PARDON OUR DUST
With financial support from the City of Orlando, Orlando Shakes is undergoing renovations to refurbish the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center! We look forward to bringing live theater back to our stages with the opening of “A Christmas Carol” this November!
This project is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program.
Stay tuned for updates on our transformation and get ready for a spectacular year here at Shakes!
ORLANDO SHAKES ANNOUNCES 37TH SEASON
Central Florida’s leading professional regional theater returns with an eight-show season of “Passion & Pulitzers” following building renovations of the Lowndes Shakespeare Center
ORLANDO, Fla. — Two Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, a popular annual holiday tradition, and Shakespeare’s most famous love story will highlight Orlando Shakes’ 2025-2026 season, it was announced today.
Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF, Central Florida’s premiere professional regional theater, will feature five productions as part of its Signature Series, two children’s shows, and its Christmas time audience favorite, A Christmas Carol.
“While we shortened our current (36th) season due to building renovations that impacted the entire Center, we are so excited to come back bigger and better in 2025-26, with a lineup of passion and Pulitzers” said Jim Helsinger, who will be entering his 31st season as artistic director with Orlando Shakes.
Our mainstage season will kick off in August with Anna in the Tropics, the Pulitzer Prize winning drama of love, longing and betrayal set in a Cuban cigar factory in Ybor City, 1929. . In September, the ‘fang-tastic,’ hilarious Off-Broadway hit, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors opens and runs through Halloween, while our first children’s show of the season, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, begins in October. Our annual holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol closes out calendar year 2025 with performances from late-November through Christmas Eve.
We kick off 2026 in January with Shakespeare’s tragic story about forbidden love, Romeo and Juliet, followed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning sizzling cookout comedy, Fat Ham, an uproarious southern-fried take on Hamlet. in March. Our season ends in April 2026 with our popular Fire and Reign series, a Bare Bard / Original Practices production of the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI Part 3: The Rise of Richard, and our final children’s show, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
PlayFest, our two weekend festival of new plays that features several readings of raw, unproduced works, also returns to Orlando Shakes the weekends of October 31-November 2 and November 7-9. And our Concert Series brings regionally-and-nationally-known entertainers to our Margeson Theater stage with four weekend performances throughout the season, including a special Valentine’s weekend schedule of events. (Concert Series details to be released soon.)
“Presenting such an incredible season is so uplifting,” said executive director Cheryl Collins. “With such a fun combination of award-winning dramas and comedies, love stories, fun children’s productions and a sensational holiday classic, we truly will have something for everybody to enjoy.”
Current Orlando Shakes Signature Series subscribers can currently renew subscriptions in-person at their scheduled performance during Welcome to Matteson!, or by calling the Box Office at 407-447-1700. New subscriptions will go on sale in May, as will single tickets and Choose Your Own packages.
2025-2026 titles and dates, as well as renewal and on-sale dates, are subject to change. Additional information about the season, including creative teams and casting, will be announced at a later date.
Orlando Shakes’ 37th Season | 2025-26
SIGNATURE SERIES
Anna in the Tropics
By Nilo Cruz
August 27 – September 21, 2025
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
By Gordon Greenberg & Steve Rosen
September 24 – November 2, 2025
Romeo & Juliet
By William Shakespeare
January 14 – February 8, 2026
Fat Ham
By James Ijames
March 4 – March 29
Henry VI Part 3: The Rise of Richard
By William Shakespeare
April 1 – 19, 2026
CHILDREN’S SERIES
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
Based on four of Eric Carle’s timeless stories
October 14 – November 9, 2025
Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Based on the book by Mo Willems
April 14 – May 8, 2026
SPECIAL PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS
A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens | Adapted by Jim Helsinger
November 26 – December 24, 2025
Massey Services Opening Nights
Every opening Friday night of the season becomes a not-to-miss party starting 90 minutes before the curtain goes up! Featuring a live musical guest, a delicious restaurant partner for small bites, and an exclusive pre-show chat with each production’s creative team. Entering its fourth season as a staple of Orlando Shakes’ Opening Nights, the party continues bigger and better in our 37th season.
37th Season Gala
Save the date now for our annual fundraising extravaganza – Sunday, March 22, 2026.
All shows are subject to rights pending and/or changes in production schedules.
ABOUT ORLANDO SHAKES
Currently in its 36th season, Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF is Central Florida’s leading non-profit professional theater, featuring classic, contemporary, and children’s plays at the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Conveniently located in Loch Haven Cultural Park, just minutes from the heart of Orlando’s Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village Main Street entertainment districts, Orlando Shakes is one of the region’s top date-night destinations. Visit OrlandoShakes.org to learn more about our annual Signature Series, Children’s Series, PlayFest, concert series, and immersive educational programming.
** Orlando Shakes is sponsored in part by the City of Orlando, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida. Orlando Shakes is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program. Orlando Shakes is supported by United Arts of Central Florida, host of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com. **
The mission of Orlando Shakes is to enrich our community with engaging professional theater, inspiring educational experiences, and thought-provoking new plays.
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” – The Tempest
ORLANDO SHAKES WELCOMES CHERYL COLLINS AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DATE: February 28, 2025
CONTACT: Michael Laderman, Director of Public Relations
PHONE: 407-447-1700, ext. 250
EMAIL: MichaelL@OrlandoShakes.org
ORLANDO, Fla. — Cheryl Collins, known throughout Central Florida as a leading development and executive leader, has been named Executive Director of Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF, Board President A. Noni Holmes-Kidd announced today.Collins had most recently served as Director of Development and then Executive Director of Orlando Ballet (2016-2024), and spearheaded significant fundraising efforts with Orlando Health Foundation – including serving as its Foundation Vice President – for 15 years. She has been serving as Orlando Shakes’ Executive Consultant since this past December.
“We are excited to have Cheryl join us,” Holmes-Kidd said. “She is someone who understands, and has deep relationships within, the Central Florida community. As a proven leader in the arts, her leadership will help guide us to the next level.”
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Cheryl Collins as our new Executive Director,” added Board Chair Rita Lowndes. “She brings to Shakes not only exceptional experience but also extraordinary enthusiasm. Even Shakespeare would be at a loss for words to express our deep delight.”
Collins made her mark on Central Florida’s arts and culture scene by leading Orlando Ballet through the COVID-19 pandemic. She was instrumental in not only raising monies for the organization at a time when many arts organizations were struggling to survive, but also led capital project fundraising for Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre and the 2023 debut of the Company’s all new production of The Nutcracker, and helped to develop new community outreach programs that continue to this day.
“I am deeply honored to partner with Jim Helsinger and the Orlando Shakes Board of Directors to provide for the forward growth of the cultural standard bearer for Theater in Central Florida. As a premier Performing Arts Organization, raising awareness of the artistic quality of the Shakes both locally and Nationally will be first on the priority list.”
Collins received her bachelor of arts in communications from the University of Central Florida. She is a graduate of Leadership Orlando (Class 65), and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Her first day as Executive Director is today (Friday, February 28).
Artistic Director Jim Helsinger, who jointly leads Shakes with the Executive Director, said, “It has been a delight to work with Cheryl the past couple months. I look forward to building a bright future for Orlando Shakes together.”
Orlando Shakes is currently in its 36th Season, performing a six-show season of classics, contemporary, and children’s theater. Shakes also produces a new play development series as well as educational programming for the Central Florida Community.
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ABOUT ORLANDO SHAKES
Now in its 36th season, Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF is Central Florida’s leading non-profit professional regional theater, featuring classic, contemporary, and children’s plays at the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Conveniently located in Loch Haven Cultural Park, just minutes from the heart of Orlando’s Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village Main Street entertainment districts, Orlando Shakes is one of the region’s top date-night destinations. Visit OrlandoShakes.org to learn more about our annual Signature Series, Children’s Series, PlayFest, concert series, and immersive educational programming.
** Orlando Shakes is sponsored in part by the City of Orlando, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida. Orlando Shakes is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program. Orlando Shakes is supported by United Arts of Central Florida, host of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com. **
The mission of Orlando Shakes is to enrich our community with engaging professional theater, inspiring educational experiences, and thought-provoking new plays.
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” – The Tempest
Exterior Paint
While Orlando Shakes is undergoing an interior makeover, we are also enhancing our exterior facade at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center. We can’t wait for you to step into our newly refreshed and inviting space when our season begins!
Work in progress:
Complete:
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This project is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program. With financial support from The City of Orlando.Lobby Paint Refresh
Lobby renovations are in full swing!
We are refreshing our space with a vibrant new paint job, brand-new carpeting, and signage at our main entrance. As we gear up for our 36th season, our updated lobby will offer a more welcoming experience for our patrons. Debuting this season, we are introducing visual video timelines that showcase the history and archives of our theater.
This project is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program. With financial support from The City of Orlando.
