61 N Pineapple AvenueSarasota Opera House is one of Florida’s most distinctive historic opera venues, combining the intimate atmosphere of a traditional theatre with a remarkable century-long history. Located in downtown Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the opera house has been a centre of musical and theatrical life since the opening of its original building in 1926.
Originally known as the A.B. Edwards Theatre, the building was designed by architect Roy A. Benjamin as a multi-purpose entertainment venue. Its Mediterranean Revival façade and richly decorated interiors reflected the ambitions of a rapidly developing Sarasota. Over the decades, the theatre welcomed an eclectic succession of performers, from Will Rogers and the Ziegfeld Follies to Sally Rand and Elvis Presley, before eventually becoming the permanent home of Sarasota Opera.
Sarasota Opera purchased the former theatre in 1979, and extensive restoration transformed it into a dedicated opera house. The auditorium reopened for opera in 1984, and a comprehensive $20 million renovation completed in 2008 restored historic decorative details while introducing modern technical facilities, improved sightlines and a substantially enlarged orchestra pit. Today, the William E. Schmidt Opera Theatre accommodates approximately 1,119 spectators.
The venue is closely associated with Sarasota Opera’s distinctive artistic identity. The company has gained international recognition for its Masterworks Revival Series and for its ambitious Verdi Cycle, completed in 2016 after 28 seasons and encompassing every work by Giuseppe Verdi in every version. The theatre also hosts symphonic concerts, classical ballet, film presentations and other cultural events.
2026 marks the centenary of the historic building, celebrated by Sarasota Opera with special events and a new season that continues its tradition of opera in the restored theatre. A visit offers the rare combination of an intimate performance environment, historic architecture and a vibrant operatic tradition on Florida’s Gulf Coast.