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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 149
(727) 823-PLAY (7529). American Stage
Theatre Company is a not-for-profit
professional theater founded in 1977. The
company’s mission is to create the most
satisfying live theater in the Tampa Bay area,
accessible to all members of the community.
Their vision is to preserve the greatest
human stories from our past, while creating
the most defining stories and storytelling
of our time. American Stage presents its
top- quality Mainstage Series in its 182-seat
Raymond James Theatre each year.
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 highcaliber
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 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.”
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