Sarasota’s oldest community theater will soon move into Lakewood Ranch. The Players Theatre announced at a special event at Michael’s Wine Cellar that it would sell its property downtown and rebrand as the Players Centre for Performing Arts while becoming the chief arts and entertainment venue at Schroeder Manatee Ranch’s Waterside Development in Lakewood Ranch.

“We are very excited about the opportunity Schroeder Manatee Ranch is providing to us,” said Players Managing Director Michelle Bianchi Pingel. “This project has been in the works for over a year and will position the theatre for continued growth and sustainability for the next 100 years. We have outgrown our existing facility in regards to both audience capacity and in our aspirations to provide a wealth of beneficial programs. This opportunity is directly aligned with our mission to continue growing—and it makes sense.” 

The Players launched a $25-million capital campaign and has plans now for a 480-seat main stage auditorium and balcony seating, a 125-seat black box theater, a 100-seat cabaret stage and a campus for the Arnold Simonsen Players Studio, the organization’s education arm. “This is our opportunity to produce multiple shows at once, attract new patrons and students to the area, and better accommodate our future needs,” said Artistic Director Jeffery Kin. “There will be ample parking for audiences and additional space for our growing performing arts studio.”