Manatee Performing Arts Center

Arsenic and Old Lace

Sep 3 – Sep 13, 2026

Get ready for a delightfully dark night of laughter with Arsenic and Old Lace, the classic comedy that has been entertaining audiences for generations. Written...

Almighty Queen - A Tribute to Queen

Oct 27

Almighty Queen has mastered the style of British rock band Queen. Featuring an all star band from national touring act's, they've successfully captured and blended...

Carrie: The Musical

Oct 16 – Nov 1, 2026

Prepare for a powerful and haunting theatrical experience with Carrie: The Musical, the electrifying stage adaptation of Carrie by Stephen King. Blending intense drama with...

Dear Evan Hansen

Oct 22 – Nov 1, 2026

Dear Evan Hansen is a deeply moving, Tony Award®-winning musical that has become a defining story of our time. Featuring a Tony Award®-winning book by...

Old Time Sailors

Nov 17

Ahoy there! You are invited to board the Sailorette and join the plentiful crew, 'The Old Time Sailors', for a night of footstomping, dancing and...

Anastasia

Dec 3 – Dec 13, 2026

Step into a world of mystery, romance, and adventure with ANASTASIA: THE MUSICAL! A sweeping Broadway musical inspired by the beloved animated film and the...

The Da Vinci Code

Jan 14 – Jan 24, 2027

Unlock the mystery in The Da Vinci Code, a thrilling stage adaptation of the worldwide bestselling novel by Dan Brown. Packed with intrigue, suspense, and...

Larger Than Life: The Definitive Boy Band Tribute

Jan 26

Featuring authentic boyband-style vocals, choreography, and pop energy, Larger Than Life delivers the ultimate nostalgic concert experience. Relive the biggest hits from the Backstreet Boys,...

Come From Away

Jan 21 – Jan 31, 2027

Come From Away is a critically acclaimed, award-winning musical that celebrates humanity, kindness, and the power of community. With a moving score by Irene Sankoff...

A Motown Revue with the Soul Sensations

Feb 9 – Feb 13, 2027

The Motown Sound is now over 60 years old but it remains current and brings excitement and unforgettable memories for several generations of music lovers....

Appropriate

Feb 18 – Feb 28, 2027

MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY Experience the gripping and darkly comic drama Appropriate by Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a powerful play that explores family, history, and...

ShaToby: Tributes to Shania Twain and Toby Keith

Mar 9

Celebrate the music of two country legends in one unforgettable night with ShaToby featuring powerhouse vocals, crowd-favorite hits, and high-energy performances, this concert experience honors...

Alice By Heart

Mar 4 – Mar 14, 2027

From the Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning creators of Spring Awakening, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, with co-writing by Jessie Nelson (Waitress), Alice by Heart is...

Paddy O'Furniture

Mar 16

An Irish Music Celebration Get ready for a night of foot-stomping fun and Celtic charm as Paddy O’Furniture takes the stage! This high-energy Irish band...

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Apr 8 – Apr 18, 2027

Step into a night of intense drama and raw emotion with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Edward Albee’s iconic masterpiece that has captivated audiences for...

Liverpool Live: A Tribute to the Beatles

Apr 27

The performers in Liverpool Live are truly exceptional entertainers. They have an incredible talent for delivering a top-notch musical experience. The music they play is...

Guys and Dolls

Apr 22 – May 2, 2027

Considered one of the perfect musical comedies, Guys and Dolls has delighted audiences since its Broadway debut in 1950, running for 1,200 performances and winning...

Big Fish

Apr 23 – May 3, 2026

Where Imagination Meets Heart - BIG FISH Will Sweep You AwayStep into a world of wonder with BIG FISH, a magical and deeply moving musical...

And Then There Were None

Apr 9 – Apr 19, 2026

Trust No One - And Then There Were None Will Keep You Guessing Until the EndPrepare for a night of edge-of-your-seat suspense with And Then...

The Elvis Presley Experience

Apr 7

A Tribute Fit for The KingStep into the spotlight and relive the electrifying legacy of Elvis Presley, the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll! The...

BRIGHT STAR

Mar 5 – Mar 15, 2026

Hope Shines Bright - Experience the Soulful Power of Bright StarFrom Grammy Award winners Steve Martin and Edie Brickell comes Bright Star—a sweeping, bluegrass-infused musical...

Paddy O'Furniture

Mar 10

Paddy O’Furniture: An Irish Music CelebrationGet ready for a night of foot-stomping fun and Celtic charm as Paddy O’Furniture takes the stage! This high-energy Irish...

Cemetary Club

Feb 19 – Mar 1, 2026

Love, Laughter, and Letting Go - The Cemetery Club Takes the StageHeartfelt, humorous, and deeply human, The Cemetery Club invites you into the lives of...

The Temps, Tops, Supremes & Smokey: A Motown Revue

Feb 10 – Feb 12, 2026

The Temps, Tops, Supremes & Smokey: A Motown RevueThe Motown Sound is now over 60 years old but it remains current and brings excitement and...

Fred Kletts Stand-Up Comedy

Feb 7

Fred Klett, an irrepressible talent whose clean, relatable humor has amassed more than 100 million on-line views.  Fred’s master story telling ability captures life’s hysterical...

Once Upon a Mattress

Jan 22 – Feb 1, 2026

Fairy Tales Were Never This Funny - Once Upon a Mattress Brings the Laughter!Think you know The Princess and the Pea? Think again! Once Upon...

Terms of Endearment

Jan 8 – Jan 18, 2026

Laugh, Cry, and Cherish Every Moment - Terms of Endearment on StageExperience a story that speaks to the heart. Terms of Endearment is a deeply...

Fleetwood Max: the Definitive Fleetwood Mac Tribute

Jan 6

The Sound. The Style. The Magic of Fleetwood Mac—Live on Stage!Relive the timeless music and electrifying energy of one of rock’s most iconic bands with...

Frozen

Dec 4 – Dec 14, 2025

Let the Magic Go Live - Frozen: The Musical Hits the Stage!The story that warmed hearts around the world is coming to life in a...

Hello Dolly!

Oct 23 – Nov 2, 2025

The Parade Is Back—And You’ve Got a Front Row Seat! Hello, Dolly! Returns to the StageGet ready to be swept off your feet! Hello, Dolly!...

A Jimmy Buffet Tribute by the Caribbean Chillers

Oct 28

Get Ready for a Tropical Escape You’ll Never Forget!The Caribbean Chillers are more than a tribute band—they're a full-blown island party! Florida’s #1 Jimmy Buffett...

Misery

Oct 16 – Oct 26, 2025

Brace Yourself for a Thrilling Night of Theater - MISERY by William GoldmanFrom the masterful mind of Stephen King comes a chilling stage adaptation that...

Terry Lee Goffee as Johnny Cash

Sep 30

Experience the Man in Black Like Never Before!Terry Lee Goffee doesn’t just sing Johnny Cash—he becomes Johnny Cash. With a voice that rumbles like thunder...

Gutenberg! the Musical!

Sep 4 – Sep 14, 2025

**A Comedy So Outrageous, You’ll Want to Applaud Twice - GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!Get ready to laugh until your cheeks hurt! GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! is a...

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT

Aug 21 – Aug 31, 2025

Don’t Miss This Epic Theatrical Experience - The Prince of Egypt: The MusicalFrom the creators of Wicked comes a breathtaking theatrical event that’s both timeless...

The Wizard of Oz

Dec 5 – Dec 15, 2024

Family Musical FantasyWe're off to see the wizard! This timeless tale of a Kansas farm girl who travels over the rainbow - only to discover...

Merrily We Roll Along

Oct 24 – Nov 3, 2024

Musical ComedySondheim's semi-autobiographical musical turns back the clock on friendship and the high price of success. Spanning three decades in the entertainment business, Merrily We...

Merrily From Center Stage

Oct 28

Merrily From Center Stage recalls a very specific time in 1981 when the legendary musical theater team of Hal Prince, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth...

The Fantaskicks

Sep 19 – Oct 6, 2024

A Romantic MusicalThe Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world and with good reason: at the heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical...

Anything Goes

Aug 8 – Aug 18, 2024

Set Sail for Laughter, Love, and High Seas Adventure as Our 76th Season Sets Sail with the Cole Porter Classic!Music, dance, laughs, and the age-old...

Disney's The Little Mermaid JR. Show

Jul 19

A hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages performed by our youngest stars.In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave...

Disney's Finding Nemo KIDS

Jun 28

Explore the big blue world with this lively musical based on the beloved Pixar movie featuring our young stars!Disney’s Finding Nemo KIDS is a 35-minute...

Disney's Winnie the Pooh KIDS Show

Jun 14

Disney's Winnie the Pooh KIDS ShowPooh Bear and all of his friends from the classic children’s books and animated film band together to rescue their...

Kiss Me, Kate

Apr 25 – May 12, 2024

MPAC is Sizzling with Comedy Magic this Spring! Kiss Me, Kate shines as one of Broadway’s most sparkling achievements. This is the winner of the first-ever...

MPAC Youth Education Presents CELEBRATE BROADWAY!

May 11

Come on along and listen to the great music of Broadway! CELEBRATE BROADWAY!Come join Manatee Performing Arts Center’s Spring Education Program’s performance as we celebrate Broadway...

Parade

Mar 7 – Mar 17, 2024

This musical drama takes place amid religious intolerance, political injustice and racial tension, Parade explores the endurance of love and hope against all the odds.

The Glass Menagerie

Feb 29 – Mar 10, 2024

A cramped apartment. A family struggling with its past. A Gentleman Caller who brings hope. Join us for Tennessee Williams’ astonishing play about dreams...

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

Jan 25 – Feb 4, 2024

The Hamilton of its day! Oklahoma! is the groundbreaking musical that set the stage for all that followed! It kicked off a Golden Age of American...

Crimes of the Heart

Jan 11 – Jan 21, 2024

Meg just left one.Lenny never had one.Babe just shot one. The Magrath sisters sure have a way with men! The Pulitzer Prize-winning show follows the story of...

She Loves Me

Nov 30 – Dec 10, 2023

Performance Dates:Thursday, November 30, 2023 from 7:30 PM-10:00 PMFriday, December 1, 2023 from 8:00 PM-10:30 PMSaturday, December 2, 2023 from 8:00 PM-10:30 PMSunday, December 3,...

The Drowsy Chaperone

Oct 26 – Nov 5, 2023

“A Musical Within a Comedy”When a die-hard theatre fan plays his favorite cast album, the characters come to life in this hilarious Tony Award-winning musical...

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2023

The story is a mixture of adventure, love, hate and sex. The audience is introduced to a newly engaged couple, Brad and Janet, who encounter...

The Rocky Horror Show

Oct 19 – Oct 31, 2023

“Let’s Do the Time Warp Again!”In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion...

Songs for a New World

Sep 14 – Sep 24, 2023

Performance Dates:Thursday, September 14-24, 2023Thursday, September 14, 2023 – 7:30 PM – 9:15 PMFriday, September 15, 2023 – 8:00 PM – 9:45 PMSaturday, September 16,...

Something Rotten!

Aug 10 – Aug 27, 2023

Welcome to the Renaissance!Two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway.Set in the...

Seussical KIDS Show

Jul 21

Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat, our narrator, tells the story of Horton, an elephant...

Disney's Frozen KIDS

Jun 30

Disney’s worldwide phenomenon is taking our stage by (snow)storm!You’ll love this fanciful and heartwarming stage adaptation of the celebrated animated film. Join Anna, Elsa, Olaf,...

Disney's The Lion King JR.

Jun 16

Disney's The Lion King JR. is the inspiring coming-of-age “tail.” The African savannah comes to life on stage with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast...

Sunset Boulevard

Apr 27 – May 14, 2023

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SUNSET BOULEVARDBased on the Billy Wilder film, the musical version of Sunset Boulevard is a tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition....

DraMature Presents "A Hollywood 1940's USO Radio Musical"

May 9 – May 10, 2023

Travel back in time with DraMature to the 1940's era of Bob Hope, USO tours, and radio plays. This show is filled with songs, skits,...

Annie KIDS

May 6

Much like its protagonist, Annie KIDS is equally full of pluck and positivity. This adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical follows little orphan Annie as...

Driving Miss Daisy

Apr 5 – Apr 23, 2023

This Pulitzer-winning play was the most successful play to be put on in the Bradenton Kiwanis Theater and is returning to bring this heartfelt tale...

COMPANY

Mar 2 – Mar 12, 2023

Sondheim's game-changing musical is a sophisticated and honest look at modern adult relationships.Robert’s 35th birthday has arrived and his friends join him, but they constantly...

Go Ask Alice

Feb 1 – Feb 5, 2023

Go Ask AliceA raindrop just splashed on my forehead," Alice wrote in her diary, "and it was like a tear from heaven. Am I really...

NEXT TO NORMAL

Jan 19 – Jan 29, 2023

An unflinching look at a suburban family struggling with the effects of mental illness. NEXT TO NORMAL is an emotional powerhouse that addresses such issues...

THE MUSIC MAN

Dec 1 – Dec 18, 2022

In River City, Illinois, the town was promised a marching band by a salesman named Harold Hill. What they dont know is that he is...

Pets! The Musical

Nov 9 – Nov 20, 2022

This critically-acclaimed musical review consists of 22 musical scenes dealing with the very special relationship between people and their pets. It's clever, user-friendly and suits...

Gypsy

Oct 20 – Oct 30, 2022

The Mother of All Musicals! The jewel of Broadway's Golden Age, Gypsy boasts an incomparable score, a brilliantly conceived book, and one of the greatest...

RENT

Sep 14 – Oct 2, 2022

La Vie Boheme!Jonathan Larson's iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our life in love.Set in...

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Aug 11 – Aug 21, 2022

Power, sex, ambition, greedIts just another day at the office in this classic satire of big business. Big business means big laughs in this delightfully...

TITANIC-The Musical

Apr 28 – May 15, 2022

Epic and majestic-with moments of heartbreaking intimacy-TITANIC-The Musical captures the triumph and tragedy of the hopeful passengers on the ill-fated Ship of Dreams.Based on real...

THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES

Mar 16 – Mar 27, 2022

You don't want to miss this musical that has gorgeous costumes, toe-tapping music and fantastic choreography! THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES stands out among musicals because...

CHAPLIN

Jan 20 – Jan 30, 2022

He came to America an unknown. He left amidst scandals and controversy. In between, Charlie Chaplin became one of the best-loved and most famous entertainers...

I Do! I Do!

Apr 22 – May 9, 2021

The story of a marriage is at the center of I Do! I Do!, an intimate and nostalgic work by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones...

The Long Reunion

May 26 – May 28, 2018

WORLD PREMIERE - Three friends from a seaside high school meet for a 25th anniversary graduation luncheon. Their lives have not turned out according to...

NINE the musical

Jan 11 – Jan 28, 2018

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Dec 1 – Dec 18, 2016

Back by Popular Demand following its sold-out 2010 engagement....