'Newsies' onstage at OCT, First Friday Art Walk and more: Weekend fun in Ocala
THIS WEEKEND
‘Newsies'
This Disney musical, set in New York City during the summer of 1899, will be onstage through May 4-21 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. More at ocalacivictheatre.com
The Harlem Gospel Travelers
This gospel group will be featured from 7-9 p.m. May 5 at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala. It is part of the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, which presents a weekly concert April 14 through June 23 (excluding May 26.) Admission is free; bring blankets and lawn chairs.
First Friday Art Walk
This will be the last Art Walk of the season. The event runs 6 to 9 p.m. May 5 in downtown Ocala with artist displays, live entertainment, extended shopping hours and more.
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Free First Saturday at the Appleton
The Appleton Museum of Art has free admission on May 6, since that is the first Saturday of the month. The museum is at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
‘Music in the Air’
The Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band will perform this concert at 2 p.m. May 6 and 3 p.m. May 7 in the Browne Greaton-Cole Auditorium on the campus of Marion Technical Institute, 1614 E. Fort King St., Ocala. Free, but donations accepted.
“We will feature our principal horn player, Bob Heifner, performing Gary Kuo's exciting ‘Wingspan.’ Les and Marcia Muncaster return to perform Les' arrangement of ‘Partners in Life,’ celebrating the relationship between a first responder and their K-9 partner. There will be some other fun music, some marches, and some band favorites. The KOSs Brass Quintet will provide some early entertainment 35 minutes prior to each concert,” organizers say.
‘A Grand Night for Singing: Celebrating Broadway’
Jeremy and Samm Hudson will be singing Broadway tunes during this show, which runs 4-6 p.m. May 6 at the Tri-County Unitarian Universalists Church, 7280 SE 135th St., Summerfield. Tickets are $15. Purchase in advance at dianecarlin3@gmail.com. Remaining tickets available at the door. BYOB and food. Concessions available. Proceeds support the Tri-UU Music Program.
Marion Civic Chorale Spring Concerts
The performances of “Some Enchanted Evening - Music from the Stage & Screen” will be at 3 p.m. May 7 at St. George Anglican Cathedral, 5646 SE 28th St., Ocala, and 3 p.m. May 14 at Countryside Presbyterian Church, 7768 SW State Road 200, Ocala. Concerts are free; donations welcome to support the Grat L. Rosazza music scholarship. More at https://www.facebook.com/groups/marioncivicchorale/
COMING SOON
The Lisa Kelly and JB Scott Jazz Sextet
This performance, part of the Reilly Noir Jazz Series, will begin at 7:30 p.m. May 12 at the NOMA Black Box at the Reilly, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. “Guests will experience an engaging, entertaining show of ‘Classic Swing to New Orleans’ repertoire, with favorites from the Great American Songbook, to modern jazz, and tunes in the spirit of New Orleans,” organizers say. More at reillyartscenter.com
Shayna Steele
This soul performance will be featured from 7-9 p.m. May 12 at Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex, 1510 NW Fourth St., Ocala. It is part of the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series, which presents a weekly concert April 14 through June 23 (excluding May 26.) Admission is free; bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Marion County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale
This event will be 8 a.m. to noon May 13 at UF IFAS Extension, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. Free admission. Bring a wagon.
Ocala Historic Home & Garden Tour
This event, organized by the Historic Ocala Preservation Society, will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 13. Starting location will be 712 E. Fort King St., Ocala.
“Six historic homes will be available for viewing around two of Ocala’s downtown Historic Districts,” organizers say. “Guests will have the opportunity to purchase separate tickets (in limited quantity) for three one-hour workshops on floral arranging, candle-making, and how to create a festive charcuterie board. Workshops will be at the Bryant House alongside local vendors who will have floral arrangements and gift items on display and for sale. Food & drinks will be available for purchase at select locations.”
Tickets available for purchase at SpringHomeandGardenTour.eventbrite.com and at Your Hearts Desire, 915 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
Ocala TayTay Party
This celebration of Taylor Swift will be at 9 p.m. May 13 in the NOMA Black Box at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. “This Taylor Swift-inspired dance party features raffles of Taylor merchandise and select signed merchandise at the night's end. This event is open to all ages and encourages guests to dress up in their best Taylor-inspired outfits as they dance the night away,” organizers say. No seating; standing room only. Tickets $20 until May 12 at 11:59 p.m. Price is $30 the day of the show. More at www.reillyartscenter.com
Symphony Under The Stars
Fine Arts For Ocala’s (FAFO) Mother’s Day tradition continues on May 14 at the Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E. Silver Springs Blvd. The Ocala Symphony Orchestra will perform as people enjoy their picnic meals. Tickets purchased online are $20 for adults 18 and older. Kids are free. At the gate, adult tickets are $25. Kids are free. Gates open at 3 p.m. The opening act is at 5 p.m. and the symphony starts at 7. Fireworks show will be at approximately 8:45 p.m.Bring your own food and beverages or purchase from vendors. Ocala Golf Club will be selling beer and wine. More at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fafos-symphony-under-the-stars-tickets-513054839837?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Summer Spotlight XXVI
The Visual Artists’ Society presents this show, “which showcases the work of local and regional artists in a wide variety of mediums,” according to organizers. It will be up at the College of Central Florida Webber Gallery May 15-July 20. The gallery is located at the CF Ocala campus, 3001 SW College Road. An opening reception and awards ceremony is set for 5-7 p.m. May 26. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Admission is free. More at 352-854-2322, ext. 1552 and CF.edu.
Classic Albums LIVE: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘Damn the Torpedoes’
This performance will be 7:30 p.m. May 19 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets from $20. More at https://www.reillyartscenter.com/
History lecture
Robert Jacob, author/historian on the pirates of the Florida coastline and the golden age of piracy, will speak at 2 p.m. May 21 in Green Clover Hall, 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala. Reception following the program at the nearby Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology. Admission free to members, $5 to nonmembers.
ONGOING
‘Plantastic’
The Discovery Center’s “Plantastic” exhibit is up through May 6 at the center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala.
“Follow Bobbi the Botanist on an adventure to see all the ways that plants power our world. Check out the mini hedge maze and be the insect in the larger-than-life flower garden,” the City of Ocala said in a news release.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. General admission to the center is $8 per person/$28 for a family of four. More at 352-401-3900 or the Discovery Center page at www.ocalafl.org.
'Revolutionized Textile & Fiber: The Art of Ingrid Humphrey'
An art exhibit, “Revolutionized Textile & Fiber: The Art of Ingrid Humphrey,” is up through May 25 at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala. It is free and open to the public. More at 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
'Blessed be the Birds'
An art exhibit, "Blessed be the Birds,"by Courtney Kravig-McGuire, is on display at the Clerk's Office at Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., through June 9. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This exhibit is free and open to the public. Learn more at www.direct.me/theinkyibis, 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
'Big and Bold'
This exhibit is on view in the Edith-Marie Gallery at the Appleton Museum of Art through May 21. All works are modern and contemporary art, many of which have never been on display at the Appleton.
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