Broadway, opera and theater show off Tampa’s foremost performance venue, whose creative energy spills out into the rest of the city.
The David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts has a mission to make Tampa an entertainment destination on a global scale. View the massive, comfortable theaters and thriving creative scene fostered by its on-site conservatory to appreciate the community’s progress.
The center is a monolith concrete building on the edge of the Hillsborough River next to Tampa’s Riverwalk development. Participate in the energy infused into the city with a night at the Tampa Opera or a show at the center’s Broadway incubator.
Walk to the Straz Center as the sun begins to set and the city’s lights start to flicker on. Alternatively, take a water taxi from a spot along the river and arrive in style, stepping out onto the pier.
Stare up at the building, imagining when this was nothing but an abandoned gravel lot. The theater was founded in 1987 and has since brought over 16 million people to its many shows. Select from the offerings in advance or simply purchase a ticket on site for one of the many events, sometimes up to 4,000 in just one year.
Start with dinner at the up-scale on-site restaurant or dine at one of Downtown Tampa’s restaurants before walking back. See an opera in Carol Morsani Hall, the complex’s biggest and most impressive theater, with 2,600 seats. Despite the large seating capacity, you’ll have uninterrupted views from any of the four levels.
The David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts is located in Downtown Tampa’s Riverwalk development. Walk here in a few minutes from the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa Convention Center or the Glazer Children’s Museum. Tampa International Airport is a 12-minute drive or 50-minute public transit ride away. Find train connections throughout the region at Tampa Union Station, a 6-minute drive or 20-minute walk away. Metered parking is available in nearby lots, but can be limited during special events.
Purchase event tickets online or visit the box office, which is open daily in the afternoon and evening. Guided tours of the theater, including backstage areas, are available with prior booking.
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