Galleria
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 133
Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum,
100 Beekman Lane, Tarpon Springs,
(727) 937-0686. This museum, located
on Spring Bayou in Craig Park,
explains how the dynamic interaction
of environment and culture created this
historic city. The History Wing traces the
development of Tarpon Springs from
prehistoric people to World War II.
The Ecology Wing houses the beautiful
murals of artist Christopher Still.
THEATERS
American Stage Theatre,
163 3rd St. N., St. Petersburg,
(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 award-winning
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 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.
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