As the curtains rise in theaters across Florida, audience members sit enraptured with what they are about to experience. From the flourish of a dancer’s graceful arm to the engaging melodies of a Broadway musical, the performing arts create a deep connection between the stage and its viewers.

Florida’s Gulf Coast – and the Tampa Bay area in particular – serves as an ideal vacation destination for those interested in discovering a wealth of artistic and cultural resources. Evidence of the value placed on the performing arts can be easily found throughout the area, as residents and visitors are never at a loss for exciting and engaging programming.
Nestled along the Hillsborough River, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (TBPAC) boasts five unique stages that showcase the gamut of performing arts, from experimental theaters to operas.


Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and Patel Conservatory

Nestled along the Hillsborough River, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (TBPAC) boasts five unique stages that showcase the gamut of performing arts, from experimental theaters to operas. With more than 950 curtains a year, there is always something fascinating going on. Also located on its grounds is the Patel Conservatory, a massive education space that offers performing arts classes for all ages, serving the community with hands-on training and opportunities.

 In the cooler winter months, TBPAC welcomes cinema buffs to enjoy Scene on the Green. This film series takes place on the center’s lawn, and presents theater and performing arts-related films for all ages on the second Friday of the month.

Summer 2009 will be a huge season for TBPAC, as it will welcome Broadway musical classics like Annie (June 12-14) and STOMP (June 19-21), as well as smaller but equally special dance performances of shows like From Paris to New York ... A Journey Across the Globe (June 19) by the Firethorn Dance Academy, An Evening With the Stars – Celebrate! by the Rising Starz Dance Academy (June 13) and Jammin's Best Dance Crews presented by Jackie’s Jammin Studios (June 7).

Ever evolving, the performing arts center is always striving to reach wider audiences. It is currently vamping up its Open Door program, which allows the hearing and sight impaired the opportunity to enjoy open captioning and audio descriptions of each performance. Plans to bring more opera performances and other smash Broadway hits like Wicked and Mary Poppins are also in the works.

“The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center has been an anchor in the community for more than 21 years.  In that time, we have cultivated an audience and educated our community with diverse and original programming for people of all ages,” says Kari Goetz, TBPAC’s audience development manager. She believes strongly in the center’s dedication to nurturing the creativity of area artists in the hopes of keeping them honing their craft in the area.

Tampa Theatre

A playground for cinema lovers, the Tampa Theatre is a magnificent movie house that balances the old and the new with grace. Voted as "One of America's 21 Wonders" by LIFE magazine in 2007, it has a strong following with audiences that enjoy the dynamic, creative experience offered in this historic theater. Built in 1926, the venue boasts at least 600 shows a year.

Throughout the years, the cinema has offered first-run Hollywood blockbusters, as well as classic films like “Gone with the Wind,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Casablanca” and “Citizen Kane.” During the Summer Classic Series, there are Cinema Chats during which audiences can speak to professors and film experts about what they have just seen. And in the summer, visitors to the venue can take advantage of special Balcony to Backstage tours ($5 for adults, free for children under 12) that provide an hourlong sneak peek behind the scenes and an up-close glimpse of the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ.

As a nonprofit entity, the theater’s lifeblood is partly made up of memberships and donations from the community, making it truly a place that Tampa Bay residents can feel connected to. “Tampa Theatre has timeless appeal for audiences for three reasons: its spectacular architecture, its creative programming and the experience that visitors enjoy. Its over-the-top ‘Florida Mediterranean’ courtyard design with a canopied, star-studded night sky in the auditorium is breathtaking. The theater’s programming mix is an eclectic schedule of new and classic films, concerts by touring artists and educational programs,” says John Bell, president and CEO of the Tampa Theatre.

Future plans for the space include the development of a children’s series to provide great new artistic and educational opportunities for families with young children, and the further development of a popular summer camp in which children learn the creative process of filmmaking.

Ruth Eckerd Hall at the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts

Located in Clearwater due west of Tampa Bay lies the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts. The shining jewel of this performing arts mecca is Ruth Eckerd Hall, a nonprofit theater that welcomes more than 400,000 people a year. An amazing history of performances and acts has graced the hall’s stage, including Legally Blonde the Musical, Kodo Drummers and the Munich Symphony Orchestra.

Dedicated to education, the hall also houses the Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute, a renowned center that provides training in theater, music and dance to aspiring performing arts professionals.

The diversity of Ruth Eckerd Hall’s programming truly sets it apart from other venues in the area. From live pop and rock concerts to comedy shows and hit musicals, this venue offers it all. As the hall closes its 26th season this year, it will host performances by Wanda Sykes (June 4), Steely Dan (June 12), Paul Potts (July 12) and the smash hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia! (Aug. 11-16).

 “Our goal for Ruth Eckerd Hall always has been and will continue to be not only to bring the very best in entertainment to our area, but also to present unique and culturally different performances,” says CEO and President Robert Friedman.

Historic Capitol Theatre

Built in 1921 as the Capitol Theatre, this Clearwater venue was renamed the Royalty Theatre shortly after. Thanks to the combined efforts of Ruth Eckerd Hall and Clearwater officials, the landmark theater has been renamed its original moniker and will be completely renovated. Currently housing performances as the architectural plans are being made to restore the theater to its original glory, the Capitol is a space to watch closely. (Note: the Capitol Theatre is only open during performances. To purchase tickets, call Ruth Eckerd Hall.)

The 451-seat venue will soon have more seating, and officials expect to continue to provide a wide diversity of performances upon completion. When asked why people flock to this theater, Holly Brown, director of marketing and public relations, says, “The uniqueness of the Capitol and the desire to see the venue before it is renovated are key assets.” This fall will welcome a performance by singer/songwriter Paula Cole (Oct. 2), indicating that it’s business as usual here.

And More ...

Between performances, be sure to take advantage of all of the other cultural assets in Tampa Bay, like the Tampa Museum of Art, University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. For a taste of contemporary culture that all can enjoy, try a diverse shopping experience at Hyde Park Village or International Plaza.

If you go: