Explore The Italian Renaissance At University Mall

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents will soon find they can do more at University Mall than just shop, dine and take in a movie. They’ll also be able to learn more about the Italian Renaissance courtesy of the opening of “DaVinci & Michelangelo – Titans Experience.”

The new attraction, which opens Feb. 17, is a museum theater exhibit and performance rolled into one. While the live performances will take place at set times, patrons of the 2200 E. Fowler Ave. mall will be able to walk through and interact with “DaVinci’s Magnificent Machine” displays before and after performances, mall officials say.

The actual shows will take place at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Friday performances are set for 7 p.m. Public shows won’t be available on Monday and Tuesday, but group reservations for special engagements are welcome.

“Museum theater” combines a traditional museum experience with a one-of-a-kind, multimedia theatrical performance. The exhibit “combines the interactive DaVinci Machines Exhibition and the Michelangelo: The Titans Experience multi-media live theatre production.”

The exhibit is something new not only for University Mall, but also RD Management, which owns the Fowler Avenue property and more than 200 others across the country.

“Hosting an exhibit like this elevates University Mall to a new level in terms of the experience shoppers can have,” Roger Hirschhorn, senior vice president at RD Management, told Patch. “It’s not often that you can immerse yourself in such magnificent art and history in a place as accessible as the local mall. The addition of this exhibit helps us set University Mall apart as a destination for dining, retail and entertainment and encapsulates our future vision for the mall.”

Mark Rodgers is the host of the performance and curator of the DaVinci Machines and Michelangelo Exhibitions for North America.

Rodgers is “unlike any other tenant we’ve worked with,” Hirschhorn said. “He has transformed the space into an engaging and interactive portal to the Italian Renaissance and we’re sure it will be a welcomed addition to the Tampa arts and cultural scene.”

Rodgers came up with the Museum Theater idea when the DaVinci Machines Exhibition was on display in Denver three years ago.

“The more I learned of these two iconic men and discovered their backstory, I started to integrate their life stories into the docent guided tours at the exhibition,” he explained. “We were always comparing Michelangelo and DaVinci, and to me it seemed like a natural step to combine them. When discussing the Italian Renaissance it is nearly impossible to talk about one without the other.”

Admission to the weekday shows is $15.95 for adults and $11.95 for children. Seniors, students and military pay $13.95. The cost on weekends is $18.95 for all seats. To find out more, visit www.discoverdavinci.com online.

Photo of Mark Rodgers courtesy of RD Management