Scene Calendar: Alex Cuba, The Guy Mintus Trio, and Dance Alive National Ballet in Alachua
THIS WEEK
Alex Cuba
Alex Cuba’s sweet melodies, pop-soul hooks and powerful guitar riffs abandon the conventional stereotype that is found in much of the Latin music landscape. Born in Cuba and now residing in Canada, he effortlessly blends the rich melodies of his Cuban roots with North American influences. The musician is set to perform at 7 and 9 p.m. March 28 at UpStage at the Phillips Center, located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $55 for the 7 p.m. seating, $35 for the 9 p.m. seating and $12 for University of Florida students. UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. For more information about this or other upcoming events, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
The Guy Mintus Trio
Guy Mintus brings the expertise of a trained concert pianist, the energy of a showman, and a jazz musician’s sense of adventure. Coming from a heritage of Iraqi, Moroccan and Polish Jews, he is unafraid to throw into the mix his native Middle Eastern scales and rhythms. Set to perform at 7 and 9 p.m. March 29 at UpStage at the Phillips Center — 3201 Hull Road — the Guy Mintus Trio creates a musical home in which different identities and influences can coexist as a uniquely unified voice. UpStage is an intimate, cabaret-style setting on the Phillips Center Mainstage. The 7 p.m. seating includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar; the 9 p.m. seating includes desserts and cash bar. Tickets are $55 for the 7 p.m. seating, $35 for the 9 p.m. seating and $12 for University of Florida students. For more information, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
Alachua Spring Concert
The city of Alachua and Dance Alive National Ballet are set to present their first collaborative program between DANB’s Next Generation and danceAbout. Students in DANB’s outreach program, danceAbout, have been taking weekly classes from DANB outreach teachers Alison Tucker and Marilyn Deiorio since February. The Next Generation is DANB’s youth performing group. The program includes “Le Corsaire Suite,” “Night Sky,” “Appalachian Spring,” “Boogie Shoes,” “Playground” and “Boogie Wonderland.” “Le Corsaire Suite” is a classical ballet that was selected by Next Generation directors to expose the Next Generation student group to a new style of classical ballet and character dance for the group. The program will close with “Boogie Wonderland.” This piece will open with the danceAbout group before exploring different styles of dance. A tap section lead by guest artist Victor Mancuso followed by ballet, jazz and contemporary will lead into the grand finale of “Boogie Wonderland” with danceAbout and Next Generation dancers performing together. Proceeds of this program will benefit DANB Outreach programming. The mission of the Next Generation is to enrich the lives of youths and teens by providing them with supplemental choreography and instruction, and providing them the opportunity to perform in a variety of settings — growing in them a love for dance. The performance begins at 3 p.m. March 30 at Legacy Park, located at 15400 Peggy Road in Alachua. Tickets are available at the door the afternoon of the show, and they cost $8 for adults. Children get in for free. For more information, call 371-2986 or email info@dancealive.org.
Music at Holy Trinity Concert Series
The Music at Holy Trinity Concert Series is set to present a 340th birthday celebration of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach beginning at 4 p.m. March 30. The event will feature performances of keyboard and organ works along with works for stringed instruments and flute. The concert will conclude with chamber music and hors d'oeuvres in the Parish Hall. Performers include Chris Goddard, Laura Ellis, Evan Mitchell, Shiyi Zhu, Emily Smith, Lauren Hodges, Alejandro Valdes, Linda Weltner and Seoyoun Rho. The concert is free. For more information, visit holytrinitygnv.org. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 100 NE First St.
'Alachua County Looking Forward'
In honor of Alachua County’s bicentennial, the county is inviting residents to attend the premier showing of a short, 30-minute film titled “Alachua County Looking Forward.” The film's goal is to help the county and community prepare for the next 200 years and features interviews with local residents. The film is built off a vulnerability analysis completed by the county in 2024. The film premieres at 6:30 p.m. April 2 at the Matheson History Museum, located at 513 E. University Ave. Catering and refreshments will be provided. A facilitator will lead a group discussion after the screening. After the event, the film will be available on the Matheson History Museum website, along with an online exhibit where residents can hear the full interviews from each included resident. Attendance is free, but space is limited. Museum staff recommend advanced registration at tinyurl.com/aclfff25. For more information, contact Alachua County Sustainability Manager Betsy Riley at 264-6908 or briley@alachuacounty.us.
ONGOING
'Ragtime'
Based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, “Ragtime” weaves together the stories of three diverse families as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of a rapidly changing world. From the immigrant struggles of Tateh and his daughter to the privileged lives of mother, father and their son, and the explosive energy of Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Sarah, their lives intersect in unexpected ways, revealing the interconnectedness of humanity in the face of adversity. Nominated for 13 Tony Awards — including “Best Musical” and winning for “Best Original Score” and “Best Book of a Musical” — “Ragtime” is a powerful portrait of life during the turn of the 20th century, exploring America’s timeless contradictions of freedom and prejudice, wealth and poverty, hope and despair. Catch a show at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays through April 13 at the Gainesville Community Playhouse, located at 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $24 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit gcplayhouse.org.
'Morning After Grace'
What happens when a one night stand leads to an awkward situation between three unknowingly connected strangers? Watch as this unlikely trio tackles love and loss, and reminds us that life’s greatest chapters can begin at any age. Join Nell Page and Kevin Rainsberger in this new touching comedy at the Hippodrome. See a show at 8 p.m. Fridays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 20 at the Hippodrome Theatre, located at 25 SE Second Place. Tickets are $10 to $30. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org/morning-after-grace.
Sylvia Zerbini’s 'Liberte'
Equestrian trainer and performing artist Sylvia Zerbiniis bringing her production, “Liberte,” back to her Liberte ́ Equestrian Theater in Williston now through April. The former star and lead trainer of “Cavalia” has performed across the globe for millions of fans. Zerbini’s multidimensional equestrian voyage features more than a dozen horses and world-class equestrian theatrical performers. Blending awe-inspiring horsemanship with imaginative stagecraft, intricate choreography, high-flying aerial stunts, and multi-talented live musicians, this horse lover’s extravaganza expands the definition of equestrian performance into a theatrical experience. Weekly performances will be held every Saturday and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. with both general seating, and VIP upgraded options that include food, beverages and a backstage tour. Located at the Grande Liberté Farms at 18550 NE 81st St. in Williston, the Liberte ́ Equestrian Theater offers an indoor theatrical experience. Tickets start at $35 and are available through SylviaZerbini.com or ordered directly on EventBrite.com.
'Riding the 33rd Parallel'
“Riding the 33rd Parallel” is a virtual road trip from Florida to California via the Harn’s photography collection. According to the Harn, 48 photographs by 22 photographers were made along the 33rd parallel (more or less) encompassing Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. The time span is 1961 to the present. Some images are grouped by similar or opposing conditions within one or more states while other images follow Ansel Adams’s grand landscape style and still others fuse the picturesque with toxic industries and extreme weather or truly awesome human ingenuity. The photos will be on display in the Rubin Gallery through May 25 at the Harn Museum of Art, located at 3259 Hull Road. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, closed Mondays through Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, or to see what other exhibits are on display, visit harn.ufl.edu/visit.
'Silver Linings'
The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida will display art from Spelman College — a historically black liberal arts college for women located in Atlanta. The Harn is one of five venues across the United States exhibiting “Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection.” Through 39 works by nearly 30 artists, “Silver Linings” uplifts the legacy of artists of African descent spanning the 20th century through the contemporary moment, many of whom have been overlooked by mainstream art museums. A community day at the Harn, set for noon to 4 p.m. May 31, will celebrate the exhibition with tours, a silkscreen art activity, art creation by Clermont, entertainment, partner information tables and refreshments. The exhibition will be on view through July 6. “Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection” includes a variety of mediums and techniques such as painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed-media collage, prints and photographs divided into five sections that focus on the Spiral Group, abstraction, early figuration, contemporary photography and contemporary figuration. An artist-in-residence program and special community day are among the programs providing opportunities for the community to engage with the exhibition in multiple ways. Onsite artist-in-residence Jessica Clermont will create works of art inspired by the exhibition Tuesdays through Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. until June 26. Visitors can engage in discussion as the artist works, discuss the influence of the exhibition and create their own work of art. Entrance to the museum is free. For more information, visit harn.ufl.edu.
COMING SOON
'Elements of Style'
Santa Fe College’s annual dance showcase, “Elements of Style,” returns to the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall — located at 3000 NW 83rd St. — at 7:30 p.m. April 4-5. The production, featuring 40 SF dance students performing in eight distinct styles, highlights the diversity and artistry of the college’s dance program. Audiences can expect a program ranging from classical ballet to contemporary fusion. The student performances include variations from “Swan Lake”; “Fire’s Dance,” a Spanish folklore-inspired piece; an exploration of isolation; a musical theater selection from “The Wild Party”; a high-energy fusion performed by the SF Dance Team; West African dance and drumming; “Strict Love,” a post-modern dance; and a unique fusion of tap, hip-hop and contemporary. Beyond their performances, students also work closely with professional technical theater staff and SF technical theater students, gaining hands-on experience in theatrical production. Tickets are $16 for adults; $10 for seniors, students and military service members; and free for SF students, faculty and staff with ID. They are available at the Fine Arts Hall Box Office at 95-4181 or online via Showpass.
Old Florida Celebration of the Arts
Despite still recovering from Hurricane Helene, Cedar Key’s annual Old Florida Celebration of the Arts is returning for a one-day event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 5. According to the event’s website, cedarkeyartscenter.org, the festival welcomes 100 high-quality artists and about 15,000 visitors annually. Organizers say the celebration radiates a relaxed and friendly atmosphere often missing in larger venues. The island community of Cedar Key is surrounded by the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge on Florida’s Gulf Coast. This free event benefits the Cedar Key Arts Center in addition to local nonprofit and Cedar Key School groups who serve food, beverages and goodies during the festival.
Voices Rising Spring Concert
The annual spring performance by Voices Rising Community Chorus is set for 3 and 7 p.m. April 5 at First United Methodist Church. The church is located at 419 NE First St. The suggested donation for entry is $10 to $20. Parking will be available on the street and in the bank parking lot across from the church. For more information, visit vrccgainesville.org.
'Romeo and Juliet'
The greatest love story ever told is set to be presented by Dance Alive National Ballet. In “Romeo and Juliet,” the heartbreaking feud between the Capulets and Montagues results in the doomed lovers’ deaths and a sad reconciliation for the families. This performance is family friendly. Sword fighting is involved. See the show at 7:30 p.m. April 5 at the Phillips Center, located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $35 to $65, and can be purchased at performingarts.ufl.edu.
Amaryn Olmeda
“Prodigy” is a lofty label, but in the case of Amaryn Olmeda, the shoe fits. Olmeda won her first competition at age 9, debuted with the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 13, and made her Carnegie Hall solo debut at 14. At 16, the bold, expressive playing style of this rising star rivals that of international concert stage veterans. See her perform at 2 p.m. April 6 at the Squitieri Studio Theatre at the Phillips Center, located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $12 for University of Florida students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion
A celebration of drumming with one of the chief architects of contemporary world music — Zakir Hussain — is set for 7:30 p.m. April 8 at the Phillips Center. Credited as the pre-eminent classical tabla virtuoso, Hussain is one of the world’s most esteemed and influential musicians. Renowned for his immersive performances, Hussain boasts a career that includes collaborations with luminaries such as Edgar Meyer, the Grateful Dead, George Harrison and Herbie Hancock. The Phillips Center is located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $25 to $45, $12 for University of Florida students. For more information, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.