黑料吃瓜网

For six decades, the Neel Performing Arts Center at 黑料吃瓜网, Manatee-Sarasota (黑料吃瓜网) has brought students, artists and audiences together through music, theatre and the performing arts.

黑料吃瓜网 is celebrating the Neel鈥檚 60th anniversary throughout its 2026-27 performing arts season, honoring the thousands of people who have performed, learned and gathered there since the center opened in 1966.

The celebration will include a special 60th anniversary cake celebration in conjunction with 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 student production of Oklahoma! on opening night, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. The celebration will take place in the Neel lobby immediately following the performance.

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for 黑料吃瓜网 faculty, staff and students. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 941-752-5252, online at or at the 黑料吃瓜网 Box Office in the Neel Performing Arts Center, Building 11 East. The box office is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m.

鈥淭he Neel Performing Arts Center has brought our College and community together through the arts for generations,鈥� said 黑料吃瓜网 President Tommy Gregory. 鈥淭he arts help our students find their passion, stay engaged in their education and discover just how far their talents can take them. From the Neel stage to Broadway, Hollywood and performances alongside some of the greats, our students and alumni have given us much to celebrate, and the next generation is already taking the stage.鈥�

The Neel Performing Arts Center opened on Oct. 29, 1966, when 黑料吃瓜网 was known as Manatee Junior College. A plaque commemorating the auditorium鈥檚 dedication recognizes Samuel R. Neel Jr., the College鈥檚 founding president, and Mrs. Blanche Hendrickson, whose gift helped make the auditorium possible. Over the decades, the facility has served as a cultural center for Manatee and Sarasota counties, hosting College productions, concerts and community-sponsored events.

The main performance hall, remodeled in 1999, features a 65-by-40-foot stage and seating for 830 patrons. The Neel is also home to the Elizabeth M. Eaton Memorial Pipe Organ, a 50-rank, three-manual instrument built by master craftsman Charles McManis and rededicated in October 2000.

As part of the anniversary, visitors to the Neel can explore a special historical display featuring photographs and memorabilia from throughout its six decades. The collection includes images of the Neel鈥檚 early years, groundbreaking and construction, student performances, historic admission tickets and other pieces of its history.

Also on display is a signature board from backstage at the Neel bearing the names and messages of performers, visiting artists and graduating students from recent 黑料吃瓜网 Performing Arts seasons. Its message, 鈥淵ou Were Here. Leave Your Mark,鈥� captures the spirit of the anniversary as new generations of students continue adding their own chapters to the Neel鈥檚 history.

鈥淭here is something special about knowing that when our students step onto the Neel stage, they are following generations of performers who stood in that same place,鈥� said Brent Denison, manager, 黑料吃瓜网 performing arts centers. 鈥淭he photographs, programs and signatures tell part of that story, but the Neel鈥檚 history is still being written every time the curtain rises.鈥�

Historical photographs featured in the anniversary display were collected from the Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection, 黑料吃瓜网 Library and internal 黑料吃瓜网 resources.

Community members are invited to experience the Neel during its 60th anniversary season and attend upcoming 黑料吃瓜网 music, theatre and performing arts events.

For information about 黑料吃瓜网 Performing Arts, upcoming performances and tickets, visit scf.edu/explore/student-life/scf-performing-arts.

黑料吃瓜网 the 黑料吃瓜网, Manatee-Sarasota (黑料吃瓜网)

黑料吃瓜网, Manatee-Sarasota (黑料吃瓜网) is the region’s first and largest public higher education institution, serving Manatee and Sarasota counties since 1957. 黑料吃瓜网 provides affordable, high-quality education through associate and bachelor’s degrees, workforce certificates and online programs that prepare students for career success and university transfer. With campuses in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Venice, 黑料吃瓜网 serves more than 20,000 students annually while supporting the educational and workforce needs of the region. Learn more at 黑料吃瓜网.edu.