Galleria
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 149
The Bilheimer Capitol Theatre,
405 Cleveland St., Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400. This theater in downtown
Clearwater has 737 seats and is operated by
Ruth Eckerd Hall in a partnership with the
City of Clearwater.
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) 200-3000. 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 firstclass
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.”
St. Petersburg Opera Company,
2145 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg,
(727) 823-2040. Under the leadership of
Artistic and Executive Director Maestro
Mark Sforzini, the St. Petersburg Opera
Company brings fully staged professional
opera productions to our community with
live orchestra, grand opera, Broadway
shows, holiday programs and more.
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. Their exciting
performing arts series is offered
throughout the year to bring entertainment
and culture to the community. 9