Rory Lawrence wanted something for the homegrown, local talent, so in 2014 he started the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival. Credit: Photo via Rory Lawrence/YouTube
Thanks to statewide thespian festivals, downtown Tampa’s been no stranger to seeing young actors and playwrights sprawl across local streets. But Rory Lawrence wanted something for the homegrown, local talent, so in 2014 he started the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival.

Nearly a decade later, he is back again with yet another packed agenda set to kickoff on Friday with an opening night presentation of “Trying to Make It” where an Airbnb mishap forces a group of strangers across a diverse swatch of backgrounds to be together for weeks.

The festival continues through the weekend with workshops, master classes, plus awards and competitions for plays and monologues. Admission to the monologue competition and awards is free, with tickets for other events starting at $10.

The Tampa Bay Theatre Festival is still on and happens Friday-Sunday, Sept. 1-3 at various venues. Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

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This article appears in Aug 24-30, 2023.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...