Players Centre Moves Into Siesta Key Mall Temporarily

SARASOTA, FL — The Players Centre for Performing Arts will move into a Siesta Key mall temporarily to host indoor performances, according to a news release from the theater.

The new venue is in The Crossings at Siesta Key — formerly the Westfield Siesta Key mall — located at 3501 South Tamiami Trail in Suite 1130, behind Conners Steak & House.

The new venue, dubbed “1130” by the theater, will house the Players Centre until construction of its new performing arts center at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch is completed.

The COVID-19 pandemic prematurely closed the Players Centre’s 90th season, including the cancellation of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes,” David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Rabbit Hole,” the remainder of the concert series, the entire Summer Sizzler series, and forced classes and performances for the Players Studio to take place online.

To keep patrons and volunteer actors safe, TPC completely moved its 91st season outside, the theater said. In October 2020, The Players Centre became one of the first performing arts organizations in Sarasota to begin producing shows after quarantine, with “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” at the Sarasota Polo Club.

At that time, The Players Centre also moved from its home at 838 N. Tamiami Trail in downtown Sarasota to The Players Studio at 1400 Blvd. of the Arts. Classes have continued in person since the fall, and those outdoor performances began to sell out at venues like Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime, the theater said.

After producing successfully outdoors throughout the 91st season, TPC is looking forward to bringing the comfort and stability of indoor performances to patrons, the theater said. The venue features nearby restaurants and convenient parking.

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“We at The Players could not be more excited about the possibilities presented by this space. With the recent demolition of our former theatre, it seems almost serendipitous that we are starting to unveil the future,” Players Centre CEO William Skaggs said. “This venue will allow us to bring audiences out of the elements and back to an indoor setting. There are so many amazing things on the horizon, and we’re excited to take the community along with us.”

The 92nd season will be announced in July and will be held in the 1130 space. That series will begin in October and will contain shows appealing to a wide variety of audiences. Outdoor performances will continue as a separate series, and virtual offerings will continue where rights allow.