Mahaffey Theater at Duke Energy Center for the Arts

Perched on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront with sweeping views of Tampa Bay, the Mahaffey Theater at Duke Energy Center for the Arts is the region's go-to destination for world-class live entertainment. The venue's calendar reads like a greatest-hits list of performing arts — touring Broadway productions, nationally known comedians, chart-topping musical acts, and The Florida Orchestra all call this stage home at various points throughout the season. The theater itself strikes a balance between grand and intimate, with excellent sightlines and acoustics that make every performance feel immersive no matter where you sit. Families will appreciate the Class Acts series presented by the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts, which brings professional children's theatre productions to the stage during daytime hours throughout the school year. The waterfront setting means you can arrive early for a pre-show stroll along the pier or plan dinner at one of the many nearby restaurants on Beach Drive before the curtain goes up. Whether you are catching a headline comedy act, a Broadway tour, or a Sunday matinee with the orchestra, an evening at the Mahaffey is one of the most memorable ways to experience downtown St. Pete after dark.