The beloved children\u2019s theater, which is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026, has experienced incredible highs and lows over the past two years.<\/p>\n
Arts organizations across Florida were dealt a blow\u00a0by Gov.\u00a0Ron DeSantis\u2019\u00a0line-item veto of<\/a>\u00a0$32 million from the budget<\/a> last year. While arts leaders are quick to say they have been underfunded for years, DeSantis\u2019 vetoes were unprecedented and left them scrambling.<\/p>\n During one tough moment last year, the Orlando Family Stage\u2019s bank accounts dropped to less than $25,000, which made Brown anxious.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe Legislature still is approaching the arts like it\u2019s entertainment and fun to have and nice to do,\u201d Brown said. \u201cBut it\u2019s education and commerce. They\u2019re not connecting that it\u2019s the social fabric of a healthy community.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u00a0received millions<\/a>\u00a0last year from Orange County\u2019s tourist development tax funding to renovate its aging building,\u00a0as well as $500,000 in August<\/a>\u00a0from longtime supporter the\u00a0Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Brown isn\u2019t 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\u2019s grant panel review at the state was canceled at the last minute.<\/p>\n \u201cIt should be a priority for our state to be making arts institutions thrive because it\u2019s generating economic development,\u201d Brown said, pointing to his payroll of nearly 250 employees last year. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of jobs. We spent over $2 million on employees last year.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s not counting the money spent on dinner, drinks or hotels when patrons catch a show, either.<\/p>\n Beyond the finances, the Orlando Family Stage must also compete for kids\u2019 attention with the Orlando theme parks and cellphones. Last year\u2019s attendance of 57,000 patrons hasn\u2019t fully rebounded from the COVID pandemic shutdown.<\/p>\n The challenges come as the theater troupe continues earning rave reviews from longtime Orlando Sentinel critic Matthew Palm for Goosebumps<\/a> and its next show<\/a>, \u201cA Charlie Brown Christmas,\u201d returning Nov. 24-Dec. 23<\/a> after a nearly sold-out run last year.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, the young Simba touring\u00a0<\/a>in Broadway\u2019s<\/a> \u201cThe Lion King,\u201d got\u00a0his start at the Orlando Family Stage.<\/p>\n Brown said he is still determined in his mission. The theater gives out free tickets through the Orange County Public Library<\/a> and offers affordable field trips for schools.<\/p>\n \u201cI want our impact to be more important than ticket sales,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n To honor its long 100-year history next year, the theater has special programming<\/a>, including holding the first-ever Florida Children\u2019s Book Festival Feb. 20-22.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFestivalgoers 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,\u201d the theater said in a press release. \u201cAs part of the festival, audiences are invited to experience two inspiring, Orlando Family Stage theatrical productions: \u2018Lilly and the Pirates,\u2019 a swashbuckling adventure about bravery and books, and \u2018Tiara\u2019s Hat Parade,\u2019 a heartfelt story of creativity, family, and finding your voice.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s history department. It will also work with the Orange County Regional History Center<\/a> to do oral histories from those with deep ties to the stage.<\/p>\n \u201cI totally believe doing anything meaningful takes a long time, right?\u201d Brown said, reflecting for a moment.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/KatCammack-DigitalAds-floridaPolitics-2025-728x90-1.jpg\")
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