The Avenue | Art And Theater

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

‘Queer Eclectics’: United through division

By Autumn Johnstone | June 10

“Queer Eclectics,” an exhibit inspired by the queer community’s diversity, was put together by UF art organization Common Craft and curated by 20-year-old UF art junior Jade Bennett. Bennett invited queer artists from her first show, “Picking it Up,” to showcase their work in a smaller, more intimate setting near the literature and silent hallways in Library West.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

‘Bridging Troubled Waters’: A lifelong commitment to Gainesville’s education history

By Autumn Johnstone | June 8

At the Juneteenth Gainesville Film Festival, the Hippodrome Cinema screened three films honoring emancipation and Black history.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Artists come together to celebrate Black art at the Harn

By Isis Snow | May 31

Gainesville art enthusiasts gathered at the Harn Museum of Art Saturday afternoon to create, dance, eat and connect during its free “Silver Linings” Community Day, an exhibition dedicated to showcasing Black artists.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

‘Pump Boys and Dinettes’ opens at The Hipp

By Isis Snow | May 29

Laughter and music filled the Hippodrome Theatre on opening night as the upbeat summer musical “Pump Boys and Dinettes” launched the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, blending small-town charm with country tunes and heartwarming humor.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Art that unites: A day at the High Springs Art Walk

By Allison Bonnemaison | May 19

Artists from around Florida shared their craft with curious passersby and potential customers as they lined the sidewalks of downtown High Springs with their work.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

‘Worth being a human being’: Matheson Museum highlights ‘Refugee Resettlement in Gainesville’ mini-exhibit

By Isis Snow | May 15

The Matheson History Museum hosted the opening reception for "Refugee Resettlement in Gainesville" Thursday night, an exhibition that highlights the path to resettlement for six refugees and their families.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

A look inside the UF musical theater program

By Rachel Mish | Apr. 17

Velazquez said most schools have large cohorts that can be as many as 40 people, and she was uninterested in the possibility of falling through the cracks. At UF, she feels like she’s receiving the education best suited to her future.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Acrosstown Repertory Theatre reimagines Shakespeare with an all-female cast

By Juliana DeFilippo | Apr. 2

She decided to use an all-female cast, staging the play as a 1960s sitcom inspired by “I Love Lucy.” She felt the audience would be more comfortable with an all-female interpretation of overtly masculine characters, allowing them to explore the sexism of the time without losing Shakespeare’s wit.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

It’s not New York or nowhere: UF theater seniors discuss prospects following showcase

By Rachel Mish | Mar. 29

The UF Senior Showcase is an annual event in which acting and musical theater majors graduating that year perform in front of potential casting agents and industry professionals. The event is designed to pair students with representation and launch their post-grad careers.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

From The Swamp to the Concrete Jungle, one UF musical theatre student makes his Broadway debut

By Tanya Fedak | Mar. 27

The 27-year-old made his Broadway debut in “The Outsiders” in April as the understudy for the protagonist, Ponyboy Curtis. The show, which won the 2024 Tony Award for Best Musical, opened on a Saturday, and Wayne made his debut the next Tuesday without ever having run the show in rehearsals.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

First Panel Palooza draws vendors from Gainesville comic community

By Juliana DeFilippo | Mar. 9

Panel Palooza took place at SAW for the first time on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. as part of Zinefest, a weekend-long celebration of zines, or mini magazines often made from a few sheets of paper.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Local nonprofit dance group hosts 17th annual spring recital

By Rachel Mish | Feb. 24

The Sun Country Dance Theatre performed "Hansel and Gretel" at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Sunday.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Sean Momberger: The mastermind behind America’s top rated rap songs

By Autumn Johnstone | Jan. 30

In the 7th grade after listening to Kanye West’s album, “The College Dropout,” Gainesville native Sean Momberger began experimenting with music on a $100 drum machine. He’d have no idea that 20 years later, he would be producing a song off of West’s most recent album, “Vultures 2.” 

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire goes on amid location search

By Juliana DeFilippo | Jan. 27

The annual event took place at Depot Park for the second year since leaving the Alachua County Fairgrounds

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Florida Film Lab offers local film development as photography picks up

By Sabrina Castro | Jan. 23

In a world defined by instant gratification where packages arrive with the tap of a button and photos are snapped and shared in seconds, a nostalgic rebellion is quietly unfolding.It begins with a click.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Meet Jenna Horner

By Ashleigh Lucas | Jan. 21

Known for her bright use of color on walls all over Gainesville, Jenna Horner tries to spread positivity in any way she can. In an attempt to bridge the division between people, she said, she wants to help people see the light when things may feel a little dark. On top of her murals, Horner founded Mindful Messages, a program that brings art and mindfulness into schools to foster creativity in young students. 

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Twin indie-folk duo Lighthearted talks Playground and new single

By Juliana DeFilippo | Jan. 21

The 24-year-old identical twins are the founding members of the Athens, Georgia, based indie-folk duo Lighthearted, and they released their single “Borrowed” Jan. 3. Although they formed the band in 2019, the two have been playing music together since childhood.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Now in style: The rise of house music

By Autumn Johnstone | Jan. 19

With a deafening bass and hues of neon colors dancing across the walls, Gainesville locals celebrated the end of syllabus week with a bang.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Playground Preshow highlights local indie artists at backyard show

By Juliana DeFilippo | Jan. 19

Playground Preshow took place Jan. 17, the night before the Playground Music + Arts Festival. Hosted by Swamp Records, Golden Ratio Booking and Indie Night live, the event featured four bands and brought in an audience of around 100 people. This is the event’s second year preceding Playground festival, Gainesville’s largest indie music festival. It highlights bands playing at Playground as well as other local groups. 

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

How do UF students feel about the TikTok ban?

By Sabrina Castro | Jan. 18

On Friday, the United States Supreme Court upheld a controversial law banning TikTok, the popular social media app, leaving many students stunned and frustrated.