About Us

Founded in 2002, The Winter Park Playhouse is Central Florida's professional musical theatre and one of few in the state. It is a 501(c)(3), non-profit charitable organization dedicated to enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors in Central Florida by producing and developing year-round professional musical theatre programming, in-house and out in the community, that entertains, uplifts, and inspires.

Located minutes from downtown Orlando and blocks from beautiful Park Avenue, the Playhouse is known for its high quality entertainment, welcoming atmosphere and exceptional customer service. The intimacy of the 123-seat theater engages patrons in a unique up-close-and-personal experience.

Affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, the professional union of actors and stage managers, the Playhouse maintains high standards of artistic integrity and proudly employs professional actors, musicians and technicians for each production. The year-round programming includes:

The Mainstage Series
An annual Series of dynamic musicals and revues, new or rarely produced in the region, which feature professional actors and musicians.

The Spotlight Cabaret Series
A monthly Series of new cabaret premieres which showcase a different professional singer in a 55-minute "New York-style" cabaret in the beautiful lobby bar.

REACH
An educational outreach program which engages underserved children in quality musical theatre experiences (live performances and classes) at their day nurseries, schools and community centers.

SHARE
An adult outreach program that brings uplifting, professional musical theatre performances to homebound seniors in life care communities.

Florida Festival of New Musicals
A new annual festival, the only one in Florida and one of two in the Southeastern Region, which is being developed to help advance musical theatre by showcasing new musical works and fostering the artistic growth of composers and playwrights.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

	Board Members	Professional Affiliations
	Roger Blauvelt, J.D. [President]	Attorney; Former counsel to FDIC
	Jocelyn Bouchard [Secretary]	Community Volunteer
	George Fender [Treasurer]	CPA, Grennan & Fender
	Dr. Judith A. Marlowe, PhD. [Past President]	Retired Audiologist; Adjunct Honors Professor, Adjunct Professor in Masters of Ethical Leadership Program, & Board of Trustees Chair, Thomas More College
	Roy Alan	Artistic Director, Winter Park Playhouse
	Heather Alexander [Ex Officio]	Executive Director, Winter Park Playhouse
	Gordon H. Blitch	Retired CPA; Assistant Director Economic Development, City of Winter Park
	Cathleen Cooper	Public Relations, American Airlines
	Rep. Anna V. Eskamani	State House Representative, District 47
	Cris Heceta	Director, Financial Close & Reporting, MindStream Analytics
	Nathaniel Howard, Jr.	President/Founder, Fade2Blac Video & Event Productions, Inc.
	Dr. Armon Jadidian	Doctor of Otolaryngology

Directors Emeritus
Carrie Frye		Retired Educator, Delta Kappa Gamma officer
Anne van den Berg, J.D.		Community Volunteer
Mr. Michael Edwards		Professional Actor and Director

STAFF

Administrative Team
Executive Director:	Heather Alexander
Marketing & PR Director:	Lisa Melillo
Box Office Director:	Todd Allen Long
Administrative Assistant:	Hannah McGinley Lemasters
Administrative Assistant:	Robert Derby
Marketing Assistant:	Jessica Stenberg
Production Team
Artistic Director:	Roy Alan
Music Director:	Christopher Leavy
Technical Director:	Alan Gallant
Production Manager:	Conny Williamson
Sound Designer:	J. Adam Smith
Community Outreach
Outreach Coordinator:	Julie Snyder Carr
THEATRE HISTORY

The Winter Park Playhouse brings people together and touches the heart in ways that significantly enhance the quality of life in this community. We exist because of the ongoing passion, dedication and generosity of our amazing staff, donors, patrons and volunteers. The founders are not philanthropists-simply artists who want to touch as many lives as possible through the joy of musical theatre.

When The Winter Park Playhouse opened in 2002, it was located in the back of a performing arts school and had a 4’ x 8’ platform stage, 60 folding metal chairs, no curtains, no sound system, and minimal lighting. Within 6 months, we had cultivated enough support to build a small stage, purchase additional lighting equipment and seating and present its first season of three productions.

Year after year, we've consistently broadened our audience and expanded our programming. On August 15, 2009, we moved into the current location allowing us to better serve the community. Today, the Winter Park Playhouse presents six mainstage musical productions, monthly cabarets, quarterly special events, the Florida Festival of New Musicals, and numerous community outreach programs.

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