Discover Ocala – Episode 16 | The Reilly ArtsCenter

What is now the Reilly Center used to be the Ocala Auditorium; a local hotspot for dances and sock hops and a place for people to hang out and have fun. In later years it fell into disuse, and when the City was in the process of reevaluating the space, it occurred to someone that it was the perfect venue for the Symphony Orchestra.

Before that, McComb explains, “We never had a home.” 

Up until then, the Orchestra would play at different venues across town: auditoriums, the College of Central Florida, and Ocala Breeders and Sales.  “You could hear horses neighing in the background and smell the hay. Which sometimes would come at an inconvenient time when you were playing Beethoven.” 

The Symphony approached the City about fundraising to renovate the building, transforming it into a new home for them. That was nine years ago.  “In October it will be our 9th anniversary; next year will be the 10th anniversary of the Arts Center, and the 50th season for the Symphony Orchestra. So fall of 2025 is going to be huge. A lot to celebrate.”

The Arts complex has now expanded with new buildings and lobby, the NOMA Black Box Theatre for piano and jazz nights, a flex space for artists to work and perform, or people can rent as a group space, plus a music school. The Jenkins outdoor space allows for outdoor events and concerts, and is a favorite for the annual Party in the Park event, car shows, the Concerts in the Park series and Symphony Under the Lights during the holidays.

“We love how vibrant it is, and the City has big plans for that area to bridge Tuscawilla Park and downtown,” McCabe says. “And our Symphony is phenomenal.”

This year the Reilly is also hosting the finale of GiveToMarion on September 18, and will be staging a Puccini opera and Handel’s Messiah, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters, plus four performances Nutcracker with the Dance Alive National Ballet. The Black Box will be offering Noir Jazz nights and kicking off their new “Blues in the Box” series.

The Reilly has become a world-class arts organization and educational institution, with more than 180 events each year and top-tier acts playing the main stage. added another diamond to the crown in 2020 when they took over management of the Marion Theatre, which now boasts over 700 film screenings each year, plus popular monthly music and comedy shows as well as special feature film series and programs. In 2021 they opened the Community Music Conservatory as part of a major expansion to the facility. It was the realization of a long-held vision of the board, expanding programming and community offerings to include charity events, jazz nights, dance parties and pop-up exhibits.

McComb took over in January from Pamela Calero Wardell, who departed the Reilly Center after a decade to join the Jacksonville Symphony as Senior Director of Development, and credits the Wardells with conceiving and innovating the Center as well as its survival of the Covid lockdown. 

“They had a vision,” she says with admiration. “Working for an organization like this allows us to be creative and to think outside the box. A lot of us have communications backgrounds, and most of us just love the Arts.” 

To learn more about what shows and events are coming up, Conservatory classes, fundraisers, or volunteering with the Reilly Arts Center, check out our interview with Natalie and visit the official website for details.