OVATION JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH 2020 Celebrating the arts and the joy they bring to life every day. ©2019 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC CON PDF 0618-0106 Florida Theatre Merchandise Building T-Shirt Building T-Shirt Logo Hoodie Vintage Navy Grey Eco True Navy/Eco Grey Adult sizes S-XXL Adult sizes S-XXL Adult sizes S-XXL Logo T-Shirt Logo T-Shirt Branded Polo Vintage Navy Grey Navy Adult sizes S-XXL Adult sizes S-XXL Adult sizes S-XXL FT Mug FT Trucker Hat Throwback Logo Ceramic mug Mesh back with T-Shirt features building & blue canvas front; 16oz. Tumbler, made logo adjustable in America, BPA free Visit the merchandise stand for these items and more at floridatheatre.com (open at most performances) WELCOME LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends and Patrons, If you only come to the Florida Theatre at night or for a family matinee, you may not know that over 30 times a year, school children from across the Northeast Florida and Southern Georgia region get on big yellow school buses, and come to downtown Jacksonville to see an educational performance that is usually tied to their classroom curriculum. Often, this experience is a student’s first experience in a performing arts venue. During my seven years at the Florida Theatre I have spoken to many parents whose own first arts experience was on one of these trips in the 80s or 90s, and now they’re bringing their own children to the Florida Theatre. Many of these programs have been presented by a nonprofit arts organization, Theatreworks, Inc. For 40 years they have been bringing national tours of professional children’s theatre to First Coast school audiences. Renting the Florida Theatre as its primary venue, Theatreworks serves 25,000 to 30,0000 school children per year on theatre trips to see page-to-stage adaptations of classic children’s literature at the Florida Theatre. Last month, the Florida Theatre and Theatreworks merged, in a strategic alliance of two nonprofit arts organizations. The merger adds arts education to the Florida Theatre’s portfolio; gives Theatreworks access to a robust marketing and development operation; and consolidates the administrative functions and expenses of running Theatreworks into the Florida Theatre operation, allowing the Theatreworks staff to focus on its excellent programming work. The Theatreworks program will continue as it always has for 40 years, except now under the banner, “Theatreworks, a Florida Theatre Program.” If anything, with abundant opportunities to connect the Florida Theatre’s headlining artists to school audiences, we anticipate that the program will grow. We welcome the Theatreworks staff to the Florida Theatre, and we thank all of you for your support of the nonprofit Florida Theatre. Every time you buy a ticket and come to a show, you’re not just supporting your own arts and entertainment needs, you’re also supporting a nonprofit organization serving the community in ways you may not even have known about. architecture ◆ engineering ◆ construction For the past 50 years, we have remained committed to helping the community of Jacksonville grow and remain committed to its growth in the future. Inspired. 1,355 architects, engineers, constructors and administrative professionals. It is with great pride 20 offices across the US, Latin America and Asia. $1B annually for local and global that we support clients in commercial, industrial, federal The Florida Theatre. and infrastructure markets. Fickling Construction Inc. HEADQUARTERED IN JACKSONVILLE, FL SINCE 1965. 1703 Lambert Street Jacksonville, Florida 32206 Creating Things That Matter. 904•634•1535 www.haskell.com ficklingconstruction.com UP TO 60% OFF DEPARTMENT STORE PRICES EVERY DAY Roosevelt | Mandarin | Lakewood Beaches | Harbour Village | Baymeadows 1-888-SteinMart LET’S CONNECT & SHOP SteinMart.com SPLIFFSGASTROPUB LUNCH SPLIFF'S MON - FRI 11AM • 2PM D I N N E R & M U N C H I E S 7 DAYS A WEEK 6PM • 1:30AM A FOOD & DRINK JOINT GASTROPUB GASTROPUB A FOOD & DRINK JOINT WEEKLY EVENTS FUNKY MONDAYS EVERY MONDAY HIP HOP & HOOKAH EVERY FRIDAY RENT OUR PATIO FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT!!! SPLIFF'S CRAFT BEER 15 N. OCEAN ST. FRESH FOOD DOWNTOWN LOCAL SPIRIT(S) OUTDOOR PATIO JACKSONVILLE WWW.SPLIFFSGASTROPUB.COM DOWNTOWN VISION PRESENTS FREE 5-9 P.M. RAIN OR SHINE Explore Downtown Jacksonville’s museums and theatres, galleries and shops, restaurants and bars, local artists and murals on the first Wednesday of each month. BY ILOVEARTWALK.COM PRODUCED DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE ART WALK HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA THEATRE When the Florida Theatre originally hallmark of the Theatre’s schedule, and opened to the public on April 8, 1927, it one of the most memorable occurred in was downtown Jacksonville’s fifteenth, and 1956, when Elvis Presley came to the Florida largest, theatre. Today, it is the last remaining Theatre. Presley, the City of Jacksonville, historic theatre on the north bank of and the Florida Theatre found themselves downtown, listed on the National Register of subjects of a LIFE magazine feature when Historic Places, and the city’s last remaining Juvenile Court Judge Marion Gooding sat example of 1920s fantasy architecture. through the performance to ensure that Presley’s body movements would not The elaborate interior was designed by R.E. become too suggestive. Hall of New York and Jacksonville architect Roy Benjamin. Their design displays many By the late 1970s, however, the Theatre characteristics of the Mediterranean Revival, was only marginally profitable. By May 8, one of the most prominent architectural 1980, when the building closed, martial arts styles associated with Florida’s building movies were the bulk of the schedule. In boom of the 1920s. The architects 1981, with financial support from the State envisioned a Moorish courtyard at night, of Florida, the City of Jacksonville, and resplendent with glittering stars, grand the private sector, the Arts Assembly of balconies, and fountains. The ornate Jacksonville (now the Cultural Council of proscenium arch that frames the stage Greater Jacksonville) acquired the Theatre reaches nearly six stories high, dominating to preserve it for cultural uses. A $4.1 million the auditorium and contributing to the capital campaign resulted in the building’s venue’s excellent acoustics. An open-air roof restoration and renovation. The 1,900-seat garden in the 1920s provided a venue for Theatre reopened on October 1, 1983, with dancing under the stars, and a nursery was a Gala Variety Show featuring Some Like It available for patrons’ young children. The Cole, a Cole Porter review; the Symphony building’s then-modern features included String Quartet; and Grammy Award winning central heating, central air-conditioning and fiddle player Vassar Clements, who closed a central vacuuming system. the evening with “Orange Blossom Special.” Like many theatres of its day, the Florida On October 1, 1987, the City of Jacksonville Theatre was designed for both stage acquired the building. The Florida Theatre shows and motion pictures and a typical Performing Arts Center, Inc. was founded as program included six elements: a news reel, a nonprofit corporation to manage, program, a comedy short, a cartoon or travelogue, and preserve the building. Thousands of an overture by the band on a moveable performances and millions of audience orchestra pit (still in use today), a live stage members later, the Florida Theatre is still, presentation, and the feature film. Creative “One of the unique assets that makes marketing through the decades included Jacksonville, Jacksonville.” “Screeno,” a bingo game played on the movie screen; “Bank Night,” which gave ticket buyers a chance to win cash prizes; and, in the late 1960s, rocking chairs. Live performances have always been a Historic Images Courtsey of Wayne Wood Collection 8 | FLORIDATHEATRE.COM | BOX OFFICE: 904.355.2787 Florida Blue is committed to helping the people and the businesses in our community achieve better health. That’s My Kind of Blue. 877-352-5830 | floridablue.com Florida Blue is a trade name of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 96339 0619 96339 0619_FBLPN Florida Theatre ad5x3_875.indd 1 6/5/19 12:05 PM Merrill is proud to partner with the Florida Theatre for your efforts and commitment to providing the North Florida community with diverse memorable arts and entertainment experiences. We’re with you every step of the way. VISIT US AT www.ml.com Jacksonville Beach Ponte Vedra Beach 50 N Laura Street, Suite 3700 824 A1A N Suite 300 4800 Deer Lake Drive East 904.634.6000 UPGRADE YOUR EXPERIENCE. BECOME A MEMBER . our membership with the Florida Theatre is a critical source of support for our nonprofit. Ticket sales and other earned revenue account for 85% of our operating budget; the remainder is raised through generous contributions from people like you. If you love downtown, the arts, cultural entertainment, historic preservation, orY the Florida Theatre, consider purchasing a membership. Help us maintain the same high standards of excellence you’ve come to appreciate from the Florida Theatre, downtown Jacksonville’s cultural icon since 1927, and your community’s nonprofit since 1987. FOR MORE INFORMATION: MEREDITH JESPERSEN | Membership Manager 904.562.5995 • [email protected] ALL MEMBERS RECEIVE: • Florida Theatre membership card. • Listing in Ovation and Annual Report. • Use of Members Only door on Newnan Street. • Use of the Donor Lounge with a private bar and bathroom access ENSEMBLE annual contribution of $250 to $499 • Ability to purchase 4 tickets during the 4-day presale. Seat locations are not guaranteed. CAMEO ROLE annual contribution of $500 to $999 • Ability to purchase 4 tickets during the 4-day presale.