What's Happening: Your 10-day forecast for July 26-Aug. 4, 2024

JULY 26 THROUGH AUG. 4

“THE WIZARD OF OZ — YOUTH EDITION”: Join Dorothy and her loyal companion Toto as they “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” through the Land of Oz, determined to reach the Emerald City, where the great and powerful Wizard of Oz will help them get home. Of course, along the way, Dorothy encounters witches (both good and bad), Munchkins, talking trees and winged monkeys. But, most importantly, she befriends three unique characters: a scarecrow with no brain, a tin man with no heart, and a lion with no “nerve.” Their journey to happiness — and self-awareness — is a glowing testament to friendship, understanding and hope in a world filled with both beauty and ugliness. Catch a performance of “The Wizard of Oz — Youth Edition” at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 4 at High Springs Playhouse, located at 23416 NW 186th Ave. in High Springs. Tickets are $15 for general admission, and $10 for students and ages 65 and older. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit highspringsplayhouse.com .

JULY 26 THROUGH AUG. 11

“IN THE HEIGHTS”: The newest production from Gainesville Community Playhouse, “In the Heights,” created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood — a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can decide which traditions you take with you and which ones you leave behind. Catch a show at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 11, at the Gainesville Community Playhouse, located at 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $24 for general admission, $20 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit gcplayhouse.org .

JULY 26 THROUGH AUG. 29

“UNAPOLOGETIC VOL. 2, THE CENSORSHIP OF BLACKNESS”: The Cotton Club Museum has announced the opening of “Unapologetic Vol. 2, the Censorship of Blackness,” exhibiting the works of artist Yvonne Ferguson. This exhibit is a sequel to her “Unapologetic!” exhibit from 2022. “Unapologetic Vol. 2” explores the censorship in the history of the people of the African diaspora. The exhibit will be at the Cotton Club Museum through the end of August. The Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center is an organization dedicated to enriching the experiences of all who wish to grow in knowledge and appreciation of the history and culture of African-derived cultures, highlighting those in Gainesville and North Central Florida. The museum is located at 837 SE Seventh Ave. and is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

JULY 26 THROUGH SEPT. 7

“VOICES AND VOTES: DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA”: New to the Matheson History Museum is “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. Through a selection of photographs, objects, film, audio and interactives, “Voices and Votes” takes a broad look at the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by and for the people.” From the revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story — the story of democracy in America. Exhibition sections explore the origins of American democracy, the struggles to obtain and keep the vote, the machinery of democracy, the right to petition and protest beyond the ballot, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. For more information, visit mathesonmuseum.org . The Matheson History Museum is located at 513 E. University Ave. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

JULY 26 THROUGH EARLY 2025

“VOICES AND VOTES: ALACHUA COUNTY”: The Matheson History Museum is hosting an exhibition titled “Voices and Votes: Alachua County” that focuses on the local history of elections, civil rights and more. Researched and curated by Liam Shanley and Willett Hancock, the local history exhibition will be on display through early 2025. It has been created in partnership with the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections and the League of Women Voters of Alachua County as an addition to an upcoming touring exhibit titled “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America.” For more information, visit mathesonmuseum.org . The Matheson History Museum is located at 513 E. University Ave. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

AUG. 1 THROUGH AUG. 18

“THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL”: As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can't control, a destiny he doesn't want and a mythology textbook's worth of monsters on his trail. When the master lightning bolt of Zeus is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” is an action-packed mythical adventure. Catch a preview performance at 7 p.m. Aug. 1, then 7-9 p.m. Aug. 1-2, 2-4 p.m. Aug. 3, 7-9 p.m. Aug. 4, 7-9 p.m. Aug. 9, 2-4 p.m. Aug. 10-11, 7-9 p.m. Aug. 16, and 2-4 p.m. Aug. 17-18 at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, located at 3501 SW Second Ave, Suite O. Tickets are $10 for the preview then $15 for students, $25 for general admission and $20 for seniors. For more information, visit acrosstown.org .

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: Your 10-day forecast for July 26-Aug. 4, 2024