The Players cancels plan for Lakewood Ranch theater, likely to return to downtown Sarasota
The Players Centre of Performing Arts has scrapped plans to build a $32 million theatre complex in Lakewood Ranch, and Sarasota’s famed performing arts organization now seeks to continue its 92-year legacy at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium.
The return of The Players Centre to downtown Sarasota would be a boon for the city following the recent announcement by the Sarasota Orchestra of plans to relocate from downtown to a property on Fruitville Road just outside city limits.
“Both The Players Centre and the city agree that keeping The Players Centre downtown is a win,” The Players Centre CEO William Skaggs told the Herald-Tribune. “It would allow us to stay connected to our long history here and build on the presence we’ve maintained for so long. We’re excited to keep bringing high-quality live theater to the region from the heart of Florida’s Cultural Coast.”
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The Players sold its former facility at 838 Tamiami Trail in 2018 for $9.5 million, in part because of the condition of the building and the amount of available parking. A plan was then put in place to build a state-of-the-art theatrical facility at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.
The theatrical facility would have included a 500-seat theater, a 125-seat Black Box theater, and a 100-seat cabaret, as well as educational facilities and flex space.
The Players Centre and Lakewood Ranch announced this week that those plans have officially been canceled, and the theatrical group is now working with Sarasota to potentially lease the city’s Sarasota Municipal Auditorium on North Tamiami Trail.
“Ultimately, it came down to cost, project size, and timing. In the end, this was a business decision made by our board and professional staff,” Skaggs said. “Following two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of constructing a state-of-the-art theater of the scale and scope planned for Waterside Place proved to be extremely challenging in the present environment.”
Skaggs said it is imperative for the organization to find a permanent home to relaunch its robust programming and continue its history of anchoring Sarasota’s robust performing arts scene.
Should the city reach an agreement with The Players, a proposed lease would have to go before the City Commission for consideration, Sarasota spokesperson Jan Thornburg said. If approved, she said the earliest The Players would move into the auditorium would be early October.
“We want our long-time patrons to rest assured we’re exploring the auditorium’s capabilities and determining how we can bolster the space to help us achieve the same standard of excellence we’ve maintained for generations,” Skaggs said. “This is an exciting opportunity and perfect fit for The Players Centre, Sarasota’s original performing arts organization, and enable it to maintain its legacy of accessible performing arts programming.”
Efforts also are underway to find a replacement use for the Lakewood Ranch property previously slated for the theater complex, likely in keeping with Waterside Place’s curated array of retail, restaurant, entertainment and wellness offerings, said Kirk Boylston, president of Lakewood Ranch Commercial.
“Now that Waterside Place is complete, activated, and more than 80% leased, we are in a much better position to attract a highly impactful and complimentary use that will serve our residents,” Boylston said. “We are just beginning the exploration process.”
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: The Players cancels plan for Lakewood Ranch theater
