Tampa Theatre invites applications for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer
The Position:
The President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for providing overall leadership and guidance for Tampa Theatre’s continuing development as a landmark destination film and cultural center. Tampa Theatre is an important atmospheric movie palace built in 1926 by renowned architect John Eberson and is generally regarded as the best—and most intact—example of Eberson’s atmospheric style remaining in the world today.
The CEO has oversight and responsibility for the implementation, coordination, and evaluation of all Tampa Theatre operations and restoration projects, with a particular emphasis on strategic planning, capital resource development, creative programming, and financial stability. The CEO works in partnership with the Board of Directors and community leaders in matters related to governance, policy development, and fund-aising.
Tampa Theatre currently has an operating budget of approximately $5 million, a staff of 19 full-time and 30 part-time employees, and many volunteers, as well as a hard-working board of 28. The CEO reports to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and is charged with sustaining the operation fiscally through excellent management and business/financial accountability. Areas that report directly to the President & CEO include operations, development, marketing and community relations, and film curation.
As it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2026, Tampa Theatre is raising significant capital funds and executing a restoration project to fully restore the theatre. A $30 million capital campaign is underway with five areas of focus:
1. the authentic restoration of public spaces
2. embedding state-of-the-art technology to enhance film and live events
3. addressing infrastructure and sustainability issues such as a new HVAC system
4. the conversion of underutilized spaces to create 3,600 sf of dedicated education space and a new reception space
5. the building of its endowment fund
The first phase of the work is scheduled to take place from March to September of 2026. Tampa Theatre projects enormous growth upon completion of the capital projects and the ramping up of its educational programs and social enterprise opportunities.
John Bell is retiring in 2026 as President & CEO after more than 40 years of achievement. During his long tenure he has increased the annual operating budget from $300,000 to nearly $5 million and has raised tens of millions of dollars to support significant preservation and capital projects, including the complete restoration of the historic marquee and lobby, reinstallation of the iconic TAMPA blade sign, and the creation of a new, award-winning micro-cinema, the John T. Taylor Screening Room.
Under his leadership, the Theatre revamped its programming to include a mix of first-run and classic films, supplemented by concerts, a robust education program, and special events. Today the Theatre hosts more than 1,000 shows a year with an average annual attendance of 120,000.
He was honored with the Joseph Rosenberg Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution in 2024 from the League of Historic American Theatres.
Background
A catapult for the imagination since its opening, the not-for-profit Tampa Theatre is a passionately protected historic landmark and one of America’s best-preserved examples of grand movie palace architecture. Built by Paramount Pictures, Tampa Theatre was one of America’s most elaborate movie palaces when it opened on October 15, 1926. Its immersive design evokes a Mediterranean courtyard with an Andalusian / Botanical theme and more than 1,200 plaster-cast sculptures. The Theatre is also home to its original Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ.
Like other lavish downtown movie theatres around the country, Tampa Theatre was enormously popular when it opened. For 25 cents the common person could escape into an opulent fantasyland cooled by “man-made air,” enjoy first-class entertainment, and be treated like royalty by platoons of uniformed ushers. For decades, Tampa Theatre remained a jewel at the center of the city’s cultural landscape.
But by the 1950s, times had changed. The post-war flight to the suburbs was having a damaging effect on downtown businesses, and the movie palaces that lit up America’s main streets were further impacted by the advent of television. Audiences dwindled and costs rose. Many of our nation’s finest movie palaces were demolished as the land beneath them became more valuable than the theatre operations.
In 1973, Tampa Theatre was likewise slated for demolition. However, the citizens rallied, committees were formed, community leaders got involved, and the City Council struck a deal to purchase and preserve the building. By the time Tampa Theatre reopened to the public in January 1977, it had become something of a national model for how to save an endangered theater. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and named a Tampa City Landmark when the designation was created in 1988.
Since its rescue, the Theatre has welcomed more than 6 million visitors to downtown Tampa — including 1 million school children for field trips and summer camps — all within the context of one of Tampa’s largest historic preservation projects.
In 2024, Tampa Theatre won the Outstanding Historic Theatre Award from the League of Historic American Theatres.
Tampa Theatre Today
Today, the movie palace is managed by the not-for-profit Tampa Theatre, Inc. and has become a remarkable success story.
In June 2024, the Theatre opened the first expansion in its 99-year history — a 43-seat micro-cinema, the Taylor Screening Room, in the storefront adjacent to the historic Franklin Street Box Office that features more intimate screenings of new, first-run films.
The stunning Historic Duncan Auditorium has a proscenium width of 24 feet, a total stage depth from the front of the apron to the back wall of 25 feet, and stage ceiling height of 22 feet with no fly space. In addition to digital cinema, the Theatre can accommodate a variety of touring artists, comedians, musicians, and community events.
The Theatre’s seating was reconfigured in a 2017 campaign and now has a total capacity of 1,238, including 14 wheelchair locations, as well as transfer end stanchions on 10 additional seats for those with mobility differences.
The City of Tampa owns the Tampa Theatre. Tampa Theatre, Inc. operates the properties under the terms of a 50-year operating agreement with the City. Tampa Theatre Inc. works closely with City administration to coordinate details of the Theatre’s maintenance and improvements.
In anticipation of the Theatre’s centennial, Tampa Theatre, Inc. commissioned a study in 2022 from the DLR Group to assess the site’s current state and needs for the future. This study is part of a larger vision meant to ensure that Theatre enters its second century with the tools for climate resiliency, meeting the needs of modern film and entertainment technology, and providing space and resources for educating the next generation of historians, filmmakers, and arts attendees.
Tampa Theatre has an excellent track record of financial stability, having operated in the black for 15 consecutive years. Typically, Tampa Theatre earns about 75% of its operating revenues from ticket sales, concessions, and rental fees.
The Theatre is a proud member of the League of Historic American Theatres, the Art House Convergence, and Film Florida.
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Region, which includes Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, is the third largest MSA in the Southeast, and one of the fastest growing in the USA. It is ranked No. 1 in Florida for high tech jobs with a growth rate of 5% and consistently ranks high on many lists of the best places to live, work, and play.
Tampa Bay is renowned for the grit and success of its major league sports teams: the Tampa Bay Rays, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The region is also home to the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, the largest presenting and producing institution in the Southeast, as well as numerous universities, colleges, and trade schools. Its health care sector is burgeoning, attracting incredible talent and providing magnificent resources for all who live and work in the region.
Tampa Bay is situated half-way up the Gulf Coast, affording a moderate climate, glorious topography, historic neighborhoods, a diverse and welcoming population, with an influx of Millennials from around the country, an explosion of growth of progressive residential communities and businesses, and a passion for the arts.
Across the Bay from Tampa, St. Petersburg hosts the world-renowned Dali Museum and has recently renovated its pier to afford enhanced waterfront amenities to Bay area residents and visitors.
Tampa is distinguished by its remarkable sense of community, bringing together persons of all stripes across demographics, occupations, and points of view to create a vibrant, positive center of innovation and balanced lifestyles.
Required Professional Skills and Abilities:
We seek:
An Historic Theatre/Performing Arts Facility professional with a grounding in all aspects of performing arts facility management: community partnerships, fund-raising, marketing, concessions, front of house, education and outreach, ticketing, rentals, board development, backstage/technical operations, capital campaigns, capital project management, and programming.
A leader who understands the wider impact that an historic theatre or similar restoration project can have on the life of a broader community.
A collaborative and politically savvy leader who will continue Tampa Theatre’s strong relationship with the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County’s staff and elected officials, and the wider community to sustain, preserve, and enhance the Tampa Theatre and its role as a cultural hub.
The ideal candidate will have:
Seven to ten years of proven success in a leadership position with managing an historic theatre, performing arts venue, or cultural organization, coupled with a passion for and knowledge of historic theatres and presenting of film and live events such as music and comedy.
A graduate degree in arts, arts management or not-for-profit administration is preferred (but experience can be considered in place of the educational requirement), in addition to leadership experience of increasing responsibility in a performing arts facility/historic theatre that demonstrates the key knowledge, abilities, and skills outlined here.
An industry professional with existing networks within the cultural sector. Knowledge of film programming and presenting and all aspects of arts venue management. Experience in the management of capital projects and capital/endowment campaigns.
The emotional intelligence and maturity to follow a successful long-term leader, honoring the past, learning the current organization and its staff and stakeholders, and then contributing a personal vision of how an historic theatre can transform the life of a community.
The ability to build and nurture excellent management teams and highly committed board members, collaborating to meet strategic, financial, and operational goals.
A track record in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation/government funders, working with a skilled development team and volunteers.
Proven success in building public/private partnerships and working with the public/government sectors.
Other important attributes would be a collaborative and approachable leadership style with the ability to delegate, a high degree of integrity, and a thorough grounding in performing arts facility operations.
High level oral and written communication skills and the confidence to represent and champion the Tampa Theatre to a variety of audiences and in myriad settings.
The personal leadership qualities of political acumen, tact, diplomacy, strategic thinking, and patience required to negotiate and manage change successfully.
Application Process:
The total compensation package (including excellent benefits, car allowance, and a discretionary annual bonus) will be in the $191,000 to $215,000 range. We are targeting a start date of June 1, 2026 but this might be negotiable.
Deadline for applications: Friday, January 23, 2026.
Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and resume, with a list of references, in confidence to:
Margaret Genovese
Senior Partner
Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates
416/340-2762
For additional information: www.tampatheatre.org; www.genovesevanderhoof.com.
Tampa Theatre’s policies and practices are consistent with all federal and state legislation. We take to promote equal opportunity in all aspects of employment for all qualified persons, regardless of their race, creed, color, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, or veteran status.