Our Stages

The Historic Arcade Theatre is a beautifully restored 393-seat proscenium theatre and home to Florida Repertory Theatre, Southwest Florida’s premiere professional theatre company. Originally a Vaudeville house and a movie theatre, the Arcade Theatre was built by brothers, Harvie and Gilmer Heitman in 1915. According to local historian and writer, T.M. Jacobs, “the Arcade originally hosted vaudeville, including magic acts, local talent nights, and plays.” Florida Rep took over the building in 1998 after years of the building being dark.

The studio theatre opened in 2009 with The Santaland Diaries, but due to physical limitations, was only able to produce small, one-person plays — often with obstructed view seating because of a structural column in the center of the room. The renovated venue features larger cast plays, a bigger stage, up to 120 seats, a new lighting system, and assigned seating! Made possible, in large part, through the generous donation of Florida Rep Board Member, Arthur “Art” Zupko, this second performance venue is the perfect complement to Florida Rep’s Historic Arcade Theatre.