What's Happening: Mr. Sipp, 'King Liz,' Hoggetown Medieval Faire and more
JAN. 27
MR. SIPP AND RAMBLIN’ MUTTS: The North Central Florida Blues Society has announced that Blues Music Award winner and 2023 BB King Entertainer of the Year nominee Mr. Sipp will play Heartwood Soundstage on Jan. 27. After an early start in life as a gospel performer, Malaco Records recording artist Mr. Sipp arrived on most blues fans’ radar when he won the 2014 International Blues Challenge and the Gibson Best Guitarist Award, but he had already played on more than 50 national recordings on several Grammy-nominated projects. The Magnolia, Mississippi, native is ready to show Gainesville what contemporary Mississippi blues is while also coming from the birthplace of traditional blues in what he calls “the Mississippi River blues sound,” which consists of heavy guitar playing and soulful singing mixed in a joyful groove. Mr. Sipp won the 2016 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Album, The Spirit of Little Walter Award, Entertainer of the Year Award by the Jus’ Blues Foundation, and several Jackson Music Awards including International Male Blues Artist, Blues Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. He also was cast in the James Brown movie “Get on Up” and played a young BB King on CMT's “Sun Records.” Also performing is Gainesville’s own Ramblin’ Mutts. Ramblin’ Mutts performs soulful, original blues and R&B. They will play selections from their new CD, “Pity & Mercy,” as well as reinterpretations of traditional blues classics that honor the legacy of this timeless music form. Fronting the Ramblin’ Mutts is Dan Stepp on lead vocals, keyboards and slide guitar. Playing lead guitar is Paul Goble, and the rhythm section is made up of Richard Heipp on bass joined by the driving drumbeats of Rich Patrick. General admission is $20 and North Central Florida Blues Society members get in for $10. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The concert will start at 8 p.m. The North Central Florida Blues Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, cultivation, nurturing and promotion of blues music. See ncfblues.org for more details.
JAN. 27 THROUGH JAN. 29
“KING LIZ”: In “King Liz,” Star Center Theatre’s newest production, Liz Rico is a powerful sports agent who represents NBA superstars, having fought her way to the top of a male-dominated profession with her skill for cutthroat negotiations. Given the chance to sign Freddie Luna, a once-in-a-generation high school talent, Rico sees an opportunity to take her career to the next level, and she finally meets her match. When accusations start swirling around the young phenom, Rico must attempt to rebound Luna’s career or protect her own crown. See what happens at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays plus 3 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 29 at Star Center Theatre, 11 NE 23rd Ave. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit spirit-of-soul-ensemble.ticketleap.com/king-liz.
JAN. 27 THROUGH JAN. 29
HOGGETOWNE MEDIEVAL FAIRE: The annual Hoggetown Medieval Faire returns for its 36th year from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 27 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 28-29 at its new location: 9409 SW Archer Road. The event transforms the grounds into a medieval marketplace filled with hundreds of artisans and entertainers, and featuring armored jousting knights, children’s rides powered by men and women instead of machinery, troupes of actors, food vendors and magic acts. Tickets are $20 for adults on Saturdays and Sundays, $10 for adults Jan. 27, $17 for members of the military with ID on Saturdays and Sundays, $17 for ages 60 and older on Saturdays and Sundays, $10 for ages 5-17 on Saturdays and Sundays, $5 for ages 5-17 on Jan. 27 and free for ages 4 and younger. For more information, visit hoggetownemedfaire.com.
JAN. 27 THROUGH FEB. 12
“ROMEO AND JULIET”: See the classic tale of love and woe in Gainesville Community Playhouse’s newest production, “Romeo and Juliet.” An age-old vendetta between two powerful families erupts into bloodshed and a group of masked Montagues risk further conflict by gatecrashing a Capulet party. A young, lovesick Romeo Montague falls instantly in love with Juliet Capulet, who is due to marry her father’s choice, the County Paris. This show will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 12 at the Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $23 for general admission, $19 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, visit gcplayhouse.org.
JAN. 27 THROUGH FEB. 12
“THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY”: Mace is a professional wrestler. When he teams up with a young Indian man from Brooklyn, he sees his shot at the big time. But will he be allowed to take it? This smart, comic look at pro-wrestling and geopolitics is a theatrical smackdown of dazzling hip-hop language presented with a fresh, funny, high-octane flair raising pertinent questions about racial identity and pop culture in society. Catch a show at 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays at the Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets are $20 to $50. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org.
JAN. 28 THROUGH JAN. 29
SIX GUN TERRITORY WILD WEST WEEKEND: Kirby Family Farm's Six Gun Territory Wild West Weekend, which runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5-6, is held in the memory of the Original Six Gun Territory attraction and the days of the Wild West. This family friendly event features rides on a restored locomotive, live music and shows. Actors will portray horseback-riding train robbers, CanCan dancers and gunfighters. Take a wagon ride into the woods to see outlaws and lawdogs, and see recreations of Native American camps. Carousel rides, food and vendors also will be on site. The fun will be held at Kirby Family Farm, located at 19630 NE 30th St. in Williston. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children. For more information, visit kirbyfarm.com.
JAN. 28 THROUGH SEPT. 4
“SPIDERS ALIVE!”: Take an eight-legged walk on the wild side with “Spiders Alive!” at the Florida Museum of Natural History. This exciting exhibit dives into the world of spiders, scorpions and their relatives with more than a dozen live species from around the world on display. Discover the unique traits and characteristics of this diverse group of animals at this interactive, family-friendly experience! Live arachnids (spiders) highlight the ecological importance of these animals that include black widows, orb weavers and bird eaters. Large, touchable models reveal more about spider anatomy and their differences from insects while rare fossils display species from the past — including one that is 100 million years old. Videos showcase a variety of unique animal behaviors, such as a diving bell spider living underwater and a southern black widow spinning silk. Separate fact from myth and learn about ancient spiders, conservation, venom and more. “Spiders Alive!” will be on display through Sept. 4. The museum is located at 3215 Hull Road. Tickets are $8 for adults; $7.50 for Florida residents, seniors and non-UF college students; $5.50 for ages 3 to 17; and free for ages 2 and younger, UF students, and museum members.
FEB. 3 THROUGH FEB. 26
“YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU”: The High Springs Playhouse is featuring its newest production, “You Can’t Take It With You,” from Feb. 3 through Feb. 26. At first the Sycamores seem mad, but it is not long before we realize that if they are mad, the rest of the world is madder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirbys. The plot shows how Tony, attractive young son of the Kirbys, falls in love with Alice Sycamore and brings his parents to dine at the Sycamore home on the wrong evening. The shock sustained by the Kirbys, who are invited to eat cheap food, shows Alice that marriage with Tony is out of the question. The Sycamores, however, though sympathetic to Alice, find it hard to realize her point of view. Meantime, Tony, who knows the Sycamores are right and his own people wrong, will not give her up, and in the end Mr. Kirby is converted to the happy madness of the Sycamores, particularly since he happens in during a visit by an ex-Grand Duchess earning her living as a waitress. No mention has as yet been made of the strange activities of certain members of the household engaged in the manufacture of fireworks; nor of the printing press set up in the parlor; nor of Rheba the maid and her friend Donald; nor of Grandpa’s interview with the tax collector when he tells him he doesn’t believe in the income tax. Catch a show at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays at the High Springs Playhouse, 130 NE First Ave., in High Springs. Tickets are $15 for general admission, and $10 for students and ages 65 and older. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit highspringsplayhouse.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: 'Romeo & Juliet,' 'Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity'
