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Tampa Theatre President and CEO George Levesque (Tampa Theatre)<\/p>\nTampa Theatre President and CEO George Levesque (Tampa Theatre)<\/p>\n
George Levesque wasn\u2019t looking for a new job when he first stepped inside the Tampa Theatre.<\/p>\n
He had a passion for visiting atmospheric theaters, and a friend had called to tell him Tampa had the most beautiful one in the country. Levesque traveled to see the historic movie palace in person, a visit that changed the course of his career. Walking through the doors, he immediately fell in love with the theater. The ornate architecture wasn\u2019t the only thing that stood out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was after meeting the staff that I felt assured this was the place I wanted to be,\u201d Levesque says in an email interview.<\/p>\n
Now Levesque is leading the century-old theater into its next chapter as the newly appointed president and CEO. He helms one of the city\u2019s most cherished cultural institutions with a leadership style rooted in storytelling, community engagement, and genuine appreciation for the people behind an organization\u2019s success.<\/p>\n
A career built on connection<\/p>\n
Before the Tampa Theatre, Levesque spent nine years as executive director of the Historic Paramount Theatre in Abilene, Texas. Before that, he built a career in front of the camera, working 25 years in broadcasting, including 18 years as a news anchor for a local ABC affiliate in Abilene.<\/p>\n
Despite his time leading the historic theater, Levesque says, \u201cI think the people there will always think of me as \u2018the news guy.’\u201d<\/p>\n
The transition from newsroom to nonprofit leadership may seem a stretch, but Levesque sees a common thread. Both professions are ultimately about connecting with people. That focus on relationships has shaped the way he approaches leadership and community engagement.<\/p>\n
Levesque officially started in June, following the retirement of John Bell, who led the theater for 40 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me be clear, the Tampa Theatre is a very successful organization,\u201d Levesque says. \u201cLooking at the growth over the past decade or so, it\u2019s clearly going in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
His goal is to build on that strong foundation. To that end, Levesque plans to continue to expand programming to reach diverse groups.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis theatre is for everyone,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Expanding youth educational programming is another priority, and the theater will have a dedicated space for it. The ongoing renovation of the historic theater is adding an education wing on the Florida Avenue side of the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t wait to see those classrooms filled with young artists of all kinds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Preserving wonder<\/p>\n
Levesque understands the emotional power of historic theaters; he\u2019s experienced it himself.<\/p>\n
His love affair with atmospheric theaters began back in high school in Texas, when a girlfriend invited him to a Christmas musical at the local movie theater.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe arrived downtown, walked under those marquee lights, headed to the balcony, and I couldn\u2019t get over seeing the sunset, the twinkling stars, and clouds drifting on the ceiling,\u201d he says. \u201cThat kind of thing stays with you forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Decades later, that sense of wonder continues to guide his work. While programming will evolve and audiences will change, Levesque believes some things should remain constant.<\/p>\n
\u201cEver since this movie palace opened in 1926, it has had one primary mission,\u201d he says. \u201cI think film will be the cornerstone of our programming forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
His challenge, he says, is finding ways to honor tradition while ensuring new audiences create memories of their own.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead<\/p>\n
Looking at short and long-term goals, Levesque wants the Tampa Theatre to become more involved with its downtown partners. Historic theaters, he says, are economic drivers for local businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we have a full house, that\u2019s 1,200 people that came downtown to go out to eat, to look at the shops, to get a drink afterwards,\u201d Levesque says. \u201cI want us to be even more connected with our downtown neighbors in the short term.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe long-term goal must be to build an endowment,\u201d he says. \u201cThese theaters aren\u2019t just restored and forgotten. Restoration is a continuing process. It\u2019s wonderful that the people of Tampa helped raise more than $24 million for this phase of the restoration, but maintaining this movie palace is an ongoing effort. We have an opportunity to create a fund that will safeguard this theater and last forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
But beyond economics and programming, his vision is ultimately about creating experiences that endure long after the credits roll. The kind of experiences that inspired a young Texas teenager staring at a painted night sky decades ago and convinced a seasoned theater executive making his first visit to the Tampa Theatre that he had found where he belonged.<\/p>\n