Numa's Notes - January 2025

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

An article in one of our local business publications caught my eye last month. It asked, “If there was an elevator pitch for Jacksonville, what would it be?” In short, what is Jacksonville’s identity?

I have been privy to this conversation many times in my Jax years. When you say “Nashville,” “Chicago,” or “San Francisco” to someone, it immediately conjures up images, but when you say “Jacksonville,” what do people think? I have an answer to that question. Jacksonville is a place where we like to go out and have a good time.

When I got to Jacksonville 12 years ago, I heard a lot of self-defeating reasons why nothing good ever works in Jacksonville. None of that turned out to be true. What was and still is true is that Jacksonville likes to go out and have a good time. The more good shows we offer, the more people want to come.

Last year was the Florida Theatre’s busiest year since 2007. Attendance was the third best ever since 1987. And that’s just our attendance. Start adding up attendance at the Symphony, The FSCJ Artist Series, the Shrimp, the Jaguars, the Icemen, Jazz Fest, Springing the Blues, and more, and the numbers are significant. I haven’t even figured out how to even start calculating club and restaurant attendance.

Instead of loundering around trying to find a catchy slogan, let’s embrace our actual behavior as a place (maybe “the” place?) where people like to go out and have a good time!

Come see us this month. Here’s what coming, in my own words.

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January 6 - Judy Collins

In an era that favored singer/songwriters performing their own material, Judy Collins was a throwback to an earlier time when singers interpreted the music of other composers. Across 36 studio albums, she scored two Grammy Awards and five other nominations and made a name for herself interpreting Joni Mitchell (“Both Sides Now,” “Chelsea Morning”), Pete Seeger (“Turn! Turn! Turn!”), and especially Stephen Sondheim (“Send in the Clowns”). In 2017, her recording of “Amazing Grace” was entered into the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress for its “cultural, historical, or artistic significance.” In 2022, she finally released an album of all original material, Spellbound. It ain’t over ‘til it’s over, folks.

?Tickets are available here.

?January 10 - Elvis Birthday Bash Starring Mike Albert, Scot Bruce, and the Big E Band

It’s an annual tradition. Elvis Presley played 6 shows at the Florida Theatre in August of 1956, covered by LIFE Magazine (you can find the original coverage on the internet) and every year we celebrate his birthday with Mike Albert and the Big E Band, celebrating Elvis’ later years, and Scot Bruce, celebrating his early rockabilly years. Neither man actually thinks he’s Elvis, and both performers deliver a sincere tribute to The King. It’s just a fun night.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 17 - The New York Bee Gees

They’re from NY, and they sing the music of The Bee Gees, from the early folky hits such as “I’ve Got to Get a Message to You” and “Massachusetts,” through the disco era hits like “Stayin’ Alive” and “Night Fever.” Like The Bee Gees’ career, this is an extravaganza that fans will not want to miss.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 18 - The Purple Xperience

Celebrate the music of Prince with this five-piece group from Minneapolis, MN. The Purple Xperience is fronted by lead singer Marshall Charloff, who recorded with Prince on the album 94 East, playing keyboards and bass guitar. Marshall has also written for, produced and recorded the Commodores and Little Anthony. The Purple Xperience have toured the country since 2011, entertaining well over 300,000 fans.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 19 - Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

Marty Stuart lives somewhere at the crossroads of Western swing, bluegrass, rockabilly, and Bakersfield country music. And yet, he’s from Mississippi. He was a member of Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash’s bands before breaking out on his own. He has five Grammy Awards and a hit with Travis Tritt: “The Whisky Ain’t Workin’.” I strongly recommend this concert. The band (there are just four of them, including Marty) are virtuosos, and there is a reason they call their performances “Marty Parties.”

?Tickets are available here.

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January 21 - Pete The Cat (Theatreworks)

The Theatreworks program brings the Pete the Cat books to life on stage in a 50-minute show is appropriate for grades Pre-K to 3. There are two shows at 10am and 12pm. The minute our groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. When Jimmy Biddles draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him conquer second grade art. They learn a little something about inspiration, adventure and friendship along the way.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 22 - Al Stewart & Livingston Taylor

This is a great night featuring a pairing of two terrific singer/songwriters. Al Stewart’s unique gift as a songwriter is to combine folk-rock songs with tales of characters and historical events. His 1976 album Year of the Cat went platinum, as did its 1978 follow up, Time Passages. Singer and songwriter Livingston Taylor has been a faculty member at the Berklee School of Music since 1989, and his hits include the Top 100 singles "Carolina Day,” "Get Out of Bed," and "I Will Be In Love With You.”

?Tickets are available here.

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January 23 - Jeff Arcuri

The Chicago Tribune calls standup comedian Jeff Arcuri, “a joke machine.” What more do you need to know? He’s all over the internet, so you can check him out in advance if taking a chance is not something that resonates with your pocket book.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 24 - Dweezil Zappa

We have many shows every year celebrating the work of an artist or group who are no longer with us, but this is a special case. Dweezil Zappa, an acclaimed artist in his own right, celebrates the career of his father, Frank Zappa, with a tour celebrating two of the seminal albums in his father’s career: the 1974 albums Apostrophe (‘) and Roxy & Elsewhere. Apostrophe, with the single “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow,” was the biggest commercial success of Frank’s career, and Roxy, recorded mostly over three shows at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, was another highly influential recording. Phil Collins hired Chester Thompson as the touring drummer for Genesis after hearing his drum solos on this record. Dweezil himself is a Grammy-winning guitarist with an eclectic career of his own, including over 2000 concerts worldwide, composing the theme music for the Emmy winning, “The Ben Stiller Show,” and collaborating with everyone from Herbie Hancock to Eddie Van Halen.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 25 - Marc Broussard

The last time we saw Marc Broussard was as part of JJ Grey’s Southern Soul Assembly Tour, where he had to share the stage with three other equally talented singer/songwriters. This time, it’s all Marc, all the time. His “bayou soul” mix of funk, blues, R&B, rock, and pop with distinctly Southern roots has put him on the Top 40 charts three times: “Gavin’s Song (Piano Version),” “Home,” and “Where You Are.”

?Tickets are available here.

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January 26 - Step Afrika!

This is a really special show that the whole staff was talking about last time they were here. They are the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, the form of percussive dance in African-American culture. Step Afrika!, however, expands the aesthetic possibilities of the form by creating works that combine stepping and dancing with live music, technology, and storytelling.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 27 - Step Afrika! (Theatreworks)

If you are a teacher or parent looking to instill teamwork, commitment, and discipline as core values in your children, contact Jamie Kent at 904-353-3500 or [email protected] to make a reservation. Assistance is available for schools with limited field trip budgets.

?Tickets are available here.

January 28 - Yacht Rock Revue

“Yacht rock” was once synonymous with 1970s “soft rock.” It was, however, a wildly successful genre in the late 70s and 80s. Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Yacht Rock Revue has captivated audiences worldwide with their immaculate renditions of classics of the genre. Think breezy, but highly produced, tunes by Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Rupert Holmes, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Toto, or Supertramp. You don’t need to go to all their concerts to hear the hits, though. You just need to see Yacht Rock Revue.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 29 - Dirty Dancing In Concert

Nobody puts Baby in a corner. At least not if you purchased your tickets early and got good seats! We’re showing a digitally remastered version of this timeless romance on a full-size screen, with a live band and singers performing the film’s iconic songs. Dirty Dancing had one of the all-time great soundtracks, with period songs such as “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes, “Stay” by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs, and “In the Still of the Night” by the Five Satins, all living alongside monster hits like “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes, “Hungry Eyes” by Eric Carmen, and “She’s Like the Wind” by Patrick Swayze. The band and singers will throw an encore party directly following the film.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 30 - Vitamin String Quartet

They apply a rock & roll attitude to classical technique, creating fresh arrangements of contemporary pop hits by Taylor Swift, Radiohead, Billie Eilish, BTS, The Weeknd, Daft Punk, and many others. They have over 2 billion streams and seven albums charting on both the classical and classical crossover charts. You’ve heard the VSQ on Bridgerton, Gossip Girl, So You Think You Can Dance, Modern Family, and Westworld. A New Hampshire radio station played nothing but their music 24/7 for two whole years.

?Tickets are available here.

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January 31 - Magic in Motion (Theatreworks)

Two shows for school audiences at 10am and 12pm. Bill Blagg connects his fascination with magic to the wonders of physical science to create an unbelievable educational experience! The show is highly visual and interactive. Students will explore how science creates magic right before their eyes!

?Tickets are available here.

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January 31 - Dude Dad

Dude Dad (real name: Taylor Calmus) is a Colorado based video creator who has become a viral sensation through his comedy videos, which tap into being a father of four and a husband to his wife Heidi. Sample sign for sale on his website: “I’m sorry for what I said while we were renovating this home.” Caution though: if you're a parent, or a spouse, you may wind up laughing at your own struggles. Even though the word “dad” is in the title, parental discretion is advised and this show is recommended for ages 18+.

Tickets are available here.

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

Sincerely,

Numa Saisselin

President of the Florida Theatre

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