The story of a creepy night janitor and a mysterious new kid is the stuff that terrified pre-teens and sold out book fairs everywhere in the 1990s.

Based on R.L. Stine’s popular books, “Goosebumps: The Musical” is playing at the Orlando Family Stage Saturday and Sunday in its final run. 

The beloved children’s theater, which is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026, has experienced incredible highs and lows over the past two years.

Arts organizations across Florida were dealt a blow by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ line-item veto of $32 million from the budget last year. While arts leaders are quick to say they have been underfunded for years, DeSantis’ vetoes were unprecedented and left them scrambling.

During one tough moment last year, the Orlando Family Stage’s bank accounts dropped to less than $25,000, which made Brown anxious. 

“The Legislature still is approaching the arts like it’s entertainment and fun to have and nice to do,” Brown said. “But it’s education and commerce. They’re not connecting that it’s the social fabric of a healthy community.”

But so far, the theater is weathering the storm as best it can, thanks to a significant boost in grant dollars. The Orlando Family Stage received millions last year from Orange County’s tourist development tax funding to renovate its aging building, as well as $500,000 in August from longtime supporter the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation.

Brown isn’t optimistic that his $150,000 funding request will get fully funded when the 2026 Legislature resumes in January. A troubling sign, he said, was the theater’s grant panel review at the state was canceled at the last minute.

“It should be a priority for our state to be making arts institutions thrive because it’s generating economic development,” Brown said, pointing to his payroll of nearly 250 employees last year. “That’s a lot of jobs. We spent over $2 million on employees last year.”

That’s not counting the money spent on dinner, drinks or hotels when patrons catch a show, either.

Beyond the finances, the Orlando Family Stage must also compete for kids’ attention with the Orlando theme parks and cellphones. Last year’s attendance of 57,000 patrons hasn’t fully rebounded from the COVID pandemic shutdown.

The challenges come as the theater troupe continues earning rave reviews from longtime Orlando Sentinel critic Matthew Palm for Goosebumps and its next show, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” returning Nov. 24-Dec. 23 after a nearly sold-out run last year.

Many of the talented stars turn around and go to work performing at Disney World or Universal, which keeps Orlando a gem of theater. Even Julian Villela, the young Simba touring in Broadway’s “The Lion King,” got his start at the Orlando Family Stage.

Brown said he is still determined in his mission. The theater gives out free tickets through the Orange County Public Library and offers affordable field trips for schools.

“I want our impact to be more important than ticket sales,” Brown said.

To honor its long 100-year history next year, the theater has special programming, including holding the first-ever Florida Children’s Book Festival Feb. 20-22. 

“Festivalgoers can enjoy storytime readings, hands-on creative experiences, author signings, character meet-and-greets, and panel discussions that bring books to life on stage and beyond,” the theater said in a press release. “As part of the festival, audiences are invited to experience two inspiring, Orlando Family Stage theatrical productions: ‘Lilly and the Pirates,’ a swashbuckling adventure about bravery and books, and ‘Tiara’s Hat Parade,’ a heartfelt story of creativity, family, and finding your voice.”

The Orlando Family Stage is also digging through its archives of props, playbills and historical documents to document the memories, with help from the University of Central Florida’s history department. It will also work with the Orange County Regional History Center to do oral histories from those with deep ties to the stage.

“I totally believe doing anything meaningful takes a long time, right?” Brown said, reflecting for a moment.