Theatre Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL

Theatre Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida is Florida's longest running community theater. It's a volunteer-based community theater that is run by run by a staff of five and a board of directors. It strives to "create opportunities for community participation in theater arts."

Theatre Jacksonville was founded in 1919. Less than ten years later in 1926 it incorporated as The Little Theater of Jacksonville. The theater's San Marco facility was built that year from money and land donated by Carl. S. Swisher. Groundbreaking for the building happened on August 14, 1927.

On January 4, 1938 the first production in the San Marco facility opened. It was Boy Meets Girl. Thirty-one years later, in January 1969, the theater reincorporated as Theater Jacksonville Inc. In 1972 it was proclaimed by the mayor as Jacksonville's "Official Theater."

In 1991 the facility was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The theater celebrated its Diamond Anniversary in July 1995 and received a $500,000 Harold K. Smith Playhouse Endowment for facility maintenance on June 6, 1997. In 2000 façade renovation was completed and was formally dedicated as the Harold K. Smith Playhouse.

There are several membership packages available for the Theatre Jacksonville. There's Open Seating, Wild Card Five, Permanent Seating. Regular adult rates are $85. Seniors, students and military personnel receive a discounted rate of $70. A family rate is $220 which includes seating for two adults and one child.

The Theatre Jacksonville has an Educational Outreach department that publishes student study guide that correspond to the theater's mainstage productions. The study guides provide background research, a script summary and a glossary. These are free to local middle and high schools.