About FPTA

Inherit the Wind, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Photographer, Sorcha Augustine

Mission and Purpose

At Florida Professional Theatre Association (FPTA), we have been dedicated to strengthening and advancing Florida’s professional theatre industry since 1981. Our goal is to foster collaboration, ensure theatre professionals are recognized and fairly compensated, and support high-quality productions that educate, challenge, and entertain. We also provides essential resources for theatre companies, helping them grow and adapt to our ever-evolving industry.

FPTA is a network of professional theatres across florida.png

Our mission is to develop and foster a strong, statewide network of nonprofit professional theatre companies, theatre professionals, and theatre audiences so that theatre can grow as an art and theatre professionals can be recognized, respected, and compensated for their professional talents and abilities. This cooperative spirit and effort assures the highest quality theatre productions, which have the capabilities of educating, stimulating, challenging, and entertaining a wide spectrum of Florida children, adults, and tourists.

The primary purpose of FPTA is to have a mechanism for the regular exchange of views on the profession of theatre and the needs and goals of individual theatre companies. We strive to constantly adapt to meet the needs of the ever-changing Florida professional theatre industry, and serve as a resource to our member theatres and emerging organizations in the areas of management, development, subscription, and operations.

History of FPTA

On April 15, 1981, the executive artistic and management staff of nine Florida non-profit professional theatre companies met in Tallahassee at the invitation and initiative of Sherron Long, a previous Florida Division of Cultural Affairs staff member. Later that year, representatives from professional non-profit theatre companies would gather at three meetings to discuss and finalize the needs of a group of Florida's not-for-profit professional theatre companies, and the Florida Professional Theatre Association (FPTA) was formed.

Since its founding in 1981, Sherron Long managed FPTA's many projects and services for over forty-two years. Upon Ms. Long's retirement, a transitional FPTA team was established to allow FPTA to continue to meet its existing and developing services.

39 annual statewide professional theatre auditions for Equity and professional Non-Equity actors and companies that want to recruit them for upcoming productions

Created a statewide database/directory of theatre professionals (actors, directors, designers, choreographers, administrators, etc.) who can register for free and post their professional résumé, sample audition videos, etc. Florida professional theatre companies' staff members have access to this database to assist them in securing qualified theatre professionals for upcoming productions and their companies. New registration opportunities coming soon.

Monthly face-to-face conference calls with Florida professional theatre companies' staff members

3 statewide DEI listening conversations to share and strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives throughout Florida's professional theatre community

Various discounts for both company and individual FPTA members

3 artistic directors' workshops/planning retreats

1 managing directors' workshop/planning retreat

2 major statewide professional theatre conferences (Boca Raton in 1986 and in St. Petersburg in 1988)

Business administration workshops and networking sessions

30 years of various professional workshops for actors

1 professional directing workshop for Florida high school drama teachers in cooperation with the Florida Association for Theatre Education

2 television specials on professional theatre in Florida in cooperation with Palm Beach County PBS station

1 management workshop for professional theatre and dance companies in cooperation with the former FEDAPT

1 statewide professional theatre critics' symposium

Establishment of the Fallon Award, Vic Award, and Brad Award presented at FPTA's annual statewide auditions, workshops, and job placement opportunities

Various statewide directories -- both in print and online

Member companies' seasons -- in print and online

Ongoing communications -- both in print and online

Individual memberships for theatre professionals (available again soon)

Clearinghouse of information on Florida professional nonprofit theatre companies

Meet FPTA's Board Members

Florida Repertory Theatre

Jason Parrish

Urbanite Theatre

Summer Wallace

Hippodrome Theatre

Stephanie Lynge

Fantasy Theatre Factory

Rommel Arellan-Marinas