Numa's Notes - February 2025

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

One of our goals at the Florida Theatre is to provide cultural and entertainment opportunities for everyone. We want everyone to look at our schedule at least once a year and say, “I want to go to that show.” Our schedule at any given moment might look like a crazy quilt of unrelated performances, but there’s a method to the madness. We’re purposefully casting a wide net. All are welcome, and if you don’t happen to be interested in what’s on stage today, this week, or even this month, we hope that there’s something else on the calendar soon that does inspire you.

Here is some information about this month’s performers:

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February 2 - A1A: The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show

A1A was founded by vocalist and guitarist Jeff Pike and Scott Nickerson, founder of the very first Jimmy Buffett Parrot Head Club. In 1992, they won a Jimmy Buffett Sound Alike Contest for Margaritaville Records, bringing them to the attention of Jimmy Buffett himself. They went on to headline the “Meeting of The Minds” Jimmy Buffett Parrot Head Convention, and many other Parrot Head events. If that’s not Jimmy Buffett street-cred, I don’t know what is!

Tickets are available here.

February 3 - Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends

This show is presented by the Theatreworks program for schools. It is a live musical theatre production based on the books Rosie Revere, Engineer; Iggy Peck, Architect; and Ada Twist, Scientist, all by Andrea Beaty. Like the books, the plot of this 60-minute stage production spotlights the STEM curriculum (science, technology, engineering, and math) and is appropriate for grades K-4. With shows at 10am and 12 noon, we can still get your school in!

Tickets are available here.

February 5 - Burton Cummings

The voice of the Guess Who during their most successful period from 1965 to 1975, Burton Cummings helped the group send 14 hits into the Top 40, including the #1 hits “American Woman” and “No Sugar Tonight,” the Top 10 hits “These Eyes,” “No Time,” “Laughing,” “Share the Land,” and “Clap for the Wolfman,” plus his own Top 10 solo single, “Stand Tall.”

Tickets are available here.

February 6 - Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular

This show is exactly what it sounds like. The music of Pink Floyd, with a laser light show. Take yourself on a mind-expanding journey!

Tickets are available here.

February 7 - Sal Vulcano

Sal Vulcano. 20 years ago I was managing the performing arts center at the City University of New York’s College of Staten Island, when four young men inquired about renting a theatre for their improv comedy troupe to put on a show. Much to my surprise, they sold the show out, and added a second one, which also sold out, and started coming back with a new show every three months. Flash forward and those four guys, one of which was Sal Vulcano, became the Impractical Jokers, who are on Tru TV and other cable TV channels almost as much as reruns of Law & Order.

Tickets are available here.

February 8 - MJ LIVE

If you like Michael Jackson’s music, this theatrical production brings all the hits to life, from Jackson 5 singles such as “I’ll Be There,” “I Want You Back” and “ABC,” to the moonwalk and timeless hits like “Bad,” “Billie Jean,” and “Beat It.” A fully staged production with lighting, effects, a live band and dancers, MJ LIVE is a spectacle befitting the King of Pop.

Tickets are available here.

February 10 - Drive-By Truckers

Incorporating elements of rock-and-roll, Southern rock, country, punk, R&B, and Southern soul, Drive-By Truckers built a dedicated following by constantly touring since their Athens, GA founding in 1996. The music is a backdrop to their progressive political views, and they’re known for concept albums such as Southern Rock Opera and Dedication Day. Like all good Southern bands, their lineup started changing almost immediately, but founding members Patterson Hood (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Mike Cooley (guitar, vocals, banjo, harmonica), plus drummer Brad Morgan (in the band since 1999) have steered the group through 14 studio albums. Fun fact: Jason Isbell was a member from 2001-2006.

Tickets are available here.

February 12 - The Bronx Wanderers

The Bronx Wanderers were almost pre-destined. Brothers Nicky and Vin grew up playing music with their high school friends Joe Bari and Fernando Tort. When their father, Vinny Adinolfi Sr. decided to create a show about his life in the record business, there was already a band assembled in his basement. The original show was built around the music that Vinny Sr. recorded and produced, by artists such as Dion, Tony Orlando, the Jersey Boys, and Billy Joel, but the show has grown. Their name hints at an emphasis on doo wop or hip hop, but the show has no focus on one specific genre or artist. With a set list spanning the 1960s to the 1990s and beyond, The Wanderers pride themselves on entertaining audiences of all ages, and they have 12 Best of Vegas Awards to prove it.

Tickets are available here.

February 13 - Drew and Ellie Holcomb

They’re a husband-and-wife duo from Nashville. They began performing together as Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors shortly after their marriage in 2006, but Ellie has since left the band to find success in a solo career as a singer, songwriter, and bestselling author, with two Dove Awards to her name. Drew still tours with The Neighbors, but this evening is a special engagement, and a chance to witness the Holcombs collaborate together again.

Tickets are available here.

February 14 - Alton Brown

In addition to being a bestselling author and one of the most well-known TV food show personalities (Good Eats, Iron Chef, Cutthroat Kitchen, etc.) Alton Brown is also a funny and compelling stage presence. He combines his love of food, science and storytelling to create an enjoyable evening of entertainment. The last time he was here he told a story about forgetting to put salt in the bread he was making, and I almost wet my pants, it was so funny. If you forgot to make dinner reservations for Valentine’s Day, there is still time to take your sweetheart to a show about food.

Tickets are available here.

February 15 - Brian Kilmeade: The History, Liberty and Laughs Tour

He’s been on the air 6 hours a day, 5 days a week since 2006. He has co-hosted Fox & Friends since the 90s, and the show has held the top spot in morning cable TV since 2000. After Fox & Friends wraps every morning, he then hosts his own Top 10 nationally syndicated radio show from 9-12 noon. He has authored seven books, including six New York Times bestsellers that have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Tickets are available here.

February 16 - Yamato

This is one of those shows that you might overlook, but you should just take my word for it. You won’t forget it. The word “Taiko” refers to a broad range of Japanese drums and percussion?instruments, but it also refers to a particular style of ensemble drumming, including the rhythm, form, stick grip and even the clothing worn by the drummers. Yamato is a Japanese Taiko drumming group based in the Asuka-mura Nara Prefecture. They spend half the year in Japan, and half the year touring worldwide. Since forming in 1993, they have performed over 4,500 shows in 54 countries. The acoustic pressure of their instruments surpasses what you might imagine, and their performances are physically demanding. The Yamato performers stand onstage with more than 40 Taiko drums, including the largest, “Odaiko,” which was produced from a 400-year-old tree, is two meters in diameter, and weighs over 1,000 lbs. The members of Yamato have trained their bodies to the limit to beat these massive Taiko drums.

Tickets are available here.

February 18 - Chris Botti

Trumpeter and composer Chris Botti has a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album (Impressions, 2012) and nominations for Italia (2008) and three for Chris Botti in Boston (2010). Four of his albums have reached the No.?1 position on the Billboard jazz albums chart, testament to his ability to fuse jazz?and pop music. He’s a great entertainer with fantastic stage presence and a warm way with the audience. If you are new to jazz, you won’t feel out of place.

Tickets are available here.

February 19 - Danny Go!

Created in 2019 by three childhood friends in Charlotte, NC, the YouTube show Danny Go! seamlessly blends education with entertainment, standing out from the ever-growing pack of online entertainment directed at young children. Covering a wide range of topics suitable for ages 3-7, Danny Go! has amassed over 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube, and now it’s a live-action show filled with music, movement and silliness.

Tickets are available here.

February 20 - The Wild Kratts

Zoologists Chris and Martin Kratt (yes, they’re actually brothers) created the PBS TV show The Wild Kratts to educate children about biology, zoology, and ecology. Their live stage show is as much fun as the TV show and teaches children that small actions can have a big impact. The TV show was a finalist for a Peabody Award and is just one indication of the quality of the live show, which, of course, is why we keep inviting them back.

Tickets are available here.

February 21 - Mania: An ABBA Tribute

It’s not ABBA, but then again you can’t see ABBA live anymore, and Mania is accepted as the world’s number one touring ABBA tribute production. Dig out those platform shoes and come sing along to “Mamma Mia,” “Voulez Vous,” “Dancing Queen,” “Winner Takes It All,” and many more.

Tickets are available here.

February 22 - The McElroys

This is a live stage version of the hit podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me, the weekly comedy advice podcast hosted by brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy. Expect a live in-person version of the advice show, with the McElroy brothers engaging in a rapid-fire comedy discussion (as only brothers can) to answer listener questions with both silly and practical suggestions. The podcast has made several Top 10 lists, and the live version should be a fun time.

Tickets are available here.

February 23 - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

They started as a jug band focused on traditional folk music but quickly expanded their musical horizons to include bluegrass, traditional country, country rock, and pop. Their hits include “Mr. Bojangles,” “An American Dream,” and “Make a Little Magic,” but it’s their 1972 album, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, that cemented their legacy. A collaboration with Nashville country and bluegrass stalwarts of the time such as Roy Acuff, Earl Scruggs, Maybelle Carter, and Doc Watson, the album bridged the distance between “Traditional Nashville” and its then-new long-haired hippie fans. The influence of that album and its two sequels (Vol. II won three Grammy Awards) can still be felt today. Fun fact: Jackson Browne was briefly an original member.

Tickets are available here.

February 25 - Robin Trower

He’s a guitar player’s guitar player. After achieving success with Procol Harum (“A Whiter Shade of Pale,” “Conquistador”) he led his own power trio, the Robin Trower Band. They had four gold records, including two Top 10 albums, Bridge of Sighs and For Earth Below. He has also made significant albums with Jack Bruce of Cream, and Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music.

Tickets are available here.

February 27 - Untold Stories ‘Cloud’

This is a great evening of LOCAL talent. A live storytelling event, each Untold Stories performance features five local storytellers from all walks of life telling personal and transformative tales from their own experiences living in Northeast Florida. Each performance is based on a theme. This one is ‘Cloud.’ Untold Stories is not an open mic night, but a theatrical event curated by Artistic Director Barbara Colaciello. This show features the following storytellers: Sunny Vasquez, a chef; Elyse Berlin, a Southern soul singer-songwriter; Ron Shreve, a Hawaiian-born actor, director and educator; Rebecca Levy, a choreographer, dancer, educator and co-founder of Jacksonville Dance Theatre; and Crystal Parker, a high school English teacher. They’ll be joined by musical guests Hannah Barrow and Mike Bernos. The live Untold Stories series is recorded for a podcast hosted by WJCT Public Media.

Tickets are available here.

For a full list of upcoming Florida Theatre events, click here.

Sincerely,

Numa Saisselin

President of the Florida Theatre