THIS WEEK
Stella Cole
Let this performance transport you to a 1940s jazz club with moody lighting, and the sounds of soft chatter and clinking glasses that fade away as a star takes the stage. Raised on old movies and classic singers, Stella Cole captivates audiences with her soothing renditions of tunes from the Great American Songbook, and a remarkably mature voice reminiscent of Judy Garland. UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. See the show at 7 and 9 p.m. Jan 31 UpStage at the Phillips Center, located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $55 for the 7 p.m. seating, $35 for the 9 p.m. seating, and $12 for University of Florida students. Visit performingarts.ufl.edu for more information.
Ten Minute Musicals
Theatre Santa Fe will showcase six unique performances in “Ten Minute Musicals” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall on Santa Fe College’s Northwest Campus, located at 3000 NW 83rd St. This student-run event offers a mix of popular songs from productions like “Chicago,” “Waitress,” “The Book of Mormon” and “Dreamgirls.” Associate Professor Russell Schultz, who is serving as an advisor to the production, shared that the showcase is a way to spotlight the students’ musical talents. Tickets are $16 for adults; $10 for seniors, students and military service members, and children 12 and younger; and free for SF students, faculty and staff with college ID cards. Tickets are available from the Fine Arts Hall Box Office at 352-395-4181 or online at showpass.com/ten-minute-plays.
Flatwoods Fire and Nature Festival
UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Science along with several co-sponsors including the Florida Forest Service will mark the end of Prescribed Fire Awareness Week with a free fire festival on Feb. 1. The 2025 Flatwoods Fire and Nature Festival will feature prescribed fire and equipment demonstrations, educational tours, native wildlife, exhibitors from more than 30 different agencies and organizations, and food and music. The event is held at UF’s Austin Cary Forest Campus, located at 10625 NE Waldo Road. The event occurs every other year. It helps put the spotlight on Florida’s forest habits and emphasizes the benefits of prescribed fire in managing healthy ecosystems and reducing the risk of wildfire. The Flatwoods Fire and Nature Festival begins at 10 a.m. with prescribed burn demonstrations at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/nh9ck2n5.
José Valentino and Charlton Singleton
José Valentino, a recipient of multiple Latin Grammy Awards, is a versatile multi-instrumentalist with a musical style that traverses R&B, Latin, jazz, fusion and beyond. Charlton Singleton is a multiple Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, conductor of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, and a founding member of the acclaimed Gullah quintet Ranky Tanky. Together, Valentino and Singleton promise a fun, energetic evening filled with improvisational flair and fast-paced, funky Latin jazz. UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. See a performance at 7 and 9 p.m. Feb. 1 at UpStage at the Phillips Center, located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $55 for the 7 p.m. seating, $35 for the 9 p.m. seating and $12 for University of Florida students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
‘Silver Linings’
The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida will display art from Spelman College — a historically black liberal arts college for women located in Atlanta. The Harn is one of five venues across the United States exhibiting “Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection.” Through 39 works by nearly 30 artists, “Silver Linings” uplifts the legacy of artists of African descent spanning the 20th century through the contemporary moment, many of whom have been overlooked by mainstream art museums. The exhibition will be on view from Feb. 4 to July 6. “Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection” includes a variety of mediums and techniques such as painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed-media collage, prints and photographs divided into five sections that focus on the Spiral Group, abstraction, early figuration, contemporary photography and contemporary figuration. An artist-in-residence program and special community day are among the programs providing opportunities for the community to engage with the exhibition in multiple ways. Onsite artist-in-residence Jessica Clermont will create works of art inspired by the exhibition Tuesdays through Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. between March 6 and June 26. Visitors can engage in discussion as the artist works, discuss the influence of the exhibition and create their own work of art. A community day at the Harn, set for noon to 4 p.m. May 31, will celebrate the exhibition with tours, a silkscreen art activity, art creation by Clermont, entertainment, partner information tables and refreshments. Entrance to the museum is free. For more information, visit harn.ufl.edu.
Sacred Springs Stories
Science alone cannot solve the problems that plague Florida’s freshwater springs. To create effective solutions, experts say that we need to examine the human dimension of our water problems. During “Sacred Springs Stories,” area artists, writers and academics will begin that examination by sharing stories about sacred springs they have visited in other countries. Those stories will reveal how people in different cultures define their relationships with water. The free event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6 at Springs Welcome Center (Florida Springs Institute), located at 18645 Main St. in High Springs. Participants include Margaret Ross Tolbert, Gainesville painter and author of “AQUIFERious” and the new book “Proje Su: Water Project/Leto Joins the Springs,” who will talk about sacred springs in Turkey and Greece; Joon Thomas, Gainesville painter, calligrapher and graphic designer, who will talk about sacred springs in Iran; Wendy-Lin Bartels, Micanopy resident, University of Florida anthropologist and Research Assistant Scientist in the School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatic Sciences, who will talk about a sacred spring in Bali; Johnny Dame, Florida artist who will talk about his relationship with the Ichetucknee, which he considers to be his muse; Steven Earl, former Florida Park Service Ranger, photographer/videographer, musician and artist, who will talk about the experiences that inspired him to create his book, “Ichetucknee: Sacred Waters”; Lucinda Faulkner Merritt, writer and M.C., who will talk about the interconnections between people and water in Tibetan Buddhism; and Victoria Machado, Rollins College Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, who will talk about how everyone can use the concept of the sacred to understand our local waterways. “Sacred Springs Stories” is organized by Lucinda Merritt and sponsored by the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute/Springs Welcome Center and Rights of Water. For information, visit belovedblueriver.org/sacred-springs-stories or call Merritt at 386-454-0415.
ONGOING
’20th Century Blues’
Fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg has said, “My face carries all my memories. Why would I erase them?” Maybe … but would you want to share your face over four decades and the tracks of those memories with everyone?! For 39 years, since the day they met in jail in their 20s, Sil, Mac and Gabby have all gotten together once a year with Danny, a well-known photographer, for a photo shoot, chronicling their enduring friendship and their changing visages. Each year they laugh, eat, drink, catch up, reminisce and cement their continuing bond. This year — year 39 — Danny tells her friends she wants to share the photos with the world in a retrospective of her works at MOMA in New York City. Come enjoy this heart-warming, funny and bittersweet day with these women exploring friendship and its complexities, aging and life! Tickets are $24 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for students. Shows are set for 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 9 at the Gainesville Community Playhouse, located at 4039 NW 16th Blvd. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit gcplayhouse.org.
‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised) (Again)’
The Hippodrome Theatre is throwing the classical theatre rulebook out the window this month with a production that dares to ask: What if three sleep-deprived actors attempted to perform every Shakespeare play in a single evening? “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised) (Again)” crashes onto the Hippodrome stage through Feb. 16, promising audiences a theatrical fever dream where Hamlet meets “Saturday Night Live,” and Macbeth is like “Succession” with kilts and a much worse PR team. The chaos unfolds through the talents of Charlie Mitchell, Megan Greener and Natalie Cutcher, three brave souls who’ll tackle everything from “Romeo and Juliet” to “King Lear” — often simultaneously. This latest version of this wildly popular play transforms the Bard’s masterworks into an evening of high-energy entertainment suitable for both Shakespeare enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Recommended for audiences 13 and older. For showtimes and tickets, visit thehipp.org.
COMING SOON
‘The South is not Simple — Prints by Molly Kempson’
The Santa Fe College Gallery is set to present “The South is not Simple — Prints by Molly Kempson” from Feb. 7 to March 21 at the Northwest Campus, located at 3000 NW 83rd St. The opening reception, also on Feb. 7, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the gallery. This and all SF Gallery events are free and open to the public. Kempson is an artist and educator making relief prints in and about the American South. Her work spirals through architecture, language, flora, fauna, preservation and conservation to highlight the complicated history of the region through artist books, letterpress posters and limited edition reduction linocut prints. She has been awarded several funded residencies, including the Coffey Residency in Book Arts at the University of Florida in 2016, the letterpress residency at Ashantilly Press in 2018, and the In Cahoots Residency in 2024 in Petaluma, California. In this solo show of works from 2018 to 2025, Kempson explores the intersection of traditional block printing and typesetting techniques with the current landscape of wildlife conservation, historic preservation, and Southern identity and history. Her works also address the importance of public support for the arts as a catalyst for addressing the issues that face Floridians as we face our past, present and future. The Santa Fe College Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Edward White Quintet
Join the Edward White Quintet for an evening of musical exploration and discovery at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall on Santa Fe College’s Northwest Campus, located at 3000 NW 83rd St. The Edward White Quintet offers a unique experience for jazz enthusiasts of all levels. Led by Santa Fe College professor and guitarist Edward White, the quintet blends traditional jazz elements with contemporary influences, creating a sound that is both familiar and fresh. The band features Paul Johnson on tenor saxophone, Zac Chester on piano, Alexander Pershounin on bass and David Marsh on drums. The concert continues the 2024-25 season of the arts at Santa Fe College, which began last September when The Wire Birds performed at the Fine Arts Hall. Upcoming events include “Winds Go Pop” on Feb. 20 and “Jazz Up Spring” on March 7. Tickets are $16 for adults; $10 for seniors, students, military service members and children 12 and younger; and free for SF students, faculty and staff with college ID cards. Tickets are available from the Fine Arts Hall Box Office at 395-4181 or online from Showpass.
‘The Odd Couple, Female Version’
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, “The Odd Couple, Female Version” is the High Springs Playhouse’s first production of 2025. According to Concord theatricals, “Unger and Madison are at it again! Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is, in Neil Simon’s hilarious contemporary comic classic. … Instead of the poker party that begins the original version, Ms. Madison has invited the girls over for an evening of Trivial Pursuit. The Pidgeon sisters have been replaced by the two Constanzuela brothers. But the hilarity remains the same.” Tickets for the show are $17 for adults, and $15 for students and seniors ages 65 and older. Catch a show at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays or 2 p.m. Sundays from Feb. 7 through March 2. The High Springs Playhouse is located at 130 NE First Ave. in High Springs. For more information, visit highspringsplayhouse.com.
Writers’ Talks at Rawlings House
With the Feb. 8 return of Writers’ Talks at Rawlings House, Marisella Veiga will present “Recipe for Becoming a Floridian,” featuring the book “Famous Florida Recipes — Centuries of Good Eating in the Sunshine State, 2nd Edition.” Lowis Carlton’s classic and much cherished cookbook is back with iconic recipes from the Keys to the Panhandle — and now fully revised by Veiga, embracing new regions and cultures as food and a journey through history come together. Veiga is an award-winning journalist and short story writer, a syndicated columnist and the author of the acclaimed “We Carry Our Homes with us: A Cuban American Memoir.” Meet the author at 1:30 p.m.; the book talk will begin at 2 p.m. The event is free with the standard park admission of $3 per group in one vehicle. Exact change is needed. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park is located at 18700 CR 325 in Cross Creek. Call 466-3672 for more information.]
‘Dangerous Liaisons’
Presented by Dance Alive National Ballet, this performance features Kim Tuttle’s “Dangerous Liaisons” with guest actors Nell Page Rainsberger and Gregg Jones; Judy Skinner’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with award-winning pianist Kevin Sharpe; and Tales Ribeiro’s “Revelation.” Recommended for ages 13 and older. See the show at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Phillips Center, located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets run $30 to $50. To purchase tickets online, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
Valentine’s Swing Dance
This year’s Valentine’s Swing Dance, an annual event put on by Santa Fe College, begins at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 14 in the lobby of the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall, located at 3000 Northwest 83rd St. The semi-formal event will include light refreshments and free swing dance instruction. Tickets are $10 per person and are available from the Fine Arts Hall Box Office at 395-4181 or at showpass.com/valentines-swing-dance-3. Experienced instructors will teach the basics of swing dance from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Then, David L. Smith, SF associate professor of music and band director, will conduct the SF Jazz Ensemble providing live music for the evening. The band will perform popular jazz tunes and arrangements from some of the most important big band leaders from that era, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. With live music and a focus on timeless classics, the evening will immerse participants in the vibrant culture of the Swing Era.
17th Annual Spring Youth Concert Featuring the Premier of ‘Hansel & Gretel’
Sun Country Dance Theatre has announced their 17th annual Spring Youth Concert, showcasing the premiere of its original story ballet, “Hansel & Gretel.” The performance will take place at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23. In line with its mission to provide enriching arts experiences for the youths of the community, SCDT will offer free tickets to children ages 17 and younger (available in person at the Phillips Center box office only — tickets are not available online). General admission tickets are priced at $20. Featured on the program is the premier of “Hansel & Gretel,” choreographed by Artistic Director Judy Benton. This enchanting new adaptation of the beloved fairy tale will transport audiences into a whimsical world where two young siblings venture into a mysterious forest, encounter fantastical creatures, and face the cunning and eccentric Cotton Candy Witch. The witch has sinister plans to turn Hansel and Gretel into scrumptious confections, but with cleverness and bravery, the siblings manage to outsmart her, sending the witch into her own oven and breaking her magical spell. The production is filled with humor, drama and heart as the siblings’ adventure concludes joyously with a heartfelt reunion with their mother. In addition to the premiere of “Hansel & Gretel,” the concert will feature performances by the SCDT dancers, showcasing a dynamic range of new works by the company’s resident and guest choreographers. The performances will span a variety of styles, from classical ballet to contemporary and modern dance, and the production will be further enhanced by the contributions of distinguished guest performers from both Florida and New York City. Among the special guests are professional dancers from The Florida Ballet in Jacksonville, adding a layer of expertise and artistry to the performance. This collaboration highlights the vibrant exchange of creative energy between dancers and choreographers from various regions, underscoring the shared passion for the arts that unites performers and enriches the community. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit tickets.performingarts.ufl.edu. The Phillips Center is located at 3201 Hull Road.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.gainesville.com ’
