Arts and Entertainment

The calendar is full for the Dance Alive National Ballet. It’s the season for the public’s favorite performances and activities for Gainesville’s professional ballet organization…. everything from performances of Dracula to the Nutcracker are coming up. 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend sat down with the Executive Director for Grants & Arts …

Before the first home football game of the season, there was another group putting in hours on the field getting ready besides the football players. Jason Hackett has more. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/marchingband.mp3]

It’s that time of year again, the start of the school year for elementary, high school and college. The roads are congested and the stores are packed. Parents are busy making purchases for school lunch boxes and their kids’ wardrobes for the semester. Commentator Shelley Fraser Mickle has a few …

Gainesville-based band, Morningbell, plays tonight at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza in downtown Gainesville. Their fourth album, “Sincerely, Severely” was recently released and reporter, Brittany Thompson spoke with bass guitarist and back-up vocalist, Eric Atria about their music. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/morningbell.mp3]

In the immediate aftermath of the 7-point-magnitude earthquake that destroyed Haiti, the world united to send an outpouring of support and supplies to help save the island and its people. But six months later, the disaster may not be on the forefront of everyone’s minds. As Andrea Gazmurireports a group …

Sunday, July 11th marks the 50th anniversary of when the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird” was published. Author Harper Lee introduced readers to a young girl whose father defends a black man accused of rape during the depression. Brittany Thompson reports. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/5mockd.mp3]

For most people Christmas comes around once a year. But for some it’s a year-round job. As WUFT’s Andrea Gazmuri reports, Santas from all around Florida will be paying a visit to Tarpon Springs this July. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/4xmasjul.mp3]

The Hipppodrome State Theatre in Gainesville is bringing back the “laugh out loud, critically acclaimed” comedic masterpiece Shear Madness to the stage for an extended summer run. As WUFT-FM’s Andrea Gazmuri reports, the play is back by popular demand after its successful run in 2003. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/4shear.mp3]

He’s had many songs top the Country Music Charts, but Quincy native Billy Dean never forgets his roots. Dean is the headliner tonight (May 28th) at the 58th Annual Florida Folk Festival in White Springs. Donna Green-Townsend reports on the man and his music. For more information about the festival …

The Florida Park Service will host the 58th annual Florida Folk Festival this Memorial Day weekend. It’s the oldest, continuous folk festival in the United States. As Andrea Gazmuri reports, this year the three-day event will pay special tribute to the diverse cultures of Alachua County [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/89Folkfes.mp3]