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Month: March 2022

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23 Years of Rockin’ The Squares

Twenty-three years ago, Rocky and The Rollers performed at the restaurant known as Katie Belles, and the rest is “Rock and Roll history”.

After two plus decades performing in The Villages, it’s no surprise that Rocky and his gang have gained stardom on the squares. The Villages Entertainment is more than delighted to host Rocky’s 23rd Anniversary Party that is quickly approaching.

**updated**May 7th  from 4pm to 9pm, we will celebrate Rocky and The Rollers on the Brownwood Paddock Square stage. In honor of the event, our bars will offer our drink special, The Rockin’ Rocky!  

Not only will attendees have the chance to party with Rocky, but you may recognize some other faces doo wopping with Rocky and the crew on stage.

“We are so appreciative of all these entertainers coming to share in our anniversary day at Brownwood and [we] look forward to hitting the stage with all of them and making this night a very special one!”

You can expect to see Joey Dee and The Starlighters, Peggy March, Kathleen Kane, The Leesburg Blues Brothers, Dawn Dinome, Johnny Wild, Clark Barrios, Uncle Bob’s Rock Shop’s Dave and Mack Saunders… not to mention a few other surprises.

When asked  what he would like to say to followers, fans and those who have been there through this journey and joining in the celebration Rocky states,

“Thank you, thank you and thank you for 23 years following the fun here in The Villages with us! We travel[ed] all over the world performing for the last 45 years and our fans and friends have made us feel like this is our home – this is home to us!”

Click here to learn more about this event and don’t forget to visit Brownwood Square, Saturday May 7th to ROCK the square and be a part of this amazing accomplishment and celebration!

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Good Times in Our Hometown

Entertainment Galore

From Strawberry Festivals to Electric Light Parties, Villagers know how to have a good time! 

The Villages is never lacking on the opportunity for entertainment. If you haven’t seen some of our recent events this video does a great job summing up what a great time everyone had who was able to attend.

More to Come

We’ve got so much more to come!

Just around the corner, April 2nd, at Brownwood Paddock Square rock out with a celebration of 23 years at Rocky and The Rollers Anniversary Party  !

Read more about how this event came to be here

April brings many more events too! Some include the 19th Annual BBQ Bash, Arts and Craft Show, the April Cruise-In featuring The Villages Vintage Car Club and wrapping up with Blueberry Festival. 

So whether your thing is cars, the arts, bbq, or sweets and music, we’ve got all the bases covered for our Villagers to continue to enjoy The Villages Lifestyle!

Find more about all of the special events coming up here

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Let the Festivities Continue!

Living the Lifestyle

The Villages is known for the extensive list of ongoing clubs and activities that are all a part of the lifestyle.

The Villages Special Events team never fails to disappoint with the singers, dancers, stilt walkers all aside from the delicious food truck options and more at their festivals and special events!

Over the past few weeks you may have noticed that they have been BUSY! February and March tend to be the most jam-packed with events including Strawberry Festival, Mardi Gras Celebration, St. Patrick’s Day Festivals on top of Cruise-ins and the car shows, which are now back after a long remission due to the pandemic.

Some Highlights

Those who attended may have noticed that there were some new additions to the latest events.

This year’s Strawberry Festival was extended to two days, and between the combination of sunshine and fun, the event was a huge success! There was non-stop entertainment 10am-4pm for both days including The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, Sunshine Strollers, Stilt Walkers, a photo booth and carnival games! There was also plenty of strawberry shortcake to go around, which many took great advantage of!

One of the biggest highlights of this month was the first-ever Mardi Paw March!

Over 100 dogs registered for the paw-fect parade with proceeds supporting Your Humane Society SPCA.  Those who registered received fun swag including a Mardi Paw tshirt and of course, a Mardi Paw bandana for the pup!

It was certainly a spectacle for the books and the team looks forward to continuing the additional event in the future.

So What’s Next?

If you have missed out on any of the other events over the past few weeks, don’t worry, the fun will continue!

Over the next few weeks you can look forward to the second St. Patrick’s Day Festival at Spanish Springs for some green beer or the March Cruise-In at Spanish Springs with entertainment MPIRE on stage. Following close behind in April will be the annual Blueberry Festival at Brownwood Paddock Square with Greg Warren Band onstage and bar hut specials Blueberry Daiquiri’s and Blue Bombers!

If you are interested in learning more about the upcoming special events schedules click here.

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A Word From The Creator of Classic Albums Live

They say you can never go back home again. Well, in theory, this might be true. However, we’ve all, at one point or another, enjoyed the time-traveling powers that a classic album possesses in our collective memory.  

Music has the power to transport us to a time and place, often marking a monumental occasion in our lives. For me, the power of music is the greatest purveyor of these powers of remembrance and reflection.  

These feelings are shared, too, by Craig Martin, CEO, and Founder of Classic Albums Live.

Fresh off Classic Album’s Live’s successful presentation of shows this past fall, we are back with the next installment in this incredible series at The Savannah Center. And Craig Martin, CEO, and Founder of Classic Albums Live, is here to give us his thoughts on the new lineup of upcoming performances.

Fleetwood Mac – Greatest Hits
Coming: April 27th
“I feel like, after 16 years of Classic Album Live, a greatest hits album, here and there, is merited, and Fleetwood Mac is the perfect band for this. Of course, Rumours will be omnipresent during the show, but this is a wonderful chance for us to delve into some deeper tracks.  

Fleetwood Mac is the most magical band. We’re going to embrace this show with gusto, deliver a note for note brilliance, and then we can all drown in the sea of love together.”

Led Zeppelin – II
Coming: May 13th
“Led Zeppelin really does sound like the hammer of the gods. At first listen, it’s the guitar riffs that grab you, then the drums, then the sweet honey voice of Robert Plant. What’s funny is that after years of listening and dissecting the album – it’s the bass guitar that I’m now drawn to. And Led Zeppelin II has it all: drum solos! Guitar solos! Lemons!”

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Coming: June 3rd
“Sgt. Pepper is 55 years old! For many of us, we don’t know a world without it. Pepper was the album that defined The Beatles as being in it for the long game. It was as though everyone suddenly realized that The Beatles were a big part of the fabric of the 20th century.”

We all know the hits off the album – “When I’m Sixty Four,” “A Day in The Life,” and “With a Little Help from My Friends.” But upon continual listening, the deep tracks become more and more compelling. George Harrison’s “Within Without You” was like adding a new spice to your diet. “Being for The Benefit of Mr. Kite!” sounds like you’re taking a trip on a carousel, and “She’s Leaving Home” brought old and young together and prepared them for change.”

The Eagles – Greatest Hits
Coming: June 17th
“The Eagles sold more albums than anyone else, think of that. Picture what 50 million albums stacked up looks like. Wow!

I bought this album on 8 track, then later on vinyl, then I owned it on cassette, then I bought the CD. The voices on this album are complex, with harmonies, lush detail, and unmatched attention to detail. Hearing “Take It To The Limit,” performed live, is a moving experience, “Best of My Love,” makes you look differently at your partner- more appreciatively, and “One of These Nights,” grooves.”

Creedence Clearwater Revival – The Chronicle
Coming: July 13th
“Creedence Clearwater Revival was America’s greatest band. Their music reached out and got an entire continent rocking. Hit after hit, no other band delivers that big of a collection of instantly recognizable, toe-tapping songs”

Founded in 2003 by Martin himself, Classic Albums Live takes the greatest albums and recreates them live on stage – note for note, cut for cut, using the best musicians. “Think of it as a recital,” says Martin, “these albums are historic and stand the test of time.” 

Forgoing costumes and impersonations, Classic Albums Live has found success in concentrating solely on the music. “We don’t dress up or wear any sort of costume. We just stand there and play. All of our energy is put into the music. We want the performance to sound exactly like the album,” says Martin. 

“We created something that endures and connects. These albums are sacred to people. We deliver exactly what we promote – ‘note for note, cut for cut’ accuracy.” 

You can purchase tickets for all of Classic Albums Live and save! Click here to buy 4 and get the 5th performance free!

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The Honeymooners: From New York to Florida

A SMASHing Start

In just a few days The Villages Resident Lifestyle Group SMASH Productions will premiere months of hard work with their latest production, The Honeymooners: From New York to The Villages!

SMASH productions group leader Susan Feinberg has an extensive history with music, acting and entertainment as a whole.

“I have been involved in entertainment since I was a kid with many years of dance lessons. My house was filled with show tunes and opera music.”

Even as a teen, Susan was booking groups for a local teen center. She continued this passion not only through college, but professionally as well.

“I was in charge of developing and marketing Digital Quality Audio and Video products for a Global Telecommunications Company.”

It is no surprise that when Susan moved to The Villages 10 years ago, she began producing and promoting almost immediately.

“I first started producing and promoting programs at Temple Shalom, including concerts and plays. One highlight was the summer concert series with The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra.”

SMASH Productions was launched 5 years ago as a vehicle for Villagers to perform in quality productions and as Susan explains,

“to have a bigger stage and venue for full scale shows and productions”.

The group also takes pride in their partnerships with local charities since its inception. The Honeymooners will support the Villages Shrine Club and YOUR Humane Society SPCA.

Behind The Scenes With The Honeymooners!

The Honeymooners from New York to The Villages is an original play written by Tina Shapiro and Carol Azzarone-Onuschak.

Susan explained a bit about the shows narratives,

“The Honeymooners is funny with nonstop laughs. Our performers and crew have poured their hearts into bringing out all the nuances of the characters and what makes them come to life in The Villages community.”

This production is a bit different than past performances from SMASH on the Savannah Center stage. Susan states this will be the group’s first piece that is not a full musical.

“(This) enabled us to cast some new actors. But since we have some of our best SMASH singers in the show, there will still be a little bit of music and dancing.”

Bringing the Lifestyle to Life

There is vast opportunity for Villagers to join various clubs of all sorts, including theatre clubs. It is important to many to stay involved in activities that they have carried with them or get involved in something new to try for the first time.

 Susan explains why this is something unique and important that The Villages offers.

“There is so much talent in The Villages between people who have performed continuously since they were kids, took a hiatus while working or raising a family, or (those) who just started to perform after moving here. It is enjoyable to blend the unique talents together in front of AND behind the curtain.”

The group may be reaching their final days of rehearsal, but that doesn’t stop them from having fun.

“We work hard but we laugh during the entire rehearsal.”

Expect The Unexpected

The Honeymooners from New York to The Villages is sure to be a hoot. This group’s effort to take an original script and bring it to life with a Villages twist including cast favorites Golf Scene, Sleepwalking Act and even a National Raccoon Convention at our own Savannah Center are sure to leave the audience in tears from laughter!

A final word from Susan explains the experience best,

“Live theatre is the fuel that sparks imagination. Expect the unexpected! If you enjoy a good laugh while supporting Villages Theatre, please join us at The Honeymooners show March 15-17 at the Savannah Center.”

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