Galleria
JULY/AUGUST 2019 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 149
Eight O’Clock Theatre,
105 Central Park Drive, Largo,
(727) 587-6793. The award-winning
Eight O’Clock Theatre continues its
long history of presenting high-caliber
entertainment in the Central Park
Performing Arts Center. They honor the
tradition of combining top-notch performers
with state-of-the-art lighting, sound, sets
and performances. All their shows offer a
glimpse of the talent we are fortunate to
have here in the Tampa Bay area.
Francis Wilson Playhouse,
302 Seminole St., Clearwater,
(727) 446-1360. This quality community
theater has been in operation since 1930.
Each season, the 182-seat theater presents
a new show every month. The venue is
available for a nominal fee to nonprofit
organizations that wish to enjoy a
performance exclusively for their group,
while fundraising through the sale of
tickets to the play.
freeFall Theatre Company,
6099 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg,
(727) 498-5205. Since opening in January
2011, freeFall Theatre has quickly become
one of the most acclaimed and awardwinning
theater companies in Tampa
Bay. The mission of freeFall Theatre is
to pursue art’s greater purposes and
the transformative power of theater –
as a builder of community, a source of
upliftment, and a builder of cultural
legacy. They present a varied range of
classical and new works that are bold,
daring, and diverse.
The Mahaffey Theater,
400 First St. S., St. Petersburg,
(727) 300-2000. Nestled in the heart of
downtown St. Petersburg, Mahaffey
Theater is a 2,031-seat cultural jewel
featuring elegant ballroom space,
spectacular waterfront views, and
European box-style seating. The
Mahaffey hosts top-quality national and
international performers, Broadway,
classical, pop, rock, comedy, dance,
family events and the renowned
Florida Orchestra.
The Palladium
at St. Petersburg College,
253 5th Ave N., St. Petersburg,
(727) 822-3590. Built in 1925 and on the
National Register of Historic places, the
award-winning Palladium Theater is a
performing arts center offering two stages
– Hough Hall, an acoustically perfect
850-seat concert hall, and Side Door,
the 175-seat nightclub. The Palladium
presents diverse performances from
internationally known artists to emerging
talent (blues, jazz, dance, opera, rock,
chamber, comedy and more). It is located
four blocks from the waterfront in
downtown St. Petersburg. Parking is free.
Ruth Eckerd Hall,
1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater,
Box office (727) 791-7400; Business
office (727) 791-7060. The hall hosts
The Florida Orchestra and national and
international artists and performances,
including Broadway, classical, dance,
pop, comedy and affordable family
theater. The Marcia P. Hoffman
Performing Arts Institute offers classes
in the visual and performing arts for
students of all ages.
Safety Harbor Art and Music Center,
706 Second St. N., Safety Harbor,
(727) 725-4018. Safety Harbor Art and
Music Center is a nonprofit organization
whose mission is to promote knowledge
of and education in the fine arts, the
visual arts and the performing arts.
Sarasota Opera,
61 Pineapple Ave., Sarasota,
(941) 366-8450. Opera lovers appreciate
this beautiful opera house and the
first-class performances of its company.
English translations are projected above
the stage.
Stageworks Theatre,
1120 E. Kennedy Blvd., Grand Central at
Kennedy, Ground Floor West Building,
Tampa, (813) 251-8984. This theater’s
mission is “to provide the highest quality
professional theater, which respects,
ignites and celebrates the human spirit
while challenging the thresholds of
intolerance and insensitivity.”
Straz Center for the Performing Arts,
1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa,
(813) 229-STAR (7827). The Center hosts
The Florida Orchestra and the Tampa Bay
Broadway Series, as well as many other
theatrical and dance productions in its
four outstanding performance spaces.
Tarpon Arts,
Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center,
324 Pine St., (727) 942-5605; Cultural Center,
101 S. Pinellas Ave., (727) 942-5605;
Heritage Museum, 100 Beekman Lane,
(727) 937-0686; Safford House,
23 Parkin Ct., (727) 937-1130;
www.TarponArts.org. Their exciting
performing arts series is offered throughout
the year to bring entertainment and culture
to the community. 9