#boundless campaign

An Exclusive from INSIDE Magazine Fences weren’t part of the original design of Straz Center, and they’re certainly not part of the renovation.  Fences don’t play much of a role in our past and future but, boy, are they ever-present in our present.  Straz is undergoing a major multimillion-dollar renovation that includes expanding education spaces for Patel Conservatory, refurbished lobbies…

Twenty years since its opening, the Patel Conservatory is going strong and ready to grow. The Straz Master Plan will give the performing arts school a significant increase in space, and planning for its use is being addressed enthusiastically. “We’re picking out flooring, special mirrors, special soundproofing. Special features like this will really address the unique technical needs of our…

Several factors influenced Matthew Wolf’s decision to join the Straz as its new chief operating officer. COO Matthew Wolf. Photo by Jeremy Daniel. There’s the Straz’s reputation as both an entertainment and an educational facility, and the potential to grow both of those operations. There’s the city of Tampa itself, expanding economically and culturally, creating an even larger market for the…

It’s not true that Chief Operating Officer Lorrin Shepard has been at The Straz so long the center was built around him. Just part of it. Lorrin may not have been here for The Straz’s 1987 opening but he’s been here since 1990. If he hasn’t seen it all, he’s seen more than anyone else. The evolution of The Straz of his arrival into The Straz of his departure is a subject that astounds Lorrin,…