Theater, art and more: Fun things to do this weekend in Ocala/Marion County
THIS WEEKEND
‘Into the Breeches’ at Ocala Civic Theatre
This dramatic comedy, set in Ocala during World War II, is onstage at the Ocala Civic Theatre through Feb. 5. “Join us as Ocala’s women of WWII shake up Shakespeare to make history HER-story!” organizers say. More at ocalacivicthetre.com
‘A Love Story’
This art exhibit from Ro Martinez opens with a reception at 5 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Brick Gallery, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala. The exhibit will be up through February. The reception is free but RSVP is required at eventbrite.
First Friday Art Walk
Artists, live music, vendors and more in downtown Ocala. The event runs 6-9 p.m. Feb. 3.
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COMING SOON
Valentine Concert
Kevin O'Connell and his Trio, Nancy Scharff, Billie Thatcher, "Pinky" and Ben Simmons will perform at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at The Congregational Church, 15421 S. U.S. 301, Summerfield. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at www.thecongregationalchurch.org or at the door.
‘Til Death Do Us Part’
This is the Vanguard High School VHS Players’ eighth annual murder mystery dinner theater, with performances Feb. 10 and 11 at Vanguard’s Knights Union, 7 NW 28th St., Ocala. Performances begin at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30. Dinner served at 6:15. Tickets are $20 and include Lee’s Famous Fried Chicken and the show. Tickets available online only: www.vhsplayers.com. Sales close Feb. 10.
‘Words, Music, Art… A Love Story’
This Broadway at the Brick production is a partnership between the Ocala Civic Theatre and the Marion Cultural Alliance. There will be three performances, Feb. 10-12, all at the Brick, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala.
“After a hiatus of several years, the vocal ensemble Brick City Cabaret Company is back with this snappy, sophisticated revue, featuring some of our region’s finest vocal talent. Both poignant and playful, it’s a delightfully PG-13 exploration of romance through songs from the heart of New York’s vibrant cabaret scene and the best of Broadway,” organizers say in a news release.
Reservations strongly recommended. More at Ocalacivictheatre.com
Cattle Drive/Cowboy Roundup and Duck Derby
The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department’s annual Cattle Drive and Cowboy Round-Up will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 11. The drive will start at 10 a.m. in downtown Ocala and end at Tuscawilla Park, 800 NE Sanchez Ave. At the park, visitors can enjoy live entertainment, cowboy demonstrations, mechanical bull rides, a farm animal petting zoo, kids’ corral with family friendly games, antique tractors and trailers and more.
The Marion Rotary Duck Derby will begin at 1 p.m. at Lake Tuscawilla.
General admission is free. On-site purchases for adult beverages and kid’s corral tickets will be cash only. More at 352-368-5517 or www.ocalafl.org/cattledrive.
'It's Colored Pencil'
A new exhibit, “It’s Colored Pencil,” presented in partnership with the Colored Pencil Society of America, will be up Feb. 13-March 9 at the CF Webber Gallery on the College of Central Florida campus, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala. There will be an opening reception 5-7 p.m. Feb. 17. The Webber Gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Admission is free. More at 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.
‘Get Out’
The College of Central Florida Ira Holmes International Film Series is sponsoring two screenings of this film on Feb. 14. The 2 p.m. screening will be at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. The 7 p.m. screening will be at the CF Ocala campus, 3001 SW College Road, Building 8, Room 110. The latter is free; the Appleton screening is free to all museum and film series members but nonmembers pay museum admission. Films may contain mature content.
The Electric Light Orchestra Experience featuring EVIL WOMAN the American ELO
This concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE Ninth St., Ocala. Tickets start at $25. More at ReillyArtsCenter.com.
Another Fine Mess
This trio will perform at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 as part of the Will McLean Foundation’s Sunday Sampler Concert Series. The show will be at the historic Dunnellon Depot, 12061 S. Williams St., Dunnellon. Donation is $15 at the door; cash preferred. More at https://www.facebook.com/willmcleanfestival/
‘Soul’
This film will be screened at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at Webb Field, 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, as part of the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department’s “After Dark in the Park” movie series. Free. Open to the public. Popcorn, drinks, refreshments available for purchase. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. More at 352-368-5517 or www.ocalafl.org/recpark.
Sholom Park’s fourth annual Gnome and Fairy Festival
This event will be 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 25 at the park, 7110 SW 80th Ave., Ocala. Live mystical music, enchanting entertainment, marketplace. Event parking fee of $5, including golf carts. More at www.sholompark.org or the Sholom Park Facebook Page.
'Tolton: From Slave to Priest'
This live, one-man production will be staged at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 5 SE 17th St., Ocala. It is the story of the Rev. Augustine Tolton, the first Black priest of the U.S. Suitable for people age 10 and older. Free admission; freewill offering accepted. More at www.toltondrama.com and 352-629-8092.
ONGOING
'Focus on the Essence: The Photography of Anne Noggle'
This exhibit is up at the Appleton Museum of Art through April 9. “Selected from more than 100 photographs donated to the museum by the Anne Noggle Foundation, this exhibition highlights self-portraits and portraits of friends and family, and displays her incredible eye for composition and lighting,” organizers say. The museum, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. More at www.appletonmuseum.org
'The Shape of Things: Op Art and Geometric Abstraction'
This exhibit is up at the Appleton Museum of Art through April 9. “Drawn from the permanent collection, this exhibition includes vibrant and visually fun paintings and prints,” organizers say. "Op" is short for "optical." The museum, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. More at www.appletonmuseum.org
'Revolutionized Textile & Fiber: The Art of Ingrid Humphrey'
An art exhibit, “Revolutionized Textile & Fiber: The Art of Ingrid Humphrey,” is up through May 25 at the new Mary Sue Rich Community Center, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala. It is free and open to the public. More at 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
‘Long Legs & Fragility’
This exhibit from artist Cara Van Leuven is up through March 31 at Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave. It is free and open to the public. City Hall hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Van Leuven “grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she developed a love of horses,” the city says in a news release. “She moved around the country working as a graphic designer until settling in St. Louis, Missouri. In 2008, her job as a carriage driver helped refocus her career around horses. Currently, she paints horses full-time and splits her time between her small farm in Highland, Illinois and her restored ranch in Williston, Florida.”
More at www.caravl.com, 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
H2O Go! at the Discovery Center
This exhibit is up through Feb. 11 at the Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala. The exhibit is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. “Go on an H2O adventure through rivers, lakes and streams, including a journey into the atmosphere to see why this tiny molecule is so important,” the City of Ocala says in a news release. “Learn the science behind snowflakes, catch some fish at the indoor lake and get interactive with lily pads where the guests become the frog. Dive right into the water cycle and experience all that water has to offer!”
General admission $8 per person/$28 for a family of four. More at 352-401-3900 or www.mydiscoverycenter.org
'Blessed be the Birds'
An art exhibit, "Blessed be the Birds,"by Courtney Kravig-McGuire, is on display at the Clerk's Office at Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., through June 9. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This exhibit is free and open to the public. Kravig-McGuire lives and works in Ocala and holds a bachelor of fine art degree in printmaking from the Herron School of Art + Design in Indianapolis. "Kravig-McGuire utilizes printmaking techniques to explore connections between nature and spirituality in her work," city organizers say. Learn more at www.direct.me/theinkyibis, 352-629-8447, artinfo@ocalafl.org or www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
'Big and Bold'
This exhibit is on view in the Edith-Marie Gallery at the Appleton Museum of Art through May 21. All works are modern and contemporary art, many of which have never been on display at the Appleton.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Theater, First Friday Art Walk and more: Weekend fun in Ocala/Marion
