Conceived and arranged by
Rob Fisher
Book by
Rob Fisher, Sammy Buck, and
Garth Edwin Sunderland a live drive-in concert event
April 2 - May 9, 2021 book now Leonard Bernstein's New York Music by
Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by
Betty Comden, Adolph Green,
Stephen Sondheim, and
Leonard Bernstein
 Conceived and arranged by
Rob Fisher
Book by
Rob Fisher, Sammy Buck, and
Garth Edwin Sunderland a live drive-in concert event
April 2 - May 9, 2021 book now Leonard Bernstein's New York Music by
Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by
Betty Comden, Adolph Green,
Stephen Sondheim, and
Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein's New York

a live drive-in concert event

Music by Leonard Bernstein

Lyrics by Betty Comden, Adolph Green,

Stephen Sondheim, and Leonard Bernstein

Conceived and arranged by Rob Fisher

Book by Rob Fisher, Sammy Buck, and

Garth Edwin Sunderland

April 2 – May 9, 2021

presenting sponsor: Al May

show sponsor: Bill Ward

community partners: Judy Heintzelman and Cherie Willard

This joyous concert revue explores the music of Leonard Bernstein and the city that inspired so much of his life and work. From Bernstein’s famous friendships with Comden and Green, Sondheim, Robbins and Copland to his ascendance as one of the great American composers, this is an evening packed with beloved hits from shows like West Side Story, On the Town, and Wonderful Town.

Stellar voices, live band, and some of the greatest melodies written for the the New York stage make this a rousing celebration of the Broadway we miss so much in its current absence.

This production is staged on an outdoor stage with audiences experiencing the performance drive-in style from their vehicles. Combining live musical performance, audio storytelling, and multimedia elements, the audio for this performance will be broadcast to your vehicle via its FM radio. (We have discontinued use of AudioFetch app.)

Please note that admission is by vehicle (up to 4 occupants) and general admission within two sections. To ensure the best possible experience for all patrons, vehicles will be parked in the best available spot in the chosen section, based on the size of vehicle, in the order of ticket purchase.

Special “Solo” tickets are available the day prior to each performance for any remaining spots. These are intended to create a more affordable option for patrons who wish to see the performance on their own. These tickets are $35 (plus any applicable fee) and go on sale at 7:30am the day prior to each performance and may be purchased online or over the phone (during box office hours).

freeFall Theatre is committed to the safety of our patrons and artists. We have undertaken heightened cleaning procedures and policies to prevent the spread of COVID. We ask all patrons to comply with posted policies, including the wearing of an effective face covering if you choose to leave your vehicle for any reason.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find descriptions of upcoming performances?

To read a detailed description of any of our upcoming performances, you can click on the “Explore the season brochure” button at the top of this page or in this window. Alternately, if you look at the events calendar and select a performance, you can read the same description on the same page where you can see available seats to purchase online.

Explore the season brochure

When do you have performances?

For a full detailed calendar of performances and events, please visit our events calendar.

Visit the events calendar

How much do tickets cost?

Tickets to freeFall performances range in price depending on which day of the week you attend and if you are a member or entitled to another discount. Note that when logged into the website, any member discounts that you are entitled to, including waived box office fees are automatically applied and are visible throughout the seat selection and checkout process. Below is a complete description of pricing policies and available discount programs.

  • Wednesdays at 7pm and Saturdays at 2pm are bargain performances with regular price tickets at $39.50.
  • Thursdays at 7pm and Sundays at 2pm are mid-range performances with regular price tickets at $49.50.
  • Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm are premium performances with regular price tickets at $52.50.
  • All prices include a box office fee for non-members of $2.50 per ticket. We waive this fee for members. To see membership options click here.
  • We offer discounts for students, teachers, seniors, and members of the military of $3 off the regular ticket price.
  • Youth tickets (under 18) for all performances are $25 (plus $2.50 box office fee). We do not recommend bringing children under 4 to the theatre. If you have questions about age appropriateness of a given performance, please consult the show description or contact the box office prior to purchasing tickets at 727.498.5205.
  • We offer rush tickets for students, teachers, and members of Actors’ Equity Association. Rush is available 30 minutes prior to each performance. Any remaining tickets are made available to students, teachers, or AEA members for 50% off.
  • Season subscriptions and freePass flex passes are also available. Click here to see subscription options.
  • If regular prices are prohibitive for your budget, consider attending a preview. Tickets to previews are $25 (plus $2.50 box office fee) for all seats with no additional discounts. These performances are offered the first Friday night and Saturday matinee of the run. The theatre reserves the right to stop during these performances as they are final dress rehearsals in preparation for the show’s official opening.
  • We offer other programs to provide access to members of our community who wish to attend the theatre, but are experiencing financial hardship. freeFall’s tickets are competitively priced compared to similar professional theatres around the country, but if you would like to attend a performance and are unable to due to financial circumstances, please call the box office at 727.498.5205 to learn more about ways to experience freeFall’s work.

I'm a season ticket holder. How do I get my tickets to specific performances?

When your season ticket order is processed, whether online, over the phone, in person, or by postal mail, a series of electronic vouchers are generated and placed in your account. You are sent an order confirmation via email.

If you have not received your email confirmation, check your “spam” or “junk” folder in your email (every email account has one). If you still don’t see it, feel free to contact the box office at 727.498.5205 for assistance.

Regardless of whether you have your confirmation, if your order has been processed, you can simply log in to the website using your email and password to book your seats online.

If you would like to book your seats over the phone, please call 727.498.5205. To view box office hours look below or click here.

Please note: Many theatres have subscription policies that limit your attendance to specific days of the week or to specific seats for every performance. freeFall does not select seats for subscribers. YOU MUST SELECT YOUR SPECIFIC DATES AND SEATS. YOU WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY GET YOUR TICKETS IN POSTAL MAIL. freeFall allows subscribers the flexibility to attend any performance they choose. This means that once your season ticket has been processed, you must either select your seats and performances online or call the box office to choose them.

Can I volunteer at freeFall?

There is currently a waiting list for volunteer opportunities at freeFall. Volunteers are used primarily as ushers. If you wish to put your name on the waiting list, please visit our volunteers page and fill out the form. When we have a need for additional volunteers, we will contact you.

Volunteer at freeFall

What are your box office hours?

Tuesday 9:30am – 6pm
Wednesday 9:30am – 6pm
Thursday 9:30am – 6pm
Friday 9:30am – 6pm
Saturday 12pm – 3pm
Sunday 12pm – 3pm
Monday closed

If you call the box office during these hours and get directed to voicemail, we are assisting another patron. Your call will be returned in the order in which it was received. Please be patient. Depending on call volume it may take up to 24 hours to receive a return call. Also note that we are closed from Sunday at 3pm to Tuesday at 9:30am. If you call on a Sunday at 4pm, chances are you will not get a return call until some time Tuesday morning.

Remember that you can always purchase tickets, view upcoming tickets, update account information, etc. on this website 24/7.

ourSponsors

Click their logos to visit our sponsors, and be sure to tell them we sent you!

memberships

Theatre is expensive to make. Did you know that even with regularly sold-out performances, ticket sales only account for a little more than half of what it costs to keep freeFall's doors open? Professional not-for-profit theatres like freeFall rely on the generous support of theatre lovers like you to fulfill our mission. Become a member today.

SEE ALL MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

Friend Membership

$100
  • billed annually or $9/month
  • no box office fees
  • members only seating
  • listing in show programs
  • member discounts at local businesses
  • add subscriptions for $249 each

Bronze Membership

$250
  • billed annually or $22/month
  • all benefits of Friend level
  • 10% discount on tickets
  • listing in souvenir yearbook
  • recognition on digital signage
  • add subscriptions for $249 each

Silver Membership

$750
  • billed annually or $65/month
  • all benefits of Friend and
    Bronze levels
  • complimentary beverages at each performance
  • invitation to
    Season Announcement Party
  • add subscriptions for $249 each

Education

Education

We are always finding new ways to enrich the theatre-going experience and offer added insight into our productions. Lectures, talk-backs, and classes are offered throughout the season in conjunction with our performance schedule. Click CALENDAR above to see what’s coming up, or click the button below to read the latest news from our education and outreach programming.

LEARN MORE

Volunteers

Volunteers

Every year hundreds of dedicated volunteers provide operational support for freeFall. Neighborhood Ambassadors post thousands of posters and handbills. Ushers seat thousands of patrons. Technical volunteers help strike the set after each run. Without their support, the work of our professional artists and artisans would not be possible. If you are interested in becoming a freeFall volunteer, please fill out our online form by clicking below, and our volunteer coordinator will be in touch.

APPLY TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Actors

Actors

freeFall hires professional actors from all around the U.S. We operate under an SPT-6 collective bargaining agreement with Actors’ Equity Association. We hire both union and non-union professional actors. freeFall practices inclusive casting, often casting roles against gender, race, and type expectations. All talented professionals are encouraged to submit. If you would like to audition for freeFall Theatre, please attend one of our annual open calls. We also regularly attend unified auditions including UPTA, FPTA, and TTB. Click below to see upcoming auditions or to create an actor profile in our casting database.

ACTOR PORTAL

Costume/Prop Rentals

Costume & Prop Rentals

freeFall has an extensive stock of costumes and props, including furniture. We make our stock available to other organizations for rental. From other small professional theatres to schools and community groups, our affordable rental fees will round out your design. We have many specialty items from popular shows as well, including masks for Mr. Burns, a giant lit sign for Cabaret, and others. We are in the process of making our entire stock searchable online. In the meantime, please click below to send us a message, and we would be happy to help.

SEND A MESSAGE

ourMission

The mission of freeFall Theatre is to pursue art’s greater purposes and the transformative power of theatre – as a builder of community, a source of upliftment, and a builder of cultural legacy.

We will present a varied range of classical and new works that are bold, daring, and diverse. Our work will strive to be accessible, and we will present it in ways that invite, entertain, and challenge our audience.

We are committed to improving the lives of the citizens of Tampa Bay through our efforts to provide broad access to theatre that represents a high level of artistic achievement, and through educational programs that increase the community’s understanding and enjoyment of live theatre.

ourHistory

Founded in 2008 and resident in our current home since 2011, freeFall Theatre has rapidly been recognized for artistic and organizational excellence. In naming our very first production the “most memorable play of the decade,” a regional newspaper theatre critic said, “freeFall Theatre announced its arrival with a pageant so stunning, it marked an epoch in Bay area theatre history.” Since then, we have continuously exceeded those high expectations, winning more awards than all other area theatres combined. Operating under a contract with Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers, we are proud to have employed hundreds of theatre artists. Acclaimed by critics, audiences and our professional peers, we are a driving force in Tampa Bay’s thriving arts community.

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unexpected. daring. authentic.
UPCOMING EVENTS