Straz Center for the Performing Arts facts for kids
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Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
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| Address | 1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place Tampa, Florida United States |
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| Coordinates | 27°57′05″N 82°27′50″W / 27.9515°N 82.4639°W |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | Carol Morsani Hall: 2,610 Ferguson Hall: 1,042 Jaeb Theater: 268 Shimberg Playhouse: 130 TECO Theater: as needed |
| Opened | July 1987 |
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts is a huge place in Tampa, Florida, where you can watch all kinds of shows. It opened in July 1987 and was first called the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. In 2009, it got its current name. The City of Tampa owns the Straz Center. A special non-profit group helps run it.
The Straz Center is in downtown Tampa, right by the Hillsborough River. It's one of the biggest performing arts centers in the southeastern United States. The center is a busy place, hosting many different events. You can see popular Broadway shows, grand operas, concerts, and other performances here. About 600,000 people visit the Straz Center each year.
In 2009, the Straz Center started a cool program called the "Broadway Genesis Project." This project helps new musicals and plays get started. Some of these new shows might even move to Broadway in New York City! In 2018, the Straz Center got a big makeover. They updated the stages, added new LED lights, and made the dressing rooms better for performers. The center is named after David A. Straz, Jr., who was a banker and helped many good causes in Tampa.
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Exploring the Straz Center's Theaters
The Straz Center is a large complex with five different theaters. It also has a rehearsal hall, shops, restaurants, and places for banquets. Each theater is designed for different types of performances.
- Carol Morsani Hall: This is the biggest theater, with over 2,600 seats.
- Ferguson Hall: This hall has 1,042 seats.
- Jaeb Theater: This theater has 292 seats.
- TECO Energy Foundation Theater: This space can hold about 250 people.
- Shimberg Playhouse: This is the smallest theater, with 130 seats.
The Straz Center also has the Patel Conservatory. This is a special area with 45,000 square feet for education programs. The Conservatory has 20 studios, including dance studios with special floors. It also has a sound and lighting lab, a workshop for theater tech, a costume shop, and a TV studio. Many students learn about arts here. In 2017, the Conservatory helped 45 schools and groups in four counties with arts education.
Carol Morsani Hall: The Main Stage
Carol Morsani Hall is the main theater at the Straz Center. It can seat over 2,600 people. The stage is very large, perfect for big Broadway musicals and opera shows. It has a high arch (called a proscenium) that is 60 feet tall. The stage itself is 55 feet deep and 120 feet wide. There's also an 11-story backstage area!
A special 42-ton wall can be lowered for orchestra and choir performances. The seating area is shaped like a horseshoe, with seats on four levels. This design helps everyone have a great view and hear the sound clearly. The hall is named after Carol Morsani, who, along with her husband Frank, gave a lot of money to support Tampa.
Ferguson Hall: Versatile Performances
Ferguson Hall is great for plays, pop concerts, and dance shows. Its stage is 40 feet wide and 30 feet high. The stage is 50 feet deep and 80 feet wide in total. It also has a pit for an orchestra and a concert wall. This hall is named after Louise Saberton Lykes Ferguson, who was a big supporter of the Center.
Jaeb Theater: Intimate Shows
The Robert and Lorena Jaeb Theater has 292 seats. It's named after the Jaeb family, who helped start the center's special fund in 1985. The stage in the Jaeb Theater is 40 feet wide and 20 feet deep. The audience seats can be set up in different ways. This makes it perfect for plays, cabaret shows, recording sessions, and even business meetings.
TECO Energy Foundation Theater: Flexible Space
The TECO Energy Foundation Theater is a large, open space on the first floor of the Patel Conservatory. It has big glass walls and windows on two sides. Blackout curtains can turn this rehearsal space into a performance area. There is no permanent stage, and all the furniture can be moved. This makes it very flexible for different events.
Shimberg Playhouse: Small and Cozy
The Hinks and Elaine Shimberg Playhouse has 130 seats. It's located near the Center Store and the Jaeb Theater. This smaller theater is perfect for more intimate performances.
Events and Resident Companies
The Straz Center hosts many fun events each year. These include the Broadway Ball, Best of Tampa Bay, Eggstravaganza, and a big Open House in the fall. It also hosts the Broadway Theater Project and the International Thespian Society’s Florida State Thespian Festival.
The Straz Center is home to several performing groups:
- Opera Tampa
- Jobsite Theater
- Next Generation Ballet
Many other groups also perform or are based at the Straz Center, such as:
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Straz Center's Commitment to Inclusivity
In May 2020, the Straz Center made a promise to be more welcoming and fair to everyone. They said they would work to support the lives, art, stories, and cultures of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. The center wants to make sure it is a place where everyone feels included and respected. They also suggest reading books that help people understand more about fairness and equality.
