THIS WEEK
Doxa Recital 2025: The King & Little Mermaid
Doxa Dance Studio is set to present its 21st annual recital, featuring the theme “The King and Little Mermaid — Story of a Father’s Love.” This year’s production — beginning at 6:30 p.m. June 6, 10 a.m. June 7, 1:30 p.m. June 7 and 5 p.m. June 7 — features performances from all-aged dance classes in a variety of dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap, modern and hip-hop. The event will be held at the Phillips Center, located at 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $17 and can be purchased at performingarts.ufl.edu.
‘Free Fridays’ Concert
Catch the next performance of the city’s popular “Free Fridays” concert series from 7 to 9 p.m. June 6 at the Bo Diddley Plaza downtown amphitheater, located at 111 E. University Ave. The free concert series highlights a different act each week, with Music GNV Live and Local Edition featuring The Nancys, Mike and the Nerve, and Brook Cooley this week. Attendees are encouraged to bring their blankets and lawn chairs to Bo Diddley Plaza to enjoy the concert under the stars. For more information, including a list of upcoming performances, visit gainesvillefl.gov/Events-directory/Free-Fridays-Concert-Series. Future performances include Friday the 13th Showcase featuring The Mermers, DJ Wild Creatrix and Supertwin on June 13; Beatles tribute band The Imposters on June 20; The Savants performing soul and R&B plus Fakksonly performing hip-hop on June 27; The Wire Birds and The Wandering Hours performing folk and Americana on July 4; MusicGNV Live and Local Edition Singer Songwriter Showcase on July 11; Salvaged Records Showcase on July 18; Pet Detectives performing ’90s alt-rock covers on July 25; Uncle Mosie and Bad Dog Mama on Aug. 1; The Ox Showcase featuring Short Stack and Kevin PM Jamboree on Aug. 8; Sooza Brass Band and Displace on Aug. 15; Michael Claytor and friends on Aug. 22; De Lions of Jah on Aug. 29; Alex Kaufman Big Band on Sept. 5; Fest 24 Showcase on Sept. 12; Uncle Morty’s Rhythm Cream performing R&B, soul and rock on Sept. 19; and Morningbell performing psychedelic rock and soul on Sept. 26.
‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)(Revised)(Again)’
A contemporary take on the works of William Shakespeare, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)(Revised)(Again)” will be performed on the High Springs Playhouse Stage June 6-29. The play, written for just three actors, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. June 6-7, June 13-14, June 20-21 and June 27-28; and 2 p.m. June 8, June 15, June 22 and June 29. Tickets are $17 for adults, and $15 for students and ages 65 and older. The High Springs Playhouse is located at 23416 W. U.S. 27 in High Springs. For more information, visit highspringsplayhouse.com.
‘The Play That Goes Wrong’
Have you ever been to a show where props went missing, scenery fell apart, actors tripped, the leading lady became unconscious, and a corpse could not stay dead? The international hit “The Play That Goes Wrong” has it all and more. The Gainesville Community Playhouse says audiences will laugh out loud as they watch the Cornley Drama Society try to stage a classic whodunnit only to face one disaster after another. Will the accident-prone actors make it through the show? Find out at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays through June 8 at the Gainesville Community Playhouse, located at 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $24 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit gcplayhouse.org.
‘Pump Boys and Dinettes’
With “Pump Boys and Dinettes,” the Hipp’s summer musical, audiences can step into the world of the Double Cupp Diner and the gas station next door, where the Pump Boys (Jim, Jackson, Eddie and L.M.) and the Dinette sisters (Prudie and Rhetta Cupp) serve up a delicious mix of country, rock, blues and western swing. This isn’t just a show — it’s a full-tank, full-service musical experience where the cast members double as the band, playing their own instruments live on stage. Catch a performance at 8 p.m. June 6-7, June 13-14, June 20-21 and June 27; 2 p.m. June 1, June 7-8, June 14-15, June 21-22 and June 28-29; or 7 p.m. June 11-12, June 18-19 and June 25-26. Tickets are $20-$45 and can be purchased at thehipp.org.
‘The Unscene South’
The Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center is sharing artistic works by Ocala artist Charles Eady in an exhibit entitled “The Unscene South. Organizers are inviting the community to the opening reception of the exhibit at 4 p.m. June 7. Attendees can view the exhibit, meet and talk with the artist, and enjoy light refreshments at the Cotton Club Museum, located at 837 SE Seventh Ave. The event is free, but registration is required at cottonclubmuseum.com/events. The exhibit will run through August. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. South Carolina-born, Ocala-based artist Eady paints large compelling canvases — captivating figures representing free Blacks in the South before 1865, an overlooked, even unknown population. The Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center is an organization dedicated to enriching the experiences of all who wish to grow in knowledge and appreciation of the history and culture of African-derived cultures, highlighting those in Gainesville and North Central Florida.
Run Come
EasyCrew352 is set to present a night of Jamaican dancehall culture, dancing and entertainment with Originator Super Power Sound System. Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, the Originator (founded in 1979) brings their cultural treasure trove of decades of original dubplate music — hit tunes by top reggae artists specifically tailored for this sound system. Selectors Hutchie, Mishka and Mike will be joined by crowd favorite mic emcees Don Pablo and Ras Kenny. Local restaurant Caribbean Spice’s food truck will be on site. The venue is the new Pulp Arts event space at the corner of Northwest 16th Avenue and Second Street (previously the Flow Space) with plenty of free parking nearby. Entrance is $10 at the door for the 9 p.m. June 7 event.
ONGOING
‘Silver Linings’
The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida will display art from Spelman College — a historically black liberal arts college for women located in Atlanta. The Harn is one of five venues across the United States exhibiting “Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection.” Through 39 works by nearly 30 artists, “Silver Linings” uplifts the legacy of artists of African descent spanning the 20th century through the contemporary moment, many of whom have been overlooked by mainstream art museums. The exhibition will be on view through July 6. “Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection” includes a variety of mediums and techniques such as painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed-media collage, prints and photographs divided into five sections that focus on the Spiral Group, abstraction, early figuration, contemporary photography and contemporary figuration. An artist-in-residence program and special community day are among the programs providing opportunities for the community to engage with the exhibition in multiple ways. Onsite artist-in-residence Jessica Clermont will create works of art inspired by the exhibition Tuesdays through Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. until June 26. Visitors can engage in discussion as the artist works, discuss the influence of the exhibition and create their own work of art. Entrance to the museum is free. For more information, visit harn.ufl.edu.
Horse Feeding
The Retirement Home for Horses provides lifetime care to elderly horses seized by law enforcement agencies, rescued by the SPCA or humane societies, as well as horses retired from government service such as police patrol or state and federal parks. They allow visitors to tour the property and feed treats — carrots, apple slices and bananas provided by the visitors — from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday. Mill Creek Farm Retirement Home for Horses is located at 20307 NW CR 235A in Alachua. For more information, or to support the nonprofit, visit millcreekfarm.org.
Community Nights
Community Nights are free weekly events hosted by South Main Station and Heartwood Soundstage that include a rotating calendar of jams, skillshares, concerts, arts markets, food and drink specials, and other activities each Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. The event has grown in popularity with families, locals, musicians, and college students since its launch in 2024. The event takes place at South Main Station, an arts, food, and entertainment campus adjacent to Depot Park that spans the Southeast corner of Main Street and Depot Road. Community Nights always feature free live music and drink specials at Heartwood Soundstage’s lawn bar, but any given week can also include skillshares on music and videography, kids’ activities, film screenings, and opportunities to sample local food and drink at South Main’s businesses, which include Humble Pie Pizzeria, Grand Scheme Brewery, Bingo Deli, and Afternoon Coffee. The first Wednesday of every month always features an open air arts market of local makers and an old-time music jam. More information is available at heartwoodsoundstage.com.
COMING SOON
‘The Best Little Whorehose in Texas’
This happy-go-lucky view of small-town vice and statewide political side-stepping recounts the good times and the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850s as one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas. Governors, senators, mayors and even victorious college football teams frequent Miss Mona’s cozy bordello — until a Puritan nemesis watchdog focuses his television cameras and his righteous indignation on the institution. Catch “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays July 18 through Aug. 10 at the Gainesville Community Playhouse, located at 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $24 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit gcplayhouse.org.
Phillips Center 2025|2026 Season Preview
Fans of the performing arts can get the inside scoop on the Phillips Center’s upcoming season of performances straight from UFPA Director Brian Jose. According to the Phillips Center, the preview is a special tradition that kicks off every UFPA season where they announce the performances coming over the next year. The presentation features highlights for the 40 performances in the 2025-26 season, in addition to information about their affiliate program. The free event starts at 7 p.m. July 22. The Phillips Center is located at 3201 Hull Road. For more information, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
‘The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson Musical’
In the latest musical from the High Springs Playhouse, 16-year-old Percy Jackson discovers that he is the half-blood son of the Greek god Poseidon. See what happens when his life takes a dramatic turn as he is plunged into a world much bigger than he possibly could have imagined. “The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson Musical” will be performed at 7 p.m. July 24-26 and July 31-Aug. 2 plus 2 p.m. July 27 and Aug. 3. Tickets are $17 for adults, and $15 for students and ages 65 and older. The High Springs Playhouse is located at 23416 W. U.S. 27 in High Springs. For more information, visit highspringsplayhouse.com.
‘On Sight’
The world premiere of “On Sight” — a one-person show, intervention and TV special in honor of World Mental Health Day — is set for 7-10 p.m. Oct. 10 at Eastside High School. The special will feature writer, performer and producer Dr. Micah E. Johnson, and host DC Youngfly. Organizers say the show will uniquely blend comedy, drama, science and street culture to address youth mental health and gun violence. This event will bring together 50-plus community partners and leaders from across the region. For more information, visit doctormicahjohnson.com. Eastside High School is located at 1201 SE 43rd St.
Tom Petty Weekend
The annual music event celebrating the life and legacy of Tom Petty is scheduled for noon Nov. 7-9 at Heartwood Soundstage. This year’s event will feature headliners The Wallflowers as well as performances by Jake Thistle and Jeff Slate, Sine and the Shakers, The Ain’t Sisters, Fortune Child and many more. Students and ages 18 and younger get in for free. General admission is $100. VIP tickets also are available. Heartwood Soundstage is located at 619 S. Main St. For more information, visit heartwoodsoundstage.com.