The Hippodrome State Theatre is the regional professional theatre in downtown Gainesville, operating out of a restored 1911 Federal Building — a handsome Beaux-Arts structure on SE 2nd Place that was converted into a theatre in the 1970s. The Hippodrome is a genuine company theatre that produces its own work and hosts touring productions, with a season running from autumn through spring.
The building also houses a cinema and a bar that is open independently of performances. For anyone spending a few days in Gainesville and interested in the arts, it is worth checking the current schedule. The downtown location makes it walkable from the University of Florida campus and most of the central accommodation.