Kinky Boots is coming back to the Times Union Center - don’t miss it!

In April of 2017 “Kinky Boots” came to town for eight delightful engagements.  This year the show will be back in JAX, but for one performance only!  You’ve heard the magnificent review from the many shows that graced the Times Union stage before, so it would behoove you to get your tickets before its too late to see it for the first time or relive this sensational musical once again.

Kinky Boots, produced by TROIKA Entertainment, is the smash-hit musical that brings together four-time Tony^® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy^®Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Tony Award-winner for Kinky Boots Best Score).  The winner of six 2013 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, Kinky Boots features a Tony® Award-winning score by Cyndi Lauper, a book by Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, and direction and choreography by Tony® Award-winner Jerry Mitchell.

Kinky Boots tells the uplifting and heartwarming tale of Charlie Price, a young man reluctantly taking over his family’s struggling shoe factory and looking for a fresh idea.  Charlie meets and finds inspiration in Lola, and together they discover that it takes a good friend to make a great pair of friends and boots.

Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan.  Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son.  With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.

Kinky Boots has won every major Best Musical Award and is represented around the world with the Tony Award-winning Broadway company now in its fifth year, an Olivier Award-winning production in London, an Australian production that opened in October 2016, and an upcoming production in Germany.  Other previous productions include a past US National Tour that played more than 80 cities, an Award-winning extended run in Toronto, two productions in Korea, and a Japanese language production.  The Grammy Award-winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of Kinky Boots is available on Sony Masterworks Broadway.

The National Tour of Kinky Boots is produced by TROIKA Entertainment.  The creative team includes Tony^® Award nominee David Rockwell (Scenic Design), Tony^® Award-winner Gregg Barnes (Costume Design), Tony Award-winner Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), Tony^® Award-winner John Shivers (Sound Design), Josh Marquette (Hair Design), Brian Strumwasser (Make-up Design), Joy Dewing Casting and Wojcik/Seay Casting (Casting), DB Bonds (Associate Director), and Rusty Mowery (Associate Choreographer).  KINKY BOOTS features Musical Supervision by Roberto Sinha, and Arrangements and Orchestrations by Tony and Grammy Award-winner Stephen Oremus.

The Broadway production of Kinky Boots is produced by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Independent Presenters Network, CJ E&M, Jayne Baron Sherman, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams, Yasuhiro Kawana, Jane Bergere, Allan S. Gordon & Adam S. Gordon, Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, Lucy and Phil Suarez, Bryan Bantry, Ron Fierstein and Dorsey Regal, Jim Kierstead/Gregory Rae, BB Group/Christina Papagjika, Michael DeSantis/Patrick Baugh, Brian Smith/Tom and Connie Walsh, Warren Trepp and Jujamcyn Theaters.

“Kinky Boots”
DATE: Wed. May 15, 2019
TIME: 7:30 p.m.

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

SHOW TICKETS: start at $39, and may be purchased online or at their box office from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, by calling (904) 632-5000, or online 24/7 at fscjartistseries.org.  Discounts are available for groups of 10+ by calling (904) 632-5050.

‘VyStar’ to partner with ‘Veterans Memorial Arena’

Mayor Lenny Curry and Brian E. Wolfburg, President/CEO of VyStar Credit Union, announced that a naming rights agreement has been reached between VyStar and the City of Jacksonville for the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena – a first for the arena. Legislation to enact the agreement has been filed and sent to the Jacksonville City Council.  Pending City Council approval, the arena will be known as VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

“In coordination with veteran leaders, my staff and VyStar, we have an agreement that is good for taxpayers and at the same time creates new program funding for veterans in our City,” said Mayor Curry.  “This is a win for everyone involved, and I will work with the City Council to earn their approval.”

Brian Wolfburg says, “VyStar will be honored to have its name alongside our brave veterans’ on the arena. Both of our missions, to serve and recognize our great military, could not be more aligned.  Based on VyStar’s deep roots in the military community, past and present, we can’t imagine a more suitable naming partnership.”

In addition, the naming rights agreement provides for several Veteran support initiatives – including a concessions donation program, which will allow arena patrons to make donations to an approved veteran program when making a purchase at the arena’s concessions stands.  Other initiatives include a veteran memorial, as well as discounts for veterans and VyStar members on concessions, tickets, and parking.  Veterans will also be included in ticket presale opportunities making it possible for them to purchase tickets before public on-sales.

Formerly known as Jax Navy Federal Credit Union, VyStar was chartered in 1952 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax) to provide civil service and military employees and their families a safe place to save and borrow money. It wasn’t until 2002 that VyStar (then Jax Navy Federal) opened membership to the five-county area – including Duval, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns, and Baker counties – and changed its name to VyStar Credit Union.

It is ‘Beautiful – The Carole King Musical’ at the Times Union Ctr.

It’s not just the music, but how the story of Carole King unfolds that will bring understanding of some of the songs that Carole and her husband (Gerry Goffin) collaborated together, to make beautiful music and an extraordinary life.  If you’ve seen Jersey Boys or Motown the Musical, then “Beautiful—The Carole King Musical” (the early life and career of Carol Klein), is a ‘must see’ to add to your live-onstage repertoire.  You may only have heard her music, but you didn’t know her story.

There are so many familiar songs in the show, that one might think that the singers penned the music and lyrics themselves, nonetheless, it was the collaboration of Carole King/Gerry Goffin, and that of Cynthia Weil/Barry Mann.  The music is so good that you will actually be singing along with the actors on stage.  And don’t take your eyes off the actors, Little Eva (the one-time baby sitter of the King/Goffin baby girl) does a quick-change right is plain sight while singing “Locomotion”.  Yes, it happened earlier in the show too, but I don’t recall the song or the group - it was done that smoothly.

Music was contributed to groups and solo artists as: Neil Sedaka, The Drifters, Cynthia Weil, Gerry Goffin, Little Eva, The Righteous Brothers, The Chiffons, The Shirelles, Carole King and many more; and the vocals of the tribute artists is as great as the real person.

A wonderful 13-piece orchestra has added to the superb vocals of the 18 actors on stage.  The elaborate stage props move methodically in a flawless transition from one scene to another.  After a 2 1/4 hour delivery, and a fifteen-minute intermission,  you will leave wanting more.

“Beautiful - The Carole King Musical” is recommended for ages 10 years and older.  There is no foul language but there is talk about the use of drugs.  For more information and a video sneak peek, please visit www.BeautifulOnBroadway.com.  You still have time to get some choice seats to see it in JAX.

   “Beautiful
The Carole King Musical”
DATES:      TIMES:
Tues., Apr. 10, 2018 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 11     7:30 p.m.
Thurs., Apr. 12    7:30 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 13      8 p.m.
Sat., April 14    2 p.m.
Sat., April 14     8 p.m.
Sun., April 15    1:30 p.m.
Sun., April 15    7 p.m.

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

TICKETS: start at $37 plus applicable fees, and may be purchased online at FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by VyStar Credit Union (the official presenter of the Jacksonville show), or by calling (904) 632-5000 between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

There will be a Beautiful Brunch presented by the FSCJ Artist Series in partnership with The Candy Apple Café and Cocktails, on Sunday, April 15, 2018.  Brunch from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and the Matinee begins at 1:30 p.m.  Check HERE for more information.

‘Beautiful – The Carole King Musical’ in JAX for one week

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announce that the Tony & Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit “Beautiful—The Carole King Musical”, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will make its Jacksonville premiere at the Times-Union Center for one week only!

Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.  Beautiful features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including: “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend” and the title song.

“Carole King might be a native New Yorker, but her story of struggle and triumph is as universal as they come – and her music is loved the world over,” producer Paul Blake said.  “I am thrilled that Beautiful continues to delight and entertain audiences around the globe, in England, Japan and Australia and that we are entering our third amazing year on the road in the U.S.  We are so grateful that close to four million audience members have fallen in love with Carole's story and her indelible music.”

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical” (Ghostlight Records) won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and is available on CD, digitally, and on vinyl.  Beautiful launched its first US National Tour in September 2015, and is also currently playing internationally, with productions in Japan, Australia and touring the UK.  An Award-winning production recently concluded its run in London’s West End after opening on February 25, 2015.

The creative team of Beautiful also includes: Derek McLane (Set Design), Alejo Vietti (Costume Design), Peter Kaczorowski (Lighting Design), Brian Ronan (Sound Design), Charles G. LaPointe (Wig and Hair Design), Steve Sidwell (Orchestrations and Music Arrangements), Jason Howland (Music Supervision) and John Miller (Music Coordination).

“Beautiful - The Carole King Musical” is recommended for ages 10 years and older.  There is no foul language but there is talk about the use of drugs.  For more information and a video sneak peek, please visit www.BeautifulOnBroadway.com.

   “Beautiful
The Carole King Musical”
DATES:      TIMES:
Tues., Apr. 10, 2018 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 11     7:30 p.m.
Thurs., Apr. 12    7:30 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 13      8 p.m.
Sat., April 14    2 p.m.
Sat., April 14     8 p.m.
Sun., April 15    1:30 p.m.
Sun., April 15    7 p.m.
LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
      Moran Theater
      300 West Water St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202

TICKETS: start at $37 plus applicable fees, and may be purchased online at FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by VyStar Credit Union (the official presenter of the Jacksonville show), or by calling (904) 632-5000 between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

There will be a Beautiful Brunch presented by the FSCJ Artist Series in partnership with The Candy Apple Café and Cocktails, on Sunday, April 15, 2018.  Brunch from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and the Matinee begins at 1:30 p.m.  Check HERE for more information.

'Kinky Boots' walks all over JAX with style

Talk about having a figure better than some females, the ‘Angels’ of “Kinky Boots” (Joseph Anthony Byrd, Tony d’Alelio, John J. Dempsey, Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald, Xavier Reyes and Andy Richardson) can kick higher, sing better and perform to the upmost of their ability in showbusiness.  Talk about ‘Legs for Days’, these actors are stacked and quite fit.  Some of the JAX cast are the spitting image of the cast on Broadway.  Take a look at the video and see if you can tell who’s who in the U.S. Tour cast.

In the orchestra pit is an eight-piece band that carries the music for the entire show.  The guitarists playing “Take What You Got” really stands out - almost as a soloist.  It’s not entirely a musical, nonetheless, the musical numbers are fabulous and very entertaining throughout the night.

Now let’s discuss the magnificent choreography, costumes, and makeup.  As stated above, the dancers jump, spin and strut-their-stuff throughout the evening.  Makeup has to be extra special when transforming a man into a spectacular beautiful woman, and their transvestite makeup is impeccable.  The costumes of “The Angels” and Lola are dazzling and the finale will attest to that fact.

Curt Hansen (Charlie Price) also had to be physically fit as he ascended and descended the stairs of Prince & Son; and let us not forget his donning a pair of stiletto red boots at the end.  As the collaboration between this shoemaker and the Kinky Boot designer (Lola) unfolds, the characters come up with a solution for a failing business.

Timothy Ware (Lola and Simon) has an impeccable British accent, his acting is superb and visual presence as a woman is lovely.  It was noticed that Lola did not have long nails, but how could he when the role called for so many wardrobe changes during the two-act play.

Kudos go out to the factory workers especially Aaron Walpole (Don) who appears to be the foreman of the factory, and he almost sacrifices his honor in a battle of fisticuff with Lola.  What a spectacular dance routine when the cast maneuver back and forth on moving treadmills.  It’s a sight to see.  There are also many funny lines and dance numbers from those in the factory.

 
This show may have many people speculating what type of crowd and what type of people will be attending, nevertheless, it is not recommended for children (even though there are two child actors at the beginning and in the end of the show.  The subject matter may be controversial, yet the actors are wonderful.  You probably seen this production advertised on every local TV channel and guest appearances on some local shows, so you might want to add some tickets for this weekend.


“Kinky Boots”
DATES:        TIMES:
Tues., May 2, 2017   7:30 p.m.
Wed., May 3      7:30 p.m.
Thurs., May 4     7:30 p.m.
Fri., May 5       8 p.m.
Sat., May 6      2 & 8 p.m.
Sun., May 7      1:30 & 7p.m.

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

SHOW TICKETS: start at $38.50, and may be purchased online at FSCJ Artist Series (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.

'Kinky Boots' stomps into JAX for a limited engagement

Kinky Boots, the smash-hit musical, opens in Jacksonville, Florida, at the Times-Union Center with eight shows.  The show, which is sponsored by the Vy Star Credit Union, brings together four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book), and Grammy® Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Tony Award-winner for Best Musical Score for Kinky Boots).

Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan.  Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son.  With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots has won every major Best Musical Award.  It is represented around the world with the Tony Award-winning Broadway company now in its fourth year.  The show had a North American First National Tour that launched in September 2014, a London production that opened in September 2015 (where it won the 2016 Olivier Award for Best Musical), and an Australian production that opened in October 2016.  Previous productions include: an extended run in Toronto, two Korean productions and a Japanese language production.  The Grammy Award-winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of Kinky Boots is available on Sony Masterworks Broadway.

Kinky Boots took home six 2013 Tony Awards, the most of any show in the season, including: Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell), Best Orchestrations (Stephen Oremus) and Best Sound Design (John Shivers).  The show also received the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Broadway.com Awards for Best Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Album, along with many other accolades.

“Kinky Boots”

DATES:        TIMES:

Tues., May 2, 2017   7:30 p.m.

Wed., May 3      7:30 p.m.

Thurs., May 4     7:30 p.m.

Fri., May 5       8 p.m.

Sat., May 6      2 & 8 p.m.

Sun., May 7      1:30 & 7p.m.

LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts

      Moran Theater

      300 West Water St.

      Jacksonville, FL 32202

SHOW TICKETS: start at $38.50, and may be purchased online at FSCJ Artist Series (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.

'The Price is Right - Live!' will be back in JAX

Jerry Springer - Host

No foolin’!  The Times-Union Center’s Moran Theater will play host to The Price is Right Live™ stage show, sponsored by VyStar Credit Union.  If you remember the show coming to JAX in 2012, then you will recall the prizes, exciting crowds of possible contestants, and special guest hosts.  This is something that you want to grab your tickets, get your personality ready, to register for a chance to be a contestant on the Moran theater stage.

The Price Is Right Live™ is the hit interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to "Come On Down" and play classic games from television's longest running and most popular game show.  Contestants can win cash, appliances, vacations and possibly even a new car by playing favorites like: Plinko™, Cliffhangers™, The Big Wheel™, and the fabulous Showcase.

Playing to near sold out audiences for more than ten years, The Price Is Right Live™ has given away over 12 million dollars in cash and prizes to lucky audience members all across North America.  This year, The Price is Right Live™ will be hosted by Jerry Springer and will have prizes that may include: appliances, vacations and possibly a new car!

The Price is Right™ is the longest running game show in television history and is loved by generations of viewers.  This on-stage traveling version gives fans the chance to experience the same fun and winning excitement up close and in-person.  The Price Is Right is produced by: FremantleMedia North America and licensed by FremantleMedia.

“The Price Is Right - LIVE”
DATE: Saturday, April 1, 2017 (No Foolin’)
TIMES: 8 p.m.
LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
      Moran Theater
      300 West Water St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
TICKETS: start at $34.50, and may be purchased online at FSCJ Artist Series sponsored by VyStar Credit Union (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.  ***Additional purchase not required for contestant registration.  Open to legal US residents, 18 years or older.  Ticket purchase will not increase your chances of being selected to play.  For complete rules & regulations, including eligibility requirements, visit or call the venue box office.  To enter theater to watch show, a ticket purchase is required.