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MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

502 Third Ave W
Bradenton, FL 34205



Review: SIX IGNITES THE STAGE at Straz Center


by Deborah Bostock-Kelley - May 13, 2026

It was empowering and absolutely outstanding from start to finish, the kind of night that hits with attitude, precision, and pure joy. The queens owned the stage, the vocals were unreal, and the entire production felt like a history‑meets‑rock explosion....

Review: Arts in Motion's Production of TUCK EVERLASTING at the IPAC


by Peter Nason - May 10, 2026

Imagine a rustic musical episode of The Waltons merged with The Twilight Zone....

Review: AN AMBITIOUS STAGING OF DREAMWORKS PRINCE OF EGYPT ARRIVES at St Petersburg City Theatre


by Drew Eberhard - March 29, 2026

DreamWorks The Prince of Egypt is a stage musical with a book by Phillip LaZebnik and music/lyrics by the great Stephen Schwartz. A retelling of the Book of Exodus, based on the 1998 DreamWorks Animation film of the same name. The story follows Moses on his journey from being the Prince of Egypt, be...

Review: HELL'S KITCHEN at Straz Center


by Deborah Bostock-Kelley - March 27, 2026

I walked in knowing only a handful of the songs, and it made no difference. Hell’s Kitchen at the Straz is driven by feeling, character, and raw honesty. The music meets you where you are....

Review: WOMEN OF RESISTANCE at New Tampa Performing Arts Center


by Deborah Bostock-Kelley - March 26, 2026

Women of Resistance at New Tampa Performing Arts Center is stirring, urgent, and unforgettable, blending history and artistry in a way that stays with you....

Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the Carrollwood Cultural Center


by Peter Nason - March 16, 2026

We forgive any flaws in the production because, with Patty Smithey as Jesus and Evan Lomba as Judas, it's triumphant....

Review: THE SHARK IS BROKEN SETS SAIL at JOBSITE THEATER


by Drew Eberhard - March 13, 2026

FADE IN: The open ocean, 1974. Filming is delayed...again. The lead actors- theatre and film vet Robert Shaw and up-and-coming Hollywood hotshots Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider- are crammed into a too-small boat, entirely at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical star. Alcohol flows, e...

Review: BRIGHT STAR Takes Center Stage at Manatee Players


by Drew Eberhard - March 09, 2026

Bright Star is a Bluegrass/Folk musical written and composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Its tale is set in the vast landscape of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains between the years 1945-46, and features flashbacks to the year 1923. The pair produced a Grammy-winning album in 2013 entit...

Review: A Night with Audra Mcdonald Delivers at The Florida Orchestra Gala at Straz Center


by Drew Eberhard - March 02, 2026

The Quintessential voice, the one and only Audra McDonald. Captivating the room and singing selections from Broadway’s Great American Songbook, totaling 15 incredible selections in a swift 90-minute presentation. ...

Review: HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION Presented by the Gator Lane Players of Land O'Lakes High School


by Peter Nason - March 01, 2026

It's a fabulous journey led by a fine cast and the legendary theatre teacher and director, Sabrina Hydes....

Past Shows

I Do! I Do!
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...

Love in Revue
Love in Revue
Feb 12 – Feb 14, 2021

Make your Valentine's weekend reservations and bring your special someone to the Manatee Performing Arts Center. See some of your favorite performers live in concert...

The Music Man
The Music Man
Jul 20 – Jul 21, 2018

By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is family entertainment at its best. Meredith Willson's six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy has...

The Lion King JR.
The Lion King JR.
Jun 22 – Jun 23, 2018

The Lion King has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world. The African savannah comes to life with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast...

Tony n' Tina's Wedding
Tony n' Tina's Wedding
Jun 5 – Jun 10, 2018

Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding is an "environmental/immersive theatre" event based on a traditional Italian-American wedding and reception, with warm and intrusive stereotypes exaggerated for comic...

Menopause the Musical
Menopause the Musical
May 22 – Jun 3, 2018

This hilarious musical parody staged to classic tunes from the '60s, '70s and '80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles. See what...

Nice Work if You Can Get It
Nice Work if You Can Get It
Apr 26 – May 13, 2018

It's the Roaring Twenties a cast of outrageous characters gather in New York to celebrate the wedding of a wealthy playboy. Things don't go as...

DraMature's Greatest Hits
DraMature's Greatest Hits
May 9

A variety show like no other. Featuring the talents of the Manatee Performing Arts Center's resident senior theatre troupe, DraMature. Come enjoy the hard work...

Godspell JR.
Godspell JR.
Apr 28

The original Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award-winner, Stephen Schwartz, and it took the world by storm....

Good
Good
Apr 5 – Apr 22, 2018

Pre-war Germany, it shows how a liberal-minded professor whose best friend is Jewish, could not only be seduced into joining Nazism, but step-by-step end up...

Teen Idol Contest
Teen Idol Contest
Apr 13

The Manatee Performing Arts Center would like to invite aspiring young performers to apply for the Teen Idol Contest. All teens ages 13-18 are eligible...

Little Women
Little Women
Mar 22 – Apr 8, 2018

Based on Louisa May Alcott's American classic, this Civil War story of love and family stands the test of time. Rating: G...

Baby
Baby
Mar 1 – Mar 18, 2018

Three couples work their way towards parenthood under three VERY different sets of circumstances. Rating: G...

Liverpool Live: Beatles Tribute Show
Liverpool Live: Beatles Tribute Show
Mar 10

Members of this group include past cast members of Disney Orlando. This group has played it all from corporate shows to sold out theaters. This...

The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Feb 15 – Mar 4, 2018

From the Academy Award-winning team comes a lushly scored retelling of Victor Hugo’s epic story following Quasimodo’s journey of love, acceptance and what it means...

Driving Miss Daisy
Driving Miss Daisy
Jan 25 – Feb 11, 2018

Driving Miss Daisy follows the relationship of an elderly white Southern Jewish woman, Daisy Werthan, and her African-American chauffeur, Hoke Colburn, from 1948 to 1973....

Gallagher Smash!
Gallagher Smash!
Feb 2

One of the most popular and recognizable comedians of the 1980's, Gallagher has to his credit fourteen comedy specials for Showtime, ran for Governor, and...

Nine
Nine
Jan 11 – Jan 28, 2018

Guido Contini is a wreck. Torn between his wife, mistress, and the star he needs to make a great movie, he runs off to Venice,...

Guys and Dolls SR.
Guys and Dolls SR.
Jan 17

Manatee Performing Arts Center's resident senior theatre troupe, DraMature presents Guys and Dolls Sr. Frank Loesser's celebrated musical comedy about rolling the dice and falling...

Celebrating the Children: Sarasota MusicaViva
Celebrating the Children: Sarasota MusicaViva
Jan 14

Sarasota Musica Viva presents "Peter and the Wolf" and other youthful classics performed by the Sarasota Musica Viva Woodwind Quintet. This program will celebrate the...

Sleigh Ride: Decades Rewind
Sleigh Ride: Decades Rewind
Dec 22 – Dec 23, 2017

Decades Rewind is an incredibly memorable & nostalgic show that you’ve been dreaming of! Featuring the top hits of the golden age of music (from...

Annie
Annie
Nov 30 – Dec 17, 2017

Leapin' Lizards! The irrepressible comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved musicals. Rating: PG...

Flowers for Algernon
Flowers for Algernon
Nov 30 – Dec 17, 2017

The compelling story of Charlie Gordon, willing victim of a strange experiment - a moron, a genius, a man in search of himself. Poignant, funny,...

Annie JR.
Annie JR.
Dec 9

Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, with a beloved book and score by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan,...

Divine Inspirations: Sarasotas MusicaViva
Divine Inspirations: Sarasotas MusicaViva
Nov 26

Sarasota Musica Viva presents "Divine Inspiration", a program of flute and harp repertoire. This refreshing program includes a variety of styles of music with interactive...

The Goldtones
The Goldtones
Nov 17

Florida's hottest Doo-Wop/Oldies Group singing all of your favorites from the 50s and 60s. Nostalgic street corner harmonies, just the way you remember them. TheGoldTones.com...

BASE Talks
BASE Talks
Nov 14

BASE (Business, Arts, Science and Entertainment) Talks is an outreach lecture series designed to enhance community engagement, add value to the arts and entertainment in...

A Little Night Music
A Little Night Music
Oct 26 – Nov 12, 2017

Stephen Sondheim's romantic 19th century waltz whisks us away to a weekend in the country. Rating: PG...

Sylvia
Sylvia
Sep 15 – Oct 2, 2016

The world of a middle-aged New York couple is turned topsy-turvy when the husband brings home an exceptionally engaging canine running loose in Central Park....

Decades Rewind
Decades Rewind
Sep 3 – Sep 4, 2016

Take a trip down melody lane with Decades Rewind, featuring over 60 songs effortlessly blended into unique medleys from the most prominent decades in music...

42nd Street
42nd Street
Aug 11 – Aug 28, 2016

When Broadway director Julian Marsh falls on hard times with both his health and his finances, he helms an ambitious musical as a final production...

The Wiz
The Wiz
Jul 22 – Jul 23, 2016

Dorothy, a restless Kansas farm girl eager to see more of the world, is transported by a tornado to a magical world of Munchkins, witches,...

Videos


M*A*S*H in Tampa M*A*S*H
Carrollwood Cultural Center (5/15-5/24) VIDEOS
O.A.R. at St Augustine Amphitheatre in Tampa O.A.R. at St Augustine Amphitheatre
St Augustine Amphitheatre (11/14-11/14)
Penelope in Tampa Penelope
Jobsite Theater (8/19-9/06)
The Queen of Bingo On 27 May to 14 Jun 2026 in Tampa The Queen of Bingo On 27 May to 14 Jun 2026
Florida Repertory Theatre (5/27-6/14)
Come from Away in Tampa Come from Away
MAD Theatre of Tampa (6/11-6/28)
Hamilton (Angelica Company) in Tampa Hamilton (Angelica Company)
Straz Center [Carol Morsani Hall] (10/21-11/08)
Lady Windermere's Fan in Tampa Lady Windermere's Fan
Carrollwood Players Theatre (5/15-5/24)
25/26 Bank of America Broadway at Straz Center Season in Tampa 25/26 Bank of America Broadway at Straz Center Season
Straz Center for the Performing Arts (9/16-5/31)
Schoolhouse Rock Live! in Tampa Schoolhouse Rock Live!
Carrollwood Cultural Center (7/17-7/26)
Showtunes Sunday at The Ball in Tampa Showtunes Sunday at The Ball
The Ball (1/18-6/21)