For six decades, the Neel Performing Arts Center at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) has brought students, artists and audiences together through music, theatre and the performing arts.

SCF is celebrating the Neel’s 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 SCF’s 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 SCF faculty, staff and students. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 941-752-5252, online at SCF.edu/Neel or at the SCF 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.

“The Neel Performing Arts Center has brought our College and community together through the arts for generations,” said SCF President Tommy Gregory. “The 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.”

The Neel Performing Arts Center opened on Oct. 29, 1966, when SCF was known as Manatee Junior College. A plaque commemorating the auditorium’s dedication recognizes Samuel R. Neel Jr., the College’s 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’s 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 SCF Performing Arts seasons. Its message, “You Were Here. Leave Your Mark,” captures the spirit of the anniversary as new generations of students continue adding their own chapters to the Neel’s history.

“There 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,” said Brent Denison, manager, SCF performing arts centers. “The photographs, programs and signatures tell part of that story, but the Neel’s history is still being written every time the curtain rises.”

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

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

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