Mahaffey Theater

Thursday, November 20, 2008

St. Petersburg Art Venue

Location	-	Downtown St. Petersburg
Features	-	Broadway Across America, Ballet, Jazz, Symphony, Exhibits, Demen's Landing, City Marina
Area Activities	-	Dining, Shopping, Boating, Fishing, Live Music, Walking
Parking	-	Mixture of Free & Paid Parking
Kid Friendly	-	Yes
Map It	-	Detailed Map & Directions
Address	-	400 First Street South, St. Petersburg Florida 33701
Phone	-	727-892-5798
Extras	-	Looper Downtown Trolley Ride
Conditions Now	-	Sunny, and 60°

Mahaffey Theater

Here is another of the new improvements, the East Atrium, with focus on the scenic waterfront views of the City's Marina and Pier.

The Mahaffey Theater at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts is being called by St Petersburg, as its cultural jewel on Tampa Bay. The newly renovated 2000+ seat performing arts facility is located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg at 400 First Street South, and features great performances, breathtaking ballroom spaces, dramatic lobby areas, and overlooks the Tampa Bay waterfront. It is a super venue, with facilities that include the Mahaffey Theater itself, the Grand Ballroom, and the Bayview room. It makes a great night out as you can walk to all the neat restaurants, nightclubs, and shops of St. Petersburg.

A Changing History

Now we see and marvel at the Mahaffey Theater and the Progress Energy Center, as we drive by it along St. Pete's waterfront. However, locals remember the old Mahaffey and attached Bayfront Center. These were originally built in the 60s, but local officials and people in residence wanted to redevelop them in a way to encourage better performances, increase tourism, and whereby architects could take full advantage of its waterfront location.

So the buildings were demolished, and the new buildings were built. The new construction included a colonnade and atrium to the exterior of the building, enhancing the views of the waterfront and downtown skyline. The design was patterned in such a way that patrons could not miss the beauty of the harbor, with the objective to make people feel that they had a great experience, even before they sat down!

Enter Progress Energy

Another big step forward came with the 2006 long-term pledge of support by Progress Energy Florida, resulting in the naming of the cultural complex "The Progress Energy Center for the Arts". In addition, expected by 2009, the Center will expand further with construction planned to house the headquarters of the Florida Orchestra and the Salvador Dali Museum. Additionally, the City will incorporate a large plaza area connecting the Theater and the Dali Museum. It is exciting, as things here are just getting better all the time.