The Players Centre for Performing Arts: A Complete Guide to Sarasota's Historic Community Theatre

The Players Centre for Performing Arts (also known as The Sarasota Players) is Sarasota’s first and oldest community theatre, dedicated to staging high-quality productions and giving locals and visitors alike a vibrant creative home on Florida's "Cultural Coast." Originating in the late 1920s, this non-professional theatre company brings together an extraordinary talent pool of local actors, students, and retired performing arts professionals to present musicals, plays, and concerts backed by robust studio training programs.

What is the history of The Players Centre for Performing Arts in Sarasota?

The story of The Sarasota Players stretches back nearly a century, to a time when Sarasota was still a quiet town of around 8,000 residents that swelled by roughly 5,000 winter visitors each season. Seeking creative activities that would engage their faculty, Fanneal Harrison and Catherine Gavin—the owners of Sarasota’s Out-Of-Door School—gathered a circle of friends to discuss creating a local theatre company.

In 1929, that vision became a reality. The Players began with 256 founding members who each contributed a modest $2 subscription. Soon after, the troupe secured a dedicated home at the corner of North Tamiami Trail and 9th Street. The original structure, constructed of pecky cypress and designed by noted Sarasota architect Ralph Twitchell, seated 246 patrons. It featured a welcoming lobby fireplace, a complete lighting system, and a deep stage that hosted decades of community storytelling.

Leadership through the middle of the twentieth century helped cement the theatre's cultural presence. Clayton McMichael served as president from 1939 to 1942 and later directed productions from 1948 to 1952. By the early 1970s, the company needed a modernized facility. Following a groundbreaking ceremony in September 1972, a new building opened on North Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) just off 9th Street and Cocoanut Avenue in 1973–1974, expanding seating capacity to nearly 500.

Generations of artists honed their craft inside that venue. Peter Strader, who grew up performing and working backstage at the playhouse, went on to lead the company as artistic director from 1980 until 1993. Over the decades, the backstage walls filled with hand-painted posters of past productions signed by cast members, while memorable milestones included original Broadway Annie star Andrea McArdle visiting Katie Locke during the theatre's 1995 staging, and a 1996 production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd starring Cynthia Heininger and Thomas J. Kelly.

In 2000, the U.S. 41 building received substantial upgrades, including modernized stage and auditorium lighting, updated air conditioning, acoustical improvements, new carpeting, roof repairs, and a refurbished rigging rail system. After longtime leadership under managing director and CEO Michelle Bianchi (who served for 10 years until 2018) and artistic director Jeffery Kin (who served for 15 years until 2021), the theatre faced historic changes. Following the early 2020 run of Head Over Heels, the building closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The property was sold and subsequently demolished as the organization initiated plans toward future homes, including fundraising for a complex in Lakewood Ranch and proposals involving Payne Park Auditorium.

Where is The Players Centre for Performing Arts located today?

Today, The Sarasota Players operates out of two key locations within Sarasota, maintaining an active performance season and educational studio:

• Performance Venue & Box Office: The Crossings at Siesta Key, located at 3501 South Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota, FL 34239.
• Studio & Mailing Address: 1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 200, Sarasota, FL 34236.

Patrons can contact the administrative and ticketing team directly via email at BoxOffice@ThePlayers.org or by calling 941-365-2494. The company has also staged off-site specialty events across the region, including performances at the Lakewood Ranch Polo Club.

What shows and series take the stage at The Players Centre for Performing Arts?

The Sarasota Players mounts an eclectic calendar that appeals to theatre lovers across generations. Known for full-scale musical theatre presented with live orchestra accompaniment, the theatre also produces drama, comedy, and concerts throughout the year.

The organization’s programming includes:

• Broadway Series: Full-scale musicals and celebrated theatrical titles. Past seasons have featured productions such as Hello, Dolly!, Sister Act, Singin’ in the Rain, Sweet Charity, The Fantasticks, and Head Over Heels.
• Plays and Contemporary Dramas: Engaging stagings of critically acclaimed works, such as David Auburn’s Proof and Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.
• Something New at Players (SNAP) Series: Innovative, unconventional, or contemporary projects offering fresh perspectives for local theatregoers.
• Summer Sizzler Series: Warm-weather productions, musical reviews, and cabaret-style entertainment, including popular reviews celebrating 1960s music.
• Specialty Presentations and Co-Productions: Outdoor community offerings (such as Sleepy Hollow) and artistic collaborations. The Sarasota Players is also a proud partner of Sarasota Jewish Theatre, having hosted productions such as Rhapsody for Golda.

What is the performance space and seating like at The Players Centre for Performing Arts?

Inside its performance venue at The Crossings at Siesta Key, The Players Centre delivers an up-close, highly personal theatrical encounter. Unlike towering commercial halls where audience members sit hundreds of feet away, the current space offers a small, intimate configuration where every row enjoys clean sightlines and immediate proximity to the performers.

The flexible space allows directors to configure shows in varied layouts, including immersive theatre-in-the-round stagings where audience members surround the performance area on all sides. Visitors frequently praise the setting for its clear acoustics, close-up acting moments, and detailed scenic design that draws attendees directly into the world of each play.

What education and community programs does The Sarasota Players offer?

True to its founding mission, The Sarasota Players exists not just to present shows, but to train the next generation of storytellers. The organization was recognized as the 2011 Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Cultural Organization of the Year by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, reflecting its lasting impact on regional arts education.

Operating through its studio facility on Boulevard of the Arts, The Players offers training for all ages, including:

• Classes and Workshops: Group instruction in dance, acting, and vocal performance, ranked among the premier arts workshops in Sarasota.
• Open Community Auditions: Auditions are open to everyone in the local community, giving aspiring performers, seasoned community members, and students the chance to share the stage alongside veteran artists.
• Mentorship on Stage and Backstage: Professional guest directors, choreographers, and musical directors work directly with non-professional performers and stagehands. Because many retired professional performers reside on the Cultural Coast, roughly half of the volunteers working on productions bring prior professional experience, offering rich informal mentorship.

Where do you park for The Players Centre for Performing Arts?

Visitors attending productions at The Crossings at Siesta Key performance venue (Suite 1130) benefit from easy suburban parking directly adjacent to the building. Reviews from audience members frequently highlight that parking is straightforward, free of lengthy city garage walks, and conveniently close to the venue entrance.

What should first-time visitors know before attending a show?

• Show Durations: Typical mainstage performances run approximately 2 to 3 hours, usually including a brief intermission.
• Concessions and Amenities: The venue features clean facilities, a welcoming staff of local volunteers, concessions, and a cash bar for refreshments before curtain and during intermission.
• Ticketing and Inquiries: Tickets can be arranged ahead of time through the box office at 941-365-2494 or via email. Given the intimate capacity of the venue, booking in advance is advisable for popular musical runs.
• Arriving Early: Plan to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before showtime to check in at the box office, grab a drink, and find your seat without rush.

What makes The Players Centre for Performing Arts special?

The Sarasota Players occupies a rare sweet spot on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It is an authentic community theatre where neighbors perform for neighbors, yet it benefits from Sarasota's unique status as a haven for retired arts professionals. Having former professional actors, dancers, stagehands, and musicians volunteer alongside local newcomers elevates the standard of production across the board.

Whether delivering an inventive comedy, a classic musical backed by live orchestration, or a community acting class, The Players continues to embody the community spirit sparked by its founders in 1929: bringing people together through the transformative joy of live performance.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts vs. a Home Musical

Attending a production at a traditional theatrical organization like The Players Centre for Performing Arts offers distinct rewards when compared with hosting an intimate show through Home Musical.

At The Players Centre, audiences experience the full craft of traditional staged theatre: multi-member ensembles, detailed costumes, custom scenic builds, live pit orchestras, dynamic lighting grids, and a multi-show season spanning classics and contemporary works. However, visiting an established regional stage requires buying individual tickets, coordinating schedules around set performance calendars, traveling to a commercial shopping center venue, and sharing an auditorium with hundreds of strangers in a more structured setting.

Home Musical offers an entirely different, private approach to live storytelling. Home Musical brings one-act, roughly 60-minute one-person musicals directly into living rooms, backyards, art galleries, churches, and other non-traditional gathering spaces. It is completely free for hosts to organize, relies on the host to assemble their own circle of friends, family, or colleagues, and actively encourages guests to film and share moments from the performance. While a private home musical cannot offer the large cast sizes, fly rails, or expansive orchestra pits of a community playhouse, it provides absolute intimacy, spontaneous connection, and an unforgettable shared evening mere feet from a solo performer.

Sources

• [The Sarasota Players Official Website](https://theplayers.org/)
• [Must See Sarasota: The Players Theatre](https://mustseesarasota.com/the-players-theatre/)
• [Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Players Celebrates Long History of Community Theater](https://www.heraldtribune.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/theater/2025/01/24/photos-a-look-back-at-95-years-of-sarasota-players/77697059007/)
• [Tripadvisor: The Players Centre for Performing Arts Reviews](https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionReview-g34618-d3832907-Reviews-ThePlayersCentreforPerformingArts-Sarasota_Florida.html)
• [Facebook: Sarasota Players Centre Review](https://www.facebook.com/groups/207276117428088/posts/756861945802833/)