STRAZ CENTER FORMS ALLIANCE

THE NEDERLANDER ORGANIZATION AND STRAZ CENTER FORM ALLIANCE

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Tampa, Fla. – The Nederlander Organization of New York and the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa announced today that they will join forces to present the finest Broadway shows in the Tampa Bay area.

Both organizations have long and successful histories and together will continue the impressive growth of Broadway at the Straz Center.

The Nederlander Organization is one of the largest theater owners and producers on Broadway, as well as one of the largest Broadway presenters in the nation.

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2012-2013, the Straz Center is the largest performing arts center south of the Kennedy Center and the largest cultural organization and Broadway presenter in Florida. Its Carol Morsani Hall was ranked in top five most-attended venues in the world under 5,000 seats for the past decade by Billboard magazine.

"I am thrilled by this association with this outstanding organization,” said Judy Lisi, the president and CEO of the Straz Center. "Together we can continue the impressive growth of Broadway shows for our audiences."

Lisi said the new association would involve both pre-Broadway and post-Broadway bookings, as well as advice and consultation on Broadway shows still in development.

The Straz Center presents an annual touring Broadway season, the Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay series. The 12-13 season includes War Horse, Jekyll & Hyde, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Flashdance, Wicked, Green Day’s American Idiot, Sister Act, Anything Goes and more.

“As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nederlander organization, we could not be more proud to be associated with an organization as great as the Straz Center,” said James L. Nederlander, president of the Nederlander Organization. “We look forward to our continued growth together”

Opening in 1987, the Straz Center consists of five theaters, three restaurants and the Patel Conservatory. The 335,000 square-foot facility provides an environment for a wide variety of world-class events. In addition to hosting one of the nation’s leading Broadway series’ the Straz Center and is nationally respected for presenting a wide variety of concerts, performances and events and for its resident company Opera Tampa. For more information about the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, and its upcoming events, please visit www.strazcenter.org.