A Christmas Carol returns for an annual tradition everyone can enjoy! Photo courtesy Orlando Shakes
IN EVERY SEASON, ORLANDO SHAKES ASKS AUDIENCES TO STEP INTO SOMEONE ELSE’S WORLD. Sometimes that world is a Shakespearean kingdom on the brink of collapse. Other times it’s a tiny Canadian town welcoming thousands of stranded airline passengers, a mischievous vampire spoof, or the simple adventures of a beloved children’s book character.
For the 2026-2027 season, those worlds may look very different on the surface, but they all share one common thread: connection.
“Our 2026-2027 season celebrates the timeless power of storytelling to connect us,” says Jennifer Neumann, director of marketing and communications for Orlando Shakes. “Whether it’s the true story of strangers coming together in Come From Away, the ambition and political intrigue of Richard III, the wit and romance of As You Like It, the hilarious reinvention of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, or the wonder of Corduroy for young audiences, every production explores what it means to be human—or a vampire.”
It’s a fitting theme for one of Central Florida’s most enduring cultural institutions, one that has built its reputation on making classic theater feel accessible while embracing contemporary works that resonate with today’s audiences.
During a conversation about the upcoming season, Neumann described a lineup that reflects Orlando Shakes’ dual identity: a company rooted in Shakespeare while continually expanding its reach through Broadway-caliber musicals, family productions and thought-provoking modern plays.
“At Orlando Shakes, we believe great stories don’t belong to one generation or one audience,” Neumann says. “This season reflects our commitment to producing world-class theater that is entertaining, thought-provoking and welcoming to everyone—from lifelong theater lovers to families experiencing live theater for the very first time.”
That commitment is evident throughout the season. Shakespeare remains at the company’s core with Richard III and As You Like It, but audiences will also experience the Orlando premiere of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away, the family favorite Corduroy and the powerful drama The Mountaintop. Together, the productions span centuries of storytelling while speaking to issues that remain deeply relevant today.
Asked if there was one production she would recommend to someone attending Orlando Shakes for the first time this season, Neumann admits choosing a single show isn’t easy.
Each production offers something distinctive, she says, but Come From Away occupies a special place in the season.
The acclaimed musical tells the true story of 6,579 airline passengers diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Overnight, a town of fewer than 10,000 residents became host to thousands of strangers from around the world.
For Orlando Shakes, the story carries additional significance because the company will present a special Sept. 11 performance accompanied by a fundraiser honoring first responders.
“At a time when the world often feels divided, its message of kindness, generosity and the extraordinary impact ordinary people can have on one another is as relevant today as ever,” Neumann says. “Audiences laugh, cry and leave inspired. It’s the kind of theatrical experience that stays with you long after the curtain falls.”
The exterior of the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Photo by Roberto Gonzalez.
The production also represents one of the theater’s most ambitious technical undertakings to date.
While audiences will see an elegantly simple stage, the logistics behind the performance are anything but.
Neumann explains that Come From Away features “12 actors playing 84 characters and 14 accents, eight musicians, 12 chairs and two tables on a brand-new revolving stage installed for this production—and the true story of 38 planes, 6,579 stranded travelers and one town that welcomed the world.”
That balancing act—creating productions that appear effortless while requiring extraordinary precision behind the scenes—defines much of Orlando Shakes’ creative philosophy this season.
“Artistically, our season balances beloved classics with contemporary works and Broadway-caliber productions,” Neumann says. “We’re constantly asking how we can create experiences that feel welcoming, exciting and unforgettable for every guest who walks through our doors.”
The same spirit of innovation can be found in Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, making its Orlando premiere this season.
Far removed from the traditional gothic tale, the production is a whirlwind of physical comedy, rapid-fire humor and theatrical sleight of hand.
Neumann describes it as “a quick-change extravaganza,” with actors changing costumes in as little as four seconds—a feat requiring split-second timing from performers, costume crews and stage management alike.
Then there is Shakespeare.
For many theaters, the Bard’s works can feel intimidating to modern audiences. Orlando Shakes has spent decades proving otherwise.
Neumann says making Shakespeare’s language accessible remains one of the company’s most rewarding artistic challenges.
“Making Shakespeare’s language and stories come to life for a modern audience is always challenging and beautiful to behold as it happens,” she says.
This season’s Richard III carries particular significance because it concludes Orlando Shakes’ long-running eight-play “Fire and Reign” cycle chronicling England’s Wars of the Roses.
For theatergoers who have followed the series over several seasons, the production serves as both a dramatic finale and a celebration of one of the company’s most ambitious artistic endeavors.
History also plays an important role elsewhere in the season.
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Orlando Shakes has chosen productions that invite audiences to reflect on defining moments in American life.
Alongside the Sept. 11 commemoration surrounding Come From Away, the theater will stage The Mountaintop, Katori Hall’s acclaimed imagining of the final evening of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, timed around the April 4 anniversary of his assassination.
For Neumann, those productions reinforce theater’s ability to create empathy by placing audiences inside stories they may know intellectually but have never experienced emotionally.
“We hope audiences leave feeling connected—to the stories, to one another and to our community,” she says. “Theater has a unique ability to make us laugh together, reflect together and see the world through someone else’s perspective.”
That sense of connection isn’t reserved for adults.
Whether families attend Corduroy together, longtime subscribers revisit Shakespeare or newcomers discover live theater through a Broadway musical, Orlando Shakes hopes every audience member leaves with a shared experience.
“Whether someone attends a Shakespeare comedy, a Broadway musical, or brings their child to see Corduroy, we want every guest to leave feeling inspired, entertained and reminded of the importance of empathy, imagination and shared experiences,” Neumann says.
A Christmas Carol returns for an annual tradition everyone can enjoy! Photo courtesy Orlando Shakes
Ultimately, the theater measures success by what happens after the curtain falls.
“If people walk out talking about the performance all the way home, we’ve done our job,” Neumann says.
Looking beyond the stage, Orlando Shakes continues expanding community partnerships, educational programming and opportunities to welcome first-time theatergoers. Those efforts reflect a broader vision of what a local theater can be—not simply a venue for performances, but a gathering place where stories become shared experiences.
“We’re expanding our reach by welcoming new audiences, strengthening community partnerships and creating experiences that are accessible and engaging for all ages,” Neumann says.
That philosophy may be the clearest expression of what Orlando Shakes hopes to accomplish this season.
“We hope Orlando audiences are excited because this is more than a lineup of productions,” Neumann says. “It’s an invitation to experience theater that entertains, challenges and brings people together.”
In an era when genuine connection can sometimes feel elusive, Orlando Shakes is betting that one of the oldest art forms still has something essential to offer.
After all, great stories never go out of style. They simply find new audiences waiting to hear them.