Frankie Valli, lead singer of the Four Seasons, rocketed to stardom in 1962 when his fancy falsetto garnered the group a number one hit with the smooth and catchy deliverance of “Sherry”. The group will perform a chain of their hits live in Jacksonville on February 13th.
Influenced by a live Frank Sinatra performance, Frankie Valli knew that he wanted to become a singer at age seven. With his mother’s support, he began to showcase his talent locally. After experiencing minuscule success with various groups, he was finally able to secure a spot with the Four Seasons, leading them on their successful journey to the top. Born Francis Castelluccio in Newark, New Jersey, he changed his name to Frankie Valli (with an “i” for Italian emphasis) as a tribute to his mentor, Jean Valley.
Frankie Valli became a standout star when he decided to pursue a solo career in the late 1970s, after a great run of success with the Four Seasons. He scored his first solo number one hit in 1975 with, "My Eyes Adored You". A bout of hearing problems could not stop him from continuing his lifelong dream. He survived a series of ear operations and a list of hits ensued, including, "Swearin' to God", "December, '63 (Oh, What a Night)", "Our Day Will Come" and "Big Girls Don't Cry".
As a solo artist and with the Four Seasons, Frankie Valli has produced 19 top ten hits and sold over 100 million records worldwide. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and named longevity champ of the rock era by Billboard Magazine. The Four Seasons have sold over 100 million records, making them the most long lived and successful white doo wop group of all time.
This is a performance you don’t want to miss! Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons will be performing at the Times Union Center Moran Theater on Sunday, February 13 at 7:00pm. Contact the Artist Series at (904) 632-3373 for more information.
CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION casting call! Limited to the first 100 dreamers: Saturday, January 29th, 11:00am at the Avenues Mall. Performers, acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, dancers and singers will have 2 minutes to impress the cirque experts. One lucky dreamer will be trained locally to "Run away with Cirque Dreams” during one (or more) of their 8 performances, February 15-20, 2011 at the Times Union Center's Moran Theater. Don’t miss this opportunity to perform in a feature role. Contact The Artist Series at (904) 632-3373 for more information.
Dreams come true... CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION and The Artist Series have teamed up to offer one lucky dreamer the chance to "Run away with Cirque Dreams" and perform in a feature role when the show performs at the Times Union Center's Moran Theater February 15-20, 2011.
The creative team from Cirque Dreams will hold a casting call, limited to the first 100 dreamers, on Saturday, January 29TH beginning at 11AM at the Avenues Mall and encourage aspiring performers, acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, dancers, singers and anyone else with a special talent who has ever dreamed of performing in a Broadway show, to audition for their chance to perform with the internationally renowned Cirque Dreams company. Each participant will have up to 2 minutes to impress the cirque experts with their skills. Performers requiring music should bring their own CD.
In addition, performers from CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION will be on hand to give a sneak peek of the show. The winner of the "Run Away with Cirque Dreams" competition will be trained locally by the Cirque Dreams design team for their debut performance in CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION and will receive six complimentary tickets to their debut performance!
CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATIONS will perform at the TIMES UNION CENTER'S MORAN THEATER February 15 - 20, 2011 for 8 performances only! Tickets are on sale now! Contact The Artist Series at (904) 632-3373 for more information.
Lights... camera... drums! On Saturday, January 22, 2011, an elite group of musically inclined instrumentalists from 17 marching bands across the country will electrify Jacksonville's Times Union Center Moran Theater stage when DRUMLINE LIVE kicks off its second US tour in the 2010-2011 season. Enriched and developed under the HBCU tradition, these individuals will put on a soulful show that defines the true meaning of historic.
The show style marching band tradition began over fifty years ago at Florida A&M University, which has been long considered the nation's preeminent black college marching band school. They have since grown into a sport of their own and now feature characteristic high stepping, funky dance rhythms, and exciting musical repertoire ranging from classical to Top 40. But it is only recently, with films such as Drumline, backed by a flurry of high profile marching band appearances that this tradition has begun to capture the imagination of the American public.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) are institutions of higher learning that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the African American community. After the Civil War, HBCU institutions were established to develop young professionals and inspire them to become successful despite various hindering circumstances. There are more than 100 historically black colleges in the United States, located almost exclusively in the Southeast.
DRUMLINE LIVE's energetic cast has honed its precision and energy with years of training in marching band programs across the southern United States. This versatile group of musicians and dancers brings an explosive energy and athleticism to an eclectic mix of sounds featuring the hottest contemporary hip hop, R&B, classic Motown tunes and the great brass tradition.
DRUMLINE LIVE features a 39-member cast of high-energy performers in the show-style marching band tradition of America's top Historically Black Colleges and Universities including:
Fort Valley State University - embraces a history that weaves together African-American culture, a commitment to personal and intellectual growth and a deep sense of community
Hampton University - rich in history, steeped in tradition
Shaw University - the first historically black college of the South
Dillard High School, Ft. Lauderdale - developed the first computer-themed program in the county, Emerging Computer Technology
Southwest DeKalb - internationally recognized for the last four years as the school that had the largest number of African-Americans in the nation to score three or better on the AP U.S. History exam
North Carolina Central University - became the nation's first state-supported liberal arts college for African-American students in 1925
Norfolk State University - espouses the tradition of service to its students, its alumni, the academy, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world
Talent Unlimited High School, NYC - "the performing arts school where everyone knows your name"
Prairie View A&M University - the first state supported College in Texas for African Americans
Tennessee State University - has a 500-acre main campus, with more than 65 buildings
Florida A&M University - the only historically black university in the eleven-member State University System of Florida
Spelman College - the premier historically Black college for women
Morehouse College - has traditionally graduated more black men than any other school, anywhere
DeKalb Technical College - one of the oldest and most respected of Georgia's 33 technical colleges
Clark Atlanta University - one of only two Historically Black Colleges and Universities designated as a Research University
University of Georgia - the state's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff - the oldest HBCU and the second oldest public institution in the state of Arkansas
With riveting rhythms, bold beats and ear-grabbing energy, the stage show will be a synchronized musical showcase of the HBCU experience. Contact The Artist Series at (904) 632-3373 or visit our website www.artistseriesjax.org for more information.
The Capitol Steps were born in December, 1981 when three staffers (Elaina Newport, Jim Aidala and the late Bill Strauss) for Senator Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Ignoring all ramifications, they set out to mock employers and various government officials. Much like a political version of Saturday Night Live, their song parodies and skits convey a special brand of satirical humor.
The Steps make a mockery of current events and powerfully famous political figures such as Sarah Palin, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. They draw upon comedic relief to soothe the seriousness of worldly drama and congressional issues.
Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded over 30 albums, including their latest, Liberal Shop of Horrors and Barackin' Around the Christmas Tree. They have been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC and PBS, and can be heard 4 times a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their Politics Takes a Holiday radio specials. The Steps have worked in a total of eighteen Congressional offices and represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience. They have also performed for five U.S. Presidents.
See The Steps perform live January 19-23, 2011 at the Wilson Center for the Arts. Contact The Artist Series at (904) 632-3373 for more information or visit our website http://www.artistseriesjax.org/.
Elle Woods may seem like your typical bombshell beauty, but when her boyfriend dumps her for a less ditzy gal, she sets out to prove that she's a blonde with a brain. Legally Blonde, the movie, based on the novel of the same name was released in 2001. The comedic portrayal of a sassy shopaholic who sets out to prove that she's smarter than she looks led to Legally Blonde The Musical, which debuted in 2007. Elle and her posse will paint the town pink when they light up the stage in Jacksonville come January.
In its first year on Broadway, Legally Blonde The Musical earned seven Tony Award nominations, 10 Drama Desk Award Nominations, an Outer Critics Circle Award and received three 2009 Touring Broadway Awards in New York City on May 4, 2009. The show won awards for Best New Musical, Best Production Design and Best Choreography of a Touring Production. The musical also ranked in the top ten list of the most requested Ticketmaster "Arts & Theatre Events" for 2007.
This success gained MTV's interest. The musical was filmed by the network and aired in late 2007. Subsequently, MTV's television version was nominated for two 2007-2008 Daytime Emmy Awards. Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods, a reality show that went behind the scenes of Broadway to show 10 finalists competing in singing, dancing and acting competitions aiming to take over the leading role, premiered shortly after.
Legally Blonde The Musical conveys themes of self-empowerment and justice by "elle-legally" capturing the audience's attention through humorous distractions. You will leave the Broadway experience with a better understanding of what it truly means to be blonde.
The National Tour of Legally Blonde The Musical will begin performances at Times-Union Center-Moran Theater in Jacksonville on January 11, 2011 and will play through January 16, 2011. Visit The Artist Series website (http://www.artistseriesjax.org/) for ticket information or call (904) 632-3373.
Frankie Valli, lead singer of the Four Seasons, rocketed to stardom in 1962 when his fancy falsetto garnered the group a number one hit with the smooth and catchy deliverance of “Sherry”. The group will perform a chain of their hits live in Jacksonville on February 13th.
Frankie Valli became a standout star when he decided to pursue a solo career in the late 1970s, after a great run of success with the Four Seasons. He scored his first solo number one hit in 1975 with, "My Eyes Adored You". A bout of hearing problems could not stop him from continuing his lifelong dream. He survived a series of ear operations and a list of hits ensued, including, "Swearin' to God", "December, '63 (Oh, What a Night)", "Our Day Will Come" and "Big Girls Don't Cry". 
