The 2015-2016 Season at Thrasher-Horne Center

Bill Engvall
Courtesy of Thrasher-Horne Center

Thanks to all of the friends and supporters of the Thrasher-Horne Center, the 2015-2016 season was one of our best ever. Sixty-four percent of tickets sold were to first time visitors of our venue. We look forward to seeing all of them again and to seeing many more new visitors in the upcoming season.

Last season, the Thrasher-Horne Center hosted concerts by some of the finest recording artists around, including Lyle Lovett, America, and Boz Scaggs. Our diverse schedule also featured the magic of Mike Super and Hal Holbrook’s iconic one-man show, Mark Twain Tonight. We played host to a weeklong residency by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra with new conductor Courtney Lewis, and welcomed the National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China with their world renowned production of Peking Dreams.

Here are a few of the other highlights of the season:

R5 Rocked!

Courtesy of Thrasher-Horne Center

R5 kicked off their summer U.S tour at the Thrasher-Horne Center nearly a year ago on July 7th. These young rockers have what it takes to make it to the top and stay there. They had a blast performing on our stage and it showed, in an unforgettable night that was both charismatic and electrifying. Our audience that evening can claim bragging rights to a powerhouse performance from a band skyrocketing to superstardom.

Bill Engvall had the audience in stitches!

Bill Engvall’s ability to connect with an audience by sharing the humor in everyday situations has made him one of the top comedians today. He attributes his 35-year career to his evolution from joke-teller to storyteller. His work spans small comedy clubs, nationally touring comedy shows, radio, television, films, albums, and books. He marked his debut performance at the Thrasher-Horne Center on October 2^nd, 2015, bringing a side-splitting show to a nearly sold out crowd and setting Thrasher-Horne Center’s box office records in the process.

Michael McDonald crooned his heart out!

Courtesy of Thrasher-Horne Center

For decades, singer/songwriter Michael McDonald has had one of the most recognized voices in popular music. His sound is distinctively soulful, winning him five Grammys throughout his career. In 2009, McDonald released This Christmas, his third holiday album. On December 19^th, he took to the Thrasher-Horne Center stage with hits and holiday favorites for a very memorable performance. 

Melissa Etheridge got personal!

Courtesy of Thrasher-Horne Center

Melissa Etheridge has won an Academy Award and two Grammy Awards. On February 17^th, she performed an intimate one-woman set that included music from her new album, This is M.E., as well as many of her greatest hits. Known for her iconic voice, profound lyrics, and riveting stage presence, Melissa shared personal stories about her remarkable journey through life and the inspiration behind some of her most beloved songs.

A full-fledged Broadway Season was delivered to Orange Park!

The Thrasher-Horne Center presented five fabulous Broadway shows as part of its inaugural Broadway Season. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical kicked off the series in December. It was fun for the whole family, but particularly for the little ones. Ragtime was presented in January, with a gorgeous new staging and powerhouse performance from an incredible cast. Annie was up next at the Thrasher-Horne Center in February, charming children and adults alike with its classic tale of perseverance and optimism. In March, Saturday Night Fever came to town, and transported us back in time to the 70s with two nights filled with dancing in the aisles and singing along to the greatest hits of the era.

Courtesy of Thrasher-Horne Center

Capping off the season, the Thrasher-Horne Center hosted the Northeast Florida premiere of ONCE on May 1^st, a musical which won eight Tony Awards® including Best Musical. Based on the popular 2007 movie, ONCE is the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who’s about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his music. The touring production of ONCE featured an impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who played their own instruments on stage. ONCE drew in audience members from the very first note and never let them go.

The 2016-2017 Broadway season is being planned now. It’s going to be another fantastic season! Stay tuned to this blog and to the Thrasher-Horne Center’s website for all the details which will be coming out in the very near future. Remember that subscribers get the best seats at the best prices. If you’re a theatre lover, please consider subscribing. If you know a theatre lover, you might also consider giving a subscription as a gift.

…And Coming Soon!

We already have several excellent performers lined up for the Thrasher-Horne Center in the coming year, from Wayne Brady to Billy Gardell to Jay Leno, and with other world class musicians and performers being added daily… it’s gonna be another revolutionary year!

Are you a teacher planning field trips for 2016-2017?

The Thrasher-Horne Center’s popular School Time Series offers entertaining, educational and engaging performances for students. Through these educational programs, the Thrasher-Horne Center continues its commitment to enrich the lives of the students it serves. There are five exciting performances scheduled for the coming school year. If you, or a teacher you know, is planning field trips for the coming school year, check out the flyer.

Have you explored the benefits of Membership?

The Thrasher-Horne Center plays a unique and significant role in the cultural life of the surrounding community. It’s a venue which hosts artistic performances that are not available elsewhere in Clay County. Thrasher-Horne Center Memberships are available starting at $75.00. Member benefits include priority ticket ordering, discounts, VIP parking, and more depending on your donation level. For more information on member benefits, go to the membership page.  

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Tickets for concerts and other events and others are on sale now on the Thrasher-Horne Center’s website.

The Thrasher-Horne Center is one of the nicest venues of its type in Northeast Florida. From concerts by renowned artists, to live theater, to dance, to magic and other fantastic shows, you can see it all at the Thrasher Horne-Center! Spread the word about one of Northeast Florida’s best kept secrets!

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Happy Holidays from the Thrasher-Horne Center

Thanks to our many friends and supporters, 2015 was a wonderful year at Thrasher-Horne Center! We continued in our commitment to developing and nurturing the artistic potential and growth of the students, residents and visitors of the community by offering the very best of professional theater, dance, music performances, and visual art exhibits.

• Over 7,500 students and teachers from schools throughout Northeast Florida participated in field trips where they learned about the visual and performing arts.
• The School Time Series enriched the lives of students with many entertaining, educational, and engaging performances such as Charlotte’s Web, Dinosaur Train Live!, The BFG, and Miss Nelson is Missing.
• Thrasher-Horne Center just kicked off its inaugural season of Broadway Orange Park with a stunning production of the beloved classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The next show in the season will be Ragtime on January 7^th and 8^th. Annie will be presented in early February, followed over the next several months by Always… Patsy Cline, Saturday Night Fever, and the Northeast Florida Premiere of Once.  

2015 also marked the beginning of Executive Director, Denton Yockey’s, new programming efforts.  
In addition to our School Time Series and Broadway Orange Park, Thrasher-Horne Center presented concerts by some of the finest recording artists around. Those included Lyle Lovett, America, Boz Scaggs, and Michael McDonald. Other memorable events included the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra conducted by Courtney Lewis and the National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China: Peking Dreams. The hilarious performance by comedian Bill Engvall nearly sold out and broke all of our standing box office records.

With state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, our Conference Center is one of the best meeting places in the region.  
From workshops to weddings, Thrasher-Horne Center has meeting places that are appropriate, accessible, and affordable. The Clay County Senior Expo, Pink Ribbon Symposium Community Education Event, Clay County Safe Animal Shelter Fundraising Event, Clay Chamber of Commerce Military Appreciation Luncheon, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Banquet, Reinhold Corporation’s Celebrate Clay Awards Breakfast, and the monthly Orange Park Medical Center “Health to You” sessions were just some of the most successful and well-received events in the past year.

We’re looking forward to another great year in 2016!
Creedence Clearwater Revisited will perform on January 23^rd and Melissa Etheridge will join us on February 17^th. On January 28^th, Thodos Dance Chicago will present its critically-acclaimed modern ballet, A Light in the Dark: the Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. The Moscow Festival Ballet will present Sleeping Beauty on February 21^st.  Keep an eye out! We’re continually adding new and exciting events to the calendar throughout the year.

Whether you’ve attended an event, participated in a conference, or volunteered to help in some way, the staff of the Thrasher-Horne Center is grateful for each and every one of you. We’re especially thankful for our many financial contributors who make it possible for the Thrasher-Horne Center to continue in its efforts to shine a light on the arts in Northeast Florida.

As we come to the end of the year, many people are making decisions on how to distribute their charitable contributions. Providing for the Thrasher-Horne Center Endowment is a unique opportunity to support the arts and show your dedication to the community. Your generous donation will be used to bring national quality performances and art exhibits. An endowment contribution is a gift for future generations which will promise the same access to quality, educational programming that Thrasher-Horne Center offers today.

TO DONATE ONLINE - Click Here

Memberships to Thrasher-Horne Center are also available for as little as $75.00. Member benefits include priority ticket ordering, discounts, VIP parking, and more. Take a look at the membership page for details.

As the year draws to a close, we wish you the happiest of holidays and good health and prosperity in the New Year.

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Magician Mike Super, December 26th

The holiday magic isn’t over yet. Magician Mike Super will perform on the main stage on December 26^th.  Snow flurries are in the forecast and some lucky member of the audience may have an opportunity to drive home a new vehicle from Garber Automall.

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Coming Soon: Ragtime, The Musical.  Thursday, January 7^th and Friday, January 8^th. 7:30 p.m. both nights.

AT THE DAWN OF A NEW CENTURY, everything is changing…and anything is possible. RAGTIME returns to North America in a striking, all-new touring production from the producing team that most recently brought you THE COLOR PURPLE and SPAMALOT. The stories of an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician unfold - set in turn-of-the-century New York - all three united by their desire and belief in a brighter tomorrow. Their compelling stories are set to theatre's richest and most glorious Tony Award®-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.

Winning Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Musical Score, this 13 time Tony Award nominated musical is a timeless celebration of life - what it could and should be! Based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime tells the story of three groups in the United States in the early 20th century: African Americans, represented by Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Harlem musician; upper-class suburbanites, represented by Mother, the matriarch of a white upper-class family in New Rochelle, New York; and Eastern European immigrants, represented by Tateh, a Jewish immigrant from Latvia.

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In this article, I’ve written about the great year the Thrasher-Horne has had in 2015, and the year we’re looking forward to in 2016. I’ve also mentioned the upcoming performance of magician Mike Super, a finalist on America’s Got Talent.  He will perform at the Thrasher-Horne Center Theater on December 26.    

Tickets for events are on sale now on the Thrasher-Horne Center’s website.

The Thrasher-Horne Center is one of the nicest venues of its type in Northeast Florida. From concerts by renowned artists, to live theater, to magic and other fantastic shows, you can see it all at the Thrasher Horne-Center!

Spread the word about one of Northeast Florida’s best kept secrets! Tell your family and friends about the Thrasher-Horne Center. People will appreciate learning about what they have been missing.

We appreciate you taking the time to visit us. If you have a comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section below.