West Side Story LIVE at the Moran Theater 12/4—12/9

ARTIST SERIES PRESENTS:

December 4 – 9, 2012, at the Times-Union Center's Moran Theater

---

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Jacksonville! WEST SIDE STORY opens at the Times-Union Center’s Moran Theater on Tuesday, December 4^th and runs through Sunday, December 9^th for 8 performances only! Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction is recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).

Tickets for West Side Story begin at $37.00 and are available at the Artist Series Box Office at (904) 632-3373 or online at artistseriesjax.org. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling (904) 632-3228 or e-mailing groupsales@fscj.edu.

---

WEST SIDE STORY tells the story of star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria as they struggle to rise above the hatred and intolerance that surrounds them. WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time and remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway’s finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as Something’s Coming, Tonight, America, I Feel Pretty and Somewhere.

---

The cast features Addison Reid Coe as Tony, MaryJoanna Grisso as Maria, Michelle Alves as Anita, Theo Lencicki as Riff and Andrés Acosta as Bernardo.

Also featured are Amber Ardolino as a Shark, Yesenia Ayala as a Shark, Lauren Cannon as Graziella, Konrad Case as Lt. Schrank, Blue Cervini as a Jet, Max Chucker as A-rab, Mark Deler as a Shark, Erika Hebron as a Swing, Dan Higgins as Diesel, Matthew Krob as Glad Hand, Greg London as Doc, Guy Mandia Jr as Action, Thomas Mothershed as Officer Krupke, Louie Napoleon as a Swing, Thaddeus Pearson as a Shark, Josh Pins as Baby John, Anthony Raimondi as a Swing, J. Nycole Ralph as Consuela, Tory Ramirez as a Shark, Bridget Riley as Anybodys, Ricardo Rique-Sanchez as Pepe, Arianna Rosario as a Shark, Carolina Sanchez as Rosalia, Michael Shultz as Big Deal, Jeff M. Smith as Snowboy, Tony Thomas as a Shark, Juan Torres-Falcon as Chino and Laura Volpacchio as a Swing.

---

What Critics Are Saying About the Show
The Associated Press says WEST SIDE STORY “remains Broadway’s best dance-driven musical. Five decades have not dimmed the extraordinary choreography or the score that pulsates throughout.” Variety says, “The true stars of WEST SIDE STORY are Jerome Robbins' graceful, endlessly expressive choreography and Leonard Bernstein's score, which still sounds bracingly modern a half-century after it was first heard. The music is a primal force.” WEST SIDE STORY is written by three theatrical luminaries: two-time Tony Award winner Arthur Laurents (book) and multiple Tony and Grammy Award winners Leonard Bernstein (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) in his Broadway debut. WEST SIDE STORY features scenic designs by James Youmans, costumes by Tony Award nominee David C. Woolard, lighting by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley and sound design by Peter McBoyle.

West Side Story Performance Schedule:

---

• Tuesday, December 4^th at 7:30PM
• Wednesday, December 5^th at 7:30PM
• Thursday, December 6^th at 7:30PM
• Friday, December 7^th at 8:00PM
• Saturday, December 8^th at 2:00PM and 8:00PM
• Sunday, December 9^th at 1:30PM and 7:00PM

Cirque Du Soleil, MGM Resorts International & The Light Group Present LIGHT, Las Vegas

Cirque Du Soleil, MGM Resorts International &
The Light Group Present… LIGHT, Las Vegas

A NIGHTCLUB…AN EXPERIENCE…AFTER DARK…THERE IS LIGHT

Returning to its roots with an eponymous nightlife venue known for revolutionizing the Las Vegas nightlife experience more than 10 years ago, The Light Group—in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil and MGM Resorts International—will introduce LIGHT at Mandalay Bay in March 2013. View the trailer below:

LIGHT, the first-ever nightclub turned on by Cirque du Soleil, will merge cutting-edge creativity with incredible music to produce a new kind of nightlife experience. The chic, fashion-forward 38,000-square-foot venue featuring state-of-the-art production, theatrics, and, of course world-renowned DJs and performers will turn on a new kind of passion and creativity, redefining a “night out” and creating a unique, memorable event each night.

“The nightclub will serve as a laboratory, very much like our special events and projects have done in the past, for different and new artistic possibilities”

—Guy Laliberté, Founder (Cirque du Soleil)

Designed as an experience to play with your senses, LIGHT—turned on by Cirque du Soleil—will offer far more than the traditional nightclub. Upon arriving at LIGHT, guests enter the realm of the unknown, as everyone in the club is part of the show. Headlining DJs and performers will lead the charge, coupled with exclusively built performance elements and visuals provided by revolutionary video mapping, lighting, sound and special effects experts Moment Factory, as well as avant-garde costumes and unique choreography. At LIGHT no two nights out will be the same. The spectacle and feeling forever engrained in the mind of guests beg the ultimate question: Have You Seen The Light?

Spearheading LIGHT at Mandalay Bay is The Light Group founder Andrew Sasson who has been intimately involved with each detail of the venture. Often credited with establishing and cultivating nightlife on the Las Vegas Strip, Sasson is no stranger to worldwide entertainment, having also launched venues throughout Europe, New York and Miami. Longtime music-industry executive Amy Thomson, manager of global artists including Swedish House Mafia, also worked on the development, music and marketing of LIGHT.

Andrew Sasson said, “This partnership and the projects we are working on will be unlike anything the world has ever seen before–the ultimate theatrical nightlife venue. Cirque du Soleil has built a brand with worldwide recognition and their creativity, attention to detail and passion for their work perfectly complement The Light Group and everything we stand for.”

Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, said “This new creative challenge is exciting for us. We have the opportunity to re-think the nightclub experience and apply our creative and artistic signature to different audiences and live experiences.”

Amy Thomson said, “I rarely get to work on production outside of a festival space or arenas and the chance to work with Cirque du Soleil, putting their creativity alongside the music I love, was not something I could pass up. The DJs and performers who have come to work with us all have such high artistic aspirations, and to be able to try this in a space as iconic as Mandalay Bay I hope will be the beginning of many adventures with Cirque du Soleil and The Light Group. It will be a melting pot of ideas and the focus is equally spread across music, the experience and the crowd. Each one relying on the other, like an emotional ecosystem set up to cultivate and grow a magical night out.”

The list of DJs and performers already on board rivals some of the world’s biggest festival line-ups and will be announced soon at HaveYouSeenTheLight.com and the LIGHT social networks:

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

---

Drumline LIVE in Jacksonville: Presented by the Artist Series at the Moran Theater on 11/17

Jacksonville, FL: DRUMLINE LIVE plays Jacksonville’s Times-Union Center’s Moran Theater for one performance only on Saturday, November 17th at 8PM! Tickets begin at $32.00 and are on sale online now or (904) 442-BWAY (2929).

DRUMLINE LIVE’s energetic cast has honed its precision and energy with years of training in marching band programs across the southern United States. This versatile group of musicians and dancers brings an explosive energy and athleticism to an eclectic mix of sounds. Equally at home with the hottest contemporary hip hop, R&emp;B, classic Motown tunes, and the rousing sounds of the great brass tradition, DRUMLINE LIVE is thrilled to share the American Marching Band experience with a wider audience.

With riveting rhythms, bold beats and ear-grabbing energy, the staged show will be a synchronized musical showcase. Incorporating original compositions and soul-infused interpretations of top 40 hits, group performances will range from colorful, choreographed routines to heavy doses of drum riffs and cadences.

“We’ve taken the excitement of an HBCU football game halftime show, increased the intensity by a thousand watts, and created a musical journey that will touch every emotion,” says Don P. Roberts, Creator and Director of DRUMLINE LIVE. As the Executive Band Consultant for the Twentieth Century Fox hit movie, Drumline, Roberts was responsible for training the actors, writing the precision drills, and rehearsing the band. As the chief band consultant, he played a vital role in the making of Drumline and its success. The movie received national and international acclaim.

DRUMLINE LIVE kicks off its fourth US tour in the 2012-2013 season following its extremely successful tours in 2008-2009, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012.

Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more at (904) 442-2947 or via e-mail.

---

Through December 21st, The Artist Series is hosting a Food Drive to support Second Harvest North Florida. The most requested items are canned fruit, vegetables, and beans (preferably low sodium), canned meat/protein-tuna, canned chicken, peanut butter, pasta, soups, Mac n cheese, cereal, instant potatoes, granola, rice, grits, snacks, and breakfast bars. To avoid damage, everything should be plastic, bag, or can. Sponsored by Publix, the Food Drive is held at every Artist Series show through December 21st at the Times-Union Center.

Order tickets by phone:
Local: 904.442.BWAY (2929) | Toll Free: 1.888.860.BWAY

Order tickets by online:
Artist Series website at ArtistSeriesJax.org

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover accepted.

Florida Mining Gallery Presents Jim Draper: The Highway Gallery

Clear Channel Outdoor in collaboration with Florida Mining Gallery presents the Highway Gallery—a city-wide public art campaign that displays art along with advertising. Continuing throughout November 2012, digital billboards throughout the city will feature work by Jacksonville artist, Jim Draper, momentarily transforming space typically used for commerce while giving the public a chance to experience the magic of art.

The Clear Channel Outdoor digital billboards will be seen thousands of times by visitors and residents alike, reaching people of all ages and backgrounds.

Jim Draper has been working on Feast of Flowers—a multi-disciplinary project that critically investigates news ways of understanding Florida's history, environmental aesthetics, and our place within the natural order.

Learn more: The Highway Gallery

'The Phlunk' by Lou Rhodes

'The Phlunk' by Lou Rhodes & Tori Elliott published 3 Dec 2012

LAMB are thrilled to announce that Lou has written her first children's book - The Phlunk. Published in hardback on 3 Dec 2012, The Phlunk has a gentle rhyme penned by Lou and beautiful illustrations by Tori Elliott. The Phlunk is perfect for children aged 2-7 but we hope it will also appeal to people of all ages with a lively and open imagination.

Pre-release signed copies of The Phlunk are available in the Lamb store during Nov 2012 only for £7.99 plus postage. The Phlunk can also be pre-ordered from Amazon UK and other online UK retailers, or from any UK bookseller (ISBN: 9780957369009 | Strata Books).

A paperback edition will be published in March 2013 and the musically-inspired follow-up, The Phlunk's Worldwide Symphony, will be published in September 2013.

http://lambofficial.com/
http://www.facebook.com/LambOfficial

TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3-D Coming to Universal Orlando Resort in Summer 2013

THE BATTLE CONTINUES…IN ORLANDO
JUST ANNOUNCED: BLOCKBUSTER MEGA-ATTRACTION “TRANSFORMERS: THE RIDE – 3D” COMING TO UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT IN SUMMER 2013

Hugely-Successful Attraction Will Now Be Featured at Three Universal Parks Worldwide
Guests Will Be Fully-Immersed in a TRANSFORMERS Adventure with Their Favorite Characters and Nemeses from the Popular Film Series

ORLANDO, Fla. (November 2, 2012) – Get ready – it’s time to prepare for battle…
Universal Orlando Resort announced today that its next blockbuster attraction will be the widely-popular TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D. The groundbreaking ride – created under license from Hasbro, Inc. and based on its iconic TRANSFORMERS brand – will bring the intergalactic battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons to Universal Studios Florida in summer 2013.
Already a “must-see” at Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Hollywood, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D is a mind-blowing, action-packed ride experience that you have to see to believe. You will come face to face with Megatron. You will dodge explosions and attacks by the Decepticons. You will fight to save mankind alongside Optimus Prime and the Autobots. It will be the greatest battle you’ll ever ride.

Click here to see an important message from Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots.

Universal worked closely with Michael Bay, the award-wining director of the “TRANSFORMERS” film series and the ride’s creative consultant, to create an authentic experience that brings the non-stop action of the films to life. The attraction combines the larger-than-life TRANSFORMERS characters and an exciting storyline with life-like HD CGI media, state-of-the-art 3-D technology and amazing special effects to place riders right in the middle of an epic battle between good and evil.
“We broke the mold and have taken this ride to a new technological level in terms of blending seamless 3-D,” said Michael Bay, director of the “TRANSFORMERS” films.

“TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D is the perfect addition to Universal Orlando’s thrilling theme park experiences,” said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative. “The ride has already proven to be a hit at our Hollywood and Singapore parks, and we’re excited that Universal Orlando guests will soon be able to join the Autobots in the fight to save the world.”

TRANSFORMERS films, television shows and merchandise have captivated millions of people all over the world. To date, three blockbuster films have been released – “TRANSFORMERS” (2007), “TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN” (2009) and “TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON” (2011) – grossing more than $2 billion combined worldwide at the box office. The three films were directed by Michael Bay, executive produced by Steven Spielberg and released by Paramount Pictures.

TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D is slated to open in summer 2013 at Universal Orlando. The attraction will have one of the shortest build times in Universal history – making it one of Universal’s most ambitious projects ever. For more information about TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D, visit www.prepareforbattle.com.

AN EVENING WITH ANTHONY BOURDAIN!

THE ARTIST SERIES PRESENTS
 





APRIL 25th AT THE TIMES-UNION CENTER
TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2nd

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Anthony Bourdain will bring his Guts & Glory tour to Jacksonville this spring, and tickets go on sale this Friday, November 2nd at 10AM through the Artist Series!  The internationally renowned chef, author, and television host will visit the Times-Union Center’s Moran Theater for one night only, Thursday, April 25th at 7:30PM.  Bourdain will spend the evening sharing candid, often hysterical, insights about his life’s work and travels, including an open question and answer session with the audience.

Tickets for AN EVENING WITH ANTHONY BOURDAIN begin at $38.00 and are available at www.artistseriesjax.org or (904) 442-BWAY (2929).  Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more at (904) 442-2947 or groupsales@fscj.edu.  A limited number of VIP tickets are available, which include premier seating, a limited edition tour poster and VIP laminate, and exclusive access to a post-show Meet and Greet Reception featuring complimentary hors d’oeuvres and photo and signing opportunities with Anthony Bourdain.  Jacksonville’s acclaimed San Marco Dining District is proud to be recognized as the Official Restaurant Sponsor of the evening, and they will be providing an innovative selection of appetizers for VIP reception attendees.  Copies of Bourdain’s books will be available for purchase on-site from The BookMark, the show’s Official Bookstore Sponsor.  The Omni Jacksonville Hotel is the show’s Official Hotel Sponsor.

Bourdain, chef-at-large at New York’s famed Brasserie Les Halles, is the author of bestselling titles Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw – both hilariously blunt and sometimes shocking portraits of life in restaurant kitchens.  His latest project Get JIRO!, a culinary-themed graphic novel, was released on July 3 and has already reached the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list.  His 2001 travel journal A Cook’s Tour was also a bestseller in the US and UK.

A contributing authority for Food Arts magazine, Bourdain’s work has also appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Times of London, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, and many other publications.  He has been profiled by CBS Sunday Morning and Nightline, and has been a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman, Morning Joe, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Daily Show, Charlie Rose, The Colbert Report, and Real Time with Bill Maher.  In addition to hosting Travel Channel’s Emmy Award-winning No Reservations and The Layover, Bourdain will serve as host for two new television shows premiering in 2013: The Taste, a cooking competition series for ABC, and a docu-series for CNN, expanding the network’s coverage of travel, culture and cuisine.

Tickets for AN EVENING WITH ANTHONY BOURDAIN go on sale to the general public this Friday, November 2nd, at 10AM!  Tickets begin at $38.00 and are available at www.artistseriesjax.org or (904) 442-BWAY (2929).  Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more at (904) 442-2947 or groupsales@fscj.edu.  A limited number of VIP tickets are also available.  For more information on the show, visit www.AnthonyBourdainonTour.com.

To order by phone with Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover call
The Artist Series Box Office at
(904) 442-BWAY (2929)
(toll-free outside of Jacksonville 1-888-860-BWAY)
Tickets are also available online with Instant Seat Selection by visiting the
The Artist Series’ website: www.artistseriesjax.org