Best bets: 'Free Fridays,' Tioga Concert Night, 'Hamlet,' 'Spamalot' and water park day
“FREE FRIDAYS” CONCERT: Catch the next performance of the city’s popular “Free Fridays” concert series from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Bo Diddley Plaza downtown amphitheater, located at 111 E. University Ave. The free concert series highlights a different act each week, with The Ruckus performing folk music today. 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 bodiddleyplaza.com/upcoming-events.
TIOGA CONCERT NIGHT: Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a performance under the stars by Elio Piedra at the Tioga Town Center Amphitheatre. This is a free outdoor concert. Don't forget to visit the Tioga Town Center restaurants for dinner before the show, or to grab take-out to enjoy during the concert. Parking is available near the Tioga Town Center, 33 SW 130th Way in Newberry. FutureTioga Concert Night performances include Scott Wilson and the Global Jazz Ensemble on Aug. 5 and one more performance TBA on Aug. 26.
“HAMLET”: The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre is presenting an original adaptation of one of the most impactful and widely performed pieces of literature in the world — William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” In this story, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns from school to find his father dead and his mother married to his uncle. However, something is rotten in the state of Denmark, and his father’s ghost walks nightly through Elsinore castle crying out for revenge. Hamlet takes up the gauntlet to confront his mother and uncle, and avenge his father. Performance text, adapted and edited by Catherine Karow from Shakespeare’s second quarto, is fast-paced and has a running time of two hours. From its impactful staging, with technological enhancements, to its unique casting and costumes, this production is sure to provide a moving and memorable theatrical experience, fitting for the final production in the theatre’s current performance space. The theatre requests that all patrons be masked when not eating or drinking. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 7 at the Acrosstown Repertory Theater, 619 S. Main St. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors, military and students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit acrosstown.org/2022-07-hamlet.
“MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT”: The musical comedy that raises silliness to an art form is back at the Gainesville Community Playhouse. This musical, featuring a bevy of beautiful show girls, a cow and killer rabbits is lovingly ripped off from the movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Performances are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the playhouse, located at 4039 NW 16th Blvd., through Aug. 7. Tickets are $23 for general admission, $19 for seniors and $12 for students. For tickets or more information, visit gcplayhouse.org.
WATER PARK COMMUNITY DAY: Camp Kulaqua opens its River Ranch on specific days during the spring and summer at a discounted rate with no reservations required, and it will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. The venue features a 15,000-square-foot wave pool as well as a lazy river, water slide and volleyball courts. The public is allowed to bring food and coolers, but no glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the water park. Camp Kulaqua requests that modest swimsuits be worn. The water park is located at 23400 NW 212th Ave. in High Springs. The discounted rate is $16 per person; free for children ages 3 and younger. Future community days include Aug. 7. For more information, visit kulaqua.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Best bets: 'Free Fridays,' Tioga Concert Night, 'Hamlet,' 'Spamalot'
