Jacksonville is home to a large number of top quality performance places, theaters and concert halls. With cutting edge acoustics, cutting edge facilities and comforts as well as stunning design and aesthetics drawing from historical roots, most theaters in Jacksonville are buildings that have been revived and rebuilt from their architectural origins between 1919 and the 1930's. Below you will find a list with some of the top theaters Jacksonville has to offer to its residents and of course, its visitors.
Times Union Performing Arts Center
Located in downtown Jacksonville, the Times Union Performing Arts Center is probably one of the largest and most high profile of the Jacksonville theaters promoting humanities, culture and performance. Up to date offerings includes Ron White, Kelly Clarkson, Cruel and the Jacksonville Symphony. The TUPAC hosts various events in it's multi venue facility, including the Terry Theatre, the Moran Theater which seats 3,000 guests, the Jacoby Symphony Hall, and the Vets Commemorative Arena.
The Vets Commemorative Arena hosts Jacksonville University Basketball and gigantic name acts like JImmy Buffet and Lady Antebellum. The Prime F. Osborn III Convention center is host to Expos, shows and other events in its 265,000 square feet of space. The Convention Center was once a railroad station before its conversion and retains its historical architecture. Whichever venue visitors experience, TUPAC is the premiere location to test for huge name acts in all of its Jacksonville theaters, as well as music, comedy, celebrity, sports and events.
The Florida Theatre
With 200 entertainment and cultural events yearly, The Florida Theatre hosts jazz, rock, blues, pop and more. Located in downtown along the St. Johns River, The Florida Theatre hosts 250,000 guests yearly and is recognised as one of the best concert venues in Florida and the Southeast, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Performers at this theatre built in 1927 have included Gordon Lightfoot, Greg Allman and "A John Waters Christmas", in addition to being the performance location for the Florida Ballet. The location itself has excellent acoustics and is decorated in an elegant and opulent style fitting its roots and its current position as amongst the premiere concert halls in Jacksonville. This is a great place to stop by and take a little time to enjoy some music.
Theatre Jacksonville
Beginning in 1919, Theatre Jacksonville is one of, if not the longest running community theaters in Jacksonville. Together with performances, the theatre offers acting and theatre classes for all ages and interests. Past performances have included The Storm, Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, An Inspector Calls, Over the Brook and Through the Woods, Seussical, Hi Dolly and more.
Performers and artists involved in Theatre Jacksonville are volunteers with a high level of expertise and knowledge that put their hearts and time into the quality performances at the theatre. Theatre Jacksonville can accommodate a good sized audience, but is a perfect sized fit for a theatre experience that involves more intimate 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 whimsical feel nice theatre. Past and current productions include Lend Me a Tenor and quirky offerings like "Drac's Back", focused on the way the night unfolds when scholars on an expedition take shelter from a thunderstorm in the castle of Dexter Drackman, who is truly 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 among 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 globally acclaimed acousticians Kirkegaard & Associates and KBJ Designers and Rothman, Rothman & Heineman designers.
This is for sure the best theater in Jacksonville.
Metropolitan Park
An outdoor locale with a covered 2,400 square foot stage, Metropolitan Park plays host to several events and outdoor concerts including the Spring Music Holiday, Sector of Countries Party and annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival. Past performers have included James Taylor, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Brown and the Beach Boys. Events at the concerthall at Metropolitan Park offer a fantastic experience along the St. John's brook with covered picnic shelters, children's play area, a 27-acre park and event related conveniences to make any visit remarkable.
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 University and Jacksonville residents. UNF venues host a mixture of entertainers, musicians and performances as well as offering lectures, coaching conventions, receptions, social events and workshops. Recent 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 every other Thursday at 7pm on a big screen at the Robinson Theater, with complimentary popcorn and prizes. The purpose of "Movies on the House", known around campus as MOTH, is to screen films spectators and fans wouldn't normally be well placed to see on the big screen, and to foster an environment of community in the audience.
Freebird Live
Well generally known as a Jacksonville spot for live music, the Freebird Cafeteria books both nationally known artists as well as region and local music, making it the perfect spot to see what music in Jacksonville is really like. Freebird Live's performance space homes 700 guests standing room only and offers views from the floor and a railed balcony that overlooks the stage.
The venue has an outside smoking balcony and 2 full bars with a upper level balcony area for 21+ visitors; other areas are designated as all ages. Freebird Live showcases usually rock artists, like current performers Anberlin, Diplo and Attack Attack! Freebird Live is across the Sea Walk Pavilion, in downtown.
Times Union Performing Arts Center
Located in downtown Jacksonville, the Times Union Performing Arts Center is probably one of the largest and most high profile of the Jacksonville theaters promoting humanities, culture and performance. Up to date offerings includes Ron White, Kelly Clarkson, Cruel and the Jacksonville Symphony. The TUPAC hosts various events in it's multi venue facility, including the Terry Theatre, the Moran Theater which seats 3,000 guests, the Jacoby Symphony Hall, and the Vets Commemorative Arena.
The Vets Commemorative Arena hosts Jacksonville University Basketball and gigantic name acts like JImmy Buffet and Lady Antebellum. The Prime F. Osborn III Convention center is host to Expos, shows and other events in its 265,000 square feet of space. The Convention Center was once a railroad station before its conversion and retains its historical architecture. Whichever venue visitors experience, TUPAC is the premiere location to test for huge name acts in all of its Jacksonville theaters, as well as music, comedy, celebrity, sports and events.
The Florida Theatre
With 200 entertainment and cultural events yearly, The Florida Theatre hosts jazz, rock, blues, pop and more. Located in downtown along the St. Johns River, The Florida Theatre hosts 250,000 guests yearly and is recognised as one of the best concert venues in Florida and the Southeast, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Performers at this theatre built in 1927 have included Gordon Lightfoot, Greg Allman and "A John Waters Christmas", in addition to being the performance location for the Florida Ballet. The location itself has excellent acoustics and is decorated in an elegant and opulent style fitting its roots and its current position as amongst the premiere concert halls in Jacksonville. This is a great place to stop by and take a little time to enjoy some music.
Theatre Jacksonville
Beginning in 1919, Theatre Jacksonville is one of, if not the longest running community theaters in Jacksonville. Together with performances, the theatre offers acting and theatre classes for all ages and interests. Past performances have included The Storm, Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, An Inspector Calls, Over the Brook and Through the Woods, Seussical, Hi Dolly and more.
Performers and artists involved in Theatre Jacksonville are volunteers with a high level of expertise and knowledge that put their hearts and time into the quality performances at the theatre. Theatre Jacksonville can accommodate a good sized audience, but is a perfect sized fit for a theatre experience that involves more intimate 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 whimsical feel nice theatre. Past and current productions include Lend Me a Tenor and quirky offerings like "Drac's Back", focused on the way the night unfolds when scholars on an expedition take shelter from a thunderstorm in the castle of Dexter Drackman, who is truly 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 among 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 globally acclaimed acousticians Kirkegaard & Associates and KBJ Designers and Rothman, Rothman & Heineman designers.
This is for sure the best theater in Jacksonville.
Metropolitan Park
An outdoor locale with a covered 2,400 square foot stage, Metropolitan Park plays host to several events and outdoor concerts including the Spring Music Holiday, Sector of Countries Party and annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival. Past performers have included James Taylor, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Brown and the Beach Boys. Events at the concerthall at Metropolitan Park offer a fantastic experience along the St. John's brook with covered picnic shelters, children's play area, a 27-acre park and event related conveniences to make any visit remarkable.
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 University and Jacksonville residents. UNF venues host a mixture of entertainers, musicians and performances as well as offering lectures, coaching conventions, receptions, social events and workshops. Recent 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 every other Thursday at 7pm on a big screen at the Robinson Theater, with complimentary popcorn and prizes. The purpose of "Movies on the House", known around campus as MOTH, is to screen films spectators and fans wouldn't normally be well placed to see on the big screen, and to foster an environment of community in the audience.
Freebird Live
Well generally known as a Jacksonville spot for live music, the Freebird Cafeteria books both nationally known artists as well as region and local music, making it the perfect spot to see what music in Jacksonville is really like. Freebird Live's performance space homes 700 guests standing room only and offers views from the floor and a railed balcony that overlooks the stage.
The venue has an outside smoking balcony and 2 full bars with a upper level balcony area for 21+ visitors; other areas are designated as all ages. Freebird Live showcases usually rock artists, like current performers Anberlin, Diplo and Attack Attack! Freebird Live is across the Sea Walk Pavilion, in downtown.
About the Author:
Jonas Fredrickson has been interested in hot spots in Jacksonville for a few years. He has written op-eds and editorial pieces about attractions in Jacksonville for many online publications. For more info about concert halls in Jacksonville please click here and visit his site.
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