New cabaret space at Winter Park Playhouse.
AFTER A LONG JOURNEY THROUGH RENOVATIONS, THE WINTER PARK PLAYHOUSE IS READY TO TAKE CENTER STAGE ONCE AGAIN, opening its 2026-2027 season with a renewed sense of purpose, a refreshed venue and a promise to deliver the intimate, professional musical theater experience that has become its hallmark.
The season marks a new chapter for the beloved Central Florida theater, which has reopened in its newly renovated home with expanded seating, improved accessibility and a lineup designed to celebrate both longtime supporters and new audiences.
The opening production, Never Can Say Goodbye, serves as a fitting statement for the organization.
“We cannot say goodbye to our loyal patrons, donors and visitors,” says Lisa Melillo, director of marketing and public relations. “We’re here now in our beautiful new theater, ready to entertain, uplift and inspire.”
The renovation has transformed the audience experience. Capacity has increased by 50 seats, bringing the theater to 171 seats, while a new assistive listening system provides greater accessibility for patrons who are hearing impaired. Those upgrades reflect the organization’s broader commitment to ensuring more people can enjoy live musical theater.
New theatre seats at Winter Park Playhouse.
Beyond its Mainstage productions, The Winter Park Playhouse continues expanding its artistic reach through new community partnerships. One of its newest initiatives, Sounds of the World, highlights performers with diverse cultural voices who may not otherwise have a traditional performance platform. Presented in collaboration with the Winter Park Public Library and Barbara Chandler Productions, the free series invites audiences to experience a wider range of musical traditions while strengthening connections throughout the community.
One of the theater’s signature events also returns next summer. The Florida Festival of New Musicals, held annually in June, remains one of the few festivals of its kind in the country. During the four-day event, audiences attend staged readings of original musicals that have never been fully produced, then provide feedback directly to the writers and composers. The workshop-style format allows new works to evolve while giving theatergoers a rare opportunity to influence the creative process.
For Melillo, that combination of established productions and emerging voices reflects what makes The Winter Park Playhouse unique.
Founded in 2002, The Winter Park Playhouse is Central Florida’s only professional musical theatre dedicated to year-round programming.
Most importantly, she hopes audiences leave with exactly what live theater has always offered.
“We strive to uplift, inspire and entertain people, helping them forget their troubles for a moment in time while enjoying a fabulous professional show right here in Central Florida,” she says. “We hope they leave with a song in their heart.”
With a revitalized venue, expanded programming and a renewed commitment to accessibility and community engagement, The Winter Park Playhouse enters its 2026-2027 season eager to welcome audiences back for another year of affordable, professional musical theater in the heart of Winter Park.