By Jonas Fredrickson
Jacksonville is home to a big number of first-class performance locations, theaters and concert halls. With cutting edge acoustics, leading edge facilities and facilities as well as pretty design and aesthetics drawing from consequential roots, most theaters in Jacksonville are buildings that've been revived and refurbished from their architectural origins between 1919 and the 1930's.
Times Union Performing Arts Center
Found in central Jacksonville, the Times Union Performing Arts Center is one of the biggest and most high-profile of the Jacksonville theaters promoting humanities, culture and performance. The TUPAC hosts varied events in it's multi locale facility, including the Terry Theatre, the Moran Theater which seats 3,000 guests, the Jacoby Symphony Hall, and the Vets Memorial Arena.
The Vets Memorial Arena hosts Jacksonville College Basketball and great name acts like Jimmy Smorgasboard and Woman Antebellum. The Prime F. Osborn III Convention center hosts Expos, shows and other events in its 265,000 sq. Feet of space. The Convention Center used to be a railroad station before its conversion and keeps its historic design. Whichever location visitors experience, TUPAC is the premiere location to examine for big name acts in all of its Jacksonville theaters, as well as music, comedy, celebrity, sports and events.
The Florida Theatre
With 2 hundred entertainment and cultural events yearly , The Florida Theatre hosts jazz, rock, blues, pop and more. Found in central along the St. Johns Stream, The Florida Theatre hosts 250 thousand guests annual and is recognized as among the best concert locales in Florida and the Southeast, and is on the Country's Register of Consequential Places.
This 1927 theater has hosted a number of performances and performers which have included Greg Allman, Gordon Lightfoot, "A John Waters Christmas," and the Florida Ballet. This theater may be older, but it certainly has it's taste of history.
The location itself has fantastic acoustics and is decorated in a stylish and opulent style fitting its roots and its latest position as among the premiere concert halls in Jacksonville.
Theatre Jacksonville
Times Union Performing Arts Center
Found in central Jacksonville, the Times Union Performing Arts Center is one of the biggest and most high-profile of the Jacksonville theaters promoting humanities, culture and performance. The TUPAC hosts varied events in it's multi locale facility, including the Terry Theatre, the Moran Theater which seats 3,000 guests, the Jacoby Symphony Hall, and the Vets Memorial Arena.
The Vets Memorial Arena hosts Jacksonville College Basketball and great name acts like Jimmy Smorgasboard and Woman Antebellum. The Prime F. Osborn III Convention center hosts Expos, shows and other events in its 265,000 sq. Feet of space. The Convention Center used to be a railroad station before its conversion and keeps its historic design. Whichever location visitors experience, TUPAC is the premiere location to examine for big name acts in all of its Jacksonville theaters, as well as music, comedy, celebrity, sports and events.
The Florida Theatre
With 2 hundred entertainment and cultural events yearly , The Florida Theatre hosts jazz, rock, blues, pop and more. Found in central along the St. Johns Stream, The Florida Theatre hosts 250 thousand guests annual and is recognized as among the best concert locales in Florida and the Southeast, and is on the Country's Register of Consequential Places.
This 1927 theater has hosted a number of performances and performers which have included Greg Allman, Gordon Lightfoot, "A John Waters Christmas," and the Florida Ballet. This theater may be older, but it certainly has it's taste of history.
The location itself has fantastic acoustics and is decorated in a stylish and opulent style fitting its roots and its latest position as among the premiere concert halls in Jacksonville.
Theatre Jacksonville
Starting in 1919, Theatre Jacksonville is one of, if not the longest running community theaters in Jacksonville. With performances, the theatre offers acting and theatre classes for every age and interests. Past performances have included The Storm, Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, An Inspector Calls, Over the Brook and Thru the Woods, Seussical, Hi Dolly and more. Performers and artists involved in Theatre Jacksonville are volunteers with a high level of experience and information that put their hearts and time into the quality performances at the theatre. Theatre Jacksonville can accommodate a good sized audience, but is the ultimate sized fit for a theatre experience that involves more close contact than a larger, more high visibility locale.
Jacksonville Theatre Guild
Offering productions everyone can enjoy, the Jacksonville Theatre Guild performs out of the Studio Theatre with comedies, musicals and eccentric feel very pleasant theatre. Past and current productions include Lend Me a Tenor and flaky offerings like "Drac's Back", targeted on the way in which the night unfolds when students on a trip take refuge from a thunderstorm in the castle of Dexter Drackman, who is actually Dracula in disguise.
Jacoby Symphony Hall at Times Union Performing Arts Center
Located at the Times-Union Center for the Performing humanities, Jacoby Symphony Hall is probably one of the few concert halls in the country dedicated only to a symphony orchestra, the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. The Hall's capacity seats 1,800 guests and was designed by universally commended acousticians Kirkegaard & Associates and KBJ designers and Rothman, Rothman & Heineman designers. Created in a "shoebox" shape, the design reflects sound to disburse it in equal proportions to the gang for phenomenal acoustics. This place is great to see a performance or show, and is centrall located in downtown Jacksonville.
Metropolitan Park
An exterior locale with a covered 2,400 square foot stage, Metropolitan Park plays host to 1 or 2 events and outdoors concerts including the Spring Music Vacation, World of States Party and yearly Jacksonville Jazz Holiday.
Past performers have included James Taylor, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Brown and the Beach Boys. Events at the concerthall at Metropolitan Park supply a good experience along the St. John's brook with covered picnic shelters, children's play area, a 27-acre park and event. Related facilities to make any visit notable.
UNF Fine Arts Center
Made up of The Exhibition Hall, the Lazzara Performance Hall, and the Andrew A. Robinson Jr. Theater, the UNF Fine Arts Center serves both the College and Jacksonville residents. UNF places host a mixture of entertainers, musicians and performances as well as offering lectures, coaching conventions, receptions, social events and workshops. Latest performances at UNF have included Chamber Music, Flute Day, piano recitals and jazz like the Ravi Coltrane Quartet.
"Movies on the House" offers more non-traditional films each other Thursday at 7pm on a sizeable screen at the Robinson Theater, with complimentary popcorn and prizes. The aim of "Movies on the House", known around campus as MOTH, is to screen films spectators and fans would not routinely be prepared to see on the big-screen, and to foster an environment of community in the crowd.
Freebird Live
Widely known generally as a Jacksonville spot for music, the Freebird Cafe books both nationally known artists as well as area and local music, making it the ideal spot to see what music in Jacksonville is really like. Fr
Jacksonville Theatre Guild
Offering productions everyone can enjoy, the Jacksonville Theatre Guild performs out of the Studio Theatre with comedies, musicals and eccentric feel very pleasant theatre. Past and current productions include Lend Me a Tenor and flaky offerings like "Drac's Back", targeted on the way in which the night unfolds when students on a trip take refuge from a thunderstorm in the castle of Dexter Drackman, who is actually Dracula in disguise.
Jacoby Symphony Hall at Times Union Performing Arts Center
Located at the Times-Union Center for the Performing humanities, Jacoby Symphony Hall is probably one of the few concert halls in the country dedicated only to a symphony orchestra, the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. The Hall's capacity seats 1,800 guests and was designed by universally commended acousticians Kirkegaard & Associates and KBJ designers and Rothman, Rothman & Heineman designers. Created in a "shoebox" shape, the design reflects sound to disburse it in equal proportions to the gang for phenomenal acoustics. This place is great to see a performance or show, and is centrall located in downtown Jacksonville.
Metropolitan Park
An exterior locale with a covered 2,400 square foot stage, Metropolitan Park plays host to 1 or 2 events and outdoors concerts including the Spring Music Vacation, World of States Party and yearly Jacksonville Jazz Holiday.
Past performers have included James Taylor, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Brown and the Beach Boys. Events at the concerthall at Metropolitan Park supply a good experience along the St. John's brook with covered picnic shelters, children's play area, a 27-acre park and event. Related facilities to make any visit notable.
UNF Fine Arts Center
Made up of The Exhibition Hall, the Lazzara Performance Hall, and the Andrew A. Robinson Jr. Theater, the UNF Fine Arts Center serves both the College and Jacksonville residents. UNF places host a mixture of entertainers, musicians and performances as well as offering lectures, coaching conventions, receptions, social events and workshops. Latest performances at UNF have included Chamber Music, Flute Day, piano recitals and jazz like the Ravi Coltrane Quartet.
"Movies on the House" offers more non-traditional films each other Thursday at 7pm on a sizeable screen at the Robinson Theater, with complimentary popcorn and prizes. The aim of "Movies on the House", known around campus as MOTH, is to screen films spectators and fans would not routinely be prepared to see on the big-screen, and to foster an environment of community in the crowd.
Freebird Live
Widely known generally as a Jacksonville spot for music, the Freebird Cafe books both nationally known artists as well as area and local music, making it the ideal spot to see what music in Jacksonville is really like. Fr
Located at the Times-Union Center for the Performing humanities, Jacoby Symphony Hall is probably one of the few concert halls in the country dedicated only to a symphony orchestra, the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. The Hall's capacity seats 1,800 guests and was designed by universally commended acousticians Kirkegaard & Associates and KBJ designers and Rothman, Rothman & Heineman designers. Created in a "shoebox" shape, the design reflects sound to disburse it in equal proportions to the gang for phenomenal acoustics. This place is great to see a performance or show, and is centrall located in downtown Jacksonville.
Metropolitan Park
An exterior locale with a covered 2,400 square foot stage, Metropolitan Park plays host to 1 or 2 events and outdoors concerts including the Spring Music Vacation, World of States Party and yearly Jacksonville Jazz Holiday.
Past performers have included James Taylor, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Brown and the Beach Boys. Events at the concerthall at Metropolitan Park supply a good experience along the St. John's brook with covered picnic shelters, children's play area, a 27-acre park and event. Related facilities to make any visit notable.
UNF Fine Arts Center
Made up of The Exhibition Hall, the Lazzara Performance Hall, and the Andrew A. Robinson Jr. Theater, the UNF Fine Arts Center serves both the College and Jacksonville residents. UNF places host a mixture of entertainers, musicians and performances as well as offering lectures, coaching conventions, receptions, social events and workshops. Latest performances at UNF have included Chamber Music, Flute Day, piano recitals and jazz like the Ravi Coltrane Quartet.
"Movies on the House" offers more non-traditional films each other Thursday at 7pm on a sizeable screen at the Robinson Theater, with complimentary popcorn and prizes. The aim of "Movies on the House", known around campus as MOTH, is to screen films spectators and fans would not routinely be prepared to see on the big-screen, and to foster an environment of community in the crowd.
Freebird Live
Widely known generally as a Jacksonville spot for music, the Freebird Cafe books both nationally known artists as well as area and local music, making it the ideal spot to see what music in Jacksonville is really like. Freebird Live's performance space homes seven hundred guests standing room only and offers perspectives from the floor and a railed balcony that overlooks the stage.
The location has an external smoking balcony and 2 full bars with an higher level balcony area for 21+ visitors; other areas are elected as all ages. Freebird Live showcases sometimes rock artists, like recent performers Anberlin, Diplo and Attack Attack! The locale is found downtown one block away from the sea, across from the SeaWalk Pavilion.
About the Author:
Metropolitan Park
An exterior locale with a covered 2,400 square foot stage, Metropolitan Park plays host to 1 or 2 events and outdoors concerts including the Spring Music Vacation, World of States Party and yearly Jacksonville Jazz Holiday.
Past performers have included James Taylor, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Brown and the Beach Boys. Events at the concerthall at Metropolitan Park supply a good experience along the St. John's brook with covered picnic shelters, children's play area, a 27-acre park and event. Related facilities to make any visit notable.
UNF Fine Arts Center
Made up of The Exhibition Hall, the Lazzara Performance Hall, and the Andrew A. Robinson Jr. Theater, the UNF Fine Arts Center serves both the College and Jacksonville residents. UNF places host a mixture of entertainers, musicians and performances as well as offering lectures, coaching conventions, receptions, social events and workshops. Latest performances at UNF have included Chamber Music, Flute Day, piano recitals and jazz like the Ravi Coltrane Quartet.
"Movies on the House" offers more non-traditional films each other Thursday at 7pm on a sizeable screen at the Robinson Theater, with complimentary popcorn and prizes. The aim of "Movies on the House", known around campus as MOTH, is to screen films spectators and fans would not routinely be prepared to see on the big-screen, and to foster an environment of community in the crowd.
Freebird Live
Widely known generally as a Jacksonville spot for music, the Freebird Cafe books both nationally known artists as well as area and local music, making it the ideal spot to see what music in Jacksonville is really like. Freebird Live's performance space homes seven hundred guests standing room only and offers perspectives from the floor and a railed balcony that overlooks the stage.
The location has an external smoking balcony and 2 full bars with an higher level balcony area for 21+ visitors; other areas are elected as all ages. Freebird Live showcases sometimes rock artists, like recent performers Anberlin, Diplo and Attack Attack! The locale is found downtown one block away from the sea, across from the SeaWalk Pavilion.
About the Author:
Jonas Fredrickson has had a deep interest in theaters in Jacksonville for years. He has written op-eds and editorial pieces about Jacksonville attractions for many online publications. To get some more information, free to visit his site.