The Avenue | Art And Theater - The Independent Florida Alligator

POTUS at the Hippodrome Theatre Picture by Michael A Eaddy – Left to right Kelly Atkins*^ as Jean and Sophia Paige as Dusty

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘I am woman, hear me roar’: ‘POTUS’ debuts at the Hippodrome

By Bonny Matejowsky | Sep. 12, 2023

The Hippodrome’s latest production subverts the idea of an orderly presidential office from the moment the play begins when a four-letter expletive reverberates through the theater’s halls, kicking off an unapologetically witty and feminist performance. The theater debuted the first show of its 51st season, “POTUS: Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive,” Sept. 6.

Amber Cabassa flashes her pink rotary dial phone purse at Regal Celebration Pointe on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville community celebrates the second annual National Cinema Day

By Alexandra Burns | Aug. 28, 2023

Gainesville’s three movie theaters — Regal Celebration Pointe, Royal Park and Butler Town Center — celebrated National Cinema Day Sunday with $4 tickets for all movies and showtimes and discounted snack prices. The theaters even brought back several classic films for the day, such as the award-winning “Lady Bird,” “Jurassic Park,” “Coraline” and “American Graffiti.”

UF alumnus Thaddeus Pearson performs as Tony in the West End/International Tour of “West Side Story” in spring 2014.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

From UF to Broadway: A look into the lives of theatre-student success stories

By Jared Teitel | Aug. 28, 2023

Bachelor’s and master’s students alike, UF has produced prosperous performers credited for projects such as “Be More Chill,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “West Side Story,” “Hamilton” and “Hadestown.”

Gainesville-based Drag Queen Kelly T. Kelly leads a number in the second act of Kinky Boots at the Gainesville Community Playhouse on Friday, July 21, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

“Kinky Boots” Receives Standing Ovation Opening Night

By Leia Ulrich | July 24, 2023

The sold-out crowd of more than 200 people laughed, cried and cheered during the opening night of “Kinky Boots” on Friday. The eclectic production will be running until Aug. 13 at the Gainesville Community Playhouse.

It came from outer space and settled on a small stage in Gainesville. The feature crept up in the form of a summer-themed production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The show, presented by Glory Days & Frankie and The Pretenders, will be held at the High Dive, located at 210 SW 2nd Ave, until Aug. 2. The stage, adorned with pool noodles and dildos, hosts the stilettos-wearing cast while the original 1975 picture plays behind them. The troupe puts on its Rocky “Super Wet Supersoaker Summer Extravaganza” throughout July and early August each year.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

The cast of Gainesville’s Rocky Horror Picture Show leaves summer audiences ‘shivering with anticipation’

By Valentina Sarmiento | July 17, 2023

The feature crept up in the form of a summer-themed production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The show, presented by Glory Days & Frankie and The Pretenders, will be held at the High Dive, located at 210 SW 2nd Ave, until Aug. 2. The stage, adorned with pool noodles and dildos, hosts the stilettos-wearing cast while the original 1975 picture plays behind them. The troupe puts on its Rocky “Super Wet Supersoaker Summer Extravaganza” throughout July and early August each year.

Author Richard Gartee discusses his book "The Hippodrome Theatre First 50 Years" at the Matheson History Museum on Saturday, July 8, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Actors, patrons and subscribers celebrate 50 years of Hippodrome memories

By Aubrey Bocalan | July 10, 2023

Author Richard Gartee talked to about 100 people about the Hippodrome Theatre’s impact on the community during a July 8 Matheson History Museum event. In his talk, he presented his latest book, “The Hippodrome Theatre First 50 Years.”

The Pride Community Center of North Central Florida tabled at the Museum Night offering Pride flags among other items on Thursday, June 8, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

The Harn Museum Nights: Art + Pride celebrates LGBTQ artists and local community

By Leia Ulrich | June 12, 2023

This month, the Harn Museum chose “Art + Pride” as the theme for its monthly nighttime community event, Museum Nights. Organizations supporting women, people of color and LGBTQ people were invited to educate and connect with the museum-goers.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

The Boheme Coven casts a spell over Gainesville’s drag scene

By Valentina Sarmiento | June 12, 2023

The Coven doubles as a drag family and a group of entertainers based in North Central Florida. Rachel Boheme, mother and Supreme of the Coven, founded the group in 2016. The Coven hosts its weekly show Sinister Sundays at the University Club, Gainesville’s first and only gay club located at 18 East University Ave.

Models pose together during a Museum Days event held at the Harn Museum of Art in April 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Local art organization builds confidence with summer events

By Aubrey Bocalan | June 5, 2023

Everyone deserves to see art when they look at themselves in the mirror — for the past six years, Figure on Diversity has been dedicated to helping people do just that.

Gerard Bencen (left), owner of the SL8 gallery, is seen with artist 444 IDK (right) at his art collective’s debut Friday, May 26, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville art gallery showcases local artist group’s exhibit

By Aubrey Bocalan | May 30, 2023

A local group of artists debuted their first exhibit while bouncing bass and percussion echoed, glasses were filled with wine and glowing black lights lit up the SL8 gallery Friday.

Tingquan Zhang, an artist, is seen at the Harn Museum of Art on Monday, November 14, 2022.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Chinese artist Tingqun Zhang reflects on his international success and artistic inspirations

By Valentina Sarmiento | May 26, 2023

Born to a folk carpenter in the coastal province of Fujian, China, the Gainesville-based artist established himself in art spaces through Chinese calligraphy brushes and oil paintings.

Johnny Nguyen, an artist, is seen at the How Bazar’s Art Walk at First Magnitude Brewing Company on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

UF artist finds a home in Gainesville’s local markets and school club

By Gracey Davis | May 22, 2023

Johnny Nguyen found he enjoyed the comfort of a pencil in his hand from an early age while growing up in Urbana, Illinois. Now a recent graduate from UF in business management and economics, the 21-year-old artist still loves to work with his hands. Most of his paintings were studies of different artists, but lately, he’s been inspired by Franklin Booth’s illustrations and Studio Ghibli films because of the attention to detail and whimsical nature.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘Silent Sky’ shares universal story of womanhood in science

By Loren Miranda | Apr. 24, 2023

Anchored between the crevices of the universe where time and space exist, the play “Silent Sky” shines an honest light through the timeless story of an empowered astronomer flourishing in a space dominated by men and their science.

Thomas Phillips removes the paint from pieces of broken skateboards that will be repurposed to make woodbots in his studio Friday, March 31, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville artists create with environmental consciousness

By Zarin Ismail | Apr. 17, 2023

Many creatives in Gainesville have taken sustainability into account by upcycling used items into art pieces, trading materials or promoting a connection to nature. As global temperatures continue to rise, some artists have begun centering their creative processes around preventing environmental ruin to slow climate change.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Harn Museum hosts discussion with NYU professor Deborah Willis on Black art history

By Ben Crosbie | Apr. 2, 2023

Posing Beauty is now on display at the Harn Museum of Art, located at 3259 Hull Road, and will remain there until June.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

White Coat Company brings laughter, light to children at UF Health Shands Hospital

By Sophia Bailly | Mar. 31, 2023

About 50 UF medical students and faculty who participate in White Coat Company, a theater group that performs about two productions per year for the children at Shands.

Griffin Wulf, a stilts performer, walks around the heart of Downtown Gainesville at the Bazar À La Carte Saturday, March 25, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

DragonBox Theatre ignites Gainesville’s imagination with performances, puppetry

By Allessandra Inzinna | Mar. 29, 2023

DragonBox Theatre, a local aerial arts, puppetry, performance and workshop theater company, often puts on shows at How Bazar’s Night Festival and other events. Griffin Wulf can be seen walking around the streets of downtown Gainesville on stilts or twisting several feet above the ground, while George O’Brien, the other co-founder of DragonBox Theatre, will usually have one of his marionettes.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville botanical artist creates jewelry using real plants

By Zarin Ismail | Mar. 29, 2023

Valeria Rosich has always loved flowers — especially bougainvillea, a tropical plant her mom grew in her home of Caracas, Venezuela. She loved bougainvillea so much, she said she used them to make her first piece of jewelry at age 19.

Saving Latin Press // Courtesy to The Alligator

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘Swan Lake’ ballet inspires, Gainesville studio Dance Alive announces new cultural facility

By Loren Miranda | Mar. 29, 2023

Dance Alive Studios brought the timeless ballet “Swan Lake” back to the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts March 25. A recently announced facility is also helping Dance Alive turn the page into a new era.

A little boy paints the kids mural setup at the Walldogs Mural Painting festival in High Springs Friday, March 24, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Walldogs, local artists take over High Springs with arts and history festival

By Zoey Thomas | Mar. 26, 2023

The festival also showcased an exhibition of murals created by the Walldogs, a group of traveling mural artists and sign painters. They were invited by Heart of High Springs, a non-profit organization that works to support the town’s culture and tourism.