The Palisades Theatre of Florida officially changes its name to American Stage Theatre Company. The City of St. Petersburg condemns the American Stage facility. The local power company offers an alternative site which provides over 10,000 square feet for an intimate 130-seat performance space with a lobby, costume shop, rehearsal hall, and office spaces.

American Stage becomes the first non-profit theatre company in the Tampa Bay region to operate under a full contract with Actors’ Equity Association. The company is one of five original theatres in the country pioneering the Small Professional Theatre contract.

American Stage in the Park, also known as Shakespeare in the Park, is launched in the Spring, offering ten free outdoor performances of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. More than 8,000 people attend, and a community tradition is born.

The St. Petersburg City Council designates American Stage as St. Petersburg’s Resident Professional Theatre Ensemble.

Awarded Best Theatre Company by Tampa Bay Magazine.

The Florida State Legislature designates American Stage as a Vital Local Cultural Organization due to the theatre’s outreach efforts, community support, and artistic excellence.

American Stage is one of 13 professional arts organizations nationwide to participate in the National Endowment for the Arts’ Advancement Program.

It is announced that a thorough renovation and remodel will begin on the American Stage building.

Renovation of the new facility is completed, and includes the redesigned 148-seat space, a new sound system, new light board and dimmers; remodeling of the costume shop, rehearsal space, and courtyard; inclusion of a visual arts gallery; and an expansion of the lobby space.

Shakespeare in the Park adds an additional eight performances in Tampa at Curtis Hixon Park, following the regular run in St. Petersburg.

Awarded Best Theatre Company by the annual survey of the Best of the Bay by The Weekly Planet. American Stage will be awarded this title for the next fifteen consecutive years, during which The Weekly Planet is renamed to Creative Loafing Tampa.

American Stage produces August Wilson’s GEM OF THE OCEAN, embarking on an ambitious endeavor to complete Wilson’s Century Cycle within the following ten seasons.

Shakespeare in the Park presents its first adaption, based on THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, the Regional Premiere of THE BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS (Allen-Dutton, Catalano, et al.).

World Premiere: I LEFT MY HEART: A SALUTE TO THE MUSIC OF TONY BENNETT (D. Grapes/T. Olson).

Awarded Best Theatre Company by Tampa Bay Magazine, an award American Stage will receive for the next twelve consecutive years.

Awarded the Neighborhood Builder Award by the Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative.

The Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross presents American Stage with the Good Neighbor Award for having made significant humanitarian contributions in support of the American Red Cross.

American Stage changes a twenty-year tradition of presenting Shakespeare in the Park with a musical, the Regional Premiere of CROWNS (R. Taylor).
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Bank of America awards American Stage with the Neighborhood Excellence Award.

American Stage enters into a partnership with St. Petersburg College to build a brand new state of the art building in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. This is the first time in Pinellas County history that a brand new building is constructed for a professional theatre. Raymond James Financial acquires naming rights to the new theatre space.

American Stage Theatre Company celebrates its 30th Anniversary Season. Administration offices are moved into the new building.

Florida Premiere: BY THE WATER OF BABYLON (R. Schenkkan).

The St. Petersburg City Council designates American Stage as St. Petersburg’s Resident Professional Theatre Ensemble.

American Stage completes its first full season in the Raymond James Theatre.

Regional Premiere: KING HEDLEY II (A. Wilson).

American Stage in the Park celebrates its 25th anniversary with a production of HAIR, enjoyed by over 15,000 Tampa Bay residents. It is the highest-attended Park production in nearly two decades.

The St. Petersburg Times chooses the opening of American Stage’s new home in the Raymond James Theatre as the Tampa Bay art scene’s most important event of the decade.

Todd Olson celebrates his 10th year as Artistic Director at American Stage.

Named Non-Profit of the Year by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Regional Premiere: AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (T. Letts).

Presented with Watermark’s Wave Award for Variety and Excellence as one of St. Petersburg’s favorite local performing arts venues.

Presented with the PARC Community Service Award in appreciation of American Stage’s extraordinary volunteer efforts.

Presented with the St. Peterburg Mayor’s Top Apple Award for continued partnership with local schools.

Todd Olson celebrates his 11th and final year as Artistic Director at American Stage, before departing to assume the duties of Executive Director at the Columbia Festival of the Arts in Maryland.

American Stage Director of Education, Meg Heimstead is named Interim Artistic Director while Board of Trustees embarks on a nationwide search for the company’s next leader.

Presented with the St. Peterburg Mayor’s Top Apple Award for continued partnership with local schools.

World Premiere: THE AMISH PROJECT (J. Dickey).

Presented with WEDU’s Be More: Educational Outreach Award.

Florida Premiere: NUREYEV’S EYES (D. Rush).

Stephanie Gularte is a named the new Producing Artistic Director of American Stage.

Awarded the MUSE Performing Arts Award by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance.

American Stage launches the ASFWD: The Next Generation Apprenticeship Program.

American Stage Theatre Company celebrates its 40th anniversary season.

The final installment of the August Wilson Century Cycle.

Launch of the 21st Century Voices: New Play Festival.

Florida Premiere: “The Invisible Hand”

American Stage received a proclamation from the City for the August Wilson Century Cycle.

Florida Premiere: “Strait of Gilbratar;” first selection from 21st Century Voices: New Play Festival to be a Mainstage Selection.

American Stage wins the Be More Enriched, Greenberg Traurig Arts & Culture Award.

10 year anniversary of American Stage Improv.

Introduction of the Under 20 Passport.

Launch of the Emerging Arts Leader Fellowship.

Regional Premiere: “Vietgone”

American Stage is named Theatre Company of the Decade by Broadway World