1st Production At New Tampa Performing Arts Center Scheduled Saturday

NEW TAMPA, FL — Hillsborough County will host a prelude and recognition ceremony on Saturday, March 25, for the New Tampa Performing Arts Center. The lobby opens at 6:30 p.m., theater doors at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m.

The center’s 20,000-square-foot-building will provide a long-awaited venue for fostering community theater and other events for residents and performing arts groups in the New Tampa area.

Saturday’s event, the first held at the new center, will begin with a recognition of the efforts and people involved in bringing the center to New Tampa, particularly Doug Wall, co-founder of the New Tampa Players community theater group. Wall, who died in 2017, worked for years to help bring a performing arts center to the area.

The night’s performance will be 90 minutes of musical storytelling by a cast of 14 and a three-piece band. The story is a lively journey through the process of producing a musical, with featured solos and choreographed group numbers accompanied by live piano, bass and drums.

“The opening of the long-awaited New Tampa Performing Arts Center marks a great day for both the community and Hillsborough County. It’s been more than 20 years in the making and I couldn’t be prouder,” said Commissioner Ken Hagan. “But full gratification will be realized when we see the joyful faces of the thousands who will visit this extraordinary playhouse. They’ll be awestruck for years to come by the wonderful theatrical, dance and musical performances this center will host.”

Related:

• Construction Underway On New Tampa Performing Arts Center
• Ribbon-Cutting For New Tampa Performing Arts Center Set Thursday

Tickets to the one-time performance are free but most have been allocated.

Future performances scheduled at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center this year include “Beauty and the Beast’’ in April, “Grease’’ in July, and “Shrek the Musical’’ in October.

The New Tampa Performing Arts Center at 8550 Hunters Village Road includes a 350-seat theater/multipurpose venue with a stage, catwalk and orchestra pit. Additional amenities include four studios/multipurpose rooms, a catering/serving kitchen, concession area, box office, main lobby, and parking for 215 vehicles.

The building's design allows for expansion to 30,000 square feet with a future second floor. The space provides flexibility for conducting theater, dance and arts events, including educational programming for residents of all ages, as well as a rental space for events and weddings.

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved construction of the $7.3 million center in May 2021.