In many ways, the headquarters for the Ponte Vedra Auto Show is Art ‘n Motion, a unique, 18,000 square-foot facility located at 283 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. Owned by the father and son team of Paul and Justin Felker, Art ‘n Motion was created to display classic and rare automobiles.
At the same time, its ambiance is undeniably unique in the Nation’s Oldest City. Designed to appear as an early 1900s industrial-style building with rustic brick walls, ironwork and floor-to-ceiling windows, this two-story structure looks precisely like one of those “Main Street” style buildings many people recall from their own past in cities across America.
Which also makes it a great place to host events and shows. Felker’s sister Erin Murphy operates a business called House of Assembly Events, which hosts a variety of gatherings at both Art ‘n Motion and the nearby Carriage House.
It’s also becoming known as a venue for high-end entertainment. In September and October, Art ‘n Motion was transformed into a kind of “speakeasy” from the Roaring ’20s for “The Velvet Underground Show,” produced by AR Production House.
The show, described as a “high-energy production featuring fire acts, aerial artistry and world-class performers,” is a spectacle unlike any other on the First Coast. It was the ideal pairing between venue and performance that quickly sold out.
“It was completely sold out like six weeks in advance, which was amazing,” said Russel Francis who, along with his wife Ali, are the AR in AR Production House.
“People loved the venue and loved the location,” Ali Francis added.
In keeping with the theme of the show, Art ‘n Motion was able to have some of their period automobiles on site.
“The venue’s awesome,” Russel Francis said. “It’s a really cool, unique space. We bring everything in – so all the lighting and the staging and the sound. We kind of transform the whole place.”
He called the venue “a perfect spot” for the show.
“No matter where you sit, you feel like you’re a part of the show,” he said, “which is very similar to how they do it in Vegas and New York.”
“We really have created our shows around spaces where you wouldn’t typically go to see a show,” said Ali Francis. “I think people like that better, because they’re getting a very different experience, rather than just going to a theater where you’re just sitting there, looking at the stage. It’s hard to find a venue where you can build a stage out into the audience, and Art ‘n Motion allows us to do that, create that immersive experience.”
The high ceiling allows AR Production House to include aerial acts, and the balcony proved to be a great place for tables. Audience members seated there get a bird’s-eye view of the production.
AR Production House began presenting shows in Jacksonville about three years ago. Its success is a testament to the quality of the productions and a demand for live entertainment of this type.
“We started just getting a following and it’s grown and grown and grown over the last three years,” said Russel Francis.
“The Velvet Underground Show” was the production company’s first show in St. Augustine, but it won’t be the last.
In fact, the successful production is scheduled to return to Art ‘n Motion in April.
“Because it sold out so quickly, a lot of people wrote to us and were like, ‘When are you guys coming back?’” Russel Francis said.
But before that, the holidays will be here, just in time for AR Production House’s “A Very Merry Christmas Show.”
This dazzling new immersive holiday experience features live music, singers and dancers, specialty acts and surprises “designed to sparkle, entertain and leave you feeling the Christmas Spirit.” Some of the performers are being flown in from Las Vegas.
In addition, there will be holiday cocktails and festive bites.
That show runs Dec. 3-20 and makes a nice complement to St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights.
“A Very Merry Christmas Show” is not the typical holiday production, and it’s not a kids’ show.
“It’s classy and elegant, but kind of geared for people above 14 years old who would appreciate something like that,” said Russel Francis.
He called the production “immersive, fun and big.”
“There are showgirls and we have a full, live band,” he said. “All the musicians are wireless, so they walk out into the crowd and play. All the arrangements of the songs are very unique and fun.”
For tickets and further information, go to arproductionhouse.com.
