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Thursday, January 29, 2026

The Avenue

THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Playground Preshow highlights local indie artists at backyard show

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. 


Members of the Driveway Theatre Project perform a radio play with a foley artist to create live sound effects.
THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Driveway Theatre Project aims to connect communities

Driveway Theatre Project serves as a modern take on the traveling acting troupe, such as Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the troupe to which Shakespeare belonged. However, the 21st century iteration of a traveling acting troupe runs differently, by not charging its venues’ hosts for their performances and instead operating as a nonprofit looking to make live theater more accessible.


Lead Ethan Garrepy puts on his wig for the Music Man show at the Constanz Theater on Oct. 26 2024.
THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

A glimpse backstage with stars of “The Music Man” as they prepare for closing weekend

From Oct. 16 to Oct. 27, the UF School of Theatre and Dance put on a nine-show run of the musical, which follows traveling conman Harold Hill, played by Ethan Garrepy, who goes from town to town persuading citizens of his “plan” to form a boys marching band. After collecting payments for instruments and uniforms, he skips town, starting his pursuit of his next victims. But this time, it’s a little different. 



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