The Beach Theater in St. Pete Beach is marking its 85th anniversary, despite having been closed for over a decade. Renovations are progressing, with the theater still a few months from reopening. Over the weekend, visitors were treated to a preview of the ongoing work.

Owner Hannah Hockman shared her passion for the project, highlighting the theater’s rich history and her personal connection. “I’m a theatre kid. I’ve always been a theatre kid,” she explained. “I’ve always wanted to own my own theatre company. I never imagined it would happen this early in my life, but the opportunity came up and I really jumped on it.”

The renovation process has not been without its challenges. The 2024 hurricanes posed significant hurdles for Hockman and her team. “Our first day of renovation was during Hurricane Debby,” Hockman recounted. “And then that followed up with Hurricane Helene, which we took six feet of water. Then hit Hurricane Milton where it blew out our back wall.”

Despite these setbacks, they are making substantial headway. Hockman is confident that once the first show is performed, audiences will be amazed by the transformation of the theater. “I’ve loved this place for years,” she added. “My parents used to come here on dates, like, we’ve always envisioned helping out with the renovation of this place and then when the opportunity came up, we really just jumped on it.”

The Beach Theater is slated to reopen on July 18.

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(Image credit: Spectrum News)