By Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Twenty years ago, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra formed a partnership with WJCT Public Broadcasting to create a new tradition of entertainment along the Northbank of the St. Johns River at Metropolitan Park.
Several seasons of outdoor pops concerts starring some of the best-known names in entertainment, and a few who would join that list later, headlined “Starry Nights.”
It was also a social event with patrons often sharing the same table at each concert or finding the same spot on the lawn for their picnic baskets and blankets. There was also a competitive element with groups planning for weeks to outdo each other with their brought-in cuisine and table decorations.
After several seasons, the concert series went dark, but it’s returning in a month.
On April 10, the City of Jacksonville welcomes rock group Styx, accompanied by JSYM, to the stage at Metropolitan Park. On April 24, Warner Bros. recording artist and Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel will take the stage with the orchestra.
Even though it’s been years since the final notes sounded from the stage at a Starry Nights concert, people recall fondly the evenings they spent listening to music under the stars.
“It was good to be out in the fresh air and the river was so pretty,” said Susan Masucci. “We had a group that went together and one time we even won the table-decorating contest.”
Rick Winters, who was active in the symphony’s Young Executives Supporting the Symphony group and worked in the beverage booths at every concert, said Starry Nights brought great music to the park.
“Having an outdoor amphitheater gives us a great venue. Starry Nights was an excellent way to entertain clients because they entertained themselves,” he said.
Camille Clement Gregg was the symphony’s patron services manager during the Starry Nights years and has the stories to prove it.
“The tables started out seating six people but after a few concerts that went up to 10 people because everybody was inviting their friends. Some of the table-decorating contests got crazy,” she said.
Gregg also remembers the entertainers.
“I remember the night Glen Campbell was there. At the end of his concert he brought out his bagpipes and played ‘Amazing Grace’ on the bank of the river. And I’ll never forget the night Diana Ross went out into the audience during her performance and sat down in John Peyton’s lap. That was before anyone knew he would ever run for mayor,” she said.
The City’s Office of Special Events is producing the comeback season of Starry Nights in partnership with the symphony as part of the Make a Scene Downtown program. Events Director Theresa O’Donnell-Price said there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel.
“Just the brand Starry Nights has such a positive message,” she said. “The buzz about bringing it back to Metropolitan Park has been fabulous.”
She said as soon as people heard the series was returning they started calling her office to find out if they could reserve the same table they had years ago.
“There’s obviously a lot of passion for this event. It’s great to hear the symphony in such a casual, social environment and we think it’s a great way for more people to discover another way to enjoy Downtown,” she said.
Patrons may bring their own food and nonalcoholic beverages. They also can order in advance from Chew restaurant and Take Away Gourmet. A number of food and beverage vendors have signed up to sell seafood, burgers and ice cream. Beer, wine and other beverages will also be available for sale.
Tickets per concert, per seat are $50 for VIP table seating, $35 for preferred seating and $15 for lawn seating. Day-of-show lawn seating will be $25. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and the music will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The symphony will begin each concert followed by its performance with the features artists. Tickets are on sale at www.makeascenedowntown.com or by calling the symphony’s box office at 354-5547.
The City’s Office of Special Events expects thousands of people to attend “Starry Nights” like they did in 2003 when it returns for two evenings in April.
356-2466