relapse Tour which kicks off in Atlantic City, NJ and stops at the Florida Theatre on Thursday, October 28, 2021. In addition to his rescheduled shows from 2020 that were moved due to the pandemic, Kreischer has added 18 new markets plus 10 added shows to his tour itinerary.

Kreischer is known for his unique brand of comedy, which interweaves party-boy antics with humorous anecdotes about family and fatherhood. Currently, Kreischer is filming Legendary Entertainment’s movie, The Machine, alongside Star Wars actor, Mark Hamill - an adaptation of the viral story Bert told onstage about getting involved with the Russian mob while studying abroad in College, which has been viewed more than 85 million times online. Most recently, he hosted the Go-Big Show on TBS Network, an extreme talent show with celebrity judges Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles, and Cody Rhodes, which premiered this past January. In October 2020, Bert released his hit 5-episode Netflix mini series, The Cabin with Bert Kreischer, which featured cameos from a star-studded cast of: Anthony Anderson, Caitlyn Jenner, Tom Segura, Joey Diaz, Nikki Glaser, Fortune Feimster, Bobby Lee, Donnell Rawlings, Kaley Cuoco, Joel McHale, Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Big Jay Oakerson, and LeeAnn Kreischer. He also released his second Netflix Original stand-up comedy special Bert Kreischer: Hey Big Boy in March 2020. The special earned rave reviews from critics and fans alike.

Additionally, Kreischer is one of the most prominent comedians in the podcasting landscape. He is the producer and host of Bertcast, a weekly comedy podcast on the All Things Comedy Network. He also co-hosts the 2 Bears 1 Cave podcast with Tom Segura, and the Bill and Bert podcast with Bill Burr.

About the man: Bert Kreischer is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer and host who performs to sold-out crowds across the country. His brand-new stand up special “Hey Big Boy”, as well as “Secret Time” and “The Machine” are currently streaming globally on NETFLIX. Bert recently debuted his new Netflix docu-series “The Cabin,” which shot straight to the top 10 within 24 hours and was the most-watched unscripted series on the platform the week it premiered. Bert Kreischer hosts Go-Big Show (picked up for Season 2 by TBS) with celebrity judges Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles and Cody Rhodes.

Described as having a “rare and incredible talent” (Interrobang), Bert has evolved from being named Rolling Stone’s 1997 "Number One Partier in the Nation" to one of the top names in comedy. Between his four stand-up specials, his three podcasts: “Bertcast,” “2 Bears 1 Cave,” and “BillBert,” his YouTube cooking show: “Something’s Burning,” his book Life of the Party: Stories of a Perpetual Man-Child (2014), Bert has succeeded in finding the elusive blend of “being a cringe comedian with real insight” (Interrobang).  Lauded as one of the best storytellers of his generation, Bert seamlessly and sincerely shares anecdotes about his family and fatherhood while showing his ability to prove “that there’s a way to take his [party-boy] antics into middle-age,” (Forbes). His infamous story about robbing a train with the Russian Mafia was recently optioned by Legendary (the studio behind The Hangover Series, Jurassic World, and Straight Outta Compton) to be turned into a movie. After the successful debut of The Body Shots World Tour in 2019, where he quickly sold out theaters and added shows in almost every market, Bert performed 59 shows of his “Hot Summer Nights” a socially-distanced outdoor tour spanning 35+ cities across 18 states and reaching 80,000+ individuals. He then launched a brand-new tour in 2020, The Berty Boy Tour -- now, The Berty Boy Relapse Tour -- which includes shows in even larger venues across the country. Tickets can be found at BertBertBert.com.

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

   “Bert Kreischer”
The Berty Boy Relapse Tour
DATE: Thurs., Oct., 28, 2021
TIME: 7 p.m.
TICKETS: $39.75 - $59.75

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
       128 East Forsyth Street.
       Jacksonville, FL 32202
       (904) 355 - ARTS (2787)

Comedian ‘Taylor Tomlinson’ coming to The Florida Theatre

The Florida Theatre is pleased to welcome comedian "Taylor Tomlinson" whose perspective possesses a degree of wisdom that’s typically earned with age. Named to Forbes’ 2021 class of 30 Under 30, fans got a healthy dose of that wisdom when her first-ever, hour-long special, “Quarter-Life Crisis,” debuted on Netflix last March just as the world entered into a once-in-a-century pandemic. The special went on to earn unanimous critical praise with the Washington Post calling her “your favorite quarantine-watch” and Newsweek opining she is “undeniably hilarious” and “wise beyond her years.”

Focusing exclusively on Taylor’s old-soul clarity is tempting, but what makes the woman Mashable calls "whip-smart and spectacularly cynical," stand out isn’t just that she seems too young to understand youth so well. It’s that she combines that vision with on-the-nose immediacy that can only come with still living in the moments being lampooned.

“I think that’s what comedians do: We’re funny in the moment,” Taylor says. “We’re just so self-reflective and narcissistic.” She laughs, then adds, “But I’ve always felt older than I am. That virus joke is similar to a lot of material in my first Netflix special. It’s me being frustrated that I’m in a period of my life that everybody talks about like—"Ooof, yeah, that was hard. It was fun! But I wouldn’t go back for anything.”

Performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, CONAN, Comedy Central's Adam Devine's House Party, and Netflix’s The Comedy Lineup, as well as a top-ten finish in season 9 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, have all endeared Taylor to a national audience. Variety Magazine named her one of the Top 10 Comics to Watch at the Just for Laughs Festival, and she’s a regular on What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage.

Taylor spent much of 2019 filling clubs across the country on her own headlining tour and in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic continued to grow her fan base with the seven-city, 19 show The Codependent Tour, her first co-headlining tour with fellow comedian Whitney Cummings. The socially distanced, outdoor performances kicked off in Philadelphia in Sept. with 5 shows and that initial success led to the addition of 14 more shows in six different cities.

Taylor is in her mid-twenties, but she’s honed her craft for more than a decade. The California native began doing standup at 16 after taking a class with her dad––and she never stopped. Churches, schools, and fundraisers were her first stages. When Taylor turned 18, she played every club in San Diego that she could. “When I started doing standup, it was the first time I felt comfortable with myself,” Taylor says. “I think people I went to school with were surprised––I was kind of quiet and introverted.”

Dating, friendships, our evolving relationship with technology and reality––Taylor skewers modern twenty-something life with self-deprecating precision. Raised in a conservative home, Taylor also prods Christianity and privilege with that same blend of distanced awareness and personal familiarity that defines her jokes about her age. “I’m a perfectionist. I’m not really a risk-taker––being a standup comic to me is already risky enough,” she says. “I don’t drink. I don’t party, and I never have. My mom died pretty young. I think when that happens when you’re a kid, you realize sooner than other people that you aren’t in a bubble. You lose that self-perceived invincibility a lot of young people have.”

Taylor’s Netflix special was the culmination of years of writing and performing, and it showed. The set was a masterful display of deft timing, crowd connection, physicality, and smarts. The material changed over the months that passed from pitch to performance, reflecting shifts in Taylor’s own life. “A lot happened over the summer of 2019,” Taylor says. “I ended up breaking off my engagement. It was a lot of growth in a very short period of time. It changed the hour a lot from what I had submitted back in February––and I think made it better.” For filming the special, Taylor chose the Aladdin in Portland, Oregon.

“I found out I got the special and enjoyed it for about 20 minutes, then I got really stressed and was pretty laser focused,” Taylor says, laughing a little. “You think you’ll take a break after you film it, but then you realize, ‘Oh shoot. I need a whole new hour of material––I can’t take a break!”

The special went on to be named “Best of 2020” by New York Times, Decider, Paste and more. And Vulture’s “comedian you should and will know” is just getting started! She has already developed a whole new hour of material and can’t wait to get back on the road later this year when safe to do so and share her observations and self-discovery from quarantine with the world. “I just don’t think there’s anything better than having a room full of people laugh at something you said. All I really want to do is be really good at standup––and continue to get better at it,” she says. “Saying ‘that’s all I really want’ feels insane because it’s so much to want.”

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

“Taylor Tomlinson”
DATE: Friday, October 22, 2021
TIME: 7 p.m.
TICKETS: $29.75 - $39.75

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
       128 East Forsyth Street.
       Jacksonville, FL 32202
       (904) 355 - ARTS (2787)

‘Masterchef Live’ comes to The Florida Theatre

TCG Entertainment, leaders in live tour productions, and Endemol Shine North America, producers of the hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF, premiering Wednesday, June 2 (8 – 9 PM ET/PT) on FOX, and Masterchef Junior, jointly announce that the popular tour of 2019, MasterChef Junior Live!, is now “MasterChef Live!” and features some of your favorite contestants from both series. Tickets for the updated 2021 schedule for MasterChef Live! include a stop for one exciting performance at the Florida Theatre.

MasterChef Live! follows the initial MasterChef Junior Live! tour, which sold-out venues from coast-to-coast in 2019. “TCG is thrilled to bring back live entertainment so we can continue to share the fun of MasterChef Live! to audiences around the country. The addition of MASTERCHEF contestants along with MASTERCHEF JUNIOR brings great moments from both TV series to a LIVE setting. Families will enjoy watching and participating in the show as much as we have enjoyed creating it,” said Stephen Cook, President of TCG Entertainment, Producer of MasterChef Live!

“On the heels of a successful run of MasterChef Junior Live! with our partners TCG Entertainment, we are excited to provide an extra serving of fun, food and excitement to our fans and viewers with MasterChef Live!,” said Amber Sheppo, SVP, Licensing, Endemol Shine North America. “With the addition of MASTERCHEF contestants cooking alongside our junior chefs, the culinary chemistry is irresistible, and they can’t wait to share more tips, recipes and behind-the-scenes stories with theatre audiences live on stage across the country this Fall.”

MasterChef Live! brings MASTERCHEF & MASTERCHEF JUNIOR directly to fans and foodies alike…LIVE on stage!  The family-friendly show will feature head-to-head cooking demonstrations and fun (sometimes messy!) challenges with past MASTERCHEF & MASTERCHEF JUNIOR contestants, and an overall immersive audience experience fun for all ages. A limited number of VIP Packages will be available and will include a premium seat, cast meet-and-greet, Q&A sessions, a signed show poster, photos and more!  Exclusive MasterChef Live! merchandise also will be available for purchase.

MasterChef Live! cast to be announced at a later date. To see a location near you, check the DATE section below. Come be a part of MasterChef Live! It’s an experience for the whole family and a recipe for a guaranteed good time! To learn more about MasterChef Live! and to purchase exclusive tour merchandise, visit www.MasterChefLiveTour.com  .

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

“MasterChefLiveTour”
DATE: Sat., Oct. 21, 2021
TIME: 7 p.m.
TICKETS: Prices start at $29.50

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
       128 East Forsyth Street.
       Jacksonville, FL 32202
       (904) 355 - ARTS (2787)

Florida Theatre to host ‘The Monkees Farewell Tour’

Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees will embark on their farewell tour in September 2021. Commemorating 55 years of Monkeemania, the tour will embrace major markets in North America through the fall, launching on September 11 in Seattle and ending back where it all began in Los Angeles at The Greek Theater on November 14. They make their stop in Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre on Saturday, October 16, 2021.

Their critically acclaimed concerts feature the voice of Dolenz (who sang The Monkees’ biggest hits: “I’m A Believer,” “Last Train To Clarksville,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone”) and the group’s primary songwriter, Nesmith (who wrote such classics as “Mary, Mary,” “Papa Gene’s Blues,” “You Just May Be The One” and “Listen To The Band,” to name but a few).

“The Monkees Farewell Tour” will feature songs that span the band’s entire career – from their 1966 self-titled debut album to 2016’s Good Times! Their most recent release, The Monkees – The Mike & Micky Show Live, was issued in April 2020 and became their 17th Billboard charting album release. In addition to their hits, their farewell shows will spotlight songs featured on their Emmy-winning TV series (“The Girl I Knew Somewhere,” “You Told Me,” “Randy Scouse Git,” “Goin’ Down” and “For Pete’s Sake”) as well as music from their feature film Head (“Circle Sky” and “As We Go Along”). Plus, some rarely performed deep cuts (such as “Auntie’s Municipal Court”) and tracks from their most-recent studio album, 2016’s Good Times! (“Me & Magdelena” and “Birth Of An Accidental Hipster”).

This farewell tour will mark the end of a unique project that began in 1965 when four young men were cast in a television show about a struggling rock band that was inspired by the Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night. Few could have predicted the impact The Monkees would have on music and pop culture at large, one that still reverberates more than 50 years later.

Formed in Los Angeles for the eponymous television series, the quartet of Dolenz, Nesmith, the late Peter Tork and the late Davy Jones brought a singular mix of pop, rock, psychedelia, Broadway and country to their music. The Monkees’ first single, “Last Train To Clarksville,” was released in August 1966 and quickly headed for the top spot of the Billboard charts in tandem with the band's self-titled debut album, which held the top slot for 13 of the 78 weeks it remained in the Top 200. (Two decades later, in the midst of a new burst of Monkeemania, The Monkees popped back onto the charts, bringing the total number of weeks to 102.)

By the time the series aired its final new episode on March 25, 1968, The Monkees had seen three further albums top the charts —More of the Monkees, Headquarters, and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. All were released in 1967, staggeringly enough, racking up several more hit singles, with “I’m A Believer,” “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You,” “The Girl I Knew Somewhere,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” “Words,” “Daydream Believer,” “Valleri,” and “Tapioca Tundra” all finding their way into the Billboard Top 40. The final tally: 16 million albums and 7.5 million singles sold in a mere 2 1/2 years.

After the series’ two-season run, the group went on to star in the cult feature film, Head (co-written by Jack Nicholson) and a TV special (33 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee) while also continuing to record new material. But as the ’60s gave way to the ’70s, the members of The Monkees eventually gave in to their individual musical interests and went their separate ways.

In February 1986, after MTV broadcast a marathon of The Monkees series, Dolenz, Jones, and Tork reunited for a 20th anniversary tour, with Nesmith joining them onstage for the Los Angeles date of the tour. In 1996, all four members of the group reunited for a new album (Justus) and TV special (Hey, Hey, It’s The Monkees). In the wake of Jones’s death on February 12, 2012, the surviving members of the Monkees reunited and performed a series of concerts. The shows were received so triumphantly that Dolenz, Nesmith, and Tork returned the following summer for a tour dubbed, “A Midsummer’s Night With the Monkees.”

To celebrate the Monkees’ 50th  anniversary in 2016, the surviving members of the band recorded the critically acclaimed album Good Times! (produced by the late Adam Schlesinger). Much like the Monkees’ early albums, it featured tracks written for the band by a group of gifted songwriters, including Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Andy Partridge (XTC) and more. Following the passings of Davy Jones and Peter Tork (who succumbed to cancer in 2019), Michael & Micky have honored the music and the memory of The Monkees onstage.

“The Monkees: Farewell Tour”
with Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz
DATE: Sat., Oct. 16, 2021
TIME: 7 p.m.
TICKETS: $59 – $99.50

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
       128 East Forsyth Street.
       Jacksonville, FL 32202
       (904) 355 - ARTS (2787)

'Clay Walker’ will be in JAX for one night

The Florida Theatre is pleased to announce Multi-Platinum country music artist Clay Walker for one evening only! Can Clay Walker deliver? That's the question, and he's not afraid of it. In fact, he's positioned himself to answer it squarely – one way or another – this year. With new creative and business teams and a deep well of hard-earned wisdom, Walker relishes the challenge. "I've prepared myself for this moment in my career – mentally, physically and artistically," he says. "I've never been more ready."

In a sense, the question is absurd for a recording artist, songwriter and entertainer with 31 charted singles, a dozen No. 1s, four platinum albums and decades of performances to his credit. Titles spanning 15 years and still receiving strong airplay include: “Live Until I Die,” "Dreaming With My Eyes Open," “This Woman And This Man,” "Hypnotize The Moon," "Rumor Has It," “Then What,” “The Chain Of Love," "I Can't Sleep" and "She Won't Be Lonely Long."

Can Clay Walker deliver? Is he afraid of the question? Hardly. "If I had to lay out my ambition, it's to become a master at what I do," he says. "I'm a long ways from it, but that's exciting as well because there's a lot of road left."

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

“Clay Walker”
DATE: Thurs., Oct.,14, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: Start at $35

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
       128 East Forsyth Street.
       Jacksonville, FL 32202
       (904) 355 - ARTS (2787)

Comedian ‘Jim Jefferies’ comes to JAX and near you

“Jim Jefferies” (Legit, FX; The Jim Jefferies Show, Comedy Central) announces his new The Moist Tour and he will be appearing at the Florida Theatre in downtown Jacksonville, Florida for one hilarious evening.

This Sydney native is one of the most popular and respected comedians of his generation, entertaining audiences across the globe with his provocative, belief-challenging, and thought-provoking comedy. Jim was honored as Stand-Up Comedian of the Year at the Just for Laughs Festival in summer 2019. At the end of 2019, he started his Oblivious Tour and toured all around Europe and North America. Jim’s ninth stand up special Intolerant came out on Netflix last year. He currently hosts his own podcast I Don’t Know About That with Jim Jefferies and releases new episodes on Tuesdays with video available on Jim's YouTube channel and audio available everywhere you get podcasts.

JIM JEFFERIES: THE MOIST TOUR:
Fri., Oct. 8, 2021    Fort Myers, FL   Barbara B. Mann Ctr.
Sat., Oct. 9, 2021    Fort Lauderdale, FL    Broward Center
Sun., Oct. 10, 2021   Jacksonville, FL    Florida Theatre
Thurs., Oct. 21, 2021 New Orleans, LA   Saenger Theatre
Fri., Oct. 22, 2021   Austin, TXººº Bass Concert Hall
Sat., Oct. 23, 2021ºººDallas, TX Majestic Theatre
Sun., Oct. 24, 2021   Oklahoma City, OK  The Criterion
Sat., Nov. 6, 2021   Los Angeles, CA The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Thurs., Nov. 18, 2021   Omaha, NEººOrheum Theater
Fri., Nov. 19, 2021   Milwaukee, WI   Riverside Theater
Sat., Nov. 20, 2021   Minneapolis, MN   State Theatre
Thurs., Dec, 2, 2021   Buffalo, NYºººKleinhans Music Hall
Fri., Dec. 3, 2021   Philadelphia, PA   The Met
Sat., Dec. 4, 2021  ºNorfolk, VAºººChrysler Hall
Fri., Dec. 17, 2021   Phoenix, AZ   Celebrity Theatre
Sat., Dec. 18, 2021   San Francisco, CA   The Warfield

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

“Jim Jefferies” – The Moist Tour
DATE: Sun., Oct. 10, 2021
TIME: 7 p.m.
TICKETS: $59.75 – $79.75. For more information and tickets for your area, visit jimjefferies.com.

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
       128 East Forsyth Street.
       Jacksonville, FL 32202
       (904) 355 - ARTS (2787)

‘Benise’ will be in JAX for one night only!

“Benise”, The Prince of Spanish Guitar brings his 20th. Anniversary, Emmy Award Winning Production of Guitar and Dance to The Florida Theatre on Thursday on October 7, 2021.

It’s one hot night as Benise, “The Prince of Spanish Guitar,” and his Emmy Award winning production come to town. Benise unveils his 5th Special Strings of Hope on PBS and celebrates 20 years of taking audiences on a musical journey through Spanish Flamenco, Cuban Salsa, Brazilian Samba, Parisian Waltz, exotic drumming, and more!

For Benise, music has always been a journey. From his humble beginnings as a street performer, to being featured on the #1 rated show in the USA – Dancing With The Stars, and performing around the world. “I wanted to push the boundaries of Nuevo Flamenco/Spanish guitar while combining the elements of dance and theater. This show is a celebration of all the shows we’ve done over the last 20 years,” comments guitarist and creative force behind the event, Benise.

The Emmy Award-winning composer along with an international cast of musicians and dancers will entertain audiences with a two-hour show that “is an escape from all their problems,” Benise says. “Much like the recent PBS special Strings of Hope, with this show I want to take the audience on an escape…to a beautiful Spanish courtyard filled with Flamenco dancers, stunning costumes, and fiery Spanish guitars.  Beyond the new material, BENISE says “the live show will incorporate some fan favorites from my street performing days and rock classics like Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” and AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”

The Theatrical World Music and Dance spectacle that has been called “The Latin Riverdance”.

This will be a socially-distanced event with health and safety protocols in place. Patrons can visit floridatheatre.com/home/breaking-news for the most up to date information on The Florida Theatre’s safety protocols and general updates. Additionally, ticket purchasers will be notified by email of specific safety requirements prior to the event.

    “BENISE”
20th. Anniversary Spectacular
DATE: Thurs., Oct.,7, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $35 – $95

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
       128 East Forsyth Street.
       Jacksonville, FL 32202
       (904) 355 - ARTS (2787)

‘HAMILTON’ a smash hit in JAX Florida

The FSCJ Artist Series sponsored by VyStar Credit Union, finally brought Broadway back to Jacksonville Florida through the live production of “HAMILTON” at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts. The entire Moran Theatre was packed (along with a symphony in the Jacoby Hall). Traffic and parking were special in downtown JAX on October 1, 2021 because of the addition of a Jazz Festival, yet the police kept everything moving smoothly. Entry into the Times Union was quick with numerous doors being used to execute security checking. Will-call ticket pick up and concession stands were also quick and courteous.

Tickets may still be available, and you might want to check their availability and if you have other questions, the answers may be located HERE. HAMILTON is so worth getting out, getting dressed up, wearing a mask, as you enjoy this popular show. HAMILTON has amazing period costumes, spectacular dancing, a wonderful revolving stage, and whimsical hip-hop and spoken word music (some who were familiar with the soundtrack sang quietly along) and lines. If you are unfamiliar with the storyline, have no fear; it’s very easy to follow and your program will also help with some of the characters.

It’s not too late to be a part of this history-making show, so get your tickets while the show is still in town.

DATES: Now thru October 17, 2021

TICKETS: from $49 — $209

LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
      Moran Theater
      300 West Water St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 632-5000

MOSH hosts a taste of the Philippines

WHAT: The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) will host the fourth annual A Taste of the Philippines event on Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Guests will enjoy a pop-up art exhibit and creative conversations with Filipino-American artists of Jacksonville in the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium, tastings by Jax Filipino Chefs and other local businesses, a panel discussion with local Filipina artists facilitated by Agnes Lopez who is highlighting her newest work: The Pinay Project, crafted cocktails* by Tanduay and much more.

*The event is appropriate for all ages; the purchase of alcoholic beverages is reserved for those 21+.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Museum of Science & History (MOSH)

WHEN: October 7, 2021
6 – 9 p.m.

COST: Tickets are $40.50 for members and $45 for non-members. Children 2 and under are free. Tickets are available and can be purchased here.

SAFETY: The MOSH aims to ensure the health and safety of staff and guests. In accordance with CDC guidelines, masks are strongly encouraged inside the Museum.

 The Museum of Science and History (MOSH)
 1025 Museum Circle
 Jacksonville, FL 32207
 (904) 396-MOSH (6674)