“Corteo” is the latest and one of the best-loved Cirque du Soleil’s arena productions, will
embark on a new journey throughout North America. The show will visit Jacksonville at the
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena for a limited run of seven performances.
This unique production, directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, first premiered in
Montreal under the Big Top in April 2005. Since then, the show has been a great success and has amazed 8
million people in 64 cities in 19
countries on four continents.
“Corteo”,
which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade
imagined by a clown. The show brings
together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to
plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity
situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.
The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere,
watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small,
the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of
imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as
well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is
within each of us. The music turns
lyrical and playful carrying Corteo through a timeless
celebration in which illusion teases reality
The concept and disposition of the stage bring the audience in a theatrical
atmosphere like never seen before in Cirque du Soleil arena shows. The set curtains, inspired by the Eiffel
Tower, and the central curtains, which were hand painted, give a grandiose feel
to the stage. This sets the tone for the
poetry of Corteo. The cast of Corteo
includes 51 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors from all around the world.
‘Corteo’ Cirque du Soleil
DATES: Wed.
Aug. 1, 2018 TIMES: 7:30 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 2 7:30
p.m.
Fri. Aug. 3 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 4 3:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 5 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.
TICKETS:
starting at $36. All seats are reserved,
and tickets are available at Ticketmaster.Com, or at The Tom Bush Family of
Dealerships box office, at Veterans Memorial Arena online, or by
calling (800) 745-3000.
LOCATION: JAX Veterans Memorial Arena
300 A Philip Randolph Blvd., Downtown
Jacksonville,
FL 32202
(904)
630-3900
Sponsor: Cirque du Soleil gratefully acknowledges the
official partner of the Corteo USA tour: Forsythe, A Sirius Company Social media: Facebook, Twitter #CORTEO
& Instagram #CORTEO
About Cirque du Soleil:
Originally composed of 20 street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil
completely reinvented circus arts and went on to become a world leader in
artistic entertainment. Established in Montreal, the Canadian organization has
brought wonder and delight to over 180 million spectators with 42 productions
that have taken place in close to 450 cities in 60 countries. Cirque du Soleil
currently has over 4,000 employees, including 1,300 artists, from nearly 50
countries. In 2017 alone, 19 shows are being presented simultaneously
throughout the world.
SMG Jacksonville manages seven
sports, entertainment, and convention venues on behalf of the City of
Jacksonville. Their beautiful venues include:
EverBank Field, home of the
Jacksonville Jaguars, Florida-Georgia, the TaxSlayer Bowl and Monster Jam. Daily’s
Place, a 5,500-seat amphitheater with concert programming year-round and an
indoor practice facility for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, showplace of such entertainment
greats as Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffett and home to the Arena Bowl XXIV
Champions Jacksonville Sharks, the ABA Jacksonville.
The FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by Vystar Credit Union, is proud to announce
the 2018-19 Broadway in Jacksonville season, filled with award-winning
blockbusters and family favorites. Next season’s lineup will feature Broadway
in Jacksonville’s debuts of Waitress and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
new high-octane hit The School of Rock, along with Les
Misérables and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I.
All performances will be at the Times-Union Center.
Dr. Milt Russos, executive director of the FSCJ Artist Series/Broadway in
Jacksonville states, “We are thrilled to
announce HAMILTON, currently the hottest ticket in America, is now
confirmed for the 2019-20 Broadway in Jacksonville Season! Subscribers for the
upcoming 2018-19 season will have first access to Hamilton with their
Season ticket renewal next year. You
will not want to miss it!”
Four-Show Broadway Subscription:
“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King And I” November 13-18, 2018
“Les Misérables” January 22-27, 2019
“Waitress” March 12-17, 2019
“School Of Rock” April 16-20, 2019
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I - Two worlds collide in
this “breathtaking and exquisite” (The New York Times) musical, based on the
2015 Tony Award®-winning Lincoln Center Theater production. One of Rodgers
& Hammerstein’s finest works, The
King And I, boasts a score that features such beloved classics as “Getting To Know You,” “I Whistle a Happy
Tune,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Shall We Dance” and “Something Wonderful.”
Les Misérables - Cameron Mackintosh presents the new production
of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical
phenomenon, Les Misérables, direct from its acclaimed Broadway return. This
epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in
theatrical history. With its glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined
scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, this breathtaking new
production has left both audiences and critics awestruck. “Les Miz is born
again!”
Waitress Inspired by the beloved film, “Waitress” tells the story
of Jenna, an expert pie maker who dreams of a way out of her small town. A
baking contest and the town’s new doctor may offer her a fresh start, but Jenna
must summon the strength to rebuild her own life. Don’t miss this uplifting
celebration of friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.
School of Rock is based on the hit film, this hilarious new musical
follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star turned substitute teacher who
transforms a class of straight-A students into grade-A rockers. It features 14
new songs from ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, all the original songs from the movie and
musical theater’s first-ever live kids rock band!
There will be many other shows appearing during both years that will be posted
later through this Blog. Season tickets
to the FSCJ Artist Series’ 2018-19 Broadway in Jacksonville Season, sponsored
by Vystar Credit Union, are on sale now, with four-show package prices starting
at just $159. Season ticket prices vary depending on the show time, day of the
week and seating location. A renewal brochure and invoice has been mailed
to current FSCJ Artist Series subscribers and should arrive within the week.
Current subscribers can renew
online with no seat changes, or by calling (904) 632-5000 or (888)
860-BWAY, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Current subscribers may also
mail their invoices to the FSCJ Artist Series Box Office, 501 W. State Street,
#109, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Upon renewing, current subscribers have the
opportunity to request changes to their seating location. In addition, current
subscribers who renew before May 8, 2018 will be rewarded for their loyalty and
continued support with an additional savings of $10 off per season ticket
subscription they renew.
New subscribers can order their season tickets to reserve their seats
for all four shows long before single tickets are available to the public. New
subscriptions may be ordered
online, or over the phone by calling (904) 632-5000 or (888) 860-BWAY,
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Subscriber benefits include:
guaranteed package pricing, access to the best seats in the house, priority
access to purchase additional tickets for friends and family, seat locations,
exchange privileges, free lost ticket replacement, access to other FSCJ Artist
Series events- many at a discount.
VIP Seating is available to contributors to the FSCJ Artist Series at
five levels: Angel, Producer, Benefactor, Patron and Donor. Donor
contributions start for as little as $150. Call (904) 632-5000 or visit fscjartistseries.org
to learn more about the additional benefits available through the VIP Theater
Club.
Groups of 10 or more are eligible to a discount on tickets to most shows.
To receive the best pricing, reserve your group tickets before June 8, 2018.
Groups may begin placing reservation requests at this time by calling (904)
632-5050 or email.
Performances for the FSCJ Artist Series’ 2018-19 Broadway in Jacksonville
Season for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King And I and Les
Misérables are Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday
evenings at 8 p.m., Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and
7 p.m. Waitress The Musical will not have a performance on Sunday
evening, and School Of Rock will not be performed on Easter Sunday for
both the matinee and evening performances. Subscribers may choose
alternate performances at the package price with no additional cost.
Appearing in August at the
Alhambra will be Cole Porter’s sparkling 1948 musical “Kiss Me, Kate”, written by Samuel and Bella Spewack. The story involves the production of a
musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. There is conflict between Fred Graham (the show's
director, producer, and star), and his leading lady (his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi).
Add the secondary romance concerns of Lois Lane, the actress playing Bianca,
and her gambler boyfriend, Bill, and you have calamity. Throw in some mistaken identity, a pair of surprisingly eloquent gangsters
and a whole lot of romantic entanglements, and what you get is a dazzling
classic.
About
the show: Kiss Me, Kate was Cole Porter's response to Rodgers
& Hammerstein's, Oklahoma!,
as the first show he wrote in which the music and lyrics were firmly integrated
into the script. The show proved to be
his biggest hit and the only one of his shows to run for more than 1,000
performances on Broadway. In 1949, Kiss Me, Kate won the first-ever Tony®
Award presented for Best Musical. In
March of 2015, it was announced that the 1949 original cast recording would be
inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for the
album's "cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American
society and the nation's audio legacy." Kiss Me,
Kate will open its revival on Broadway in February of 2019; and you have
the opportunity to see it here in Jacksonville, Florida.
About the Menu: Executive Chef will be cooking up a culinary
experience fitting of Jacksonville’s iconic dinner theater, the longest-running
such theater in America. First Course (Choice
of One): Chilled cucumber bisque with shrimp & dill; Caprese
salad with diced tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls, pesto, balsamic glaze. Second Course (Choice
of One): Southern Style Pepper Steak with white rice; BBQ Chicken
with baked macaroni and cheese, collard greens; Scallops Carbonara with penne
pasta, sweet peas; Roasted Vegetarian Kabobs with yellow rice pilaf, smoked
tomato sauce Third Course (Choice
of One) Raspberry Sorbet with Meyer lemon cookies; Key Lime Pie.
“Kiss
Me, Kate”
DATES: August 1 — September 9,
2018
SUMMER SHOW TIMES: Evening shows
Tuesday through Sunday start at 7:50 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner is served until 7:30 p.m. Saturday Matinees
begin at 1:15 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m.
and the brunch served until 12:50 p.m.
Sunday Matinees are at 1:50 p.m.
Doors open at 12 p.m. and the meal is server until 1:30 p.m.
DRESS: “Gala Night” (Friday August 3,
2018) attire is “Dressy/Formal/Black Tie”.
All other shows could be “Business Casual” or “Sunday Best”.
TICKETS: Prices range from $38 – $64. Ticket prices include: a plated dinner served
to your table, a Broadway-style performance and prime parking. Group sales of 20 + are available upon
request.
**Price does NOT include gratuity, professional photos, or orders from the
bar**
LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
12000 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville, Florida 32246
(904) 641-1212
The show is fabulous and was enjoyed by young theatre goers as well as seasoned
attendees. Accomplished South African
songstress Belinda Davids, starring
in “The Greatest Love of All: A Heartfelt Tribute To Whitney”,
captivated the audience at the Times Union Center in JAX. FL. The songstress gave the crowd the best
performance along with her singers, dancers and musicians. She IS Whitney Houston.
Belinda is a quick-change artist, and besides giving her visitors an earful,
she is very pleasant on the eyes. The
woman is absolutely gorgeous! Take a look and listen to
the short video and plan to see her when she comes to a venue near you here
in the US or overseas. You will NOT be
disappointed. Check HERE for the next shows.
If you’re back from vacay and looking for some local
fun - check this out! Featured in many
iconic cities, Green Walls are taking urban art to the next level—and they have
arrived at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens! In early May, the Cummer
Museum welcomed Green Wall artist Ricardo Gil Mendoza, who has spent 20 years
developing his craft in a wide variety spaces, such as sports facilities,
highways, public squares, and ornamental areas. Mendoza’s work strives to
reflect and celebrate the vegetal world, which has inspired him since
childhood.
Organic Green Walls, the company founded by Mendoza and Ram Matheus, finds
passion in weaving Green Walls into urban areas to bring people back to nature.
The company strives to “raise awareness that [everyone is] part of a whole,
that natural beauty feeds the soul, enhances our spirit, and protects us.”
Mendoza and his team designed a unique Green Wall for the Cummer Café patio,
featuring its “C” logo, and generously donated the work to the Museum. The
installation offers a new take on the foliage that the Cummer Museum has long
valued in its gardens and other landscaping. The Green Wall will grow and adapt
to the wall it lives on, promising an ever-changing exhibition.
Organic Green Walls has many installations throughout North America and the
world, and the Cummer Museum is proud to welcome its very own piece of organic
art to the Museum.
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(904) 356-6857
Hours of Operation & Admission
At White Harvest Farms, they have harvest fresh produce that is grown in a food
desert. Growing on the farm is: Summer
Squash, Zucchini*, Yellow crookneck* Collard Greens, Sweet Banana Peppers, Cherry
Tomatoes, Hot Peppers, Cayenne, Jalapeno, & Datil. You can also find: Okra, Eggplant, Cranberry
Hibiscus, Taro, White Acre Peas, Cantaloupe and Watermelon.
Herbs: Basil, Dill and Rosemary.
Call Clara White Mission to get days and times that the store is open and come
get your fresh produce as you help others help themselves.
*Ready now on the farm.
Volunteers
are always needed at White Harvest Farms. Help them with harvesting, watering,
weeding and composting. If you are not able to volunteer, please consider
donating the following items:
•Bags of leaves (good to make compost)
•Coffee grounds (good nitrogen source to help ensure vegetables are green)
•Tools – flame weeder, harvesting tub, jang seeder and more
Volunteer: (904) 354-4162, ext. 1100
Donation Drop-off:
613 W. Ashley St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
White Harvest Farms & Farmer’s Market
Ju’Coby Pittman/CEO
Location: 5348 Moncrief Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32209
Office: (904) 354-4162
“The Smooth & Groove presents the Sweat
Hotel” event originally located in the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
has been relocated to the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts at 300
Water Street. The event date and time remains the same at Friday, July 27, 8
p.m. The line-up features: Keith Sweat, Faith Evans, Lalah Hathaway, and
Jon B.
Current ticket holders can exchange their original tickets for new seats the
night of the event at the Times-Union Center. VIP tickets can be picked up at
the Ticketmaster outside window starting at 5:30 p.m., while regular ticket
holders can pick up at the Relocation Tables in the Water Street Hallway at
6:30 p.m. All guests that need to exchange tickets will enter the security
check point first and then enter into the Times-Union Center. Ticket exchanges
are not available before Friday night. Refunds, if required, are available at
the point of purchase.
DATE: Friday, July 27, 2018
TIME: 8 p.m.
LOCATION: Times Union Center
Performing Arts
Moran
Theater
300 West Water St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
FSCJ Artist Series and the FSCJ Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts are proud
to present the 13th Annual High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience!
This program provides theatre opportunities to 7th-12th graders in the First
Coast area and allows them to work hands-on with some of the highest recognized
local and regional theatre professionals at the FSCJ Nathan H. Wilson Center
for the Arts. This year, participants
will perform “Young Frankenstein” for six performances only! Over 70 student performers and technicians have
trained for this production.
From the creators of the record-breaking Broadway sensation, The Producers,
comes this monster new musical comedy. The comedy genius of Mel Brooks adapts his
legendarily funny film into a brilliant stage creation – Young Frankenstein!
About the show: Grandson of the
infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced
"Fronk-en-steen") inherits his family's estate in Transylvania. With
the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced "Eye-gore"), and
a leggy lab assistant, Inga (pronounced normally), Frederick finds himself in
the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors. "It's alive!" he exclaims as
he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfathers. Eventually, of course,
the monster escapes and hilarity continuously abound.
Every bit as relevant to audience members who will remember the original as it
will be to newcomers, Young Frankenstein has all the panache of the screen
sensation with a little extra theatrical flair added. It will surely be the
perfect opportunity for a production company to showcase an array of talents.
With such memorable tunes as "The
Transylvania Mania," "He
Vas My Boyfriend" and
"Puttin' on the Ritz," Young Frankenstein is scientifically
proven, monstrously good entertainment.
“YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN”
DATES: TIMES:
Friday, July 20, 2018 7:30
p.m.
Sat., July 21 7:30 p.m.
Sun., July 22 2 p.m.
Fri., July 27 7:30 p.m.
Sat., July 28 7:30
p.m.
Sun., July 29 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Wilson Center for the Arts:
Florida State College at JAX So. Campus
11901 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32099
TICKETS: $25 for Reserved Seating.
$20 for seniors (60+), Military (with valid ID), and non-FSCJ students.
$15 for Florida State College at Jacksonville students and employees (with
valid ID) Limit 2 discounted tickets per valid ID.
Call the Wilson Center for the Arts Box Office at (904) 646-2222.
It’s an old car; no, it’s a boat; no, it’s a plane - it’s “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.
Chitty was so nice - we had to see it twice. If you have guests visiting for this month,
you may want to consider bringing them to see the theatre production of “Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang” at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining. This columnist returned to see the show along
with her husband and visiting Granddaughter.
The music, dancing and characters are fabulous. If you read the review from Gala Night, you’ll see that this
review features some of the other fine actors and scenes that you will
experience when you go to the Alhambra this month.
“Me Ol’ Bamboo”, sung by the Caractacus Potts (Shain Stroff) and the Ensemble is a very colorful number and the
choreography from James Kinney* is spectacular.
“Chu-Chi Face” performed by Baron & Baroness Bomburst (Kurt McCall* & Lisa Valdini*) has a
lot of finesse and flair as the actors sing and dance across the stage with
gusto. The entire show will keep you
entertained as you experience actors moving up & down the steps and
throughout the theater. This is a “must
see” for the entire family. Tickets are still
available. Get yours today.
*Denotes Actors’ Equity Association
“Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang”
DATES: June 13 — July 29, 2018
SUMMER SHOW TIMES: Evening shows Tuesday through Sunday start at 7:30
p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner
is served until 7 p.m. Saturday Matinees begin at 1:15 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the brunch
served until 12:50 p.m. Sunday Matinees
are at 1:50 p.m. Doors open at 12 p.m.
and the meal is server until 1:30 p.m.
DRESS: “Business Casual” or “Sunday
Best”.
TICKETS: Prices range from $38 – $64 and $35 for
children under 15 years. Family
4-Pack is only $149. Ticket prices
include: a plated dinner served to your table, an incredible show and prime parking. Group sales of 20 + are available upon
request.
**Price does NOT include
gratuity, professional photos, or orders from the bar**
LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
12000 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville, Florida 32246
(904) 641-1212
Tribute artist Belinda Davids is bringing the sound and ambiance of Whitney
Houston to the Jacksonville’s
Times-Union Center’s stage with the national tour of “The Greatest Love Of
All: The Whitney Houston Show”, for
one spectacular performance, on Saturday, July 21, 2018.
The tour
announcement comes hot on the heels of star Belinda Davids’ lauded
performance on Fox TV’s Showtime at the Apollo Christmas Special in
December 2017 (see video below), where her spine-tingling rendition of ‘I Will Always Love You’ – on the very
stage where Whitney Houston filmed her famous Greatest Love of All film clip,
no less - earned her not only the awe of host Steve Harvey and an enthusiastic
ovation from the live audience, but over 10 million views of the performance
video on Facebook in the days following.
Audiences across Europe, the UK, Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and
Davids’ home country of South Africa, have already been wowed by the
production, which has been touring since 2013.
A five-piece band, backing vocalist and choreographed dancers will
accompany Davids on stage as she pays tribute to Houston with live performances
of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “How Will I Know,” “I Have Nothing,” “Didn’t
We Almost Have it All,” “One Moment in Time,” “Queen of the Night”
and 15 other chart-topping hits.
Do you have your tickets for “The Greatest Love of All”? Take a listen to her HERE. Hope to see you there.
“The Greatest Love of All:
The Whitney Houston Show”
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, 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.
