freefall theatre

Incredible version of The Christmas Story.Theater is very small with seating for around 100. Every seat is good and close to the action. The acting was superb.

Just watched the performance of "A Christmas Carol". We will be back. The actors are outstanding and the performance was top notch. SMR - Sarasota

Went to see A Christmas Carol last night and it was stunning. Very small theater with seating that makes you feel you are on stage with the actors. The sets are minimal and shows that you don't need elaborate sets or special effects when you have outstanding performers.This was a pleasant surprise and we will be back for other shows even though we live about 60 miles north.Thanks Freefall for kicking off our holiday season and getting us into the Christmas spirit!

You can't beat the shows, talent and setting in this local theatre that has a good price. Have been very pleased with all the shows I have seen as well as one-time shows or fundraisers.

We are lucky to have two fantastic professional theaters in St. Petersburg. Freefall theater always puts their own mark on their productions. I highly recommend anything they do.

Saw One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest -- was very intense! Actors were excellent, set up with the performance in the middle of the venue was like being onstage.... Loved It

So far, I've seen two productions at the Freefall Theatre: "Cabaret" (2012) and "Into the Woods" (2014). I've seen "Cabaret" live previously (not to mention having watched the movie numerous times), and it took me a while to get into the unique production of it by the Freefall Theatre. (I wanted razamatazz at the very beginning the way that Joel Grey did it and how I'd seen it done previously at the Showplace Dinner Theater in Hudson, and I was disappointed to be greeted by a very old creaky man who opened the show.) Okay, I admit, it took me a while to understand that the Freefall Theatre was taking the basic storyline and creating something new from it, and that's what the Freefall Theatre does and does extremely well. Otherwise, why not just go see some high-school production that's just a shadow of the movie, or better yet, just watch the movie itself? And I have to say that playing down the Sally Bowles character was the best thing--the ONLY thing, really--for the Freefall Theatre (or any theater, for that matter) to do. Clearly, Liza Minnelli (whom I've met several times--really) owns that role--always has and always will (well, I admit that "always" is a very long time), so it takes a courageous soul to take on that part at all (which was performed by a blonde--but even with the change in hair color, I couldn't forget Liza in the role--the actress could have had purple hair with pink polka dots, and I'd still think of Liza, or the actress could have been bald, and I'd STILL think of Liza). At any rate, I ended up raving to my friends about the Freefall Theatre production of "Cabaret," and they went to see it and loved it, too.Regarding "Into the Woods," I've never seen that show before, so thankfully, I had no frame of reference or expectations whatsoever going into it. I don't read the theater reviews in the Tampa Bay Times anymore now that John Fleming has retired because Stephanie Hayes, who is doing an extremely poor job at filling John's shoes (I hope someone at the Times will do something about her) that I avoid her reviews at all costs. Example: In Hayes' review of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (another production by the Freefall Theatre), she included a SPOILER ("sooner or later you'll realize that . . . ."). HELLO, Stephanie! Don't tell me what I'm going to realize! Let me realize it on my own! Don't take the fun out of it for me before I've seen it myself! It was awful form on the part of Hayes, who badly needs some immediate and intensive training, it seems to me, if she is to remain the theater critic (and even with training from the Poynter Institute, I doubt that Hayes is up to the job)--and doesn't she review food as well? What is going on at the Tampa Bay Times that such rubbish such as that written by Hayes is allowed to appear in the paper? Most of the people I talk with agree that the high quality set by the St. Petersburg Times is not being replicated by the new version of the paper, and it shows in Hayes' reviews.Anyway, at the very beginning of "Into the Woods," I said to myself, "uh-oh--I don't think I'm going to like it." The shrieking of Little Red Riding Hood initially put me off, and during the entire production, I never did warm up to the Witch at all, even when she evolved from a long-nosed ugly creature with the weirdest hair I have ever seen into a rather beautiful woman. But by intermission (at which point I was going to leave if I didn't like the show), I'd decided to stay, and I'm glad that I did. It all came together in the end. In other words, the whole really was greater than the sum of its parts, and I absolutely loved the line from one of the two princes: "I only promised to be charming, not sincere" (an issue that incidentally applies to some of my former boyfriends, so I could easily relate to Cinderella).Note: Somehow, Matthew McGhee managed to stay in character as the narrator for most of the show (sometimes he allows too much Matthew to shine through), but finally at one point, he finally let loose just a little bit with one of his famous perfectly timed winks, and I just melted with sheer joy. To my way of thinking, "Into the Woods" is a Broadway quality show (a special "bravo" to the wife of the baker--she really nailed it!), and I don't make a statement like that lightly. I can't wait until the next time that I can make it to the Freefall Theatre! Note to some of the female audience members: Will you please dress like the ladies that I hope you are? One or two women were so bare at the bottom or the top that they were practically indecent (enough that I doubt that they'd make it onto an airplane these days), and while I'm all for the latest fashions, there is nothing wrong with displaying just a tiny bit of modesty in public--I'm not saying that they should dress as though they were nuns, but they were unclothed to the point of embarrassing some of the other audience members. Ladies, in the future, you might want to remember that the show should take place on the stage and not as you walk up to your seats!

We are so fortunate to have such a talented theatre group here in St. Petersburg. We have been to a variety of their productions and enjoyed them all so much that we just bought season tickets and have become patrons. Their talent, focus and enthusiasm deserve our 100% support.

The staging is creative…Director/Producer did so much with so little scenery for Fiddler on the Roof. I can't wait to see the next production.

Done in the round with the audience as part of the cast. Very well done. Will definitely go back again

I have nothing but raves for Freefall Theatre. The shows and the staging are outstanding and You feel like you are right there with the Actors and actresses. 'One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest' And ''The Normal heart'' touching and superb. 'The Burnt Boys And Spring Awakening musical excellence.Please make time to journey to Central Avenue to see the live exsperience that includes tandem shows as well. The talent, time and loving care that goes into the shows is amazing and the staff and founders are approachable and appreciative to all those who support the arts and the community. This is a must stop trip you will remember for a years to come.

I cannot rave enough about the consistent excellence of this theater company. I never miss a show! We attended opening night of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" which was exceptional and staged in an immersion-type seating environment adding to the drama. We attended a lovely after party, meeting cast members who were exuberantly celebrating the spectacular production.

I have seen many plays at FreeFall Theater and have really enjoyed them. FreeFall is an extremely intimate theater and every seat is good. I can hardly go to plays in a larger theater because I have become so spoiled by my Freefall experiences. This is truly one of St Petersburg's gems and not to be missed. Very high quality productions!

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was not in the round it was done all around, in front and in back, of the audience. The area was set up as a hospital ward. The actors were superb. I had two of the actors right next to me as they pushed one another.

I've seen several shows at this venue. Each show was unique. Rather than the usual stage with seating in front of it, you may have u-shaped riser seating, or my favorite, in the middle of the show's action. At Man of La Mancha, people were sitting in the back of a pick-up truck! During One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, people were sitting on couches, chairs around tables, a ledge. You are part of the show, with actors all around you. I always look forward to coming here cause I never know what I'm gonna get with their creative stage sets.