Photo courtesy Garden Theater
There’s nothing that I enjoy more than a good theater performance. Luckily for me, greater Orlando has much to offer when it comes to theater productions. From Broadway Across America, to local talent at community theaters, fantastic productions at the theme parks, and everything in between; Central Florida has no shortage of choices to satisfy the theater nerd within me.
One of my favorite venues is, without a doubt, the Garden Theater in the city of Winter Garden. Located on Plant Street in the downtown area, the Garden Theater was originally built in 1935 as a single-screen cinema. Believe it or not, this was the first theater in Central Florida built specifically for the “talkies.” After an almost 30-year run, it closed its doors in 1963 to then be restored and reopened by the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation in February 2008. Since then, it has graced Winter Garden with over 450 events (including theater productions, interactive movies, concerts, and more) per season, and it has become a must-see destination when visiting the charming Downtown Winter Garden area.
No matter how many shows I have seen at the Garden Theater, I always love the first moment after my ticket is scanned and I step in to find my seat. The Garden Theater is a relatively small and intimate space, but that doesn’t stop their set design and production teams from creating “magic” for each performance. Every comfortable seat feels like orchestra-center and offers the most amazing view.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to enjoy their production of the hit musical Ragtime. I was excited to see this show, as I knew nothing about the production other than a few basics. Upon arrival, the theater’s friendly staff and volunteers greeted me. I stopped by the box office to change my friend’s ticket (since she couldn’t attend), and they promptly changed it to a different date without any fuss.
A friendly volunteer helped me find my seat, and the show began without a hitch. Lighting and sound were on point, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that live piano players accompanied the vocal performances. The company of Ragtime at the Garden Theater is nothing short of extraordinary. They were able to compile a group of such outstandingly talented singers and performers that it was impossible to pick who was the best.
This show was truly incredible! Set in the turn of the 20th Century in New York, it tells the story of three different families looking for the promise of a better future in America. Ragtimeis full of compassion, courage, and laughter. I left the Garden Theater that night a little more in love with musicals (which I didn’t think was possible), and a desire to learn more about that time in America and the history behind the story.
I couldn’t recommend Garden Theater more. Every performance that I have seen always exceeds my expectations regarding show quality and production. Their mission is to “inspire a discovery through theatrical experiences that are innovative, impactful and inclusive”; and I truly feel they accomplish this and more with each production. For a small fraction of what a Broadway ticket would cost, you get a quality show and a great experience you will not forget.
Contact Information: 160 W Plant St Winter Garden, FL 34787 (407) 877-4736 www.gardentheater.org |
This post’s author: Millie Zevallos. Millie is orginally from Peru, but has been lucky enough to live in the Central Florida area for the past 19 years! She loves theme parks, our local beaches, live music, performing arts, and haunted houses. She worked as an interpreter, visiting the theme parks with Make-A-Wish families for a long time, so she can confidently say that she has ridden every single ride in Central Florida…and loved them all!
