[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Freeda

I agree with all of the previous posts; and there is such diversity of experience and talent here that even within The Villages, we are able to enjoy alot of great music, plays, and other performing arts; the jazz clubs here bring in wonderful performances, for example.

However, if one really wants the fine performing arts, they are available just 90 minutes away in Orlando - the Broadway Series, symphony and ballet; and also has museums. (Unfortunately, even in a city as large as Orlando, the opera folded earlier this year for decreased ticket sales - as have several other opera companies in prominent U S cities). Tampa, too, has some performing arts performances; and museums. When we lived in Louisville, many people drove an hour or two to come to the arts performances, and thought nothing of it.

After all, The Villages is less then 100,000 people (and even fewer during the summer), so one could hardly expect to have available right here the full performing arts calendar that would be available in metropolitan areas; but a fun night outing to Orlando is not that far to go for premium arts performances (at least until we eventually get a performing arts center built here; which is probably, and I hope, inevitable).

For a community of our population size, I would bet that The Villages offers far much more in arts that in areas with comparable population size. What other retirement communities, or even 'regular' communities of this size, even come close in the diversity and quality of arts offered?

Freeda, great post. I think you are right!