Richey Suncoast Theatre

6237 Grand Blvd, New Port Richey, FL, 34652

The Richey Suncoast Theatre is the kind of building a downtown either keeps or loses, and New Port Richey kept this one. It went up in 1925 and opened on July 1, 1926 as the Meighan Theatre, named for Thomas Meighan, a silent film star of the era who had ties to the area. Sound came in 1930. It closed during the Depression, reopened in 1938, and finally stopped running films in 1968. What happened next is why it is still standing. A newly formed group called the Suncoast Young People's Theatre bought the building and reopened it on August 25, 1972 with a production of Fiddler on the Roof. In 1974 that group merged with The Richey Theatre Guild, and the combined organization took the name it carries today. It now operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and it publishes its Form 990 filings on its own website, which is a level of transparency worth noting in a small arts organization. The restored house seats 334 across main floor, a walk-up balcony, and two private boxes of four seats each. The programming is broader than a community theatre label suggests. Alongside its own musicals and plays it books tribute concerts, comedians and classic film screenings, so the calendar mixes locally produced work with touring acts. Beer and wine are served to patrons with valid identification. Education is a stated part of the mission rather than a side project. The theatre runs youth programming, open auditions, workshops and masterclasses, and partners with local schools and libraries. Ticket prices generally run $30 to $40 for general admission, with VIP box seating at $175 to $185 depending on the production, before taxes and fees. The box office is open Wednesday to Saturday from noon to 5 PM and reopens 45 minutes before each performance. The current season, ticketing and audition notices are at richeysuncoasttheatre.com. The box office can be reached at (727) 842-6777 or .