Hyde Park Village Tree Lighting brings Holidaze

Each year over 4,000 people across the Bay area unite for the tree lighting ceremony that takes place in Hyde Park Village. This family-friendly celebration has become one of the most anticipated events to kick off the holiday season.

Children of all ages will enjoy a delightful evening filled with free cookies, hot cocoa, live entertainment, a special appearance by jolly Old St. Nicholas. Plus, the highlight of the evening when attendees gather around the fountain in the heart of Hyde Park Village for the magical lighting of the 30-foot Christmas tree.

The Entertainment schedule includes the Gulf Coast Girl’s Choir, America’s Ballet performing The Nutcracker, Cirque Dreams Holidaze and many more holiday favorites. The enjoyable evening will end with Santa’s special appearance as he sings the last song.

Cyber Monday 2010

We have Cyber Monday Savings on Nov. 29, 2010! One-day-only ticket offers!

Happy Holidays from the Straz Center!

Enjoy these one-day-only special ticket offers on holiday performances and some of the great shows coming up in the new year!

Use promo code CYBER on Monday, Nov. 29, from midnight to 11:59 p.m. to take advantage of any of the offers noted below.

Offers are valid online, by calling 813.229.STAR (7827) (outside Tampa Bay 800.955.1045) or by visiting the Straz Center Ticket Office. All offers are limited to 4 tickets per show title per household. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability. Service charges apply.

White Christmas Nov. 30 – Dec. 5 Save 25% off the Tuesday and Wednesday performances in price levels 2 and 3.

Forbidden Broadway ON STAGE NOW! 50% off all December performances.

The God of Isaac Dec. 2-19 Save 25% off all Thursday and Friday evening performances.

Fiddler on the Roof Dec 11 & 12 Save 25% off all performances in price levels 1, 2 and 3.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze Dec. 17-19 Save 25% off the Friday performance in price levels 2 and 3.

Straight No Chaser Christmas Cheers Dec. 21 Save 25% off all price levels.

The Nutcracker Dec. 22 & 23 $15 off all performances in price levels 2, 3 and 4.

Wonderland Jan. 4-16 Save 25% off Tuesday and Wednesday performances, excludes VIP and price level 1.

The Color Purple Jan. 8 Save 25% off all performances in price levels 1, 2 and 3.

The Improvised Shakespeare Company Jan 14 & 15 Save 25% off all performances and price levels.

Los Vivancos Jan. 26 Save 25% off all price levels.

Billy Elliot The Musical Feb. 2-20 Save 25% off Feb. 2, 3 and 6 evening performances in price levels 1, 2 and 3.

West Side Story March 1-6 Save 10% off Tuesday and Wednesday performances in price levels 2 and 3.

Jobsite Theater 30% off a mini-season ticket package ($68.60 + one $10 handling fee per order) which includes The Odd Couple, Yellowman, reasons to be pretty and The Taming of the Shrew. This ticket special is only available by phone or in person.

$10 off Cirque Dreams Illumination

Save $10 off tickets to see Cirque Dreams' newest creation, Illumination, when the show comes to the Straz Center for one week, March 23-28. The discount is valid on the Tuesday and Wednesday performances only. Just use promo code SOCIAL when ordering tickets.

Limit 4 tickets. Tuesday and Wednesday, price levels 1, 2 and 3 only. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability.

If you can't decide which performance, we might be able to help...

Tuesday has a special post-show talkback with members of the cast.

If you join us Wednesday, it's Broadway Family Night with special pre-show activities for the kids. Plus we have a different discount offer for families. You receive a free child's ticket (12 and under) when you purchase a full priced adult ticket. (Sorry, you can combine the offers.)

And the winner is...

Dreams do come true…Cirque Dreams Illumination and the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts have teamed up to make one aspiring local teen’s dream come true. On Saturday, Feb. 27, Tampa contestants auditioned to “Run Away with Cirque Dreams” at an open casting call at the Westshore Plaza. Today it was announced that 13-year-old Caroline Hamby of Tampa has been chosen to perform on stage with Cirque Dreams Illumination when the show plays at the Straz Center, March 23–28.

Caroline is about to experience her first professional showbiz opportunity. Cirque Dreams Illumination will mark her theatrical debut in a highly entertaining Broadway-style production. Jill Winters, Broadway star and Musical Director of Cirque Dreams, has written a song exclusively for Caroline to showcase her vocal skills when she performs live Thursday, March 24 at the Straz Center. Caroline will train, rehearse and be staged in a custom designed costume appearing alongside Cirque Dreams’ ensemble of some of the best athletes, gymnasts and artists in the world including So You Think You Can Dance phenomenon, Robert Muraine.

“Caroline’s vocal skills are unique for a 13-year-old and have enabled us to create a special role for her in the show” said Broadway producer and Cirque Dreams creator Neil Goldberg. “Her performance and vocal maturity will captivate audiences at the Straz Center as it did our creative team when she auditioned at Westshore Plaza. It’s just passing the dream forward.” Goldberg added, “I too was once that dreamer who imagined one day being part of a professional Broadway experience…now it’s Caroline’s break.”

Caroline is an eighth-grader at Martinez Middle School where she performs with her school choir. An excellent student, she recently applied for the International Baccalaureate program at Hillsborough High School. Her goal is to eventually attend New York University for musical theater. Caroline has been singing since the age of two and performs regularly with Curtain Call Theater after school. The “Run Away with Cirque Dreams” contest marks her first ever professional audition and stage performance.

Casting call for Cirque Dreams Illumination

The creative team from Cirque Dreams will hold a casting call, limited to the first 100 dreamers, on Saturday, Feb. 27, beginning at 11 a.m. at WestShore Plaza and encourage aspiring performers, acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, dancers, singers and anyone else with a special talent who has ever dreamed of performing in a Broadway show, to audition for their chance to perform with the internationally renowned Cirque Dreams company.

Each participant will have up to 2 minutes to impress the cirque experts with their skills. Performers requiring music should bring their own CD. In addition, performers from Cirque Dreams Illumination will be on hand to give a sneak peek of the show.

The winner of the “Run Away with Cirque Dreams” competition will be trained locally by the Cirque Dreams design team for their debut performance in Cirque Dreams Illumination (at the Straz Center, March 23-28) and will receive six complimentary tickets to their debut performance.

For more information about the audition, click here.

Don't want to audition but you'd still like to have some fun? The show will have special sneak peek performances, giveaways and activities & workshops for the kids.