I have been a board member here for the past year, and a volunteer for the past five years. What I love about Carrollwood Players is that it is the little engine that could. For 34 years, this small not-for-profit community theatre group has survived on a shoe string budget while many other amateur groups in the area have folded.
I walked in the door one day after having been on a long hiatus from theatre. I will never forget the director of the show I was volunteering to stage manage greeting me with open arms and a sincere sense of welcoming that made me feel instantly at home.
Since then, I have made my theatre home here, and have made great friendships in the process. I have acted, stage managed, produced, directed, written, done lights, done sound, helped build and decorate sets and organize props, and more recently have been heavily involved with fundraising.
Unlike most community theatres, Carrollwood Players pays rent every month, to the tune of nearly $6000, so we are at a constant financial crossroads that many theatre groups don't experience. But we seem to survive. The next step is to go beyond survival and start to grow.
Carrollwood Players Theatre is an intimate 100 seat venue that showcases that best that Tampa has offer. From hard-hitting dramas to laugh out loud comedies, I have never been disappointed since being introduced to my local community theatre three years ago. The theatre is 100% volunteer, yet the skils of the set builder and costume maker can go head to head with any large scale downtown production. The acting is top-notch and everyone is welcome. My only complaint is that unless you already are in the know about this incredible theatre in a plain strip shopping center, many don't know this venue exists. And they are missing this secret gem in Carrollwood.