Inaugural Fundraising Gala
Celebrating a Decade on Stage
An evening that promises dazzling entertainment, fine dining, and a celebration of 10 years of artists, community, and impact. It's a moment to reflect on our journey, honor our supporters, and look ahead to the future of arts in our community.
THE SCOOP
February Shows Uptown
Hindley Street Country Club
Ryan Hamilton
Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Garrison Keillor
The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
Lobby Lounge Cabaret
David Paul Rowan
Three Tenors Plus One
Trailblazing Women of Country
Dusty Slay
Paul Anka
Ben Brainard
Asleep at the Wheel
Pippin
Qualia
UPTOWN Fusing Bruno-Mars-caliber stage presence with top-tier vocals and wall-to-wall choreography, the men of UPTOWN combine the smooth stylings of R&B with the fresh hits of today in a unique and modern show that gets every crowd on their feet! Born in New York City (the epicenter of contemporary pop and soul music), the group exudes unparalleled energy with their blend of contemporary radio hits and classic Motown music. Every single member of UPTOWN is a world-class soloist, with frequent comparisons to the artistry of icons like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye; when they come together as one collective, the resulting remix creates “the most electrifying show you’ll see this decade!”
THE WORLD’S
HINDLEY STREET COUNTRY CLUB
FOUNDED IN 2017 by Arranger/Producer Constantine Delo, The Hindley Street Country Club (The HSCC) started as a group of Adelaide musicians, recording re-arranged covers and uploading them to Facebook and YouTube weekly. Fast forward to today, The HSCC has amassed over 590 million YouTube views with over 1,000,000 subscribers globally and accumulated over a billion views accross social media platforms.
Following on from major internet success, The HSCC now tours throughout the world to audiences far and wide. Still releasing videos weekly on YouTube every Friday at 8am (ACDT).
RYAN HAMILTON
AS SEEN ON THE TONIGHT SHOW with Jimmy Fallon LATE SHOW with Stephen Colbert
ARMED WITH THE
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
of growing up in rural Idaho to become a favorite in the New York stand-up comedy scene, Ryan Hamilton is one-of-a-kind. He’s been named one of Rolling Stone’s Five Comics to Watch, and recent appearances include The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and opening spots for Jerry Seinfeld as well as Gad Elmaleh at Carnegie Hall. Ryan is endearing stand-up lovers, and his future is bright. In addition to regular television appearances and a non-stop headlining tour, you can watch his first stand-up special, the one-hour original Happy Face, on Netflix.
“One of the most reliably funny regulars at the Comedy Cellar, an observational comic who often riffs on the absurdity of his own wholesomeness.”
– The New York Times
“It was fresh, poignant, and light-hearted without sacrificing depth.”
– Forget The Box review of Ryan’s show “Edgy, Boundary-Pushing Comedian” at the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival
THE OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS stand as a quintessential American rock band, renowned for their fusion of country, rock, and folk, leaving an indelible mark on music history. Emerging in the early 1972 this Missouri based group epitomized the era's burgeoning Southern rock movement, crafting a unique sound that echoed the spirit of the Ozarks.
Their self-titled debut album in 1973 catapulted them into the limelight, featuring hits like "If You Wanna Get to Heaven" and "Jackie Blue," which showcased their musical prowess and distinctive harmonies. What set them apart was their ability to blend multiple genres seamlessly, appealing to a diverse audience.
Producing 16 Albums and selling over 3 million records are a testament to the enduring commitment to their craft. In essence, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils' legacy endures not only through their timeless melodies but also through their embodiment of the American spirit and their unwavering dedication to crafting music that speaks to the soul. They remain a cherished chapter in the story of American rock, leaving an enduring legacy that transcends time and genre.
GARRISON KEILLORtonight
GARRISON KEILLOR TONIGHT is an evening of stand-up, storytelling, audience song, and poetry. One man, one microphone. There are sung sonnets, limericks and musical jokes, and the thread that runs through it is the beauty of growing old. Despite the inconvenience, old age brings the contentment of LESS IS MORE. Your mistakes and big ambitions are behind you, nothing left to prove, and small things give you great pleasure because that’s what’s left. (“I was unhappy in college because it was a requirement for an intellectual, but then I went into show business and discovered that people won’t pay to be made unhappy, their kids will do it for free.”)
There is the News from Lake Wobegon, a town booming with new entrepreneurs, makers of artisanal firewood and gourmet meatloaf, breeders of composting worms, and dogs trained to do childcare. But some things endure, such as the formation of the Living Flag on Main Street, citizens in tight formation wearing red, white or blue caps, and Mr. Keillor among them, standing close to old neighbors, Myrtle Krebsbach (“Truckstop”) and Julie Christensen (“Bruno, The Fishing Dog”) and Clint Bunsen. And an a cappella sing-along with the audience singing from memory an odd medley of patriotic songs, pop standards, hymns, and ending with the national anthem.
IN
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
BIG BANDS,
The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra is recognized as one of the all-time best swing orchestras in the world. With the collaboration of Paul Weston, Axel Stordahl and Sy Oliver, Tommy Dorsey created superb arrangements for his feverish dance tunes and romantic ballads that remain immortal today. Over the years, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra musicians have been the masters of creating “mood” with their sentimental favorites and upbeat tempos that got the world dancing.
FEATURING A PRE-SHOW LOBBY PERFORMANCE BY THE LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL BAND
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SHARON
Powered by Significant Productions, a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the arts alive in our community, The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center is committed to providing quality entertainment for our valued patrons. We are reaching out to gather your thoughts on what interests you most about our offerings and what encourages you to return for more. Your honest feedback is greatly appreciated, and we hope to continue welcoming you to our venue. Your support means the world to us.
An Evening with David Paul Rowan
David received his Masters of Music Performance in Conducting from the University of North Florida. A versatile performer, David has performed professionally in the styles of jazz, musical theatre, opera, gospel, chorus, and contemporary. He has performed with the Royal Philharmonic for Star Wars in Concert and sang on stage with Patti Lupone at The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. David is currently the Choir Director at Tocoi Creek High School. David's professional stage credits include roles in My Fair Lady, Company, South Pacific, The Secret Garden, The Pirates of Penzance, and It Shoulda Been You. David would like to thank his family, friends, and his partner for their unwavering support.
FEB 18 7PM $25
Opera Club of The Villages Presents
THREE TENORS + One A Tribute to Andrea Bocelli
Grant Norman Mary Jo Vitale
Clark Barrios Christopher Macchio
A Maestro Bill Doherty Production
THE THREE TENORS PLUS ONE returns to the Sharon for two incredible performances honoring the music and legacy of Andrea Bocelli. Featuring beautiful selections from Bocelli's greatest works and other timeless classics, these three talented tenors and Plus One Mary Jo Vitale will be accompanied by masterful piano performances from Maestro Bill Doherty for an unforgettable evening of music.
Ticket sales help support the Music Scholarship Program for talented young musicians, presented by the Opera Club of The Villages.
Crazy (Patsy Cline)
These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ (Loretta Lynne)
Here You Come Again (Dolly Parton)
Walkin’ After Midnight (Patsy Cline)
I Fall To Pieces (Patsy Cline)
Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Patsy Cline)
Coal Miner’s Daughter (Loretta Lynne)
Jolene (Dolly Parton)
Coat Of Many Colors (Dolly Parton)
I Will Always Love You (Dolly Parton)
PATSY CLINE. LORETTA LYNN. DOLLY PARTON.
This trailblazing trio of enormous singer-songwriter talents, all members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, revolutionized country music’s rich storytelling tradition. Their unmatched contributions to the genre blazed a trail for future generations of female artists.
Enter vocalists Rissi Palmer and Kristina Train. Joined by a five-member all female band, these fast-rising country artists will celebrate the legacy of these legends performing their groundbreaking hits like “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and many more.
Trailblazing Women of Country celebrates the voices and artistry of Patsy, Loretta and Dolly – immense talents who defied restrictive gender norms – proving that women can be, all at once, beautiful, vulnerable, and powerful.
Dusty Slay
WE'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME
Long hair, tobacco, over-sized glasses and a trucker hat, Dusty Slay is the self-effacing bourbon-voiced Southern comedian next door with a knack for observational, bluecollar humor and the nerve to say what everyone else is thinking. He grew up the son of a single mom in an Alabama trailer park and evokes laughs about everything from Cracker Barrel to his aversion to soap. The 40-yearold Nashville native is a mainstay on the country music scene, making his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2019 – the youngest at the time, and adding dozens of appearances in the historic Circle ever since. He has also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live, has a Comedy Central special to his credit and just released his first hour-long Netflix special "Workin' Man" that he filmed about three hours from home, at the Bijou theater in Knoxville, Tennessee. With almost 20 years of eliciting guffaws through his laidback observations, comedic cadence and conversational style, Dusty is just getting started bringing his brand of relatable working-class comedy to audiences coast to coast. Slay recently announced his 35show “The Night Shift Tour” in support of the new special.
ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SINGER/ SONGWRITERS in music, with over 100 million albums sold, Paul Anka has the distinction of being the only artist in history to have a song on the Billboard charts during seven consecutive decades. This concert features his instantly recognizable hits from the last seven decades including "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Diana," "My Way," "Puppy Love" and "Lonely Boy," among many others. Paul Anka is a force of nature and a consummate showman, commanding every audience and playing to standing ovations around the world backed by his all-star band!
BEN BRAINARD
BEN BRAINARD IS A COMEDIAN
with a natural ability to make any crowd laugh. Originally from Daytona Beach, and now living in Orlando, Ben has toured across the country. He's also produced several shows for Army Reserve units. During quarantine, Ben found viral success producing "The Table," a sketch comedy series about how the various states of the US are handling current events.
Since a very young age, Ben has been "the funny kid," or at least, "the kid that will cheer you up," but, oddly enough, standup comedy was never really a part of his plan. Before his junior year of high school, Ben won an "Engineering Scholars Program" scholarship and literally did rocket science for a summer. As a senior in high school, Ben played 3 sports, took AP and honors classes, and won student body President as the presidencies for the FCA and The Academy of Drafting and Design. For a year and a half after high school, he majored in mechanical engineering and double minored in physics and CAD/CAM at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. Then, one day, he got bored of calculus, dropped out of school, joined the US Army Reserve, moved to Orlando, and started doing standup comedy. Ben has always said "yes" to opportunities, and his "I'll try anything once" attitude has ultimately led to some hilarious stories and an irrationally high 26 different jobs since he turned 16. Ben has done everything from work a drive-thru at Chick-fil-A to drive a bus for the YMCA after school program, and now he takes the stage to tell all about everything he's done and seen and make you laugh along the way.
Standing at only 5'5 and weighing in at 125lbs, Ben is not an intimidating presence, but don't let his size fool you! He packs some serious punchlines! From jokes about his stature to hilarious stories about dating, jobs, general life mishaps and even his crazy family, Ben is sure to have you laughing until your sides hurt!
ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
For over fifty years, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson has been traversing the globe as an ambassador of Western swing music and introducing its irresistible sound to generation after generation. More than 100 musicians have passed through the Wheel, but Benson remains the front man and the keeper of the vision, in the process racking up more than 30 albums, ten Grammy awards and literally millions of miles on the road.
Asleep at the Wheel has collaborated on records with genre-spanning friends, including Willie Nelson on 2009’s Grammy Nominated Willie and the Wheel and other critically acclaimed artists, including Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Merle Haggard, George Strait, the Avett Brothers, Amos Lee, Old Crow Medicine Show and Lyle Lovett on Still the King, their 2015 critically acclaimed and Grammy winning tribute to Bob Wills. On their latest release, Half A Hundred Years, Asleep At The Wheel continued their contributions to the American music landscape when three original members of Asleep at the Wheel—Chris O’Connell, Leroy Preston, and Lucky Oceans—returned after 40 years to lend their voices and musicianship to a number of tracks on the album along with Emmylou Harris, Lee Ann Womack, George Strait, Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson.
BEHIND THEcurtain tour
Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of your favorite shows at The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center? Want to share footprints with some of the world’s biggest stars? Our Behind The Curtain Tour is for you!
Join a group of like-minded members of your community and your tour guide for a look at the history of The Sharon, her namesake, and the systems and people that make your hometown Performing Arts Center world-class.
You’ll see, hear about, and have the opportunity to ask questions about:
• Sharon L. Morse, the matriarch of the Morse Family, and in many respects, The Villages itself.
• The History of The Sharon (and Church on the Square).
• A brief overview of the inner workings of the commercial theatre business.
• Audiovisual systems, including digital audio networks and workflows.
• Lighting systems, including conventional and intelligent lighting fixtures and electrical distribution and control.
• Rigging systems, including the world’s first fully automated fly system.
• Theatrical cast, crew, and patron safety.
• Backstage areas, like the scene shop, green room, and dressing areas.
UPCOMING DATES
•February 12th | 1PM Visit SignificantProductions.org for more information.
PIPPIN
BOOK BY ROGER O. HIRSON
MUSIC & LYRICS BY STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
ORIGINALLY PRODUCED ON THE BROADWAY STAGE BY STUART OSTROW DIRECTED ON THE BROADWAY STAGE BY BOB FOSSE 2013 BROADWAY REVIVAL DIRECTED BY DIANE PAULUS
THEO ENDING ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED IN 1998 BY MITCH SEBASTIAN
NOW-MAR 1ST
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
FEBRUARY 6TH & 20TH AFTER THE 1PM PERFORMANCES
MODERATED BY WHITNEY MORSE AFTER SHOW TALK BACKS!
SEASON 9
a post nuclear play
By Ashleigh Ann Gardner
A Radioactive Love Story
Qualia, a post-nuclear play by Central Florida playwright and Studio Theatre veteran, Ashleigh Ann Gardner, is a dystopian story set 100 years in the future. The world has been decimated by toxic radiation save a few lingering humans. Alex lives alone safely tucked away in a bunker made by her doomsday prepping parents. Her only companion is Dom, a compassionate AI program engineered by her late mother. Alex and Dom are the only sentient creatures for miles. Until one day a knock outside the bunker door turns their safe world upside down. This intelligent and modern play explores the formula for being human. Is using logic, expressing emotion, and feeling love enough; or is a traditional corporeal form also required? Join us for this funny and honest science fiction play about finding what it means to be human in an isolated world.
Previews APR 1st-3rd / $25
Performances APR 4th-26th / $40
PLAYWRIGHT DIRECTOR QA
Join us for an exciting evening with the creative minds behind the acclaimed play Qualia: a post-nuclear play. This lively Q&A session will feature Ashleigh Ann Gardner, the brilliant playwright, and Sara Oliva, the visionary director who first brought Qualia to life.
Ashleigh Ann Gardner
SARA Oliva
Ashleigh Ann Gardner is an Orlandobased playwright whose works include the award-winning Qualia, produced in both Orlando and Chicago. She also created The Not: a Midwestern Gothic horror, which premiered in 2023. Ashleigh holds a Master's Degree in Literary, Cultural, and Textual Studies with specializations in Victorian and Gothic literature, gender studies, and psychoanalytic theory from the University of Central Florida.
Sara Oliva is an Orlando-based director, actor, and producer who directed the first reading of Qualia in 2019. Her award-winning short film has been a hit at over 65 international festivals. Sara has received multiple acting awards and holds an MFA in Acting from Brandeis University.
Don't miss this chance to engage with Ashleigh Ann Gardner and Sara Oliva and gain unique insights into the creation and direction of Qualia.
APRIL 24TH | 1PM
Significant Productions is a Not-for-Profit Arts organization that operates The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center (The Sharon) and The Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol (The Studio).
SignificantProductions.org #SigPro marketing@significantproductions.org 1000 Main Street, Suite 208, The Villages, FL 32159
The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center has a mission to curate and present a variety of world-class performing arts in order to enrich the cultural offerings of The Villages® and surrounding communities.
TheSharon.com | #TheSharon 1051 Main Street, The Villages, FL 32159
Our mission is to inspire the residents of Central Florida to examine relevant issues by elevating them through innovative and intimate storytelling. Think outside the box, inside the box at The Studio Theatre™.
TheSharonStudio.com | #TheStudioTheatreTDS 806 San Marino Dr, The Villages, FL 32159