About Us

The Garden Theatre hosts live plays, concerts, movies, and more to the residents of and visitors to the city of Winter Garden.

Garden Marquee at Night

Our Vision

To present and create great art that expands the radius of our reach and the scope of our impact.

Our Mission

Provide programming from the spectrum of the arts to engage, entertain, educate, and inspire all who experience it.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

While inclusion and diversity have always been part of the foundation of our Garden Theatre community and business practices; the Garden Theatre Staff and its Board of Directors will continue to value Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as one of Central Florida’s biggest assets in arts, performance, and cultural richness. We will maintain and grow this as a guiding principle.

We thrive on the differences each of us offer. Our collective experiences, backgrounds, skills, and unique abilities enroll a pallet of artist, production crew, vendors, patrons, sponsors, and organization contributors.

As a starting point for forming actions, the Garden Theatre recognizes the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This statement evolves as we learn, grow, and hopefully serve as a business leader in Central Florida.

DE&I VALUE STATEMENT

We believe and understand that the foundation of a vibrant, thriving theatre and performing arts venue is the cross-pollination of diverse programming contributors and artists; the cultivation of inclusive practices and strategies; and the development of a board of directors, team of employees, passion driven volunteers, and a community vested partner/supplier base who share in these values.

Our History

Garden Theatre Under Construction in 1935

1935

Originally built in 1935 as a single-screen cinema, the Garden Theatre was the first in Central Florida built for “talkies,” and was a gathering place for locals to watch the latest newsreels and films of the day. Constructed in the Mediterranean Revival style, the interior of the theatre was modeled after a Spanish courtyard with “Romeo & Juliet” balconies, Spanish tile roof, and a dark blue ceiling resplendent with “stars.”

Garden Theater Interior in 1955

1963

The theatre underwent several renovations until closing in 1963. Soon after, the interior was completely removed and the sloped floor was covered with cement to level the surface to be used by Pounds Motor Company.

Current Interior of the Garden Theatre

2008

Through the tireless efforts of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, and Bert, Barbara, and Becky Roper, the restored Garden Theatre reopened in February 2008.

By restoring its architectural charm and re-introducing well-loved family programming as well as bringing innovative and lesser-known works to the stage, the Garden has been instrumental in the revitalization of the downtown historic district.

today

Today

In the many seasons since, this cultural performing arts center has welcomed thousands of patrons through its doors to enjoy live plays, concerts, movies, dance events, Broadway talent, and educational opportunities. It is also a highly desired rental space for meetings and special events.

Welcome to The Garden.

Production History

2021-22 Season

Man of La Mancha

Looped

Big the Musical

The Mountaintop

Parade

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

On Your Feet: The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan

Encore: An Evening with Kelli O’Hara

The Mountaintop
Godspell

2020-21 Season

Hello, Dolly!

Ugly Lies the Bone

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical

A Class Act

A Raisin in the Sun

Godspell

The Bodyguard: The Musical

2019-20 Season

Ragtime: The Musical

Deathtrap

A Christmas Carol

Violet

Ben Hur

Ragtime
Encore Chita Rivera

2018-19 Season

Gypsy

The Birds

A Christmas Story

The Legend of Georgia McBride

1984

Billy Elliot: The Musical

Flashdance: The Musical

Encore: An Evening with Chita Rivera

2017-18 Season

Jesus Christ Superstar

The Odd Couple (Male & Female Versions)

Annie

The Lieutenant of Inishmore

A Tennessee Walk

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Xanadu

Encore: Garden Theatre’s 10th Anniversary with Joel Grey

Annie
Into the Woods

2016-17 Season

Bonnie & Clyde

The Glass Menagerie

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Destiny of Desire

Into the Woods

Encore: Conductor Matt Catingub & Orchestra, a Tribute to the Music of Chicago

2015-16 Season

La Cage aux Folles

Carved: A Pumpkin Musical Adventure

Miracle on 34th Street

Hands on a Hardbody

The Whale

Singin’ in the Rain

Encore with Maureen McGovern

La Cage
Sweeney Todd

2014-15 Season

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet St.

Christmas by Committee: A Musical

Doubt, A Parable

Boeing Boeing

Peter Pan

Encore with Sam Harris

2013-14 Season

Alice Lost in Wonderland

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

33 Variations

Hairspray

Encore with Rachel Potter

Hairspray
Children of a Lesser God

2012-13 Season

Legally Blonde

A Christmas Survival Guide

Biloxi Blues

Children of a Lesser God

Wizard of Oz

Encore with Fernando Varela & Friends

2011-12 Season

Little Shop of Horrors

The Diviners

The Bikinis

The Foreigner

The Music Man

Encore: Le Cirque de Jardin, An Evening of Jazz with Sisaundra Lewis

Little Shop of Horrors
The Sound of Music

2010-11 Season

Noises Off

A Christmas Carol

Shhhh!

Greater Tuna

The Sound of Music

2009-10 Season

Forever Plaid

Crimes of the Heart

SLEIGH

Parallel Lives

Driving Miss Daisy

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
The Iliad, The Odyssey, and All of Greek Mythology

2008-09 Season

L’Ange Avec Les Fleurs

Zombies from the Beyond

It’s a Wonderful Life

Parallel Lives

SNACK

The Iliad, Odyssey, and All of Greek Mythology

Our Town

I Do, I Do

2008 Season

The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)

Steel Magnolias

SPORT

Tuesdays with Morrie

Moonlight & Magnolias

The Musical of Musicals
Skip to content