Florida Theatre May events in downtown JAX

If you're looking for something else to do in JAX - look no further.  Here are a few exciting events that will be at the Florida Theatre this month.

May 2018
4-  Herb Alpert and Lani Hall
6-  Kris Kristofferson
9-  An Evening of Luther Vandross starring Ruben Studdard
12- Jacksonville Dance Theatre 6th Annual
24- JAX Jazz Piano Competition

May 4 - 8 p.m. — Herb Alpert and Lani Hall.  Together, nine-time Grammy-winning trumpet player Herb Alpert and his wife, Grammy-winning vocalist, Lani Hall, will perform classic songs, and many of Alpert’s Tijuana Brass hit singles including: “Rise,” “A Taste of Honey,” and “What Now My Love.”
  
May 6 - 8 p.m. — Kris Kristofferson. Singer, songwriter and actor, Kris Kristofferson, topped the Country music charts with his hits: "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Sunday Morning Coming Down," and "For the Good Times."

May 9 - 8 p.m. — Always & Forever, An Evening of Luther Vandross starring Ruben Studdard. American Idol star Ruben Studdard has been hailed as the next Luther Vandross.  In this new tribute show, Studdard will perform all of Luther Vandross' biggest hits including: "Endless Love," "A House Is Not A Home," "Dance With My Father," "If Only For One Night," "Power of Love," and his Grammy-nominated version of "Superstar." ½ tickets for Ruben Studdard tickets when you use the code word IDOL at checkout or when you call the box office.  Limited meet and greet packages available.

May 12 - 8 p.m. — Moving Jacksonville - Jacksonville Dance Theatre 6th Annual.  Jacksonville’s own critically acclaimed professional modern dance company presents its 6th annual dance concert at the historic Florida Theatre. Highlighting the range of athletic, entertaining, and eclectic works the company is known for, this year’s show, Moving Jacksonville, includes repertory pieces by JDT Artistic Director Rebecca R. Levy, and Jacksonville’s own, choreographer James Boyd III, plus two world premieres by JDT Creative Director Tiffany S. Santiero and choreographer Jay Jackson.

May 24 - 7 p.m. — JAX Jazz Piano Competition.  For over thirty years, the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a Jazz Fest tradition. Presented by Keyboard Connection, it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere!  The Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition is open to any age acoustic jazz pianist who does not currently have, or has not previously had a contract with a record label.

“Florida Theatre April 2018 events”
LOCATION: Florida Theatre
      128 E. Forsyth St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 355-2787

'Kaleidoscope of Dance' and a piano concert at 2017 Romanza Festivale

Celebrate the art of dance during the Romanza Festivale of the Arts. Kaleidoscope of Dance will be on stage at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 in Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College, 14 Granada St., downtown St. Augustine.  Kaleidoscope Of Dance will perform along with other local dance groups: Noise Complaint; Flamenco Perspective; 3'N Motion; Blue World Dance Company; Dancing with Victoria; Pedro Menendez High School; Sara Camacho; SJCCA Dance at St. Augustine High School; Freddick Bratcher and Company; Honey Burton and Stephen Mahood; St. Augustine Dance Conservatory; Ancient City Sirens; and Florida School of the Arts.

Approximately 175 dancers, representing age ranges from middle school through senior citizen, will perform 18 dance numbers.  Genres include ballet, tap, ballroom, belly dance, jazz, hip hop and contemporary.  Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased in advance. Tickets also will be available at the door prior to the performance.

Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers will present a varied program of music for piano four hands and solo piano. Praised as a "diva of the piano" (Salt Lake City Tribune), Marina Lomazov has performed throughout the US, Europe, South America and China. She was the first pianist to be awarded the Artist Diploma at the Eastman School of Music in nearly two decades.

The piano concert will being at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11 in the Cathedral Basilica, 38 Cathedral Place, downtown St. Augustin. Tickets are $25 for adults, and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased in advance.

Praised for his "unflappable virtuosity," Joseph Rackers has performed throughout the US, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Germany and Spain.  Each hold the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music and both serve on the piano faculty of the University of South Carolina School of Music.

The program spans many musical styles and expressions.  The evening will begin with a performance of the Mozart Sonata in C Major and close with three movements from Petrushka composed by Stravinsky for piano four hands.  Each artist will present a solo section which includes works by Rachmaninoff, Scriabin and Kapustin.  After the intermission, the program will continue with the “Fantasie in F minor” by Schubert and the “Dolly Suite” by Faure'.

'Twyla Tharp' will be at the Times Union very soon

Update: February 21, 2017.  Due to unforeseen circumstances the Twyla Tharp show has been cancelled.  Please call the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts if you have further questions.

Coming to Jacksonville’s Times-Union Center for one performance only, “Twyla Tharp” –one of the century’s most treasured artists –continues to celebrate her 50th anniversary of groundbreaking creativity and dance making with an evening of classic and new work.

The program begins with Preludes and Fugues (2015), a work for twelve set to J.S. Bach’s encyclopedic score for piano, the “Well-Tempered Clavier.”  The dance radiates with Tharp’s generous spirit, humanity and rigor as dancers move through duets, trios, and ensembles.  Closing the program is Tharp’s beloved Nine Sinatra Songs from 1982 with music by Frank Sinatra and glittering costumes by Oscar de la Renta.

The work presents a glamorous portrait of seven couples that traces the arc of romantic relationships.  The dancers swing, swirl, tango and cha-cha through a ballroom, displaying Tharp’s mastery of technique and imagination.

“Twyla Tharp”
DATE: Thursday, February 23, 2017
TIME: 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
      Moran Theater
      300 West Water St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202

TICKETS: start at $32.50, and may be purchased online at FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by Chase (the official presenter of the Jacksonville show), or by calling (904) 442-BWAY (2929) between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.  Discounts are available for groups of 10+ by calling (904) 442-2947 or emailing groupsales@fscj.edu.