Clearwater’s Francis Wilson Playhouse re-stages the future

On June 24, 1935, actor Francis Wilson stood in front of a crowd of about 100 people on North Fort Harrison Avenue in Clearwater.

Francis Wilson

The occasion was the laying of the cornerstone for the Francis Wilson Little Theatre, the new home of the city’s amateur thespian group. Wilson, 81, had retired from the New York stage, where he had been a star of considerable magnitude, and had been a regular winter visitor to Clearwater for three decades. He was, they say, fond of lawn bowling, golf and bridge.

Wilson was also the founder and first president of Actor’s Equity, the labor union that fought for – and won – rights for American theater workers. He was good friends with fellow actor Edwin Booth, and the two co-authored a book about Booth’s brother, the assassin John Wilkes Booth.

Francis Wilson was a big deal.

Hearing so many tributes to his life and work, Wilson joked during his brief remarks, made him feel as if he were attending his own funeral. “If I had my way,” he told his audience, “I should not be present at my own funeral.”

He died four months later, in New York, of complications from surgery.

Wilson never set foot in the theater that to this day bears his name. Ultimately re-christened the Francis Wilson Playhouse, the location was moved to Seminole Street (“overlooking Clearwater harbor”) before the first concrete pour; the city commission gave the theater board a 99-year lease, at $1 per year, with the stipulation that they raise the funds to erect the building, and maintain it.

Wilson’s friend Mary Curtis Bok – of the Ladies Home Journal and Bok Tower Gardens family dynasty – gave  $5,000 in seed money, with the proviso that the venue be named for Mr. Wilson.

The first show, Gold in the Hills, opened on Thursday, March 19, 1936.

The Francis Wilson Playhouse, 302 Seminole Street, Clearwater. Photo by Bill DeYoung.

Although it’s not the longest-lived community theater in Pinellas County – the St. Petersburg City Theatre debuted in 1925 – the nonprofit Francis Wilson Playhouse has survived fires, flooding, financial fiascos and the ravages of time, and is still home to amateur theatrical productions that bring in the crowds. The 94th season will start Aug. 31 with The Sound of Music.

There is a chance, however slim, that the theater will not survive to celebrate its 100^th anniversary at 302 Seminole Street, where it’s stood since the ‘30s.

“About a year ago, we realized that we had about 10 years to go, and nobody had made any contact with the city concerning a lease renewal,” board president Lee Catalfomo said. “And frankly, the building’s getting old and we have some decisions to make on some major improvements and upgrades.”

Calls were placed to the city’s Department of Economic Development and Housing. “We were concerned that if something drastic went bad, and we lost our lease, why invest so much money into repairing the building if we’re going to wind up moving?”

“The Producers,” 2022. Photo: Taryn Holzhauer.

There was good news and no-so-great news. Officially, the City – which owns both the land and the building – had no objection to renewing the lease for the Francis Wilson Playhouse. It is known, at least unofficially, as a “Jewel of Clearwater.”

But 302 Seminole Street recently became part of the North Greenwood CRA (Community Redevelopment Area). “As such,” said Director of Economic Development Denise Sanderson, “we legally can’t extend the lease. We have to terminate.”

The loophole is this: The City can create a new lease for the Francis Wilson Playhouse – just 30 years now, as those nearly-a-century agreements simply aren’t done any more. But they have to offer it to anyone else who might be interested.

In compliance with the city charter, and state and federal law, Clearwater issued a public call in early July for LOIs (letters of interest) “from persons interested in operating and leasing the Francis Wilson Playhouse property.”

Read the official announcement here. Letters must be received by Aug. 2.

What does this mean for the playhouse? “Our letter will go in,” said Catalfomo. “And if anybody else sends a letter in, then good for them. But the city’s going to review anything they get, and they’ll make a final decision. We fully expect it to be us. But it’s up to them.”

Clearwater’s City Council will make the call.

Catalfomo added that he and the board are not overly concerned. “I would be very surprised if somebody sent a letter in with a better story than we have for operating the Francis Wilson Playhouse.”

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” 2023. Photo: Taryn Holzhauer.