For Immediate Release
July 24th, 2026
Contact: Chad Jacobs,
Interim Marketing Manager
St. Petersburg, FL - Following the organization’s recent leadership transition, American Stage has finalized updates to its 2026–2027 Season that reflect its current operational priorities and long-term sustainability. In forging ahead towards building a stronger bridge to our historic 50th Season, we took the opportunity to revisit what we have in store for our 49th. Some shows have changed and some dates have been moved, but our dedication to telling meaningful stories that inspire our audiences remains the same. Subscribers can expect to hear from our Front of House team regarding the impacts of these changes.
Interim Artistic Director Anthony Gervais reflects upon our path forward in a new letter that can be viewed at this link: “As we build this BRIDGE TO 50, we reflect upon the groundwork laid over the last 49 years; a renewed commitment to our mission of presenting classic, iconic works of the American theatre canon; a deep investment in our local community, both through the stories we tell and the artists we hire; and increased accessibility through a new, sliding scale ticketing model, which will open our doors for new audiences, who may otherwise have been priced out.”
SEASON 49: A SEASON OF ICONS is a return to American Stage’s roots and a celebration of undeniable cultural icons, both real and fictional. This revised season retains A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, an intimate evening with the soulfully iconic rock star and her musical influences; MRS. HOLMES & MRS. WATSON – APT 2B, a comedic reinvention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective duo; and our American Stage in the Park production of SHREK THE MUSICAL, a melodious (emphasis on odious) return to the iconic ogre’s swamp. These previously announced shows will be joined by METEOR SHOWER, an absurdist comedy by the iconic comedian Steve Martin, and HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, an original cabaret that celebrates the iconic sweetness of the holidays with a dash of mischief and a heaping helping of heart.
In addition to our mainstage and park performances, we will be bringing FRIDA LIBRE, an uplifting story inspired by the iconic painter Frida Kahlo, to schools across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties for our annual School Tour. Performances run from October 5 through November 20, 2026.
Alongside this new season, we are proud to open our doors a little wider with ACCESS THE STAGE, a flexible ticketing program created to make live theatre more accessible to our community. Choose the ticket price that works best for you. Every level offers the same American Stage experience—the same productions, the same welcome, and the same night at the theatre.
ACCESS THE STAGE ticket levels become available when single tickets go on sale for each production. A limited number of STAGE DOOR ACCESS and PLACES, PLEASE tickets are available for each performance through the Box Office. CURTAIN TIME and SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT tickets are available online. Whether you are joining us for the first time, returning for another season, or helping open the door for someone else, we’re so glad to welcome you and yours to American Stage.
YOUR SEAT. YOUR PRICE. OUR STAGE.
$20 - STAGE DOOR ACCESS
A limited lower-cost ticket option.
$35 - PLACES, PLEASE
An affordable access option.
$60 - CURTAIN TIME
Our standard single-ticket price.
$100 - SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT
A higher support option that helps make room for others.
Looking for more ways to support American Stage’s journey towards our 50th Season? Join us at our annual gala—BROADWAY BY CANDLELIGHT: THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE, an evening celebrating Broadway’s greatest love songs—on October 1, 2026 at the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art. We are indebted to this community’s unwavering commitment to the arts and thank you for being with us every step of the way. We can’t wait to share this season with you.
Explore the full lineup below and get ready for another season of powerful stories, boldly told!
SEASON 49: A SEASON OF ICONS
A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN | September 16–October 11, 2026
The iconic soul—reborn.
By Randy Johnson
Directed by Celine Rosenthal
Like a comet that burned too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN is a sensational show featuring a musical journey celebrating Joplin and her biggest musical influences like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith. These are the women who inspired one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest legends.
New! METEOR SHOWER | November 4–22, 2026
The iconic comedian—revisited.
By Steve Martin
Directed by Anthony Gervais
Norm and Corky host a dinner party for their new friends, Gerald and Laura, to watch a once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower. But their guests are anything but ordinary—funny, unpredictable, and seemingly determined to unravel their hosts simply for the thrill of it. As the meteors streak overhead and cocktails flow, reality begins to bend, civility dissolves, and the evening spirals into gleeful absurdity. Part sitcom, part cosmic fever dream, Steve Martin's METEOR SHOWER is a razor-sharp comedy about marriage, desire, and the strange forces that pull people together—and tear them apart.
New! HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS | December 4–13, 2026 (Fri.–Sun.; 2 shows on Sat.)
The iconic traditions—redecorated.
Have you been naughty…or nice? This holiday cabaret celebrates the seasonal songs we all know and love. Mixing cozy classics with a little seasonal sass, this festive evening promises joyful performances from American Stage favorites, and a spirited sing-along that invites everyone to join in. Sweet, spicy, and full of cheer, this is the perfect holiday party for those who like their Christmas with a little mischief.
New Dates! MS. HOLMES & MS. WATSON – APT. 2B | January 27–February 21, 2027
The iconic sleuths—reimagined.
By Kate Hamill
Directed by Cory Kennedy Barrow
An irreverent, darkly comic, modern take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth and sidekick. This fast-paced romp re-examines the world’s most famous detective story with a bold new feminist lens. In this highly theatrical, small-cast escapade, oddball female roommates Sherlock (yes, it’s also a girl’s name—wait, is it a girl’s name? Is it even a name?) Holmes & Joan Watson join forces to emerge from pandemic fog as a deeply codependent, quasi-dysfunctional ODD COUPLE adventure duo—solving mysteries and kicking butts, until they come face to face with a villain who seems to have all of the answers.
American Stage in the Park
SHREK THE MUSICAL | March 31–May 2, 2027
The iconic ogre—reorchestrated. and his donkey
Music by Jeanine Tesori, Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig
Directed by Shain Stroff
Everyone's favorite ogre is back in the hilarious stage spectacle based on the Oscar-winning, smash hit film! "Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek…" And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand…and his name is Shrek.
SHREK presents a treasure trove of creative opportunities, including costumes, sets, puppets (there is a fire-breathing dragon after all) and more! Irreverently fun for the whole family, SHREK proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.
AMERICAN STAGE
American Stage Theatre has operated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in the heart of St. Petersburg, Florida, providing live theatrical productions as a professional regional equity theatre since 1977. As Tampa Bay’s longest-running, most critically acclaimed professional theatre company, its vision is to be a vital arts leader, connecting its community to world-class productions that celebrate the most powerful stories of the moment and the most defining stories from our past.
American Stage’s year-round accessible programming brings the power of quality live theatre to each generation. American Stage believes that through the telling of dynamic stories, the theatre has the power to unite us in our shared experiences and to deepen our connection to one another through the illumination of diverse perspectives.
Powerful Stories. Boldly Told.
Web: americanstage.org │Phone: (727) 823-7529│Email: BoxOffice@americanstage.org