ST. PETERSBURG - An exciting and diverse performance schedule was unveiled during a preview of the season's highlights Thursday, August 24, in the east atrium at the newly renovated center.
The $20-million investment in the facility by the city of St. Petersburg, combined with a 20-year $5-million commitment from Progress Energy Florida, has raised expectations among area theater enthusiasts hungering for Mahaffey's upcoming performing arts presentations.
The 2,030-seat performing arts center is located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg overlooking Tampa Bay.
In addition to a coffee bar and high end wine bar, Mahaffey Gourmet, the theater's preferred restaurant program, is offered to make nights of theater an unforgettable five-star experience.
The art organization's exciting programming for 2006-07 should dazzle those with a taste for the arts.
Holiday performances unique to the Mahaffey Theater at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts will include: Moscow Ballet's presentation of The Great Russian Nutcracker, featuring the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, December 8 & 9; Class Acts Merry Chriskwanzanukah! on December 9 and Reed Production's Chocolate Nutcracker, December 22 & 23.
The lineup also features several exciting popular entertainers. Those presented by Progress Energy are: An Evening with Betty Buckley, Broadway and More!, October 15; Aaron Neville, October 1; and Asleep At the Wheel In Concert, October 17.
The St. Petersburg Times will present The President's Own United States Marine Band, November 3.
And appearing for the first time: The Cleveland Orchestra, March 12; The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, performing The Mikado, November 25 & 26; and the Trisha Brown Dance Company, March 2.
Returning attractions are: The Florida Orchestra presenting an exclusive performance of Van Cliburn Plays Tchaikovsky, September 25, (only at Mahaffey); The Florida Orchestra and The Sarasota Opera Association, Inc. presenting Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly, March 9 & 11 (only at Mahaffey).
Other performances by The Florida Orchestra include: The Lord of the Rings Symphony for Orchestra, Feb. 21 & 22; A Night on the Red Carpet, September 30; and Arturo Sandoval in Concert, January 6.
Additionally the Florida Orchestra and The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay will present Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, December 16.
Other diverse performances will be featured: Class Acts presentation of the Golden Dragon Acrobats, January 21; Einhorn's Voices of Light with Carl Th. Dreyer's film The Passion of Joan of Arc, presented by The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay May 4 & 5; The Tampa Bay Symphony's Rising Stars on October 27, Made in America, February 23, and the 'Young Artists' Competition Winner - Spring Series, April 27.
According to SMG, the management group for the theater, as the 2006 - 2007 performance season unfolds, events will continuously be added to the event schedule. Patrons and supporters of the theater are encouraged to find the complete calendar of events and latest information online at the theater's website: www.mahaffeytheater.com.
Sabrina Anico, Director of Marketing for SMG announced, "Patrons who sign up to the email list will benefit from exclusive pre-sale offers, ticket discounts, and the latest in what's happening at the theater."
For the Box Office call 727-892-5767.