Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

IN CARRYING OUT OUR MISSION TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE AND ENRICH OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE PERFORMING ARTS.

ARTS PROGRAMMING:IN 2009-2010, THE CENTER RECEIVED THE LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC GIFT MADE TO A CULTURAL INSTITUTION IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA. THE DONATION IS DEDICATED IN ITS PERPETUITY TO BENEFIT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND ITS PROGRAMS. IN RECOGNITION OF THIS GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE DAVID A. STRAZ, JR. FOUNDATION, THE TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WAS RENAMED THE DAVID A. STRAZ, JR. CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS.THE STRAZ CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IS THE TAMPA BAY AREA'S PREMIER VENUE, PRODUCER, EDUCATOR, AND ECONOMIC CATALYST FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. AS THE LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX SOUTH OF THE KENNEDY CENTER, AND AS AN INDEPENDENT PRESENTER, THE STRAZ CENTER BOOKS TOURING BROADWAY SHOWS AND IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SINGLE-WEEK MARKETS AND LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER INT THE NATION. WHEN OUR STAGES WENT DARK IN MARCH 2020, WE NEVER IMAGINED IT WOULD BE SUCH A LONG ROAD TO REOPENING. BLOCKBUSTER MUSICALS, THOUGHTFUL SINGER-SONGWRITERS, FULL-THROATED OPERA PERFORMANCES, LAUGH-OUT-LOUD COMEDIANS, AND HYPER-TALENTED PATEL CONSERVATORY STUDENTS EAGER TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF PERFORMERS, WERE ALL BROUGHT TO AN UNPRECEDENTED AND UNSATISFYING ABRUPT END. COMMITTED TO GETTING BACK FULLY TO THE BUSINESS OF ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION, WE TOOK STEPS IMMEDIATELY, SEEKING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AND ASSERTIVE FUNDRAISING, TO BE READY TO REOPEN OUR DOORS WHEN IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO. THANKFULLY, CARES ACT GRANTS FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS WERE AWARDED TO SUPPORT COVID-RELATED IMPROVEMENTS ON CAMPUS AND STAFF SALARIES.OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF WERE HARDLY FLATFOOTED SINCE COVID SHUT OUR DOORS. AFTER A BRIEF RESPITE, PATEL CLASSES RESUMED THROUGH ZOOM AND EVENTUALLY ON CAMPUS AFTER STRICT SAFETY PROTOCOLS WERE IMPLEMENTED. OUR RESIDENT THEATER COMPANY, JOBSITE, BROUGHT PRODUCTIONS BACK TO THE RIVERFRONT AND TO THE JAEB THEATER WITH AUDIENCES APPROPRIATELY DISTANT FROM EACH OTHER.THROUGH SOCIAL CHANNELS, WE PRESENTED PATEL AND OPERA TAMPA PERFORMANCES, ARCHIVED SHOWS, AND LOCAL MUSICIANS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMING ARTS DURING LOCKDOWN. WE AT THE STRAZ HOPED 2020-21 WOULD BRING A RETURN TO NORMAL. WE HOPED THAT THE PANDEMIC WOULD RECEDE, ALONG WITH THE RESTRICTIONS IT MADE NECESSARY, RETURNING US TO OUR PRE-MARCH 2020 REALITY. INSTEAD, IT DEMANDED WE FIND A NEW NORMAL. IF WE WERE TO FULFILL OUR MISSION STATEMENT "TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE AND ENRICH OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE PERFORMING ARTS" IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE IN A WAY THAT ADDRESSED THE CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC. FOR PATEL CONSERVATORY STUDENTS, DANCE, VOICE, AND THEATER CLASSES RESUMED IN-HOUSE UNDER STRICT MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCE PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR ALL. OUR THEATERS HOSTED THE FRUITS OF THAT INSTRUCTION INCLUDING PERFORMANCES OF SINGING IN THE RAIN JR. AND ON THE EDGE AND NEXT GENERATION BALLET PERFORMED AN AWARD-WINNING NUTCRACKER OUTDOOR WONDERLAND ALONG THE RIVER AND SWAN LAKE IN MORSANI HALL. WE ALSO VIRTUALLY STAYED IN TOUCH WITH OUR AUDIENCE THROUGH TAMPA TOTAL REQUEST LIVE, A WEB SERIES WHICH SPOTLIGHTS LOCAL PERFORMERS IN A FUN FORMAT. WE, TOO, PROVIDED STREAMING CONTENT IN THE FORM OF PLAYS AND OPERA TAMPA PERFORMANCES RECORDED AT THE STRAZ. WE UTILIZED OUR RIVERWALK SPACE TO PRESENT MUSIC, PLAYS, OPERA PERFORMANCES AND ARTS LEGACY REMIX CELEBRATIONS, GIVING THE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC A TASTE OF WHAT THE STRAZ HAS TO OFFER.THE STRAZ WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO OBTAIN $15.5M IN FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH VARIOUS COVID RELIEF PROGRAMS. THIS HELPED COVER PAYROLL COSTS, MAINTAIN FACILITY OPERATIONS, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR RE-OPENING AND REBUILDING OUR BUSINESS.WE TOOK IMPORTANT MEASURES TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR GUESTS AND OUR STAFF INCLUDING SPENDING $1.4 MILLION ON UPGRADES TO OUR HVAC SYSTEM, AS WELL AS TOUCHLESS RESTROOM FIXTURES FOR A COMPREHENSIVE CUSTOMER INTERFACE. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LATEST STANDARDS SET BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL.WE ARE PROUD TO SAY WE ROSE TO ALL CHALLENGES AND SO DID OUR DONORS.WHEN OUR STAGES WERE DARK, OUR DONORS GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTED FUNDS. OUR RAISE THE CURTAIN CAMPAIGN FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 2021 BROUGHT IN $4.6 MILLION - A GENEROUS OUTPOURING THAT PROVIDED ESSENTIAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO SUSTAIN OUR ANNUAL PROGRAMS. THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 TRIED HARD TO GIVE US THE HOOK, BUT WE FOUND A WAY TO STAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT. THANKS TO OUR DEDICATED STAFF AND THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS, WE ARE NOW BACK ON STAGE AND MOVING FORWARD. THE STRAZ BEGAN ITS RETURN TO FULL FUNCTIONALITY IN OCTOBER 2020 WITH OUTDOOR EVENTS ON THE RIVERWALK STAGE. FIRST UP WAS THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) [REVISED], A CO-PRODUCTION WITH JOBSITE, FOLLOWED BY OPERA TAMPA'S HALLOWEEN-THEMED THE WITCHING HOUR AND MANY OTHERS. THE JAEB WAS THE FIRST THEATER TO HOUSE AN INDOOR SHOW, FRANKENSTEIN: A MODERN PROMETHEUS FOLLOWED BY ALWAYS PATSY CLINE. EVERY MOVE WAS DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL HEALTH EXPERTS AS WE DEVELOPED SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR ALL OF OUR FUNCTIONS.A COMMITMENT TO BOTH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION CONTINUES TO BE A STRONG GROWING ASPECT OF THE STRAZ'S CULTURE AND IDENTITY. WE FORGED AHEAD WITH OUR INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY (I.D.E.A.) INITIATIVE PLAN WHICH EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR BY SETTING HIGHER STANDARDS OF HOW WE CONDUCT OURSELVES AND OUR BUSINESS. THIS INCLUDES AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, STAFF TRAINING AND VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS WHERE EXPERIENCES AND INSIGHTS ARE SHARED ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS SUCH AS THE LONG-STANDING IMPACT OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND TRAILBLAZING BLACK WOMEN. WE ASPIRE TO BETTER SERVE AND REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY WITH MORE TRAINING SESSIONS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES TO STEER OUR EFFORTS TOWARDS THE GREATEST COMMUNITY IMPACT. FOR THE 2020/2021 SEASON, WE CONTINUED OUR FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ACCESS. INCLUSION ALSO MEANS FINANCIAL ACCESS, SO WE USED THIS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE EXPAND OUR CURRENT REACH IN THE COMMUNITY. WE CONTINUED OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL I.D.E.A. PROGRAM WITH OUR VERY SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY ARTS LEGACY REMIX SERIES, FOCUS ON BOARD DIVERSITY COMMITMENT AND HR INITIATIVES TO EXTEND OUR REACH TO A WIDE REACH OF CANDIDATES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. WE CONTINUED OFFERING OUR ARTS AND HEALTH OFFERINGS OF LECTURE SERIES, ADULT CLASSES AND PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS. OUR STRAZ SALUTES REPRESENTS OUR COMMITMENT TO VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES INCLUDING: TICKETS FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, OUTREACHES TAUGHT AT MACDILL AFB, MILITARY EVENT NIGHTS, STRAZ SALUTES ARTWORK ON THE RIVERWALK AND MILITARY RELATED PERFORMANCES ON OUR STAGES. THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS AS A HEALING MODALITY IS TAPPED THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING FOR HOSPITALIZED AND ISOLATED MILITARY VETERANS TRANSITIONING TO COMMUNITY LIFE, AND THEIR CAREGIVERS AND FAMILIES. STRAZ SALUTES ARTMAKING, DISCUSSIONS, PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT PERFORMANCES, AND PUBLIC EVENTS ALSO HELP CELEBRATE TAMPA BAY'S UNIQUE MILITARY COMMUNITY. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:THE STRAZ PRESENTED THE THIRD ANNUAL JAMES A. HALEY AND BAY PINES VA HOSPITALS' COMBINED VETERANS' CREATIVE ARTS SHOWCASE, ENGAGING DOZENS OF VETERAN ARTISTS WHO PERFORMED FOR MORE THAN 1,300 FAMILY AND FRIENDS.OUR VETERAN/CIVILIAN DANCE ENSEMBLE (ABOVE) REHEARSED AND GAVE MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES OF THEIR NEW WORK, FREEDOM TREE, CHOREOGRAPHED BY JOHN PARKS, FOR MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE.YOUR VET CHAT MONTHLY VIRTUAL ART-BASED INTERACTIVE DISCUSSIONSEXPLORED THE INTERSECTION OF ARTS AND WELLNESS WITH MORE THAN 170 PARTICIPANTS.VETARTSPAN.ORG, VETERAN-CENTERED ARTS RESOURCE WEBSITE WELCOMED MORE THAN 10,800 UNIQUE VISITORS FROM 19 STATES.STRAZ ACCESS - AS ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR AUDIENCE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND EXPAND OUR ACCESS-FOR-ALL FOOTPRINT AROUND THE CAMPUS INSIDE AND OUT. OUR EVOLVING ACCESS OFFERINGS INCLUDE RELAXED SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES, ARTS EDUCATION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, STRAZ OUTREACH FOR THE REMOTE AND IMMOBILE ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES & SIGNED PERFORMANCES, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) CELEBRATION, STRAZ CAP SERVICE & COURTESY WHEELCHAIRS AND SPECIALIZED FACILITY TOURS. WE WELCOME ALL OUR GUESTS TO BRING FORWARD ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER FOCUS FOR OUR GROWING ACCESS- FOR- ALL- FOOTPRINT AROUND THE CAMPUS INSIDE AND OUT.

FACILITY SERVICES:FACILITY SERVICES INCLUDE OPERATIONS INVOLVED IN THE PRESENTATION OF PERFORMING ARTS TO THE COMMUNITY & THE UTILIZATION OF ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO ENSURE CONTINUED FINANCIAL STABILITY. THESE OPERATIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH FRONT-OF-HOUSE AND BACK-OF-HOUSE FUNCTIONS FOR FIVE THEATERS AND A 335,000-SQUARE-FOOT COMPLEX. OPERATIONS IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR FOOD & BEVERAGE (WITH THREE ON-SITE RESTAURANTS PLUS CATERING), MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING, FACILITIES, HOUSE MANAGEMENT (INCLUDING 700 VOLUNTEERS), SECURITY AND GROUNDS AS WELL AS PRODUCTION SUPPORT THROUGH LIGHTING, SOUND, LOAD-INS, LOAD-OUTS AND STAGING. OPERATIONS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING A 34-YEAR-OLD BUILDING, AS WELL AS A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD CONSERVATORY WITH 20 STUDIOS.EXPENSE BASE ALSO INCLUDES DEPRECIATION EXPENSE OF $1,619,577 FOR THE AMORTIZED COST RECOGNITION OF PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS.

ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING:A TOP PRIORITY AT THE STRAZ CENTER IS ARTS EDUCATION. THROUGH ITS PATEL CONSERVATORY, ARTS EDUCATION IS COMPRISED OF AGE-APPROPRIATE PERFORMANCES ON ITS MAIN STAGES, A SEQUENTIAL CLASSROOM CURRICULUM IN DANCE, THEATRE AND MUSIC PROVIDED IN THE PATEL CONSERVATORY, AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO REACH THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO ATTEND ON-SITE ACTIVITIES. PATEL CONSERVATORY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE THE FINEST PERFORMING ARTS TRAINING IN AN INSPIRATIONAL SETTING BY GIVING STUDENTS THE TOOLS TO DREAM, REACH, DISCOVER AND CREATE THE PERFORMING ARTS, INTEGRATE THEM INTO EVERYDAY LIFE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY. IN 2017, THE CONSERVATORY RECEIVED RENEWAL OF ITS ACCREDITATION FROM THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. IT IS NOW IN ITS NINTH YEAR OF ACCREDITATION. THE CURRENT RENEWAL IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 2022.AT THE NORTH END OF THE STRAZ CENTER'S CAMPUS, THE PATEL CONSERVATORY'S THREE-STORY, 45,000 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY OFFERS MORE THAN 120 PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES IN DANCE, THEATER, AND MUSIC FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS. THE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INTRODUCTORY CLASSES FOR THE CULTURALLY CURIOUS AND PROGRESS TO PRE-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR THE SERIOUS PERFORMING ARTS STUDENT.THE PATEL CONSERVATORY CONTINUED TO FLOURISH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH HIGH ENROLLMENT, GREAT ATTENDANCE AT OUR PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED PRODUCTIONS AND STRONG DIVERSITY AMONG STUDENTS FROM PRE-K TO GOLDEN AGE. ARTS EDUCATION IS A VITAL PART OF OUR MISSION, AND AFTER OUR INITIAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC CLOSING, RESUMING CLASSES-BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON- WAS A MAJOR PRIORITY. ON CAMPUS WE HAD 2,989 STUDENTS, INCLUDING 167 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS, ATTENDING LIVE, VIRTUAL AND HYBRID CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, MASTER CLASSES, INTENSIVES, AND CAMPS. STUDENTS TRAINED YEAR-ROUND IN DANCE, MUSIC, AND THEATER OFFERINGS AT EVERY SKILL LEVEL. ADDITIONALLY, 1,306 UNDERSERVED STUDENTS WERE ENGAGED IN ARTS LEARNING AT NO COST THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH 42 SCHOOLS AND AGENCIES. CURRICULUM INCLUDED SEQUENTIAL INSTRUCTION IN MUSIC, DANCE AND THEATER, VOCAL ARTS, MUSICAL THEATER, PLAYWRITING, IMPROVISION AND STORYTELLING.SCHOLARSHIPS: SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLED STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD BE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE, TO ENROLL IN CLASSES AND CAMPS AT THE PATEL CONSERVATORY IN 2021. $209,000 IN NEED-BASED AND MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS WAS AWARDED TO STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 TO PURSUE TRAINING IN THEIR AREA OF INTEREST.EDUCATION TICKET SUBSIDIES: OUR OPERATION TICKETS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED TICKETS TO STUDENTS FROM PARTNERING SCHOOLS, INCLUDING A MAJORITY OF TITLE-I SCHOOLS, TO ATTEND DIFFERENT STRAZ CENTER PERFORMANCES RELATED TO THEIR CLASSROOM STUDIES. THE RACHEL LISI TICKET SUBSIDY FUND AIDS LOW-INCOME AND UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH SUBSIDIZED TICKETS TO PERFORMANCES.THE PATEL CONSERVATORY MUSIC DEPARTMENT BRINGS PROFESSIONAL AND AVOCATIONAL TRAINING TO STUDENTS IN ORCHESTRAS, JAZZ ENSEMBLES, ROCK BANDS, VOCAL MUSIC CLASSES AND PRIVATE LESSONS IN ALL AREAS OF MUSIC. OUTREACH IN ARTS EDUCATION: EACH YEAR, STRAZ EDUCATION PROGRAMS GO LIVE AND DIRECT INTO THE COMMUNITY, AFFECTING THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AN EVER-GROWING COMMITMENT TO ARTS EDUCATION. LIKE OUR PATEL CONSERVATORY, THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WAS ALSO IMPACTED BY COVID-19 AND SHIFTED TO VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING IN APRIL 2020. MONTHLY VIRTUAL PARTNERSHIP POP-UP WORKSHOPS WERE CREATED, A PARTNERSHIP ARCHIVE OF LESSON PLANS AND VIDEO RESOURCES WAS MADE AVAILABLE, AND MONTHLY PARTNERSHIP TOWN HALLS WERE IMPLEMENTED TO LEARN OF THE IMPACT COVID-19 WAS HAVING ON OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS SO WE COULD SEE HOW BEST TO CONTINUE SUPPORT THEM AND PROVIDING NEEDED RESOURCES.A ROBUST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND A FULL SCHEDULE OF SCHOOL & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMS PROVIDED AT NO COST ENSURE THE PROGRAMS AT STRAZ ARE OPEN TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. TO ENSURE THAT THE PERFORMING ARTS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THE STRAZ CENTER MAINTAINS OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT "TAKE THE SHOW ON THE ROAD" TO THOSE FOR WHOM A VISIT TO THE CENTER IS IMPOSSIBLE. OUTREACHES ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST AND MAY INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, EXTENDED RESIDENCIES, MASTER CLASSES, OR PERFORMANCES BY PATEL FACULTY, STAFF AND VISITING PERFORMING ARTISTS.