After 40 Years of theater and studying with the Royal National Theater in London Im a tough critic and Im not easily impressed. However Damn Yankees was by far one of the best performances I have seen in a long time. The choreography, the dancing, the singing, the directing, the acting, the costumes, all brilliant! A solid and tight production.It was my first time at Manatee Performing Arts but it will not be my last. Kudos to the cast director and crew of this production!

We went to see Mary Poppins. It was very entertaining. The facility is new and inviting.

Beautiful theatre and such an amazing show with such talented young artists!

They have a very diverse set of shows with a diverse set of cast. They offer snacks and drinks before the show starts. They have various theaters, ranging in different sizes. It’s worth going to if you like plays and theater or if you’re interested in performing. I volunteered there for a month and saw how dedicated everyone is to ensuring each show goes smoothly.

If you havent been to a Manatee Players Theater production in a while, go back. Shows have improved by leaps and bounds. With the new building, we got better actors, singers, dancers, and choreography. The sets and lighting are amazing. The musical talent has always been exceptional, but the sound system displays it well.

Great small theater. Event hall, convenient well managed, helpful staff

What a wonderful performance! Just saw West Side Story, and I was so impressed with the whole show. Amazing talent! I havent been to the center in quite a few years and the new lobby is beautiful. If you havent been there, you must go. A very intimate setting and the talent is incredible. You will not be sorry.

Having seen multiple shows at this center including but not limited to Spamalot, The Diary of Anne Frank, and most recently a fantastic production called Goat Song Revel. Fantastic community members and staff. I highly recommend people check this place out!

Enjoyed Buddy Holly Story VERY much! Appreciated seating arrangement...didnt miss a thing. Stage hands did a fantastic job. What more can I say? Go first chance you get!

It is always a joyous experience going to the Manatee Performing Arts theater. Their productions are excellent. Such a pleasure bringing friends there.

Excellent time as i sold over 450 dollars for the yeti cooler on my shift.

The wife and I love going here for date nights. The folks here know how to put on a show. We are season ticket holders for the first time and have enjoyed every show thus far. Thank you!

What a great venue! Very intimate....not a bad seat in the place! I will definitely go back!

This organization always finds a way to bring the best talent to their stages. Great facility and staff!

We put on our jeans and strutted our best Jet attitude for a wonderful production of West Side story. If its still running go now and get any availabile seat. You will totally enjoy the show. Great voices. Superb dancing. Dont miss it!

Great venue. We are lucky to have in Manatee county. However, A/C was not up to par while we were there.

Im the head bartender and manatee performing arts this is our bar we have most mix drinks beer wine soda and some snacks. Also our chandelier a you come in the front door if you original chandelier from gone with the wind

Good place for education if your kids are not very social and nerdy

Really wonderful theater. great show

Beautiful theater where every seat is a good seat. Love the staff so friendly and helpful.And did you know they have a 300 person occupancy ballroom upstairs for rent as a venue for your next small or big celebration. Wow! Parking across the street is wonderful too.

We went to see Fiddler on the roof. It was enjoyable not a professional company but not a high price for seat. The cast was mainly geriatric and were entertaining. My wife and I enjoyed ourselves very much. The cast put a lot of time and effort into the production. Well worth going to see a performance.

Wonderful theater, comfortable, enjoyed seeing the chandelier from the movie set of Titanic hanging in the lobby

Saw the Buddy Holly play last night at Manatee Performing Arts.... absolutely fabulous... if you remember those days and those singers you will be so pleased... Buddy Holly ...Big Bopper ...Ritchie Valens were all cast beautifully... close your eyes and your right back there... and you will sing along... its a dont miss.... the stage was so full of talent.. thank you

I was amazingly surprise with the quality of the show. We visited the backstage and had a tour of the facilities. What an amazing place. We saw West side story. Great performance

The seating and acustics are very accommodating. Enjoyed the performance of the Buddy Holly Story. The acting was superb.

Performances are enjoyable. Theater is too cold, over air conditioned.

Very nice and casual place. Had a great time

State of the Art Facility with a wide array of programming and immersive offerings (definitely something for everyone), my favorite is the Action through Acting series in which they partner with local non-profit organization presenting a play or musical highlighting current, socially relevant issues pertaining to that specific organization. Engaging the various organizations and the collaboration they have is palpable through the performance. Manatee Performing Arts Center is a true gem in our community.

The wwe quality of entertainment is awesome. I love it. Billy Holly show was great.

I am amazed everytime I see a show. You hooked me with your shows the first time I was ever there. I have seen many shows over the years & Ive watched my grandsons and son-inlaw shine on your stages. Thank You for providing a place for all to shine and show how talented they really are. If you had higher that 5 stars I would pick the highest number to describe my appreciation for all you do. I love you all.

Loved Matilda. Talented cast and great theater

Saw Damn Yankees here and it was awesome!

Saw a wonderful show at a reasonable price. Great facility; every seat is good! Definitely will be going back.

Seen West Side Story and it was amazing. The Actors and Actresses were Top Notch. The singing was breathtaking.

Beautiful venue, great snacks between shows, very friendly ushers!

How have I lived in this area for eight years and not visited this fantastic facility?! Well, better late than never. We attended an R&B/Jazz charity concert here this past weekend. The theater is cozy - not a bad seat. Sound system - Great. Staff - Even better! The vibe of the place shouts, This is YOUR performing arts center! and it feels that way. I am proud of our community for having a place like this and supporting the arts. I am selfishly happy dancing to know I will be coming back many times over.

This is a community theatre that allows the audience to be close to the action. It features a small stage calling for simple sets, affordable tickets, and has a glass of wine available in the lobby. I saw menopause, the musical and it was hilarious. Four women were the only performers, each with their own strong points. I was impressed. Popular music from the 60s and 70s was rewritten with new lyrics that kept the audience in stitches. Local volunteers are the unsung heroes that run the show. I wish this place was not an hour away from home, but I will be back.

I really enjoyed myself there, wish I would have went into acting

I like this place! Beautiful venue.

Well organized, talented actors, good show. Padded seats, needs more leg room though

This is a nice local performing arts center in Bradenton. It’s fairly new & shows are reasonably priced. We recently saw Menopause, it was hilarious! Located close to dining places to enjoy a day or evening show & lunch or dinner. Wonderful variety of shows to pick from.

I had a job interview there for a large hotel which was being built in Sarasota . no one ever called back they also thought maybe I wasnt suitable for their position with my years of experience

An incredible facility with the space to host little community plays to massive grand productions. Great layout and lobby are for mixed drinks and mixing with people...if you have to!

Wonderful shows. Excellent directing. Enjoyable evenings.

Manatee Performing Arts Center isnt just amazing theater productions (although it is the best theater!) Their meeting and event venue is second to none and a wonderful option for any individual or organization. Were so lucky to have them in our community.

I had a great time today watching The Music Man Play. It was one of best play that I seen so far.

Great venue to see local artists perform.

The show West Side Story was superb and the theater was small but beautiful..loved it

Lovely new purpose built theater in Bradenton, Florida. I saw an amateur production of Barnum which was so well done it would have graced any theater in the world. Fantastic!!

This is a great place for plays and shows and theater. Good blend of national professionals and local amateurs!

Great play. Tremendous singers and dancers in.. West side story

We saw Mary Poppins last evening and were so pleasantly surprised by the prosessional performance. The theater is so intimate and welcoming. We will definitely return for other shows in the future.

I volunteer for this venue and it is a great experience. Great sets and only $25 to get in. Remember the actors are volunteers, so are the ushers. We all do it for the love of theater. There is ADA accommodations, box seats but all seats are good. Only one bathroom but, they serve alcohol.

Theaters seats has never been the best thing but it is well kept clean and is still very classy

I just saw the childrens show of The Lion King. It was amazing how well these young theater kids did with learning their lines to singing and acting. I think this is a perfect platform to introduce children into the world of theater. The newer venue is a great addition to the Manatee County arts program.

A heartfelt performance of West Side Story just made my day

Beautiful Theater! Built in 2013! All of the staff are super friendly and sweet. This is a great place to come listen to live music (man playing the piano) in the lobby before the show begins!

THANK YOU MPAC! Janene Amick and her wonderful staff of volunteers and professionals made our recent rental so wonderful! Janene herself goes above and beyond on every detail, the theater is stunning, and our clients were thrilled with the venue choice. Thank you to Tom, Patrick, Cheryl and Brian as well. Bravo!

Theater and its technology works well. We loved the West Side Story.

Show was great, people were nice, however it was incredibly, uncomfortably warm in the theater.

Brilliant acting at very reasonable price. Very entertaining

Very good venue. Intimate, good tech., comfortable, nice people getting you!

We will be back for west side story.All seats great. Enjoyable!

Its wonderful, the volunteers make it fun. Great performances and affordable. Convient parking.

We are seasonal visitors who have enjoyed several performances at Manatee Performing Arts—a beautiful facility! I am commenting here because I’m confused by “Tim’s” post in which he reviews a show he attended on Anna Maria Island. Manatee Performing Arts Center is in downtown Bradenton so I believe he mistakenly entered his negative review on this website.

Nice venue....great actors

It was a pleasant surprise an enjoyable evening we will be back

Saw Elf the musical. Was a great performance. My family and I had a great time

Went to see Phil Vassar last night out on Anna Marie. Had great seats, 5th row center. Unfortunately the clowns that set up the seating set it up for your average size second grader, five dollar plastic chairs jammed next to each other. We couldnt sit in our seats because the average size Americans that were next to us overlapped into our chairs, so we sat in the back row center. Unfortunately again they didnt stager the chairs so we got to look directly at the back of the heads of the people sitting in front of us. Another brilliant idea, lets set up a bar directly behind the back row instead of maybe putting it over in the corner, then lets let people stand and talk right behind the seats the entire concert. Complete waste of my money. If a paid employee set this up they should be fired. If I could select zero stars I would

Elf the musical was a good show, but I recommend not meeting the main part of the cast, they were stuck up and rude. The background people were nice. Though.

A great venue for all types of theater.

A really nice venue. Good acoustics, good lighting, good acting.

Ahmazing musical performance! We saw the music man

Wonderful venue for quality performances. We saw MARY POPPINS and it was the excellence of Broadway!

Being Dr. Ruth was an outstanding one woman showAlso loved Peter & The WolfAs this was the first theater experience I shared with my Father 82 years ago. Watching the expressions on the faces of all the children made my heart sing.

Wow! Not a bad seat in the house and superb performances! Do not miss this exciting opportunity to have a delightful evening in Bradenton!

Very nice theatre, there are no bad seats. Very cozy.

What a great evening listening to New Jazz & Unique. First time at the theater. What a fabulous venue.

Not a bad seat in the house. Their Manatee Players performances are wonderful. They continue to amaze me with their production quality and performances. Clean building, ample lighted parking.

Recently attended Lion King Jr. performance. The music directors light was tilted our way and shining on many of us. This light is very bright and straining on the eyes. After the performance I spoke with the music director Rick Bogner and shared my experience with him and showed him a picture of the light on us. I asked him politely if there was anything that could be done. His response was rude and he was unwilling to listen and try to come up with a solution. He said several times he could not do his job in the dark. I was not asking him to turn his light off. The light could easily swivel or rotate so it was just on the music and not on the audience. Row P seats 29 - 33 are the seats that were most affected.Avoid at all cost unless there is a music director willing to pay attention to how his light is affecting the row in front of him.

Wonderful small theater group

I went purchase tickets and found the employees very accommodating. We look forward for return to see another performance at this beautiful facility.

Always a great venue. A real bright spot in Bradenton.

Had our regional sales meeting at the Manatee Center. What a great place. The amenaties and the available rooms were very nice.

West Side Story was very well done

Saw a musical version of Little Women. Excellent voices and done well. Facilities are very nice complete with excellent parking.

It is a nice hall. The parking is a little wonky. Local plays at reasonable prices and well performed.

Beautiful new facility.

Very well kept up and staffed. Everyone here is friendly and I always get my tickets free so I couldnt tell you a price range, but other than that if you are in the mood for a nice play then this is the place.

LMA Trailblazers and Trendsetters Gala

Manatee players has very good community theater. Well worth the visit.

Beautiful venue for a party!

Very nice facilities. Elegant and comfortable lobby area.

Modern classy modest sized performance hall. Snacks and alcoholic drinks available. Souvenir and art shop in lobby. Ample free parking. Easy to find between Cortez and Green Bridge near Bradenton riverfront.

Professional and entertaining.

Saw Barnum and it was my second play I saw here. Very professional show. I will be going back.

Great community theater. Easy access to parking. Rows are not too crampy and food site lines and sound throughout. Lunch or dinner downtown makes for a great overall experience.

The Manatee Performing Arts Center is a beautiful place with 2 theatres, a wonderful banquet facility. Currently in the Kiwanis theatre is playing Calendar Girls while the Stone theatre is playing Cabaret.

This theater is absolutely beautiful. A great way to spend in date night out enjoying Community Theater. If your show allows for intermission they do have a small snack bar with coffee soda and candy all prices are very reasonable.

Love this place a little broadway on the river !