Theater in Tampa

Learn More About Tampa Theater

Tampa Bay is home to the largest performing arts center in the Southeast US. The Straz Center for the Performing Arts opened in 1987, bringing theater and culture to a site that had previously only been a gravel lot. The Straz Center has five theatrical venues: Carol Morsani Hall, Ferguson Hall, Jaeb Theater, Shimberg Playhouse, and TECO Theater. The Straz Center’s different venues accommodate different types of shows and crowds of various sizes.

Broadway shows at the Straz Center, and in the Tampa Bay area at large, most often play at Carol Morsani Hall. The 2600+ seat venue is the centerpiece of the Straz Center. Some of the venue’s coolest features include an 11-story backstage area and a 42-ton concert wall that can be lowered for orchestra and choral performances. Seating at Morsani Hall is in a horseshoe configuration on four levels. The theater also hosts non-Broadway events. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, John Cleese, The Illusionists and Next Generation Ballet have all previously taken the stage.

Ferguson Hall also seats over 1000 guests and holds a wide variety of events, including many suitable for children. Its kid-friendly performances make it a popular destination for field trips during the school year. The theater is also home to the Florida Orchestra.

The Straz Center’s other venues are more intimate. The Shimberg Playhouse, in particular, is a “black box” theater that allows for many different seating configurations, so it’s practically a different venue each time you go.

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