‘Marty Stuart’ coming to The Florida Theatre

The Florida Theatre is pleased to announce that Grammy-winning country singer “Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives” will perform on Thursday, November 11, 2021

With legends like George Jones, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard all passed on, country music purists often echo the question Jones himself asked: “Who’s going to fill their shoes?” The answer, in part, is Marty Stuart.

While he’s too gracious to admit it himself, the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and musician is living, breathing country-music history. He’s played alongside the masters, from Cash to Lester Flatt, who discovered him; been a worldwide ambassador for Nashville, Bakersfield and points in between; and safeguarded country’s most valuable traditions and physical artifacts. Including its literal shoes: Stuart counts the brogan of Carter Family patriarch A.P. Carter and an assortment of Cash’s black boots among his vast collection of memorabilia.

But most importantly, Stuart continues to record and release keenly relevant music, records that honor country’s rich legacy while advancing it into the future. Way Out West, his 18th studio album, hits both of those marks. Produced by Mike Campbell (of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), the album is a cinematic tour-de-force, an exhilarating musical journey through the California desert that solidifies Stuart as a truly visionary artist.

When it comes to transforming country songs into tangible experience, Stuart has a secret weapon: the Fabulous Superlatives. Made up of guitarist Kenny Vaughan, drummer Harry Stinson and new member, bassist Chris Scruggs, the Superlatives are an extension of Stuart himself.

“The Superlatives are missionaries, they’re fighting partners. They’re my Buckaroos, my Tennessee Three, my Strangers. They’re my legacy band and have been since Day One,” says Stuart.

Along with the playing of Mike Campbell, who contributed guitar, B-3 organ and piano, the Fabulous Superlatives are all over Way Out West and ensure that the mystical detours Stuart explores always remain of the moment.

As Stuart himself will tell you, he often ventures off the reservation – in a way, his entire career has been “way out west.” While other artists chased popular trends in the name of radio play, he formed complete bodies of work, not unlike the greats he idolized. Way Out West is just the latest embodiment of that creative mission.

“I would play this record for Hank Williams, Merle Haggard or Ernest Hemingway and never bat an eye,” says Stuart. “There’s something in there that would entertain each of them.”

But Stuart also made Way Out West for those who come after. As he sees it, there is no greater responsibility in music than to share what you’ve learned.

“Lester Flatt saw something in me and gave me his wisdom, wit and music. Johnny Cash was my best friend. But all of that doesn’t come for free. The job is to pass it along,” says Stuart, stretching out his arms. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be in country music.”

  “Marty Stuart &
His Fabulous Superlatives”

DATE: Thurs., Nov. 11, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $39.50 - $55

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

Monster Jam® returns safely to JAX amid COVID-19

This. Is. Monster Jam^®! The most action-packed motorsports experience for families in the world today returns after a pandemic pause, roaring into Jacksonville for a high-octane weekend at TIAA Bank Field on March 6-7. Monster Jam^®, one of the first family events to open its doors to fans since the global pandemic began in 2020, features the ultimate mix of high-flying action and four-wheel excitement. Tickets start at $20 and Monster Jam Preferred Customers can purchase advance tickets starting, January 27th, to get the best seats available before tickets go on-sale to the general public on February 2nd. Fans can still sign up for free to become a Monster Jam Preferred Customer and get exclusive access to the pre-sale offer code. Enhanced Health and Safety Measures Implemented for Fan Wellness.

Monster Jam is enthusiastic that fans are eager to attend a live event with family and friends and feel confident about their safety and well-being, as shown in multiple surveys. In order to meet and exceed those expectations, Monster Jam has implemented enhanced health measures to help ensure the highest standards of wellness when it comes to today’s live experience. Seating capacity will be reduced at TIAA Bank Field to a Pod Seating structure, which will allow family and friends to safely enjoy all the action while social distancing from other groups in attendance. More information about TIAA Bank Field’s safety policy can be found here. As an additional precaution for fans, face coverings are required for those age 2 and older, unless otherwise exempted by law. More information about Monster Jam’s Ultimate Lineup for Fan Wellness can be found here.

Monster Jam has reimagined the live event guest experience and created contactless shopping for fans to order merchandise in advance or onsite from the comfort of their seat. Once ordered, guests can pick up their items at a convenient, contactless pickup station during the live event.  Additional information can be found here.

The Monster Jam Pit Party makes its return to Jacksonville on Saturday, March 6 with limited capacity and enhanced safety measures implemented. At the Monster Jam Pit Party, you can see the massive trucks up close, watch live pre-race interviews and participate in Q&A’s with the drivers, get pre-signed autograph cards, take pictures, and enjoy other family-friendly fun. Face covering, social distancing, entry screening and other rules apply.  Capacity and activities are limited based on event, venue and local authorities’ guidelines, which are subject to change at any time.

Jacksonville fans will witness a fierce battle for the event championship with each skilled Monster Jam athlete tearing up the dirt with gravity-defying feats in 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks going head-to-head for points in Freestyle, the Skills Challenge and Racing competitions.  Plus, fans can become part of the action by voting for the winner in the Skills Challenge and Freestyle competitions via real-time, in-stadium fan voting on their smartphones.

The all-star truck lineup marks the first time in regular competition that the three Anderson siblings will battle against each other in the same Monster Jam event: the legendary Grave Digger^® will be driven by Krysten; fan-favorite Adam trades his black and green wrecking machine for Megalodon^®, the truck that redefined the phrase “jumping the shark” and set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ title for the most monster trucks jumped by a monster truck; and in a limited-time, special appearance, Ryan gets behind the wheel of Bakugan Dragonoid™.

12-time Monster Jam World Finals^® champion Tom Meents will be competing in Max-D™ Fire, while Todd LeDuc aims to crush the competition in Monster Energy^®.  Reigning Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle champion Linsey Read will compete in Scooby Doo^™.  Rounding out this world-class roster are GUINNESS WORLD RECORD title holders Bryce Kenny in Great Clips Mohawk Warrior^® and Bari Musawwir in Zombie™, both featured in the August Discovery Channel TV special Monster Jam: Breaking World Records. Cory Rummell vies for the championship in Rage, while Jim Koehler returns in Avenger and Jamey Garner competes in Over Board, respectively. Black Pearl, driven by Cole Venard, claims the last spot in the epic 12-truck lineup.

Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 70 miles-per-hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motorsports action seen around the world.

WHEN:
Sat, March 6, 2021 7 p.m. | Pit Party 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Sun., March 7, 2021 1 p.m.

WHERE: 1 TIAA Bank Field Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32202

TRUCK LINEUP: Megalodon^® driven by Adam Anderson; Grave Digger^® driven by Krysten Anderson; Monster Energy^® driven by Todd LeDuc; Great Clips Mohawk Warrior^® driven by Bryce Kenny; Max-D™ driven by Tom Meents; Bakugan Dragonoid™ driven by Ryan Anderson; Zombie™ driven by Bari Musawwir; Scooby-Doo™ driven by Linsey Read; Avenger driven by Jim Koehler; Rage driven by Cory Rummell; Over Bored driven by Jamey Garner and Black Pearl driven by Cole Venard.  **Truck and driver line-up subject to change

TICKETS: Event Tickets start at $20 each*
Pit Party Passes start at $15 each*
Tickets will be available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com
 *Ticket prices subject to change – venue/ticketing fees may apply.

‘Reza’ performs in JAX amid 2021 pandemic

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, people came out to the Times Union Center in Jacksonville, Florida to safely experience: “Reza - Edge of Illusion”. Reza is recognized as one of today’s most highly sought-after entertainers in the touring illusion industry. The children and adults in the audience were mesmerized by his quick wit, interactivity with the audience, and his ability to make a helicopter appear on stage. This reporter can attest that he made the impossible (Ms. “V” knows the logistics behind the stage and was very impressed) appear right before your eyes. You may want to check to see if REZA is coming to a venue near you.

Now for the update of the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts - they have taken every precaution to maintain your safety as their valued guest:

Upon coming into the building, you will be checked as at any airport except you don’t need to remove your shoes. Your face will be scanned, temperature taken, and your ticket will be scanned by a gracious host/hostess before you are escorted to your seat. There are two empty seats separating your party and also staggered spacing between rows. You can purchase beverages in the lower lobby, yet you need to drink them before you go back into the theatre stage area. Masks are worn during your entire visit with NO exceptions. Social distancing is followed by everyone. This reporter did NOT have to wait in line to use the restroom and there is plenty hand soap and paper towels. There is NO hanging around in the lobby after the show and everyone leaves expeditiously out the front or back doors.

Take a look at the slide show and video and get your tickets for one or more amazing upcoming shows.

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

Florida Theatre prepares to reopen with New Seating

The Florida Theatre is pleased to announce that the theatre’s famous “Ghost Seat” has returned safely home after being refurbished as part of the theatre’s current seating renovation. The Florida Theatre “Ghost Seat” was discovered in 2010 when the CW17 show Local Haunts conducted a paranormal investigation of the theatre, and captured images of a ghostly apparition of a man sitting in the balcony, in Section 500, Row E, Seat 2. Steve Christian, who led the team, called it, “The Holy Grail of paranormal investigation.”

This attracted the interest of the SyFy Channel show Fact or Faked, who conducted their own paranormal investigation. Using Infrared cameras, thermal imaging, and EVP recorders, they heard noises and discovered heat signatures in two places in the orchestra section, and in the very balcony seat where Steve Christian’s apparition appeared. Their conclusion? They found “zero proof” that the Local Haunts video was faked.

Psychics routinely report a presence in the balcony. Jill Cook-Richards, a psychic consultant to a 1997 WJCT Public Television production claimed that a male ghost spoke to her, and said he wanted to be called “J” for Joy, which is what he felt for the theatre. “He said he didn’t need a name from his past, that he wanted a name for his future,” said Cook-Richards. She also reported that J, or perhaps Jay, was there to protect Joe Collier, then the building’s maintenance manager. This has led some to speculate that Jay was a former building manager himself.

This fall, as the Theatre moved forward with plans to install brand new, historically-accurate seating, it was decided that the “Ghost Seat” and its companion seat (Section 500, Row E, Seat 1) would be the only seats in the Theatre to be restored, refurbished and reinstalled. “We did not want our ghost to be homeless if his or her seat went away permanently. They are the only two seats being restored. Every other seat is being replaced,” said Florida Theatre President Numa Saisselin.

The “Ghost Seat’ and its companion seat were refurbished in Grand Rapids, Michigan by Irwin Seating Company, a world leader in the design and manufacture of theatre seating. These special seats returned to the Theatre this week and will be reinstalled just in time for the Theatre’s long-awaited reopening this December.

The Florida Theatre’s first event in December is Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 9 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by visiting floridatheatre.com or by calling the box office at 904-355-ARTS (2787). All of the December events at the Florida Theatre will be limited-capacity, with public health measures in place. Patrons can visit online for the most up to date information on The Florida Theatre’s safety protocols and general updates.

About the Florida Theatre: From ballet and opera to contemporary pop, jazz, rock, country and blues the nonprofit Florida Theatre offers 200 cultural and entertainment events annually for every taste and age. More than just an entertainment center, Florida Theatre is also home to graduations, awards ceremonies, lectures, business meetings and charity events that support the community's schools, churches, hospitals and civic groups. As an anchor to downtown development along the beautiful St. Johns River, Florida Theatre draws 250,000 people to Jacksonville's center each year. The magnificently restored Florida Theatre is recognized as one of the finest concert venues in the Southeast. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Florida Theatre holds special memories for four generations. From the Vaudeville acts and silent films of its earliest days to today's blend of performances of all kinds, the Florida Theatre has served as Jacksonville's premier entertainment center since 1927.

“Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s
Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party”
DATE: Wed., Dec. 9, 2020
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $49.50 - $59.50

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