Changes include additional seating and a dedicated cabaret space.
The address is the same, but everything else is new. The Winter Park Playhouse celebrated a year-long renovation of its long-time home on July 7. The ribbon-cutting event showcased the updates made at 711 Orange Avenue, which include a new theater and seating, updated lobby and restrooms, dedicated cabaret space, and other structural improvements.
“This beautiful renovation is proof of what can happen when a community shares a vision,” said Winter Park Mayor Sheila DiCiccio. “Donors believed in it. Orange County invested in it. They believed in it. Together we created something that will serve our community for decades to come.”
Winter Park Playhouse staff, donors and local officials help cut the ribbon on July 7. (NICK GEORGOUDIOU)
DiCiccio added that the Playhouse brings in more than $2 million to the local economy annually.
The City of Winter Park and Winter Park Playhouse teamed up in 2024 to apply for an $8 million Tourist Development Tax grant. With the addition of individual donors, that funding allowed the Playhouse to not only remodel its facility, but to acquire the property as well.
Construction began last November, but the Playhouse didn’t miss its season. Five musicals and other events were performed at Orlando Shakes while renovations occurred.
“In the past 25 years, we’ve successfully produced 135 main stage musicals, 171 cabarets, 56 special events and eight new musical festivals, which is an international festival known around the world,” said Heather Alexander, executive director of the Playhouse. “We believe that art matters. We are not an exclusive theater. We are an inclusive community gathering space.”
Next up at the new space is a sold-out grand opening gala on July 17, then the 26-27 kicks off on August 6 with the opening of “Never Can Say Goodbye: The 70’s Beehive Musical.”