American Stage Theatre Company

American Stage is an esteemed professional theatre company based in the Tampa Bay area, renowned for its commitment to producing powerful and compelling stories. Established in 1977 as The Palisades Theatre of Florida, American Stage has a rich history of engaging the community through high-quality live theatre. Initially residing at Florida Presbyterian College, now Eckerd College, in St. Petersburg, Florida, the organization focused on theatre for students and educators, including an annual School Tour. In 1979, with the support of The Junior League of St. Petersburg, American Stage transformed an old cinema house in downtown St. Petersburg into a 179-seat performance space, launching its five-play Mainstage subscription series. The company underwent a significant change in 1984 when The Palisades Theatre of Florida officially became American Stage Theatre Company. This period also saw the company's relocation to a new site provided by the local power company, which included a 130-seat performance space, a lobby, costume shop, rehearsal hall, and office spaces. American Stage has the distinction of being the first non-profit theatre company in the Tampa Bay region to operate under a full contract with Actors' Equity Association, starting in 1985. The following year, the company initiated American Stage in the Park, also known as Shakespeare