About American Stage American Stage is Tampa Bays best professional regional equity theatre. Founded in 1977, the companys mission is to create the most satisfying live theatre in the Tampa Bay area, accessible to all members of the community. Their vision is to preserve the greatest human stories from our past, while creating the most defining stories and storytelling of our time. American Stage presents its six play Mainstage Series in its brand new, 182-seat Raymond James Theatre each year. The very popular American Stage in the Park celebrates its 25th Anniversary year. The theatres other programming includes: After Hours Series, School Tour, and camps and classes for children. The Hough Family Foundation is the Season Sponsors, Raymond James is the Mainstage Sponsor and WUSF 89.7 is the Radio Sponsor of American Stage.Our Season sponsors are the Hough Family Foundation and Bank of America. The Mainstage Season sponsor in Raymond James. WUSF is the official Radio Sponsor of American Stage. American Stage was founded as Palisades Theatre Company, which had a temporary residence at Florida Presbyterian College ( now Eckerd College ) from 1977 to 1979. Initial programming consisted of a touring educational production, which later grew into the School Tour. The Junior League of St. Petersburg provided funds to convert an old cinema house in downtown St. Petersburg into a 179-seat performance space. With a non-union acting company in residence, the theatre originated its Mainstage subscription series, a five-play series now in its twenty-seventh season.