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Springing Into Special Events

Spring is blooming and our Special Events team has brought some incredible events for Villagers and their families to enjoy this spring!

Kicking off the season, dogs of all shapes and sizes marched around Lake Sumter Landing Market Square for our second annual Mardi Paw March. Each bar hut was decked out in a different bayou theme to celebrate the holiday. Jammin Jambalaya took to the stage while living statues, stilt walkers, and other street performers entertained guests around the square.

Only a few days after Mardi Gras, pallets upon pallets of strawberries were brought into Brownwood Paddock Square by vendors for the annual Strawberry Festival. Hayfire and Greg Warren Band played the stage and Villagers could peruse strawberry vendors, the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, and even enter in a pie eating contest!

Villagers continued to sham-rock out with two St. Patrick’s Day festivals at Lake Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs Town Square. Attendees could look forward to Recreation’s golf car parade, the Celtic sounds of Cleghorn and The Byrne Brothers on the square stages, as well as green beer at bar huts.

For the first time ever, we debuted the Acoustic Series, a week full of acoustic trios performing at the brunch and lunch hours for the crowds in Spanish Springs. Featuring Jeff Whitfield Trio, Slickwood Trio, Stellacoustic Trio, Acoustic Blue, and L&G Trio, these acoustic groups offered the perfectly relaxed setting for grabbing a bite to eat from local restaurants on the square and a bloody mary or mimosa from a bar hut.

Our Special Events kept on rolling along with entertainment at Rock-In The Square: Rocky and The Rollers Anniversary Party. To celebrate the momentous occasion, Rocky shared the stage with friends for the night, including Al Morse, Clark Barrios, Kathleen Kane, Dawn DiNome, Mary Jo Vitale, and Uncle Bob’s Rock Shop. Rocky and his crew have been partying with The Villages for 24 years and we look forward to many more!

Thank you to the Entertainment crew, vendors, performers, and everyone who attended these events! Didn’t get a chance to attend? There are still more events before we head into summer! Be sure to check them out at here!

Blueberry Festival | April 21 | Brownwood Paddock Square
Join Ronnie Dee and the Superstars for a blueberry infused festival featuring strolling performers like the Groove Chefs, drink specials like the blueberry daiquiri, and more!

Cinco de Mayo | May 5 | Spanish Springs Town Square
Fiesta with Stella Beat this Cinco de Mayo for live music, vendors, a variety of margaritas, and more fun surprises.

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Let’s Rock The Savannah!

Victory Productions’ production of Rock of Ages hits the road, “Motoring” to The Savannah Center later this month.

The show features an all-star cast, including American Idol star Bo Bice, The Voice finalist Omar Cardona, and Broadway star Justin Sargent who is also directing the show.

The five-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical features classic rock hits and an engaging storyline. The show continues to further Victory’s mission of bringing diverse, inclusive, and high-quality performances to Central Florida while showcasing local talent.

“This is a dream role for me. I’m so grateful to Victory Productions and Fernando Varela for creating a space where a person of color like myself can do a role like this,” says Omar Cardona. “I’m excited to be back home and perform for my community after all the support they gave throughout my recent journey on The Voice. Orlando is underrated for its talent and this cast will prove what we can create here in Central Florida.”

“I’m always up to a good challenge. Stepping into a theatre role is exciting and something I’ve always wanted to pursue,” says Bo Bice. “I am lucky to perform alongside this highly talented cast. It’s always enjoyable to perform with artists who come together to create magic; it’s a different beast than being a frontman. That’s what makes it unique for the audience and ROA fans to experience. Let’s Rock!”

“I fell in love with musical theatre through the lens of rock ‘n roll. Rock music is inherently theatrical and a driving force for cultural change. The storytelling is incredibly impactful. That’s why it transfers so well to the stage,” says Justin Sargent. “I’m so excited to bring this show to The Villages! I grew up in Central Florida. I got my BFA from UCF. I met my wife while working at the theme parks. This place is completely centered around entertainment and hospitality, so above all, I want the people who come see our show to have the best night out they can imagine! You’re going to be blown away by the cast we’ve assembled.”

Performing alongside Bo, Omar, and Justin is a cast is rounded out by some of the best and brightest in the theatre world.

Helen Hayes and Gregory Award-winning actress Diana Huey brings her talents to the Rock of Ages cast. She is best known for the First National tour of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, where she made international headlines as the first Asian American in the title role.

Also joining the company are Broadway power couple Christine Dwyer and Matt DeAngelis. Christine starred as Elphaba in Broadway’s Wicked. She wowed audiences across the country in the National Tours of Waitress as Jenna, Finding Neverland as Sylvia, and Maureen in Rent. She also appeared alongside John Legend, Sara Bareilles, and Alice Cooper in Jesus Christ Superstar live on NBC. Matt starred in both the Broadway company and the National Tour of Waitress as Earl, and in Hair as Woof. DeAngelis also appeared in the National Tours of Green Day’s American Idiot, Once and the West End production of Hair.
Tony LePage, an accomplished performer who recently starred in the Broadway and AppleTV production of Come from Away and Broadway’s Rock of Ages, will add another amazing voice to this talented cast.

And Militia Vox, a praised rock vocalist and frontwoman of all-girl heavy metal sensation Judas Priestess, will round out the principal cast. Militia has performed alongside Cyndi Lauper, Twisted Sister, Nancy Sinatra, and many more. And her recent single, “Push Comes To Shove” by Bad Penny, which features her duetting with the legendary Rob Halford, rose to #23 on the iTunes Rock Charts.

Completing the cast is an incredible collection of triple threats including Jonté Jaurel Culpepper, Javian Depalma, Brian Minyard, Kirsty Rimmer, Drew Ray, Adriana Michelle Scheer, Regan White, and Tim D. Zimmerman.

“This will be one of the biggest productions to hit Central Florida in a long time and we are incredibly proud of this cast, crew, and creative team. We received over 150 audition submissions and were able to pair national talent with our local artists. Over half the cast is local to Central Florida and the level of talent is through the roof” says Fernando Varela, Founder of Victory Productions.

Rock of Ages will be one of those shows that The Villages residents will be telling all their friends about. Don’t miss out on what will be a performance for the “Ages.”

Rock of Ages is at The Savannah Center for 4 shows, with two performances on February 17th, and 18th.

Get your tickets here and we hope to see you there!

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Cheers to 2023

With 116 rockin’ productions at Savannah Center, over 70 bands dancing with Villagers at the squares, and 33 decked out special events, 2022 was a busy year for The Villages Entertainment! As we dive into a brand-new year of entertainment, we want to take this time to reflect on some of our top memories to take away from 2022 and what kind of energy we are bringing into 2023. It’s time to ask yourself: how well do you know your Villages Entertainment trivia? 

WHERE CAN YOU GO FOR A BERRY GOOD TIME? 

The Special Events team kicked off the 2022 spring events with the first ever TWO-DAY Strawberry Festival! With strawberry daiquiris, Paul Bunyan lumberjack shows, and delicious food vendors, we can expect another two full days of fun at Brownwood Paddock Square this February.
Learn more about the 2023 Strawberry Festival here. 

HOW MANY PUPS DRESSED TO IMPRESS AT SPECIAL EVENTS? 

Over 100 pups were registered for each of our pet walks this year. Dogs stormed Lake Sumter Landing’s Canal Street for Mardi Paw last February in their purples, greens, and golds in true Mardi Gras style. At Halloween, even more pups were wrangled into their favorite Halloween costumes for the Growl-o-ween event at Brownwood Paddock Square. We look forward to meeting more of Entertainment’s furry companions at the 2023 pet walk events.
Learn more about Mardi Gras coming up here. 

Post Growl-o-ween and onto the Hometown Halloween celebration, our team released brand new carnival games. With buckets of prizes given away, and help from Best Buddies, everyone was sure to have a good time playing mini games in their costumes. A team of artists and builders also upped the ante on decorations this past year revealing new facades that made a statement at multiple events. Our spooky cob-web covered front door to our haunted house was transformed into a warm and cozy cabin for Mr. and Mrs. Claus to take photos with good boys and girls of The Villages at our tree lightings. 

HOW MANY OUNCES OF YUENGLING WERE SERVED AT THE SQUARES? 

Throughout the past year, Villagers enjoyed 1,573,592 ounces of draught Yuengling at the squares while watching their favorite bands perform!  

WHAT EXCLUSIVE DRINK (FEATURING OUR FAVORITE BLONDE) WAS THE MOST SOLD AT BARHUTS? 

The most popular exclusive Villages drink this year was the Blonde Bombshell. A spin off of the classic Woo-Woo cocktail with vodka, cranberry, and peach schnapps, this drink comes out to party when Blonde Ambition visits the square. 

CAN YOU NAME VILLAGERS’ FAVORITE VODKA MIX DRINK?

The delicious Farmers Market Bloody Mary, sold in Brownwood every Saturday, was ordered over 3,500 times! What a great year we had making over 37,000 McCormick Vodka mix drinks. We can’t wait to see what is shaken and stirred in the next year! 

Learn about Farmer’s Market and our Bars. 

HOW MANY NEW EVENTS WILL DEBUT IN 2023?

 Villagers can look forward to two brand new events already scheduled for this year. Car Club Showcase in Brownwood will feature 7 different car clubs in The Villages. This event will take place once a quarter with January 28th being the first. 

The Acoustic Series will make its debut in Spanish Springs. This series will feature different trios during the lunch hours of 11am-2pm every day to close out March. March 27th to the 31st. 

Check out more special events. 

WHAT IS THE NEWEST TICKETING SYSTEM WE LAUNCHED?

 In 2022, you grew with us! The Villages Entertainment released Ticket Wallet, a way to access your tickets in the palm of your hand and easily share tickets with your friends. For those who haven’t tried it out, check it out here. Let us help you simplify your ticketing experience. We want to hear how else you want to grow in the next year so be sure to take our Savannah Center survey here. 

We look forward to spending another year entertainment with you at all of our venues. It’s time to head to a square and raise a glass to 2023! 

-The Villages Entertainment Crew 

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Jam Out In Your ‘Jammies!

Scooter the DJ and The Villages Entertainment are switching things up this Christmas Eve by ditching the ugly Christmas sweaters and trading them in for… pajamas! Now introducing: Scooter’s Christmas Pajama Bash! 

You’ll know you’re at the right party when you see 30 plus Christmas inflatables around Brownwood Paddock Square. With over-the-top Christmas themes spread around the square, a spray foam arch and Ralphie from A Christmas Story on stage, there are plenty of decorations to give way to the festivities. If you keep your eyes peeled, you may spot rocks painted by The Villages Rocks Club hiding on the square. Throughout the evening, Scooter will announce when rocks have been hidden for kids and grandkids to go “rock hunting” to keep the entertainment going while other family members are taking pictures with the massive blow-up characters. 

Scooter will take to the stage for everyone to jam out while keeping everyone up to date on the square’s events throughout the night. Stilt walkers will join dancers out on the floor in their jammies and don’t forget your thirty-nine and a half foot pole because the Grinch will be taking free photos behind the stage that night! New to the Christmas Eve party this year, we will feature The Doodle Train, which will be taking laps around Brownwood starring their golden doodle.

The Hot Chocolate Tent will be open including Eggnog and Mulled Wine while supplies last.

All bars will be open in addition to a hot cocoa tent on the square. Be sure to give your favorite bartender a Merry Christmas and don’t forget to explore our adult-hot chocolate options. An exciting addition to this year’s festivities, we will have food vendors behind the stage including Kettle Corn Cabin and Island Fin Poke. 

Bringing back a fan favorite, Mary Carlson from Entertainment has been working on Pool Ponies over the last few months with her crew. These adorable pool noodle friends come with birth certificates and punny names. All purchases will go toward the SPCA. These ponies make for great gifts and fun to showcase on the back of your golf car! There will also be a raffle for specialty Scooter Pool Ponies; these ponies are limited edition and twin with Scooter’s most well-known get-ups! 

Start shopping for your pjs now! Scooter and the Entertainment crew look forward to seeing you at Scooter’s Christmas Pajama Bash at Brownwood Paddock Square, 4pm – 9pm on Christmas Eve. 

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Victory Productions’ Holiday Hoopla

It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year.  

There is always something special in the air this time of year, and our shared similarities become more evident with each passing season.  

It’s our differences, however, that can be fascinating—especially where family traditions are concerned.

Traditions abound during the holidays, with each of us having our perennial favorites. Personal rituals and family traditions alike.  

We are enthralled by how each family celebrates this magical time of year. We thought, and we hope you agree, that this would be an incredible opportunity to look into the yearly traditions of a few artists performing during The Victory Productions’ Holiday Hoopla of shows coming to The Savannah Center over the next two weeks.

We submitted the same five questions to a collection of the upcoming acts to see what they are most looking forward to and some of their memories of the past.

Their answers entertained us, and we hope you will be entertained too.  

Please enjoy.

First up we have Steve Solomon the star of My Mother is Italian, My Father is Jewish, and I’m Home for The Holidays…The Therapy Continues
My Mother is Italian, My Father is Jewish, and I’m Home for The Holidays…The Therapy Continues- The Savannah Center – December 6th – 4pm and 7pm

What is your favorite Holiday Tradition?
Easter/Passover – It’s the Italian/Jewish thing.

What is one of your most cherished holiday memories?
My son was born on Easter.

What food item can you not live without during the holidays?
I can always l live without liver, otherwise all foods are fine.  Large quantities, please. 

Do you prefer a White (cold) Christmas or a Sunshine (warm) Christmas?
Both…I love a cold winter in NY and a warm winter in Florida…I’m easy

What is your favorite holiday movie?
“March of the Wooden Soldiers” (Laurel and Hardy)

What is your favorite holiday song?
“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” and… “Does your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor (On the Bedpost Overnight?)” Look that one up.

Next up we have various performers from The Wizards of Winter
The Wizards of Winter – The Savannah Center – December 12th – 3 pm & 7 pm

What is your favorite Holiday Tradition?
Watching Rudolph & Frosty Christmas Specials with hot cocoa. – Manny Cabo-Lead Rock Tenor

 What is one of your most cherished holiday memories?
Getting my first electric guitar on Christmas Eve 1980. – Steve Brown- Lead Guitar

What food item can you not live without during the holidays?
Anisette Cookies – Sharon Kelly Co-Founder Lead Vocalist and Flute

Do you prefer a White (cold) Christmas or a Sunshine (warm) Christmas?
Any Christmas weather as long as I am with my family, that’s all that matters to me. – Steve Brown- Lead Guitar

What is your favorite holiday movie?
 “The Grinch” – Scott Kelly- Co-Founder, Musical Director, Keyboards

What is your favorite holiday song?
“Thank God It’s Christmas” by Queen  – Shawna Marie – Vocalist

We are thrilled that the one and only John Tesh shared some of his cherished memories.
John Tesh – A Jazzy Swingin’ Christmas – The Savannah Center – December 7th – 7 pm

What is your favorite Holiday Tradition?
My wife, Connie Sellecca, is all about keeping an old school Christmas so there is always Sinatra and Glen Miller orchestra playing in our home and the Advent calendar is always stocked for the grandkids.

What is one of your most cherished holiday memories?
Putting together a three piece brass band and going house to house playing Christmas carols. I was 13 and played trumpet. People paid us to go away. It was that bad. 

What food item can you not live without during the holidays?
Cranberry bread. Hot cider.

Do you prefer a White (cold) Christmas or a Sunshine (warm) Christmas?
I grew up in the cold on Long Island but I’m hooked on warm Christmas these days.

What is your favorite holiday movie?
“All about Christmas Eve,” starring Connie Sellecca and Gib Gerard

What is your favorite holiday song?
“It Wouldn’t be Christmas Without You” 

EagleMania’s lead singer JD Kelly went in-depth with a few of his favorite memories.
EagleMania – The Savannah Center – December 16th – 4 pm & 7 pm

What is your favorite Holiday Tradition?
Pajamas and old movies on Christmas Day. There’s something really special about just staying comfy and warm all day, and watching all of the great old Christmas movies with someone I love.

What is one of your most cherished holiday memories?
When I was seven years old, I wanted a toy car called a Crusader 101 for Christmas. And, that morning, there it was. It was a huge, red, battery-powered remote control convertible. I loved that thing. In fact, as an adult, I located a couple of them and restored them to original condition. It brought back a lot of great memories. 

What food item can you not live without during the holidays?
I’m Irish-Italian, so, I have two foods I can’t live without – or that I’d miss if they weren’t a part of the holiday. On Christmas Eve, my Italian side celebrates with a fish extravaganza that goes on for hours. And on Christmas Day, I’m looking for Egg Nog and cookies. It’s not necessarily Irish, but it was always on hand at my Irish aunts’ and uncles’ houses at Christmas.

Do you prefer a White (cold) Christmas or a Sunshine (warm) Christmas?
I’ve had both; I was in LA once at the holidays, and all of us transplanted East Coasters were pining for the snow. The nights are so peaceful when there’s snow on the ground. There is something magical about crunching through the drifts as you go from house to house. And the lights just look so beautiful. Nothing smells as good as a home-cooked meal when you have a cold nose. So, I prefer white.

What is your favorite holiday movie?
I’m always torn on this one. I don’t have a favorite. I love Jim Carrey’s take on “The Grinch,” I’m a big fan of Tim Burton, so “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a must-see, every year, as well. But I also find myself watching “Miracle On 34th Street”, and “It’s A Wonderful Life” too. In black and white, of course – as they were meant to be seen.

What is your favorite holiday song?
Another tough call (you’re killing me!). Of course, the recording of “Please Come Home For Christmas”, by the Eagles, is right up there. We recorded a cover of that with EagleMania, and it’s a part of our live show between Thanksgiving and New Years. That being said, I once recorded “O, Holy Night” at home, and I couldn’t get through it without getting very emotional. It took a half-dozen takes. Such a beautiful song. And I will stop anything I’m doing when Nat King Cole sings “The Christmas Song”. I’m not a big fan of novelty Christmas songs, but when an artist covers – or creates – a song that respects the meaning of the holiday.. family, love, redemption and the belief in a better world ahead – I’m all ears. Got any Egg Nog?

And finally, closing out our Holiday Hoopla of shows at The Savannah Center is the newly introduced, and quickly rising  Villages’ favorite, Evolution: Motown.   The guys shared some of their traditions with us.
Evolution: Motown – The Savannah Center – December 18th – 4 pm & 7 pm

What is your favorite Holiday Tradition?
The best part of the holidays is my family getting together to cook. The most fun usually happens when something is cooking. – Solomon & Jabari

What is one of your most cherished holiday memories?
Drinking hot cocoa near the end of the holiday party. – Cesar

What food item can you not live without during the holidays?
Cookies… always cookies. – Solomon

Do you prefer a White (cold) Christmas or a Sunshine (warm) Christmas?
Colddddd – Cesar

What is your favorite holiday movie?
“Scrooged” with Bill Murray – Jabari

What is your favorite holiday song?
“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” – Solomon
“Silent Night” – The Temptations – Jabari
“Oh Holy Night” – Cesar

From all of us at Victory Productions, to all of you, we wish you the warmest and happiest holiday season! 

Our deepest thank you to all that attended one of our performances in 2022.  And, we can’t wait to see you again in 2023 for our greatest lineup, yet.

We hope to see you there!

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Merry and Bright

The season is just around the corner and The Villages Entertainment has been working ‘round the clock to get the squares ready for the holidays! There is a lot of holiday hustle that goes into these events and more entertainment to be had! 

How many bows are there at Spanish Springs Tree Lighting this year? 

Setup for the tree lightings starts right after the final one ends the year before. The to-do list for setting up ranges anywhere from finding vendors, decking out the squares in and garland, checking that the strings of lights work, creating new decorations, and prepping the bars. This list doesn’t even cover the Tree Lighting’s Eve checklist which includes setting up tents and ensuring that the squares are ready for the festivities. 

The Entertainment Special Events team coordinates with the District, who provides the tree. The week before the Tree Lightings, Special Events comes out to hang garland and lights after dark. The concept behind doing all of this work after the squares have closed is to give the effect that the elves came in overnight, giving a holiday jumpstart to the season. 

Each square has a unique theme that is exhibited in the décor. Brownwood’s brand new Country Christmas theme plays on cowboy stars brilliantly accenting the essence of Paddock Square itself. Moving North to Lake Sumter Landing, Villagers can see the play on Coastal Christmas with the lights shining off the waters from the boardwalk. And with our final square, we get to experience Classic Christmas at the original Spanish Springs Town Square. With elements of greens and golds bringing you back to childhood, this square is decorated with 20 bows. 

How many years has the Entertainment team set-up Santa’s Sweetery? 

Visiting the Tree Lightings of Christmas past, the Tree Lightings used to include bunting and balloons, but the Entertainment team has made some changes resulting in the squares shining brighter each year. Since 2019, Special Events has put up the Tree Trail and Santa’s Sweetery, adding a festive feast for the eyes and ears. Now renamed Santa’s Village, this décor has become more in depth over the years. The Special Events team can’t wait to introduce how they’ve grown this year and are excited for what the future holds for Tree Lightings. 

How many strands of garland top a single bar hut? 

No Tree Lighting Festival would be complete without sweet treats for everyone. While there will be many food vendors at each lighting, Special Events will be setting up Santa’s Village which will offer Santa Snacks, the Hot Cocoa Factory, and the North Pole Photo Stop. 

Featuring various flavors of cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes and pie slices and candied apples from Yvonne’s Sweet Treats, 5% of proceeds from Santa Snacks will go toward the charity sponsored at each designated square. 

Don’t forget to get something from the Hot Cocoa Factory to keep warm! From classic Mrs. Claus Cocoa to flavors like the Merry Mint Mudslide, Irish Cocoa with Bailey’s Irish Cream, Fireside Cocoa with Fireball, or spiced Holiday Egg Nog, there’s something for everyone. This year, the Hot Cocoa Factory has added Santa’s Spiced Wine, a mulled wine to tickle the taste buds. 

For those who want to visit the bar huts, which are decorated with 7 strands of garland per hut, they will be open in addition to the Hot Cocoa Factory, selling classic bar beverages. 

What favorite Christmas couple will be making an appearance at the tree lightings?  

The day of each tree lighting, there will be live music at each square, with roaming entertainment, resident performer groups featuring your Villager friends, and of course the Tree Lighting Ceremony with Santa and Mrs. Claus to help plug in the trees. 

Beginning at 8pm, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be assisted by Visiting Nurses Association and Maestro Bill Doherty with The Local Vocals as the trees come to life. Spanish Springs will have a Christmas Parade provided by Recreation at 3pm the day of their Christmas Lighting. 

When the festivities have wrapped up, there will additionally be Menorah Lightings at Brownwood Paddock Square December 18th 1pm-4pm and Spanish Springs Town Square December 22nd 1pm-4pm. The Temple of Shalom of Central Florida will light the Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah in two different locations this year!

These Tree Lightings could not happen without the coordination of several teams as well as our sponsors. A big shout out to Consumer Cellular for sponsoring Brownwood’s Country Christmas and Light My Village for lighting the palm trees at Lake Sumter as well as the big oak at Spanish Springs.  

Don’t miss the Christmas Tree Lighting at the square closest to you! Mark your calendars: 

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Rock, Roll, and All That Jazz

Over the years Savannah Center and the Nightly Entertainment venues have been a host to events put on by Rocky Productions, most familiar being Rocky & The Rollers.  

Rocky is back at Savannah with his Rocky’s Big Band Meets Rock and Roll this month! This is a multi-faceted show with music from the forties all the way through the eighties with a big band rock and roll sound. 

With Rocky, seventeen Rollers and other big band orchestra members, and three Rollets we can expect a great evening of BIG sound with this fun crew. Rocky has known some members for as long as twenty-three years playing around the country and the state! 

When asked about his favorite songs in the show, Rocky noted jazz classics like “In The Mood” and of course “Sing Sing Sing” with the big drum solo on his list of favorites to perform. We can expect to see Rocky behind the drums in his blue sequin suit on the evening of the show. 

Singer, Steve Santo is gearing up to perform the iconic Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra tunes, and Kathleen Kane will perform a “Proud Mary” that will blow you away! 

“I’m still very true to the music and it’s why I do this.” -Rocky  

Visiting the history of big band music and rock n’ roll, we can see the evolution as the horn sections of these big bands were absorbed into mainstream pop and the sounds were “amplified” resulting in “rock n’ roll”. Naturally, the two complement each other in the arrangements that Rocky and his crew have created and we can look forward to some modern favorites mixed with a big band sound. 

“You get a mixture of both sounds in one show, which is why audiences continue to show up for this special.” -Rocky 

Backstage, Rocky says that it’s enjoyable for cast members to get together and they often find themselves reminiscing over old shows they’ve played through the years. They also generally nerd out over how cool it is to play both genres in one show. “It’s fun for us because it’s the old stuff, but we get to do it LIVE!” 

The rehearsal process has certainly changed over the years. When the music charts are finished and are sent out to all players, they don’t commence with a full-blown ensemble rehearsal. The rehearsal starts in the comfort of their living rooms where they study their parts independently. Eventually, they break out into small groups over Zoom calls. 

The full group doesn’t gather until the day of the performance where they spend the day putting everything together on the Savannah Center stage. 

“Every single player we have on that stage reads music like a professor. We go in early at 9am the day of the show and rehearse 11 to 2:30 and then boom! The first show is at 4.” 

You won’t want to miss this show November 12th at 4pm and 7pm. “It’ll be one of the most musically exciting and thrilling shows because you get to hear things you don’t normally hear.” 

Rocky’s Big Band Meets Rock and Roll– November 12
Get your tickets here!

Can’t make it to Rocky’s big event? There’s more on the horizon from Rocky Productions.

Get your fix for the ladies of the 60s with Rocky’s Lady Legends of the 60s featuring Peggy March (“I Will Follow Him”), LaLa Brooks (The Crystals & “The Doo Ron Ron”), and Kathy Young (A Thousand Stars) revisiting your favorite tunes from way back when.

Put away your electric guitars and get ready to listen to Rocky and his crew “unplug” for Rocky Unplugged this January as he and his crew bring back this favorite show where everything is still all Rocky, but acoustic! 

Get into something good when Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits returns to The Villages this January.  A remnant of the British invasion of the 60s, you’ll hear your favorites like “Wonderful Worls and “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat”.

Rocky’s Lady Legends of the 60s– On Sale NOW!

Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone – With Special guest Rocky and The Rollers– On Sale 11/16/22

Rocky Unplugged– On Sale 11/23/22

Check out more on our Ticketed Performances page!

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Sawgrass Grove is Open

The wait is over and everyone can now head on down to Sawgrass Grove to enjoy entertainment!

Penta kicked off the opening October 20th at 6pm

Situated just off of Megisson Road, Villagers can enjoy our newest addition to the Nightly Entertainment line-up throughout the week:  

    • Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays  6pm-9pm 

    • Saturdays  12pm-3pm & 5pm-9pm 

    • Sundays  5pm-8pm 

With the Magennis Academy of Irish Dancers featured on select Saturdays and old favorites Villagers may recognize from Lake Sumter Landing, Spanish Springs, and Brownwood, Sawgrass Grove is sure to be a hit! Be sure to check out the lineup that will publish with the rest of the Nightly Entertainment on the fourth Sunday of the month! 

At the heart of Sawgrass Grove, this entertainment center is next door to a little bit of everything:  

    • -Check out some golf history across the parking lot at Ezell Recreation Center 

    • -Munch on goodies and find fresh produce at the Market on the east side of the courtyard 

    • -Get some ‘bangers and mash’ with friends at McGrady’s Pub 

    • -Grab a drink at the bar which will open at 3pm Sundays through Fridays and 11am on Saturdays 

    • -Or dance under the comfort of the shade structures with your favorite bands! 

Check out your upcoming entertainment for Sawgrass Grove as well as Spanish Springs Town Square, Lake Sumter Landing Market Square, and Brownwood Paddock Square here and we’ll see you there! 

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It’s Electric!

It’s time to dig out your light up sunglasses, glow stick bracelets, and get ready to shine at Lake Sumter Landing for our 3rd Electric Light Party with Blonde Ambition!

What started as a glow party back in 2021 has evolved into an all-out light fest with light up handouts included. Mary Carlson, booking coordinator at The Villages Entertainment has been prepping for months for this party in the Entertainment garages. She shared, “[We] started small but now it’s gone into this larger thing. It will be every year in November and we’re already booked for next year!”

“We love to have everyone dressed in lights but we will also be throwing out light up batons and glow rings.”

This year we’ll be handing out over 1000 light-up gel rings and glow batons, along with 100 plus light-up beach balls for the crowd to volley in the air. That doesn’t include what Blonde Ambition will bringing to the stage. “Blonde Ambition Band is incredibly supportive of each other on and off the stage. However, we all love a little friendly competition! We are bringing hundreds of glow sticks and other glowing props with us and we like to see who can hand out the most to the audience! This year, the competition will be intense! “

BAR HUTS

With light-ups galore being prepared in the past months, there is still more to be done! Leading up to the party, the Entertainment squad will be preparing our featured drink, The Electric Elixir, a blue jello shot. In addition to this special beverage, we’ll also feature Blonde Ambition’s feature drink, The Blonde Bombshell to keep the party going. Be sure to say hi to your favorite bar staff members as we will have every bar hut open with an additional beer and wine tent for easy access.

DAY OF SET UP

The day of the party, you may see team members out at the square decorating. Depending on the extent of decorations for each Light Party, this process can start as early as 7am and last until 4pm. The Entertainment office also gets an interior makeover the day of the party, with staff members putting chairs on their desks at the end of the work day for stilt walkers to sit on while on break, and moving cubicles to create space for the hula-hooper to stretch out before heading out to perform.

SHOUTOUTS

Our crowd control members also play a hand in helping set-up and additionally bring calm to the chaos for the night. Decked out in neon vests, they ensure safety for our events and we couldn’t enjoy the party without their constant support and you may see them help usher in our performers throughout the nights.

With this event constantly growing, we would like to add a big shoutout to our sponsors Mid Florida Agencies and The Skylight Contractor for supporting this event and give a big welcome to our first ever vendors for this event Oh My Dogs, BBQ Brazil Express, and the Kettle Corn Cabin.

“The Electric Light Party is unlike any performance we get to do on a regular basis! Blonde Ambition Band literally has an opportunity to light up the night! We love seeing our audience’s creativity in the awesome costumes they put together and providing the entertainment to have the time of their lives! Between the kickin’ music, the fun atmosphere, and most importantly, the incredible energy and excitement from the audience, the Electric Light Party is an unforgettable experience!” – Blonde Ambition

Come light up your night November 10th. The party starts at 5pm and the Electric Light Stroll will begin at 6pm. This free event won’t be one to miss!

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The Hills Are Alive

 

In early 2020, SMASH productions held auditions for The Sound of Music. With Covid following soon after, the production process was put on a pause. After 2 years, the wait is over and audiences will get to experience the heartwarming story this November.

Inspired by the real life Von Trapp Family Singers, The Sound of Music follows the story of Maria, a nun who just can’t ever seem to do things right. Maria is tasked with the job of governess to the seven mischievous Von Trapp children. With patience and kindness, Maria breaks down the walls of the Von Trapp children and their very strict father.

Susan Feinberg, producer at SMASH productions shared, “This is the largest cast we have ever had in a SMASH show. Director Bob Stehman has worked hard with our adults and kids to create a real family of singers and dancers to bring the show to life.”

Playing the leading roles of Maria and Captain Von Trapp, Pinky Bigley and Lee Mueller have been hard at work with choreographer Barb Byers perfecting the Rodgers and Hammerstein music we all know and love.

Set in the background of pre- World War II Austria, characters like Max (Tim Casey) and Baroness Elsa (Kathy Chesley-Williams) help to usher in balance to the more serious topics of the time period that take place throughout the show.

With fourteen singing nuns to lift spirits led by the Mother Abbess, played by Bonnie Williams, we can expect to hear some of our favorite songs asking the comical question of “how do you solve a problem like Maria” and we can’t forget the inspiring lyrics of Climb Ev’ry Mountain. Music director, Mary Ann Rockenbach will lead the choir backed by a live band.

Of course, no production of The Sound of Music would be complete without the cast of singing and dancing Von Trapp children, many of which are cast from The Villages Charter School. Audiences can look forward to a beautiful dance number from oldest Von Trapp child, Liesel (Emily Veri) and Rolf (Shay Yael) in the iconic Sixteen Going on Seventeen and the whole crew of kids singing the renowned Do-Re-Mi.

The hills are alive and Villagers can look forward to seeing this beautiful story unfold at Savannah Center on November 8th – 10th with 2pm and 7pm performances. A portion of proceeds will go to The Villages Shrine Club. Get to a box office or visit our website to purchase tickets today!

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