Benson was no longer the Disney princess heroine. The voice behind the original Ariel in \u201cThe Little Mermaid\u201d was cast as the villain, although a funny one, in the ongoing production of \u201cInto the Woods<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Shows like Benson\u2019s are helping drive crowds into the marquee arts center in downtown Orlando and lifting the community\u2019s economy, Dr. Phillips leaders said.<\/p>\n Dr Phillips Center generated $227.6 million last year and drove $13.2 million in state and local tax revenue, the organization said in a news release this week.<\/p>\n \u201cFor more than a decade, we\u2019ve seen firsthand how the arts inspire people, bring communities together and create lasting value,\u201d said Kathy Ramsberger, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Center in a statement. \u201cThis study confirms that our impact reaches far beyond our stages\u2014supporting thousands of jobs, driving business growth, attracting visitors from around the world and helping position Central Florida as a more vibrant, competitive and connected region.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The event center draws about 910,000 visitors annually with shows between 82% and 97% at capacity, the organization said.<\/p>\n Since opening in 2014, the Dr. Phillips Center plays a major role in the region\u2019s tourism industry which is thriving post-pandemic. Tourism Economics also studied the greater Orlando\u2019s region and said the tourism industry generated a $98.6 billion impact last year from direct and indirect visitor spending in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.<\/p>\n \u201cOrlando remains the No. 1 travel destination in the country, and with that honor comes great reward,\u201d Visit Orlando CEO Casandra Matej said during Thursday\u2019s news conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MDW_728x90_2026.png\")
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