Performing Arts
Theatre in Saint Lucie County & Surrounding Area
The pristine, beautifully restored, intimate 1,200-seat Sunrise Theatre, located in Historic downtown Fort Pierce, presents national touring Broadway shows, musical and comedy acts, ballet and opera companies with full orchestras, country stars and classic rock icons.
The Sunrise Theatre directly benefits the economy and quality of life in St. Lucie County by attracting visitors from other cities, counties and states. Also located within the theatre complex is the 220-seat Black Box Theatre, a state-of-the-art venue offering a variety of national, regional and local programming.
The Black Box is home to the Ft Pierce Jazz and Blues Society’s Jazz Jams every Tuesday night (Tickets only $5) and the home of “The Comedy Corner” (from the owners of the Improv) bringing top-touring comedians every 2nd & 4th Saturday night of each month (Tickets only $15). The Sunrise Theatre truly is the crowning gem in the cultural crown of the Treasure Coast.
Click for a complete listing of shows confirmed to date and membership information,
or call the Box Office at (772) 461-4775
The Saint Lucie Community Theatre, founded in 1973, celebrated it’s 45th anniversary season just recently, but its roots go far beyond that, having been first conceived by our own Wilma Cowles and established in St. Lucie County in 1949 under the auspices of the Woman’s Club of Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County’s oldest civic and cultural organization. Under that sponsorship, the organization, called The Dolphin Players, flourished for several years, performing at the Woman’s Club, at Fort Pierce Elementary School, and various other locations. Eventually, expenses overtook revenue and the theatre suspended operations for a time, but after a short hiatus the hard core of would-be thespians regrouped as The Fort Pierce Little Theatre and was in business again. Rehearsing in garages, upstairs over Warren’s Laundry, in the Historic Arcade Building where it survived a devastating fire, performing in Fort Pierce Central High School, where vandalism was a problem at the time, and in Indian River Community College’s Student Center on a home-made 7,000-pound portable stage, where the set had to be dismantled after each night’s performance and reassembled before each show. However, the troupe never lost its spirit.
THE LYRIC THEATRE was built in 1926 as a silent movie house and was operated until the depression when it was closed and eventually sold. Over the next 50 years it was bought and sold to various concerns and used in a variety of manners.
In 1978 the theatre was purchased by a non-denominational church and was used for their weekly services until they built a new facility, and no longer needed the structure in downtown Stuart. At that time, in 1987, a downtown redevelopment effort was underway. A group of community minded individuals, FRIENDS OF THE LYRIC, INC., saw THE LYRIC THEATRE, situated in the heart of downtown, and realized there was an opportunity to save a historically significant structure. With assistance from community grassroots efforts and grants, The Lyric underwent much needed repair to stabilize the building.
On November 12, 1993 THE LYRIC THEATRE was named to the National Register of Historic Places.
THE BARN is Martin County’s oldest non-profit (501c3) community theatre. And we are the only Community Theatre venue from Ft. Pierce to Jupiter. We present 6 main-stage productions per year, with 11 performances each. In addition we present several special events each year, many of which also benefit other local non-profits. Actors, directors, producers, sound and lighting technicians, set builders and designers, costumers, ushers, parkers, and all Board members are all volunteers!
Box Office Hours 12:00-4:00 PM
Built in 1973 on a 54-acre tract of land designated by the city of Vero Beach as a cultural park, Riverside Theatre was erected with $1.5 million raised solely from private donations. For the first few years of its existence, the Riverside Theatre building served primarily as the home to the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, the local community theatre group, and occasional bus & truck tours. In 1980, the Riverside Children’s Theatre (RCT) added education and programming for children to these activities, though it wasn’t until 1985, with the hiring of a full-time education director that classes and productions starring local children truly began. In 1983, the Friends of Riverside Theatre, a fundraising group, started the Celebrity Series with an appearance by Ray Charles, and this series, and appearances by celebrities, became an integral part of the Theatre’s programming.
Box Office Telephone: (772) 231-6990