IN THE SPOTLIGHT
‘Hauntingly Whimsical Tales — Celebrating 100 Years of Edward Gorey’
WHAT: In honor of the 100th birthday year of Edward Gorey, Phantasmagoria is taking a journey through his works of darkly tinted whimsy. The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust has licensed works by Gorey — the author, illustrator and Tony-winning costume designer who died in 2000 — to Phantasmagoria, the Central Florida Victorian steampunk theatrical storytelling troupe. Through dramatic spoken word, dance, puppetry, projections and original music, the performers will stage stories and poems such as “The Gilded Bat,” “The Wuggly Ump,” “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” and many others drawn from Gorey’s offbeat and unsettling universe.
WHERE & WHEN: Oct. 3-4 at the Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg; Oct. 9-12 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando; Oct. 24-25 at the Athens Theatre in DeLand; Nov. 7-8 at Theater West End in Sanford.
INFO: phantasmagoriaorlando.com
YOUR SEASON PLANNER
Schedules are subject to change, so always double-check before heading to an event.
ANNIE RUSSELL THEATRE
The theater is on the campus of Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave. in Winter Park. More information: 407-646-2145 or rollins.edu/annie
IPHIGENIA IN AULIS: Sept. 25-28. Euripides’ drama is adapted by Anne Washburn for the story of General Agamemnon, who believes that he will win a war if he sacrifices his daughter Iphigenia to the gods. The production features a live band performing original songs and a Greek Chorus of contemporary dancers.
LET THE PEOPLE SING: Nov. 13-16. This original work by Rollins student playwrights Conner Chaumley, Yasmine Hudson and Max Payton, with Marianne DiQuattro, dives into a historic event. In 1933, Zora Neale Hurston directed a musical revue with a troupe of Black performers on the Rollins campus. The playwrights’ year of research on the event leads to a historical reckoning.
POTUS: Feb. 12-22, 2026. The subtitle — “Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” — tells us playwright Selina Fillinger’s thoughts in this satire of the leadership of men and the systems that keep them in place.
ANASTASIA: April 16-19, 2026. With the help of two affable con men, Anya struggles to survive in post-Revolutionary Russia in this musical about the last of the Romanovs, taking chances and embracing who you are.
ART & HISTORY MUSEUMS — MAITLAND
The cultural organization will stage a new play at its Lake Lily campus, 701 Lake Lily Drive in Maitland. More information: artandhistory.org
RAINBOW TO YOUR DOOR: Feb. 5-8, 2026. A play by Kenneth Brown tells the story of the lifelong friendship between Maitland Art Center founder Jules André Smith and Eatonville author Zora Neale Hurston, two artists whose bond defied the racial norms of their era.
ATHENS THEATRE
Performances are at 124 N. Florida Ave. in DeLand. More information: 386-736-1500 or athensdeland.com
SWEENEY TODD: Sept. 19-Oct. 12. A barber seeks revenge on a judge who wronged him in this Stephen Sondheim musical about class inequality.
HOLIDAY INN: Nov. 21-Dec. 14. Irving Berlin’s music lights up this seasonal favorite based on the movie.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR.: Jan. 23-Feb. 8, 2026. Go down the rabbit hole in this musical stage adaptation of the animated Disney movie.
STEEL MAGNOLIAS: Feb. 27-March 22, 2026. Southern women live, laugh and love in this story of friendship through life’s highs and lows, set against the backdrop of a cozy beauty parlor.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC: April 10-May 3, 2026. The hills are alive with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved songs.
BAY STREET PLAYERS
Performances are at the State Theatre, 109 N. Bay St. in Eustis. More information: 352-357-7777 or baystreetplayers.org
BRIGHT STAR: Aug. 29-Sept. 14. Inspired by a true story and featuring music by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, this bluegrass musical tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption in the American South of the 1920s-40s.
EVIL DEAD — THE MUSICAL: Oct. 17-Nov. 2. Based on the film, this pop-culture musical comedy sees five college students fighting evil spirits to save the world.
THE LIGHTNING THIEF — THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL: March 13-29, 2026. Based on the hit books, this show follows the adventures of a boy who learns his father is a Greek god.
JIMMY BUFFET’S ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE: June 5-21, 2026. A comedy-romance filled with hits such as “Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Margaritaville” and “Why Don’t We Get Drunk.”
BREAKTHROUGH THEATRE COMPANY
The theater is at 6900 Aloma Ave. in Winter Park. More information: 407-920-4034 or breakthroughtheatre.com
WE ARE THE TIGERS: Aug. 29-Sept. 15. In Preston Max Allen’s musical, a high school cheerleading squad has a sleepover, revealing their teenage troubles — and the fact that one of them might be a killer.
THE INTERNET IS COMING FOR YOU: Sept. 19-21. The creation of the internet is explained through comedy and music in Howard Elgison’s play.
LOST IN CHESTER: Sept. 26-Oct. 6. Inspired by “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey,” Kym Fraher’s play follows five lost teens as they learn to rely on each other to find their way back to a waiting bus.
CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED HORROR: Oct. 17-Nov. 3. Eight short, original, horror-themed plays, with several by local playwrights.
REDLIGHT: THE BAD GIRLS OF BROADWAY: Nov. 14-Dec. 1. A musical revue featuring songs from Broadway’s “bad girls.”
ANNIE JR.: Dec. 5-15. Kid-friendly version of the classic musical about the lovable orphan from the funny pages.
A POLITICALLY INCORRECT CHRISTMAS: Dec. 5-15. Non-PC scenes and songs about Christmas from local playwright Thomas J. Kline.
SANCTUARY: Jan. 16-26, 2026. In Val Valdez’s Nazi-era drama, a German archbishop must choose whether to give refuge to a Catholic architect and his pregnant girlfriend, a Jewish resistance fighter, which would lead to conflict with the government — and possibly death.
I’M COMING OUT: Jan. 30-Feb. 8, 2026. Actors share real-life coming-out stories submitted by the Central Florida LGBTQ+ community.
ASSASSINS: Feb. 13-March 2, 2026. Stephen Sondheim’s musical is about those who set out to kill a U.S. president.
A ROCK’S STORY! THE 95% TRUE STORY OF THE JOKE THAT MADE A MILLION DOLLARS: March 13-30, 2026. Davis Gordon Gilbert’s comedy tells the story of the popular 1970s collectible pet rocks.
WHERE ARE THE ANGELS IN AMERICA: April 10-27, 2026. In Ian Donley’s drama, a high school drama teacher gets caught in the culture wars when he begins teaching Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America,” with its themes of politics, religion and sexuality.
A WOMAN OF MURDER: May 8-25, 2026. A murderer is on the loose at the Ms. Sterling Silver Pageant for women age 50 and up in this comic mystery by Jacquelyn Priscom.
HEE HAW 2: STILL PICKIN’ AND A GRINNIN’: June 5-22, 2026. A new salute to the old country TV show “Hee-Haw.”
BRIDGE THEATRE COMPANY
The Bridge Theatre Company exists to foster acceptance and mutual respect among people, especially young people. This year’s performance will be at Ocoee High School, 1925 Ocoee Crown Point Parkway in Ocoee. More information: thebridgetheatre.org
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK: Oct. 5. As part of a run for students, a public performance will be offered. The 45-minute show is followed by a question-and-answer session with the creative team about the show and the Holocaust.
CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY ARTS
The organization, which also has a robust music season and a student theater program, presents two specialty theater troupes that perform in Shaeffer Hall at St. John Church, 1600 S. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park. More information: cfcarts.com
AN UPBEAT! REVUE: Nov. 8-9. One of America’s only theater troupes specifically for the Down Syndrome and neurodivergent communities celebrates a major milestone.
YULE BE SORRY YOU ASKED: Dec. 13-14. The CFCArts Narrators, a comedic acting troupe for older adults, are joined by members of the CFCArts Youth Theatre in a joyful exploration of festive traditions across generations.
BETSY ROSS & FRIENDS — HISTORY AS IT NEVER HAPPENED: April 25-26, 2026. The CFCArts Narrators, a comedic acting troupe for older adults, presents tall tales of major figures from America’s history.
DR. PHILLIPS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The center, at 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando, co-presents Orlando’s touring Broadway season with Florida Theatrical Association and Broadway Across America. More information: 844-513-2014 or drphillipscenter.org
Broadway Series
THE WIZ: Sept. 30-Oct. 5. A soulful retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” features a score of gospel, rock, R&B and 1970s funk as Dorothy and her friends “ease on down” the yellow brick road.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS: Nov. 4-9. Sara Gruen’s bestseller, transformed into a visual feast of acrobatic feats onstage, tells of a young man who hops a train, finds a circus and discovers all the wild and wonderful twists and turns life has to offer.
HADESTOWN: Nov. 28-30. In a beautifully theatrical evening of magical storytelling, “Hadestown” proves that ancient Greek mythology still has lessons to teach us in our modern world: How to live, how to trust, how to love.
THE OUTSIDERS: Dec. 16-23. With thrilling choreography and in-your-face staging, S.E. Hinton’s young-adult classic comes to life. Ponyboy Curtis dreams of being something other than a kid from the wrong side of the tracks in 1967 Tulsa, as life challenges him at every turn.
& JULIET: Jan. 6-11, 2026. What if Juliet didn’t kill herself at the end of Shakespeare’s iconic tragic love story? That’s the question behind this musical, which features hit songs such as “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar” and “I Want It That Way.”
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD: Jan. 24-Feb. 21, 2026. It’s 19 years after the events of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Now grown and married, Harry must count on old friends to fight off familiar evil as his son befriends the son of Harry’s nemesis, Draco Malfoy, and all heck breaks loose. Beyond the magical adventure, the story examines themes of friendship, choices and the complicated relationships between fathers and sons.
HELL’S KITCHEN: March 3-8, 2026. 17-year-old Ali comes of age in midtown Manhattan in this musical fueled by Alicia Keys’ memorable songs.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO: April 14-19, 2026. An eternal optimist, 16-year-old Kimberly faces life head-on, even as she suffers from a disease that ages her far beyond her years. The wry and moving story is equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming.
THE NOTEBOOK: May 12-17, 2026. Nicholas Sparks’ epic romance of Noah and Allie comes to the stage in a musical look at the longevity of love.
SIX: June 2-7, 2026. The wives of England’s King Henry VIII remix history into a joyous contemporary concert celebrating the power of womanhood.
Other stage shows
DREAMGIRLS: Sept. 12. C.W. Productions presents the musical about the ups and downs of a 1960s girl group.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: Oct. 23-Nov. 2. A bloodthirsty plant changes the fortunes of a nerdy florist assistant in this comic musical.
OFF BOOK — THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL: Dec. 4. Based on the podcast, this unscripted performance features actors, writers and musicians making up one-of-a-kind shows on the spot with suggestions from the audience.
ENCORE PERFORMING ARTS
The organization also presents youth concerts. Its professional theater shows are presented at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando. More information: encorecentral.org
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES: Sept. 19-21. A loving gay couple is flabbergasted when their son brings home his girlfriend, the daughter of a conservative politician, in this heart-filled Jerry Herman musical.
SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL: March 20-22, 2026. A musical adventure in the world of Dr. Seuss’s beloved characters.
FROZEN: July 17-19, 2026. Adapted from Disney’s animated hit, the musical examines the love between two very different sisters, Anna and Elsa.
THE ENSEMBLE COMPANY
This repertory troupe of professional actors is in residence at Imagine Performing Arts Center at Oviedo Mall, 1700 Oviedo Mall Blvd. in Oviedo. More information: theensemblecompany.com
BERNARDA ALBA: Sept. 5-14. Michael John LaChiusa’s adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s famed tale of a woman who maintains a strict status quo at the expense of her daughters’ happiness, told flamenco-style.
THE OTHER PLACE: Nov. 7-16. Sharr White’s mysterious family psychodrama centered on a brilliant drug-company scientist.
METEOR SHOWER: Dec. 12-21. Steve Martin’s comedy is about two California couples gathering for a once-in-a-lifetime event.
THE EFFECT: Jan. 23-Feb. 1, 2026. In Lucy Prebble’s play, Connie and Tristan are volunteering in a clinical drug trial when they start to fall in love.
OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD: March 6-15, 2026. In Alexis Scheer’s thriller, both scary and funny, four teen girls partake in some seemingly harmless fun that turns into something threatening.
HEDDA GABLER: May 1-10, 2026. Henrik Ibsen’s tale about a woman who refuses to conform to societal norms, as adapted by Patrick Marber.
HIDEAWAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The theater, which at press time hadn’t confirmed a planned February musical, is at 431 Plaza Drive in Eustis. It also stages comedy and music events. More information: hideawaypac.com
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF: Sept. 19-Oct. 4. Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer-winning Southern Gothic drama.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Nov. 29-Dec. 21. Jim Quinlan’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ holiday ghost story of greed and redemption.
THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO: April 10-21, 2026. Christopher Durang’s absurdist comedy about a disintegrating relationship in the 1950s.
AN ADULT EVENING OF SHEL SILVERSTEIN: Aug. 6-16, 2026. An exploration of works by the famed writer.
IMAGINE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The center, which is home to The Ensemble Company (see listing above), also hosts other staged productions. It’s inside Oviedo Mall, 1700 Oviedo Mall Blvd. in Oviedo. More information: imagineperformingartscenter.org
PLAY IN A DAY: Sept. 20. More than 50 theater creators participate in the high-energy event in which teams create and perform short plays in 24 hours.
LITTLE RADICAL THEATRICS
The all-ages community theater presents its productions in the Pugh Theater of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando. More information: littleradicaltheatricsinc.com
FOOTLOOSE: Nov. 21-23. Based on the Kevin Bacon film, this musical is set in a town where dancing is forbidden.
SOMETHING ROTTEN: March 20-22, 2026. This comic show is set in the Renaissance and imagines the development of the world’s first musical.
HAIRSPRAY: Aug. 14-16, 2026. In the musical that gave us “Good Morning, Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” young Tracy Turnblad is determined to integrate a 1950s dance show.
MELON PATCH PLAYERS
Performances are at the Melon Patch Theatre, 311 N. 13th St. in Leesburg. More information: 352-787-3013 or melonpatchplayers.org
NANA DOES VEGAS: Sept. 5-21. Nana and Vera are now working as seamstresses on a Las Vegas show in this comic sequel to “Nana’s Naughty Knickers.”
GODSPELL: Oct. 24-Nov. 9. Jesus shares his parables in this uplifting biblical musical.
FARNSDALE AVENUE HOUSING ESTATE TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD DRAMATIC SOCIETY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Dec. 5-21. An inept amateur theater company attempts to stage the Dickens holiday classic in this farce.
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS: Jan. 23-Feb. 8, 2026. A stalled train. An international group of passengers. A violent death. In Agatha Christie’s famed mystery, Hercule Poirot must solve the case.
RIDE THE CYCLONE: March 20-April 5, 2026. March 20-April 5, 2026. Teens killed while riding a roller coaster get a second chance at life in this quirky and uplifting musical.
GOING TO A PLACE WHERE YOU ALREADY ARE: May 1-17, 2026. Bekah Brunstetter’s play deals with beginnings, endings and an enigmatic angel as a couple faced with mortality ponder what comes next.
MODERN THEATRICALS
The company’s production will be in the Pugh Theater of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando. More information: facebook.com/ModernTheatricals
THE JUNGLE BOOK: Sept. 4-6. A new story featuring Rudyard Kipling’s classic characters, presented through Bollywood dance, aerial stunts, puppetry and other stagecraft.
ORLANDO FAMILY STAGE
Performances of shows for children and their families are in the theater’s complex at 1001 E. Princeton St. in Orlando, or online. The theater also offers productions and experiences for the very young, presents shows featuring student performers through its Youth Academy, and this year introduces the Florida Children’s Book Fair, detailed in the Special Events listings. Its professional productions are listed below. More information: 407-896-7365, orlandofamilystage.com
Mainstage
GO, DOG, GO! VE, PERRO ¡VE!: Sept. 6-Oct. 5. This adaptation of P.D. Eastman’s classic 1961 children’s book offers a tail-wagging bilingual adventure full of color, music and joyful celebration for all ages.
GOOSEBUMPS THE MUSICAL: PHANTOM OF THE AUDITORIUM: Oct. 4-Nov. 2. Horror fans Brooke and Zeke try to solve the mystery of a masked menace in this spooky-fun musical based on the series by R.L. Stine.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: LIVE ON STAGE: Nov. 24-Dec. 23. After a nearly sold-out run in 2024, this heartwarming holiday favorite is back to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Peanuts and the 60th anniversary of the animated television classic.
TIARA’S HAT PARADE: Feb. 7-22, 2026. Based on the book by Kelly Starling Lyons, this new play about creativity and a daughter’s love finds young Tiara ready to remind her community just how powerful one small act of kindness can be in times of worry.
LILLY AND THE PIRATES: Feb. 20-March 15, 2026. When a worry-prone girl’s scientist parents are shipwrecked, it’s up to her to save the day in this new musical based on the book by Phyllis Root.
FINDING NEMO: April 11-May 10, 2026. The Disney-Pixar movie about the adventures of a young clownfish and the courageous father who loves him takes the stage in this son-filled adaptation for young audiences.
Other shows
PIP-SQUEAK: AN ANTI-BULLYING MAGIC SHOW: Oct. 14-18. Award-winning magician Tony Brent uses comedy, magic, juggling and more to teach children about coping with bullies.
ORLANDO FRINGE
The organization’s events are at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando, with its annual signature festival centered at Loch Haven Park each May. More information: 407-648-0077 or orlandofringe.org
WINTER MINI-FEST: Jan 7-11, 2026. A curated short-theater festival of fan favorites, new works and new artists from the international Fringe Festival circuit.
FRINGE FESTIVAL LOCAL TEASER: April 13, 2026. Get a sneak peek at the upcoming festival with previews of the shows that will be featured. Also, festival tickets go on sale at the event.
FAB FRINGE FUNDRAISER: April 27, 2026. Food, drink and entertainment.
35TH ANNUAL ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL: May 12-25, 2026. Two weeks of live theater, comedy, music, dance, magic, storytelling, art, children’s activities and more.
ORLANDO SHAKES
Performances are staged at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando, except where noted. More information: 407-447-1700 or orlandoshakes.org
Signature Series
ANNA IN THE TROPICS: Through Sept. 21. Set in 1929, Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer-winning drama weaves a tale of love, longing and betrayal in an Ybor City cigar factory.
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES: Sept. 24-Nov. 2. In the spoof of the classic detective story, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson investigate a mystery, with three actors playing all the roles in the plot.
ROMEO & JULIET: Jan. 14-Feb. 8, 2026. Shakespeare’s eternal story of the young star-crossed lovers.
FAT HAM: March 4-29, 2026. Playwright James Ijames won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for drama for this Southern-fried comedy set at a family barbecue where a young, queer, Black man is confronted by the ghost of his father, who wants his murder avenged. If that plot sounds familiar, that’s because it’s lifted straight from Shakespeare himself: “Fat Ham” is a modern reimagining of the classic “Hamlet.”
HENRY VI, PART 3: THE RISE OF RICHARD: April 1-19, 2026. The theater’s Fire & Reign series, tracing the history of the English monarchy through the Wars of the Roses, continues in Bare Bard style, meaning the play is rehearsed and presented much as it would have been in Shakespeare’s time.
Children’s Series
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW: Oct. 14-Nov. 9. Based on four of Eric Carle’s timeless stories about a creepy-crawly cutie-pie with an appetite that won’t quit.
DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS: April 14-May 8, 2026. Based on the book by Mo Willems, this play has a self-explanatory title.
Special events
PLAYFEST: Oct. 31-Nov. 2 and Nov. 7-9. Staged readings of raw, unproduced works, with the chance to meet the playwrights and offer feedback to help shape the future of theater.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Nov. 26-Dec. 24. Helsinger’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Yuletide ghost story.
37th SEASON GALA: March 22, 2026. Food and entertainment at the theater’s annual fundraiser.
ORLANDO WAITLIST THEATER FESTIVAL
A new festival, this event plans to present works of diverse viewpoints that didn’t get selected for traditional theater festivals. It will take place at Imagine Performing Arts Center at Oviedo Mall, 1220 Oviedo Mall Blvd. More information: orlandowaitlisttheaterfestival.org
ORLANDO WAITLIST THEATER FESTIVAL: Oct. 3-5. A showcase for new works.
PHANTASMAGORIA ORLANDO
The Victorian steampunk troupe uses storytelling, dance, puppetry, projections and original music in performances around Central Florida and beyond. More information: phantasmagoriaorlando.com
HAUNTINGLY WHIMSICAL TALES — CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF EDWARD GOREY: Oct. 3-4 at the Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg; Oct. 9-12 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando; Oct. 24-25 at the Athens Theatre in DeLand; Nov. 7-8 at Theater West End in Sanford. The troupe brings Gorey’s stories to the stage.
A VERY DICKENS CHRISTMAS FEATURING A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Dec. 11 at the Ritz Theater in Sanford; Dec. 17 at the State Theatre in Eustis; Dec. 19-20 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando; Dec. 21 at the Athens Theatre in DeLand. The troupe’s adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” plus other festive ghostly tales from Charles Dickens.
POE, THROUGH THE TALES DARKLY: Oct. 16 during the Día de los Muertos/Monster Factory festivities in downtown Orlando. Hear “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart” and more in this “haunted storytelling duet through madness.”
PLAYWRIGHTS’ ROUND TABLE
The group’s staged shows are at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando, except where indicated. More information: theprt.com
NATIVE VOICES: Nov. 7-16 at Imagine Performing Arts Center in Oviedo Mall. A new-play series dedicated to Central Florida playwrights.
LAUNCH: Jan. 23-Feb. 1, 2026. Eight brand-new short comedies and dramas.
PREMIERE SERIES: April 17-26, 2026. A world premiere full-length play.
MUSICAL: June 19-28, 2026. A world-premiere full-length musical.
RENAISSANCE THEATRE COMPANY
The theater is at 415 E. Princeton St. in Orlando. More information: rentheatre.com.
NOSFERATU: Sept 5-Nov. 8. An adult vampire-themed immersive experience, now in its fifth year, that combines theater and dance as patrons roam a haunted house-like setting. Each year, the experience changes with new sets and concepts.
ORLANDO VOCAL COLLECTIVE PRESENTS THRILLER: Sept. 29-Oct. 31. The vocal ensemble re-imagines Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album while also paying tribute to artists such as Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston.
THE OFFICE HOLIDAY PARTY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA SHOW: Dec 4-28. Meet up with your workplace “colleagues” at this adult musical comedy featuring an eccentric group of employees getting into a festive mood.
RITZ THEATER
The theater, at 201 S. Magnolia Ave. in Sanford, hosts touring concerts, children’s productions and other events in addition to plays. More information: 407-321-8111 or ritztheatersanford.com
Ritz productions
SHREK THE MUSICAL: Oct. 10-19. A musical about an ogre looking for love, based on the hit DreamWorks movie.
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG: March 6-15, 2026. In this farce, a well-meaning but inept theater troupe stages a murder mystery to disastrous, funny results.
CABARET: May 1-10, 2026. In this Kander & Ebb musical, the world teeters on the precipice of disaster in 1930s Berlin, while ordinary citizens look away — to their peril.
Other theater
EDGAR ALLAN POE SPEAKEASY: Sept. 13. Four of Poe’s tales are performed by actors, each story accompanied by a specialty cocktail. For ages 21 and older.
OUR LOVE STORY: Sept. 14. Manuscripts, Music & Mainstage presents a family-friendly play based on the book of the same name, which tells the epic tale of Dorothy and Isaac Jackson Jr. — married for more than 75 years — and shares their love through music and poetry.
THE JURY EXPERIENCE: Sept. 21. In this interactive play from Fever, the audience listens to a provocative court case and influences the story’s direction.
SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE
Productions take place in Le Petit Theatre, Building B, Room 127 at Seminole State College, 100 Weldon Blvd. in Sanford. More information: seminolestate.edu/arts/events/theatre
SHINE A LIGHT: FLORIDA BLACK HISTORY: Sept. 19-20. Presented in partnership with Florida Theatrical Association, the show uses spoken word, song and storytelling to explore pivotal moments and figures in Florida’s Black history.
SONNENTAG THEATRE AT THE ICEHOUSE
The theater is at 1100 N. Unser St. in Mount Dora. More information: 352-383-4616 or icehousetheatre.com
ME AND JEZEBEL: Sept. 12-Oct. 5. Magazine writer Liz Fuller’s comically true account of the summer of 1985 when screen legend, Bette Davis came to Fuller’s home for a night — and stayed for a month.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE — THE MUSICAL: Nov. 14-Dec. 14. The story of George Bailey and his guardian angel is set to music in this stage adaptation.
THE COTTAGE: Jan. 16-Feb. 8, 2026. In 1923, Sylvia and Beau are enjoying a tryst — when their spouses show up, along with an uninvited third couple. Comic complications ensue in this farce.
SWEENEY TODD: March 20-April 12, 2026. A barber seeks revenge on a judge who wronged him in this Stephen Sondheim musical about class inequality.
THEATRE PEOPLE, OR THE ANGEL NEXT DOOR: May 15-June 7, 2026. A new play needs a leading lady, and blackmail might do the trick in this showbiz comedy.
SOUTHERN WINDS THEATRE
The troupe will stage its annual holiday production at Imagine Performing Arts Center at Oviedo Mall in Oviedo. More information: southernwindstheatre.com
ONE-MAN A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Dec. 5-7. For the 28th year, David A. McElroy plays all the characters in an intimate retelling of Charles Dickens’ tale of the ghostly redemption of miser Ebenezer Scrooge.
THEATER ON THE EDGE
The theater is at 5542 Hansel Ave. in Edgewood. More information: theaterontheedge.org
FIFTH PLANET: Through Aug. 31. A staged reading of David Auburn’s one-act play about two astronomers, followed by a talk-back.
THEATER WEST END
The theater is at 115 W. First St. in Sanford. Summer 2026 shows are still being determined. More information: 407-548-6285 or theaterwestend.com
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE/WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF: Sept. 5-21. Ntozake Shange weaves poetry, movement and music to tell the stories of Black women as they navigate love, loss, joy and self-discovery in a celebration of sisterhood.
AMERICAN PSYCHO: Oct. 17-Nov. 2. A musical retelling of Bret Easton Ellis’s story about a not-so-nice guy pursuing the excess of the American dream.
ONCE: Nov. 21-Dec. 7. In this romantically comic musical, an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant are drawn together by their shared love of music.
ANGELS IN AMERICA, PART 1 — MILLENNIUM: Jan. 16-Feb. 1, 2026. Tony Kushner’s two-part tale of love, loss and politics amid the 1980s AIDS crisis.
ANGELS IN AMERICA, PART 2 — PERESTROIKA: Feb. 20-March 8, 2026. Kushner’s epic concludes.
COMPANY: March 27-April 19, 2026. Stephen Sondheim’s musical is about a perpetually single man and his coupled-off friends.
POTUS: May 1-17, 2026. The subtitle of Selina Fillinger’s presidential comedy explains itself: “Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.”
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ABRIDGED: Aug. 28-Sept. 13, 2026. A silly romp through Shakespeare’s canon.
THEATRE SOUTH PLAYHOUSE
The theater, in the Dr. Phillips Marketplace at 7601 Della Drive in Orlando, produces shows with professional adult actors as well as community-youth productions. More information: 407-489-4458 or theatresouthplayhouse.org
Mainstage shows
RIDE THE CYCLONE: Through Aug. 31. Offbeat teens learn about life as they gamble for their lives after a roller-coaster accident in this musical.
STRANGER SINGS —THE PARODY MUSICAL: Sept. 19-Oct. 5. A silly, singing take on the hit TV series about paranormal happenings in the 1980s.
ANNIE: Nov. 6-23. The musical that gave us “Tomorrow” as Little Orphan Annie moves from the comics pages to the stage.
Intern show
ALICE BY HEART: Jan. 15-25, 2026. Older teens and college actors tackle the Duncan Sheik musical about love and loss, inspired by “Alice in Wonderland.”
THEATRE UCF
The theater is on the campus of the University of Central Florida in east Orange County. More information: 407-823-1500 or theatreucf.edu
THE RIVER BRIDE: Sept. 18-28. Inspired by Brazilian folklore, Marisela Treviño Orta’s play about love, compromise and choices examines a sisterly relationship complicated by a mysterious man.
URINETOWN: Oct. 16-26. In a dystopian future, a water shortage has made private restrooms illegal in this satirical musical comedy about politics and a public crisis.
VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE: Nov. 13-23. Inspired by Anton Chekhov’s classic plays, Christopher Durang’s comedy follows a dysfunctional family struggling with change.
ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS: Jan. 29-Feb. 8, 2026. Richard Bean’s farce, full of physical comedy, focuses on one man’s laughable attempts to simultaneously work two jobs.
THE BACCHAE: Feb. 26-March 8, 2026. Euripides’ tale of gods, power and chaos was first performed in 407 BC but still resonates with modern audiences.
LEGALLY BLONDE: April 9-12, 2026. Based on the film, this musical comedy sees law student Elle Woods proving she’s more than her looks.
VALENCIA COLLEGE
Productions take place at Valencia’s east campus, 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando. More information: 407-582-29 or valenciacollege.edu/arts
YAGA: Oct. 3-11. Kat Sandler’s genre-bending comic fairy tale and whodunit reimagines the legendary Baba Yaga witch as a sexy, smart modern woman.
RADIUM GIRLS: Feb. 13-21, 2026. D.W. Gregory’s fast-paced drama is based on the true story of female laborers who were poisoned to death by their factory’s radium-based paint.
STUDENT-DIRECTED ONE ACTS: April 17-18, 2026. Part of the Florida Playwrights’ Competition.
WHISKEY THEATRE FACTORY
The group, which also has plans for an online 1-minute-play festival sometime in April 2026, performs at Imagine Performing Arts Center at Oviedo Mall, unless otherwise noted. More information: whiskytheatrefactory.com
HERE & QUEER SHORT PLAYS FOR HES, SHES AND THEYS: Oct. 10-11. Staged readings of 6-8 plays about the LGBTQ+ experience in Orlando.
PARTY TO GRIEF: Feb. 13-21, 2026. Playwrights Jodi Antenor, Ashley Alonso, Bethany Dickens Assaf and Katie Thayer contribute to a production about the highs and lows of the ones left behind.
THE VAGABOND & THE VISCOUNT: March 7, 2026, at Breakthrough Theatre, 6900 Aloma Ave. in Winter Park. Staged reading of Jason Porrata’s Regency-era retelling of the biblical story of Ruth.
WINTER PARK PLAYHOUSE
While the theater at 711-C Orange Ave. in Winter Park is being renovated, productions will be staged at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando. More information: 407-645-0145 or winterparkplayhouse.org
Mainstage
JERRY’S GIRLS: Through Aug. 31. The musical revue celebrates the timeless tunes of Jerry Herman, composer of hits “Mame,” “La Cage aux Folles,” “Hello, Dolly!” and others.
FOREVER PLAID: Sept. 26-Oct. 19. An homage to the harmonic guy groups of the 1950s, this show finds one such quartet returning from the afterlife for a final shot at musical glory. Songs include “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “Heart and Soul,” “Rags to Riches” and “Love is a Many-Splendored Thing.”
HONKY TONK ANGELS HOLIDAY HOEDOWN: Nov. 14-Dec. 20. This upbeat musical comedy, making its regional premiere, has four female country singers performing holiday classics, a Motown Christmas medley and country hits.
FROM MY HOMETOWN — A CELEBRATION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM IN CLASSIC R&B: Jan. 23-Feb. 21, 2026. This rags-to-riches tale focuses on three young men, hailing from Philadelphia, Memphis and Detroit, who meet at the world-famous Apollo Theater in New York City’s Harlem. The musical features 24 classic soul songs from the likes of James Brown, Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson and others.
THE PIN-UP GIRLS: March 20-April 25, 2026. Featuring music from the Andrews Sisters to Beyoncé, this show boasts a cavalcade of hits inspired by a hundred years of letters home from the troops abroad — letters that are funny, sexy, romantic and poignant.
Cabarets
JOHN CAVAZOS: Sept. 15-16.
DESIREE MONTES: Oct. 15-16.
Gala
CURTAINS UP: Nov. 1 at The University Club of Winter Park, 841 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park, with food, drink, entertainment.
— Listings compiled by Matthew J. Palm
