The unique blend of musical and dramatic presentations has become the primary source for national and international professional productions in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. FSCJ Artist Series presents Brodway in Jacksomville at Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts or Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts.
The Florida Theatre is the beloved, refurbished epicenter of arts and culture in downtown Jacksonville. The historic entertainment venue has been completely refurbished and renovated into a concert venue for live performances, including ballet, opera, pop, jazz, rock and more.
The Florida Theatre first opened in 1927 and was Jacksonville's 15th movie theater. It was the largest and most lavish theater in the city, equipped with a rooftop garden, a nursery for patrons' children, air conditioning and vacuuming systems.
Over the next few decades, the theater was used as a venue for many different events. From movie screen bingo, "Screeno," to one of Elvis Presley's first performances and civic events like fashion shows to first-run film screenings, The Florida Theatre had it all for a long while. In the 70s things slowed down for the theater and it eventually closed in 1980.
It didn't take very long for the city to revive the Florida Theatre. By October of 1983, the theater was fully restored, remodeled and ready for a new chapter in Florida Theatre history.
Offering over 200 cultural and entertainment events each year, The Florida Theatre is recognized as one of the finest concert venues in the Southeast. From ballet and opera to contemporary pop, jazz, rock, country and blues, the theater's productions are for every taste and seen by over 250,000 people annually.
The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts is a center for professional and community artistry in downtown Jacksonville. A cornerstone of the downtown area, this beautiful three-venue facility is committed to supporting a wide range of entertainment experiences at the highest level of professionalism.
Enjoy theater infused with the African-American experience at the Stage Aurora Theatrical Company. The critically acclaimed venue is one of Florida's leading production companies specializing in African-American dramas, comedies, and musicals.
Stage Aurora Theatrical Company is the most popular theater on the north side of Jacksonville. The theater aims to "enlighten the mind by way of the arts through the African-American experience." Stage Aurora began in 1999 with the hopes of providing the city's people of color a place to grow, share, and exhibit their skills and creativity. Through works that depict our culture, the theater is quickly becoming Florida's leading theater in African-American dramas, comedies, and musicals.
The theater began a program called "Community Outreach and Educational Series," where children ages 6 to 18 have an opportunity to learn all aspects of theater production. The program enlists over 3,000 students annually.
The African American experience in film, art, music and more takes center stage at the Ritz Theatre, a premier cultural institution in downtown Jacksonville. Popular events include the Black History Film Series, the Ritz Youth Oratorical Competition, and Amateur Night at the Ritz.
Ritz Theatre & Museum sprung from the ashes of the former Ritz Theater movie house, which was located in Jacksonville's historic African American community of La Villa.
Both of the structures are important in Jacksonville's history of arts and the African-American population. The Ritz Theatre is considered to be the premiere cultural institution in Jacksonville showcasing art, music, drama, poetry and African American history.
Performances include individual artists and touring productions. Events like the Black History Film Series, the Ritz Youth Oratorical Competition, and Amateur Night at the Ritz are all popular productions that draw residents and visitors alike.
The Ritz Museum features a permanent exhibit that honors local African American leaders throughout the development of Jacksonville and the contributions of African-Americans in Northeast Florida. Visiting exhibits have included the enormously popular "For Women and Men of Color: The Art of Relationships," Jacksonville's longest running annual exhibit featuring new works by African American artists.
You'll appreciate the historical significance of Theatre Jacksonville, named Jacksonville's "Official Theatre" in 1972. Since then, this entertainment venue has produced classic plays like "Little Women," "The Importance of Being Earnest," "Arsenic and Old Lace," "Taming of the Shrew," "Wizard of Oz," "The Crucible," "Oklahoma" and many more.
In its 90 years of production, Theatre Jacksonville has produced classic plays like "Little Women," "The Importance of Being Earnest," "Arsenic and Old Lace," "Taming of the Shrew," "Wizard of Oz," "The Crucible," "Oklahoma" and many more. In 1972, the theater was recognized by the mayor as being Jacksonville's "Official Theatre."
The volunteer based community theater offers year round classes and workshops to young and adult actors. Theatre Jacksonville supports its actors, supplying exceptional training and education that will allow them to develop their own unique projects. Offering these opportunities ultimately helps the theater in its mission to broaden community and cultural understanding of theater arts.