The Ritz Theatre and Museum has a rich history full of amazing stories, but it wasn’t always the Ritz we know today. Back in 1929, The Ritz was exclusively a movie theatre where people came to watch their favorite movies and Saturday cartoons. I was able to sit down and interview the Ritz’s marketing director and host of amateur night, . He told me, “The in 1929 was the Harlem of the South, the heart of . In 1929, The Ritz Theatre was exclusively one of the few predominantly black movie theatres in the south.” He then spoke about how, …

GET HARD: Movie Review Rated: R 100 mins. Directed by: Etan Cohen Grade: B Get Hard is about a wealthy business man named James King () who is on top of the world. He has a beautiful fiancee (), the mansion and the fancy car. Plus his future father-in-law () loves him like a son. James King is living the American Dream. That is until he is accused of fraud and embezzlement, instead of taking the plea deal, King decides to go to court and believes that the court will see him as an innocent man. But the court has …

Movie Review: INSURGENT Rated: PG 13 119 mins. Directed by: Robert Schwentke Grade: A+ Your favorite divergent, Tris () is back in the sequel to the Divergent Series: Insurgent! Along with her are  () Tris’s former Dauntless Boyfriend, Caleb: () brother and former Erudite, Peter: () Former Dauntless, who knows whose side he’s on, Eric and Max: (and ) Dauntless and Jeanie’s pets and who could forget ever so sweet Jeanie () who is now leader of all Factions. Haven’t seen the first movie? Well, let me catch you up. Jeanie is a controlling Erudite who wants to control and …

Where: Florida Theatre When: February 22th, 8:00 pm Info: www.floridatheatre.com Masters of Illusion Live is coming to the Florida Theatre on February 22, 2015. Jacksonville will be the first stop on their World Tour! is one of the magicians of the Masters of Illusion Live was kind enough to grant me a phone interview from his hometown in Boise, Idaho. Farrell shares he has been practicing magic since the age of twelve. “One day my mom bought me a magic kit and after that I was hooked,” says Farrell.  Now he  has eighteen years of practicing magic under his belt. …

The in partnership with the Apex Theatre Studio will present the premiere of the Red Moon Theatre Festival: a celebration of diversity and building community. The three-day festival will present an enticing mixture of theatrical performances that honor the past while gathering a host of contemporary artistic talents to inspire a new generation of audiences to redefine the cultural landscape of Northeast Florida. Performance schedule is as follows: Friday, February 27th      The Mountaintop                        8 p.m.  (Ritz Museum Stage) Saturday, February 28th   Theatre of Rice and Beans         2 p.m. (Ritz Lobby) Our Town                                  8 p.m. (Ritz Theater) Sunday, March …

101 mins Rating: R Grade A+ Can you say Deja Vu? This movie reminds me of “I Love You Man” starring and . But even though the message is the same “” is still one of the funniest movies that I have seen in a while. Doug Harris (, Frozen) has the life every guy wants. He has a great job, nice car and he is marrying Gretchen Palmer (, Big Bang Theory) the girl of his dreams. What else does he need? A best man and seven groomsmen in seven days! Doug has no one to turn to until he meets …

Rated: PG Directed by: Will Gluck Grade: A 118 mins. Annie is a modern take on an original classic. Of course we all know the story of Annie, an orphan in foster care searching for her parents. Annie who always has a smile on her face and of course who could forget the music; “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow” and “ I’m Going To Like It Here,” just to name a few. Today’s is (break out star  from ) more modern, still living in foster care with Miss Hannigan played by the lovely and always funny  who brings a …

The Katz Downstairz is not your regular jazz band but a musical gumbo filled with hip-hop, soul, R&B, rock & roll, jazz, funk, and a dash of gospel. They play what feels good, and that resonates with their audience. I was given the opportunity to interview three of the core members of the band: Chris White (saxophone, vocals), Ce-Ce (vocals), and Ernest Jackson (songwriter, vocals, trombone). How did The Katz Downstairz come together? Chris–Ernest and I shared an apartment while Don and I were in a band and asked Ernest to join, but the band broke up soon after. Ce-Ce …

  It’s April 1945 during the middle of World War II. Hitler has recruited every German: soldiers, men, women and children he could find. You are in the middle of war but so far you have been stuck behind a desk typing 60 words a minute for only 8 weeks in the Army.This is the reality of Norman Ellison (; Perks of a Wallflower) from desk clerk to assistant driver for Don “Wardaddy” Collier (). His mission is to keep his team alive and so far he doesn’t like anyone. The other part of the team: Boyd “Bible” Swan () …