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41-778: The Straz Center is located downtown on a 9-acre (36,000 m) site along the east bank of the Hillsborough River . As the second largest performing arts complex in the Southeastern United States (behind the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts ), the 335,000-square-foot (31,100 m) venue provides an environment for a variety of events. It has a leading Broadway series and produces grand opera, as well as concerts, performances and events. The center estimates that it has

82-724: A British map in 1769. At the time, the Earl of Hillsborough was the British Secretary of State for the Colonies , and thus controlled the pensions of the surveyors working in the American colonies , which included East Florida . Geological data estimates that the Hillsborough River has been flowing for about 27,000 years. It is estimated humans first made their way to this area 12,000 - 15,000 years ago. In

123-602: A United States territory . (1824) Construction of Fort Brooke begins at the mouth of the Hillsborough River. (1828) The Fort King Military Road (now State Road 41 ) is built to connect Fort King in Ocala with Fort Brooke in what was then the settlement of Tampa. A bridge is built to cross the Hillsborough. (1830) Congress passes the Indian Removal Act . The American government begins efforts to remove

164-476: A Washington Ball. (1923) The city of Tampa builds a water treatment plant to utilize the water supply from the water above the dam. (1935) Hillsborough River State Park is opened. (1933) In a torrential 24-hour rain, floods wash away the Tampa Electric dam. TECO does not rebuild the dam and turns to other locations for electrical generating plants. (1944) The city of Tampa completes construction on

205-476: A house and cultivate 5 acres (20,000 m ) for five years. (1843) The Jean Street Shipyard is founded on the Hillsborough River in what will be the neighborhood of Seminole Heights . (1846) The first ferry crossing on the Hillsborough River is established. This improves transportation and widens the growth of Tampa to both sides of the river. (1861) During the American Civil War , Tampa Bay

246-851: A rehearsal hall, retail shops, on-site restaurants and banquet facilities. The five individual theaters are Carol Morsani Hall (2,600+ seats), Ferguson Hall (1,042 seats), the Jaeb Theater (292 seats), the TECO Energy Foundation Theater (250 seats and the Shimberg Playhouse (130 seats). With the Patel Conservatory, the Straz Center has added 45,000 square feet (4,200 m) for its extensive education programs. The Conservatory features 20 studios, including two dance studios with sprung floors ,

287-477: A sound/lighting laboratory, technical theater workshop, rehearsal hall, costume shop , isolation/sound booth, black box theater and media arts/TV studio. During 2007/2008 the Conservatory served nearly 60,000 students with 2,948 classes, workshops and performances. In 2017, the Conservatory delivers outreach arts education services to 45 partnering schools and agencies in four counties. The centerpiece of

328-494: A statewide economic impact of $ 100 million annually, generates 100,000 hotel room nights a year, and has 110 full-time and 250 part-time employees. Attendance runs on average 600,000 guests per year. In 2009, the Straz Center officially began a new program entitled the "Broadway Genesis Project," which presents premieres of musicals and plays that might move to Broadway . In 2018 the Straz Center went under an extensive multi-million dollar renovation that included new wood floors on

369-540: A total playing depth of 50 feet (15 m) and a total stage width of 80 feet (24 m), plus orchestra pit and concert wall. This hall was named for Center benefactor Louise Saberton Lykes Ferguson. The wife of attorney Chester Ferguson, she died in 2016. The 292-seat Robert and Lorena Jaeb Theater is named for the Jaebs, whose gift to the Capitol Fund Drive in 1985 helped establish the endowment fund for

410-569: Is a river located in the state of Florida in the United States. It arises in the Green Swamp near the juncture of Hillsborough , Pasco and Polk counties, and flows 60 miles (97 km) through Pasco and Hillsborough Counties to an outlet in the city of Tampa on Hillsborough Bay . It includes 4 nature trails extending for over 7 miles (11 km), making it popular among hikers. The name Hillsborough River first appeared on

451-778: Is adopted, based upon SWFWMD's 5-year study that documented a need for freshwater over twice that provided by its original rule as challenged by Friends of the River. A minimum flow of 20 cu ft/s (0.57 m /s) is adopted, combining the original 10 cu ft/s (0.28 m /s) of Sulphur Springs water with 10 cu ft/s (0.28 m /s) added to the river from water stored in Tampa Bypass Canal. Minimum flow adjusted upwards to 24 cu ft/s (0.68 m /s) in spring months (April, May, June) when fish spawning activity occurs in restored estuary. Daily minimum flow begins December 31, 2007. The Hillsborough River

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492-408: Is blockaded by federal troops to prevent goods from leaving Tampa or from coming into Tampa. (1863) Federal troops march upriver to a location near the present day site of Lowry Park Zoo . There they discover a blockade-running steamer and sloop loaded with cotton. The ships are burned. The skirmish that follows is the only Civil War action on the Hillsborough River. (1891) The Tampa Bay Hotel, now

533-458: Is closed. (1988) The annual Hillsborough River Cleanup begins. (1991) Canoe Escape is opened and the owners donate canoes and time to bring the Hillsborough River to the public's attention. (1992) The Hillsborough River Greenways Taskforce is established. (1995) The Hillsborough River is designated as Outstanding Florida Waters . (1995) The Hillsborough River is designated as a Florida Recreational Canoe Trail. (1995) The Hillsborough River

574-584: Is home to many species, and several large bird rookeries exist. When local students reach sixth grade in Hillsborough County , they take a visit to the river for one to three days to learn about the ecosystem, watershed, and native Florida animals at a place called 'Nature's Classroom'. The Hillsborough River dam (originally built in 1895 and since rebuilt) at Rowlett Park creates a lake covering 1,300 acres (5 km ) and containing 1.6 billion US gallons (6,100,000 m ) of water, providing for

615-452: Is named a Florida Sesquicentennial Greenway. (1999) "Friends of the River" is created by local residents for the purpose of challenging the SWFWMD minimum flow of 10 cu ft/s (0.28 m /s) of Sulphur Springs water alone for the river's only freshwater flow. (2000) On the day after a massive Earth Day celebration at Lowry Park, highlighted by a "Flow-tilla" of dozens of boats from

656-536: Is permitted to withdraw water from the River during "high flow" times and under specific conditions. The Southwest Florida Water Management District, the agency required by Florida law to protect and manage the waters in the state, authorizes the permits. Broadway Theater Project The Broadway Theatre Project ( BTP ), or the Broadway Theater Project , is an training program in musical theatre for high school and college-aged students held on

697-557: The Henry B. Plant Museum , opens with a grand ball. (1897) At a cost of $ 150,000 an electrical dam is built on the river by Consumers Electric Light and Street Railway Company. The dam was located halfway between present-day 40th Street and 56th Street on the Hillsborough River (today's Temple Crest neighborhood.) (1898) On December 13, 1898 the dam is dynamited by cattle barons angry at the loss of grazing land. They tried three times. The first on January 8, 1897, shortly after construction

738-672: The Seminole from Tampa Bay and relocate them to a reservation west of the Mississippi. Tensions between Seminole and Americans continue. (1835) Seminoles burn the bridge at the Fort King Road's river crossing. Conflict continues. (1836) Fort Foster is established at the Hillsborough River crossing to protect this strategically advantageous position. (1842) The Armed Occupation Act promises one hundred 60 acres (240,000 m ) of land to any man who can bear arms, build

779-516: The Tampa Bypass Canal the aquifer is accidentally breached. (1979) The Hillsborough River is closed to swimming at Hillsborough River State Park and a swimming pool is built for public use. (1982) Lettuce Lake Park opens on the river just north of Temple Terrace (1986) The Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board & Technical Advisory Council is established. (1986) Sulphur Springs pool ( Sulphur Springs, Tampa, Florida )

820-643: The murder of George Floyd in May 2020, the center made a "commitment to anti-racism." The center promised "to do more to support the lives, art, stories and culture of those who are Black, Indigenous and Persons of Color...and to hold our institution accountable." The Straz suggests people read anti-racism books such as White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo and Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad . Hillsborough River (Florida) The Hillsborough River

861-475: The Broadway Ball, Best of Tampa Bay, Eggstravaganza, and a facility-wide Open House in the fall. The venue also is the annual host of the Broadway Theater Project and International Thespian Society ’s Florida State Thespian Festival. The center is the home to these resident companies: Straz Center has housed, and continues to house, a number of constituent organizations, including: Following

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902-555: The Cross of Saint Teresa". There is a plaque commemorating his exploration at Riverhills Park in Temple Terrace. (1772) A map drawn and sent to the Earl of Hillsborough , English Governor of West Florida, shows the river named as the Hillsborough. During the mid and late 18th century, Native Americans from the north, mostly Creek , begin to migrate to Florida. These immigrants become known as Seminoles . (1821) Florida becomes

943-460: The Hillsborough River in present-day Temple Terrace, Temple Crest , Terrace Park, Busch Gardens and the University of South Florida area. She calls her property "Riverhills Ranch", an exclusive hunting preserve where she builds a lodge and guest houses among other structures. She dies in 1918. (1922) The Temple Terrace Golf and County Club, located on the river in Temple Terrace opens with

984-597: The Hillsborough for the previous ten to 15,000 years. When Europeans first reached Florida, the area around Tampa Bay and all of the watershed of the Hillsborough River was occupied by people of the Safety Harbor culture . Two chiefdoms of the Safety Harbor culture, Mocoso and Pohoy , were adjacent to where the Hillsborough River entered Tampa Bay. Hernando de Soto landed on the south side of Tampa Bay in 1539 and passed through Mocoso on his way north. By

1025-524: The Rowlett Park dam to Lowry Park, Friends of the River settles its legal challenge with agreement with SWFWMD, City of Tampa and Robert Thomas of Zephyrhills Water to study the river for 5 years to scientifically determine exactly how much freshwater is needed to restore and maintain the river's estuarine function. Friends of the River had maintained that the establishment of the minimum flow of 10 cu ft/s (0.28 m /s) of Sulphur Springs water

1066-487: The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The Jaeb Theater's stage is 40 feet (12 m) wide by 20 feet (6.1 m) deep. The audience area can be configured to stadium or cabaret seating for plays or cabaret shows , as well as recording sessions, television productions, seminars and business meetings. The 3,500-square-foot (330 m) TECO Energy Foundation Theater dominates the west end of

1107-586: The campus of the University of South Florida , in Tampa, Florida , U.S.. It was founded by the Tony Award -winner Ann Reinking , under the name The Musical Theatre Project of Tampa . Students accepted into the program are referred to as "apprentices" and are divided into groups reflecting their dance experience, vocal/acting experience and age for more individualized training. Programs offered include acting, voice, and dance. Classes are taken every day of

1148-458: The complex which seats over 2,600. The hall's proscenium is 60 feet (18 m) high with a playing depth of 55 feet (17 m) and a total stage width of 120 feet (37 m). When combined with an 11-story high backstage area, the enormous Carol Morsani Hall onstage and backstage areas easily accommodate major productions of Broadway musicals, presentations by Opera Tampa , ballets and multi-genre concerts. A 42-ton concert wall can be lowered for

1189-592: The current dam, to be used for the purpose of containing drinking water for the city, at the site of the old TECO dam. The old Tampa Waterworks Company is abandoned. (1961) The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is created. (1960s-70s) The 14-mile (23 km) long Tampa Bypass Canal is constructed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). It includes a constructed canal and several concrete flood-control structures. During construction of

1230-566: The early 18th century the people of the Safety Harbor culture, through disease and slavery, are nearly exterminated. (1757) A survey of the Hillsborough River is done by Don Francisco Maria Celi , pilot of the Spanish Royal Fleet. He ventures up to the Temple Terrace area in search of longleaf pine to use as masts for his ships. He names the pine forest of the area "El Pinal de la Cruz de Santa Teresa" or "The Pines of

1271-467: The first floor of the Patel Conservatory. The room is two stories of open space with glass walls and windows on two sides. Blackout curtains convert the rehearsal space into a performance space. There is no permanent stage and all furnishings are portable for flexibility. The 130-seat Hinks and Elaine Shimberg Playhouse is located between the Center Store and the Jaeb Theater. Annual events include

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1312-401: The industry. Guest artists have included Terrence Mann , Ashley Brown (former apprentice), Charlotte d'Amboise , Ben Vereen , Gregory Hines , Savion Glover , Julie Andrews , Patrick Wilson (former apprentice), Phylicia Rashad , Stanley Donen , Frank Wildhorn , Neil Patrick Harris , Jonathan Groff and Tommy Tune . Students are housed in suite-style dormitories for the length of

1353-400: The late 18th century the watershed of the Hillsborough River was a land covered by a rich, old-growth forest . Bald cypress , longleaf pine , and sand live oak were hundreds of years old (and in the case of cypress, thousands of years old). In the mid to late 19th century to about 1913 the watershed of this old growth forest began to be logged. As a result of this lumbering activity, most of

1394-454: The orchestra and choral performances. The traditional horseshoe-shaped auditorium has continental seating on four levels: orchestra, mezzanine, balcony and gallery. Excellent sightlines combine with acoustics. The hall is named for Carol Morsani, who, along with her husband, Frank Morsani , is a noted Tampa philanthropist . Suited for plays, pop concerts and dance events, with a 40-foot (12 m) wide by 30-foot (9.1 m) high proscenium,

1435-646: The people voted to purchase the Waterworks plant. (1900) The Sulphur Springs ( Sulphur Springs, Tampa, Florida ) property is developed and open to the public. (1910) Hillsborough Bay is channelized to the mouth of the Hillsborough River with the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 . Up to 1913 the Hillsborough River watershed is heavily logged for its valuable cypress, longleaf pine and oak. (1911–1914) Bertha Potter Palmer ( Bertha Palmer ) (of Chicago and Sarasota) completes purchases of 19,000 acres (77 km ) bordering

1476-422: The project, typically from 8:30am to 5:00pm with an hour lunch break, and block rehearsals for numbers within the final showcase are from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Students not in block rehearsal continue with group classes for that time period. Throughout the project, guest artists often visit to have a question-and-answer session with apprentices and usually give a master class during the day to share their knowledge of

1517-494: The stages, new cooler LED lighting , and improved dressing rooms for performers. Judith Lisi was the chief executive officer for 30 years through September 2022. Greg Holland took over as president and CEO in October 2022. The center is named for David A. Straz, Jr. (1942 - 2019), a Tampa banker and philanthropist. He ran a losing campaign for mayor of Tampa in 2019. The performing arts complex consists of five distinct theaters,

1558-603: The supply of water for the City of Tampa. The Hillsborough River was immortalized in 1973 by author Gloria Jahoda in her book River of the Golden Ibis . With the construction of the dam in 1945, the portion of the River above the dam to approximately Fletcher Avenue is where the City of Tampa is permitted to withdraw water to supply to its citizens and those in Hillsborough County. In addition, Tampa Bay Water

1599-406: The trees within the Hillsborough River basin are now less than 100 years in age. The harvesting of the old growth trees altered the ecosystems they dominated. Trees such as water ash and water locust were able to quickly grow in the sun-lit spaces created when bigger trees were removed. The riverine swamp forest as it exists today has a much different ecology than the ecosystem that had existed along

1640-575: Was a politically expedient solution with no basis in scientific data. Findings of the 5-year study to be used by SWFWMD as sole basis for modification of minimum flow. (2002) Tampa Bay Water places a pipeline to the Morris Bridge Sink ( http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/projects/1001008567/ ) (2006) "The Hillsborough River Task Force", Temple Terrace, is created. (2007) Alan Wright, "Mr River", dies of cancer, December 21. (2007) "The Lower Hillsborough River Minimum Flow Recovery Strategy"

1681-494: Was completed. When the water is low, remnants of the dynamited dam can be seen. (1898–99) TECO buys the Consumers Electric Light and Street Railway Company and builds a new electric generating dam downstream of the current site north of Sulphur Springs. (1899) Tampa's first water plant is built by the private Tampa Waterworks Company. It pumped well water to supply the City of Tampa until March 6, 1923, when

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