The Florida Theatre’s management has decided it’s time to get back into the live performances business.
The historic theatre in Downtown Jacksonville will reopen for its first public concert since the pandemic began on Thursday, Dec. 10, with a concert by 38 Special.
The southern rockers have been performing for more than 40 years with hits like “Hold on Loosely,” “Rocking Into the Night,” and “Caught Up in You.” The band formed in Jacksonville in 1975 and has seen members come and go over the decades.
The current 38 Special band members are Don Barnes, Bobby Capps, Gary Moffatt, Barry Dunaway and Jerry Riggs.
Due to the pandemic, the venue's capacity will be limited to 50% and face masks will be required at all times. Temperatures will be scanned at the door. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4F or higher will not be admitted. Refunds will be available for those not admitted.
While closed, the theatre has been busy installing new historically appropriate seats.
The opening comes as the theatre works to regain its financial footing.
“We need to raise an additional $100,000 by the end of the year,” the theatre announced on its Facebook page, saying it has been without more than 90% of its typical income for more than six months.
It has survived with help from federal and city loans and grants.
The theatre said other financial support came in from individual and corporate members who renewed their memberships, and this season's sponsor, Community First Credit Union of Florida.
Country music star Travis Tritt will be the second performer to take the stage on Sunday, Dec. 13.
The Florida Theatre’s announced lineup is as follows:
2020
DEC 19 - Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker Christmas Stream
2021
JAN 9 - The Righteous Brothers
JAN 16 - Brothers Again - A Celebration of The Allman Brothers Band
JAN 20 - Judy Collins and Arlo Guthrie
JAN 22 - The Temptations and The Four Tops
FEB 2 - FRIENDS! The Musical Parody
FEB 4 - An Evening with Neil DeGrasse Tyson: "An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies - The Sequel"
FEB 12 - Nate Bargatze: Good Problem to Have Tour
FEB 20 - POCO, Firefall and Pure Prairie League
FEB 24 - Pilobolus - The Big Five Oh!
FEB 26 - Whose Live Anyway? with Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray
FEB 28 - Spyro Gyra at the WJCT Soundstage
MAR 5 - Humorist Jeanne Robertson
MAR 6 - Little River Band with special guest Lords of 52nd Street
MAR 18 - America 50th Anniversary Tour
MAR 20 - Pablo Cruise at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
MAR 21 - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
MAR 27 - Jake Shimabukuro at the WJCT Soundstage
April 17 - Masterchef Jr. Live!
Information on how to donate to the Florida Theatre’s Cross the Finish Line campaign is on its website.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
