The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
Encyclopedia
The David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors as the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa
, Florida
in July 1987 and has welcomed more than 10 million guests. The venue was renamed in November 2009 to recognize the generous donation, the largest individual philanthropic gift ever made to a cultural institution in the Tampa Bay
area, of financier David A. Straz, Jr.
The Straz Center is located downtown on a 9 acres (36,421.7 m²) site along the east bank of the Hillsborough River
. As the second largest performing arts complex in the Southeastern United States (behind the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
), the 335000 square feet (31,122.5 m²) venue provides an environment for a variety of events. It has a leading Broadway series and produces grand opera, as well as presenting a variety of concerts, performances and events. 680,000 patrons attended 4,148 events during the 2007-2008 season.
In 2009, the Straz Center officially began a new program entitled the "Broadway Genesis Project," which intends to present the world premieres of musicals and plays which hopefully will move to Broadway
. The first show staged as part of this series is Frank Wildhorn
's newest musical, Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure
, which opened officially on December 5, following previews beginning November 24.
The five individual theaters are Carol Morsani Hall (2,600+ seats), Ferguson Hall (1,042 seats), the Jaeb Theater (292 seats), the TECO Energy Foundation Theater (250 seats and the Shimberg Playhouse (130 seats).
With the Patel Conservatory, the Straz Center has added 45000 square feet (4,180.6 m²) for its extensive education programs. The Conservatory features 20 studios, including two dance studios with sprung floors, a sound/lighting laboratory, technical theater workshop, rehearsal hall, costume shop, isolation/sound booth, state-of-the-art black box theater and media arts/TV studio. During 2007/2008 the Conservatory served nearly 60,000 students with 2,948 classes, workshops and performances.
, ballets and orchestral concerts. A 42-ton concert wall can be lowered for the orchestra and choral performances. The traditional horseshoe-shaped opera house has continental seating on four levels: orchestra, mezzanine, balcony and gallery. Excellent sight lines combine with acoustics.
. This specially-designed, flexible "black-box" theater allows for varied configurations of traditional or three quarter seating, as required by the production.
and International Thespian Society
’s Florida State Thespian Festival.
The Center is the home to these resident companies:
Straz Center has housed, and continues to house, a number of constituent organizations, including:
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in July 1987 and has welcomed more than 10 million guests. The venue was renamed in November 2009 to recognize the generous donation, the largest individual philanthropic gift ever made to a cultural institution in the Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
area, of financier David A. Straz, Jr.
The Straz Center is located downtown on a 9 acres (36,421.7 m²) site along the east bank of the Hillsborough River
Hillsborough River (Florida)
The Hillsborough River is a river located in the state of Florida in the USA. It arises in the Green Swamp near the juncture of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, and flows through Pasco and Hillsborough Counties to an outlet in the city of Tampa on Tampa Bay. The name Hillsborough River first...
. As the second largest performing arts complex in the Southeastern United States (behind the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, commonly called The Arsht Center, is Florida's largest performing arts center and is located on Biscayne Boulevard in the Omni neighborhood of Downtown, Miami, Florida, United States...
), the 335000 square feet (31,122.5 m²) venue provides an environment for a variety of events. It has a leading Broadway series and produces grand opera, as well as presenting a variety of concerts, performances and events. 680,000 patrons attended 4,148 events during the 2007-2008 season.
In 2009, the Straz Center officially began a new program entitled the "Broadway Genesis Project," which intends to present the world premieres of musicals and plays which hopefully will move to Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. The first show staged as part of this series is Frank Wildhorn
Frank Wildhorn
Frank Wildhorn is an American composer known for both his musicals and popular songs. He is most known for his musical Jekyll & Hyde, which ran four years on Broadway, and for writing the #1 International Hit song "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" for Whitney Houston.-Early years:Wildhorn was born in...
's newest musical, Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure
Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure
Wonderland: A New Alice, formerly called Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure, is a musical with a book by Jack Murphy and Gregory Boyd, lyrics by Murphy, and music by Frank Wildhorn...
, which opened officially on December 5, following previews beginning November 24.
Venues and facilities
The performing arts complex consists of five distinct theaters, a rehearsal hall, retail shops, on-site restaurants and banquet facilities.The five individual theaters are Carol Morsani Hall (2,600+ seats), Ferguson Hall (1,042 seats), the Jaeb Theater (292 seats), the TECO Energy Foundation Theater (250 seats and the Shimberg Playhouse (130 seats).
With the Patel Conservatory, the Straz Center has added 45000 square feet (4,180.6 m²) for its extensive education programs. The Conservatory features 20 studios, including two dance studios with sprung floors, a sound/lighting laboratory, technical theater workshop, rehearsal hall, costume shop, isolation/sound booth, state-of-the-art black box theater and media arts/TV studio. During 2007/2008 the Conservatory served nearly 60,000 students with 2,948 classes, workshops and performances.
Carol Morsani Hall
The centerpiece of the complex which seats over 2,600. The hall's proscenium is 60 feet (18.3 m) high with a playing depth of 55 feet (16.8 m) and a total stage width of 120 feet (36.6 m). When combined with an 11-story high backstage area, the enormous Carol Morsani Hall onstage and backstage areas easily accommodate major productions of Broadway musicals, presentations by Opera TampaOpera Tampa
Opera Tampa is the resident opera company of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts .Now in its 15th season, Opera Tampa produces and presents grand opera...
, ballets and orchestral concerts. A 42-ton concert wall can be lowered for the orchestra and choral performances. The traditional horseshoe-shaped opera house has continental seating on four levels: orchestra, mezzanine, balcony and gallery. Excellent sight lines combine with acoustics.
Ferguson Hall
Suited for plays, musical concerts and dance events, the elegant 1,042-seat Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall boasts comfortable orchestra seating and two tiers of curving balconies, creating a unique blend of intimacy and spaciousness. With a 40 feet (12.2 m) wide by 30 feet (9.1 m) high proscenium, a total playing depth of 50 feet (15.2 m) and a total stage width of 80 feet (24.4 m), plus orchestra pit and concert wall, the Ferguson Hall offers flexibility that also suits corporate meetings, lectures and seminars.Jaeb Theater
The 292-seat Robert and Lorena Jaeb Theater is named for the Jaebs, whose gift to the Capitol Fund Drive in 1985 helped establish the endowment fund for the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The Jaeb Theater's stage is 40 feet (12.2 m) wide by 20 feet (6.1 m) deep. The audience area can be configured to stadium or cabaret seating for plays or cabaret shows, as well as recording sessions, television productions, seminars and business meetings.TECO Energy Foundation Theater
The 3500 square feet (325.2 m²) TECO Energy Foundation Theater dominates the west end of the first floor of the Patel Conservatory. The room is two stories of open space with glass walls and windows on two sides. Blackout curtains convert the rehearsal space into a performance space. There is no permanent stage and all furnishings are portable for flexibility.Shimberg Playhouse
The 130-seat Hinks and Elaine Shimberg Playhouse, located between The Center Store and the Jaeb Theater, is an intimate venue for local and national artists, such as poets, musicians, dancers, comedians, performance artists and companies such as resident theater company Jobsite TheaterJobsite Theater
Jobsite Theater is an American professional theater company founded in 1998 located in Tampa, Florida, and is the resident theater company of the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts . Co-founder David M. Jenkins serves as Producing Artistic Director.-History:Founded in 1998 by David M...
. This specially-designed, flexible "black-box" theater allows for varied configurations of traditional or three quarter seating, as required by the production.
Events, resident companies, and constituents
Annual events include the Broadway Ball, Best of Tampa Bay, Eggstravaganza, and a facility-wide Open House in the fall. The venue also is the annual host of the Broadway Theater ProjectBroadway Theater Project
The Broadway Theatre Project is an intensive training program for both high school and college-aged students that want to hone their skills in the industry of musical theatre. It was originally founded by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, under the name The Musical Theatre Project of Tampa...
and International Thespian Society
International Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high-school and middle-school theatre students located at more than 3,600 affiliated secondary schools across the United States, Canada, and abroad. The International Thespian Society was founded in Fairmont, West Virginia...
’s Florida State Thespian Festival.
The Center is the home to these resident companies:
- Opera TampaOpera TampaOpera Tampa is the resident opera company of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts .Now in its 15th season, Opera Tampa produces and presents grand opera...
- Jobsite TheaterJobsite TheaterJobsite Theater is an American professional theater company founded in 1998 located in Tampa, Florida, and is the resident theater company of the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts . Co-founder David M. Jenkins serves as Producing Artistic Director.-History:Founded in 1998 by David M...
Straz Center has housed, and continues to house, a number of constituent organizations, including:
- Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestras
- Patel Conservatory Youth Theater Company
- Patel Conservatory Youth Ballet
- Patel Conservatory Jazz Ensemble
- Crescendo
- The Florida Orchestra
- GMI Music
- Gulf Coast Youth Choirs
- Heralds of Harmony
- Lyric Opera Theatre
- The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay
- Spanish Lyric Theater
- Tampa Bay Gay Men's Chorus
- Tampa Bay Children's Chorus
- Tampa Bay Symphony
- Tampa Oratorio Singers
- Toast of Tampa
- University of South Florida, Department of Music