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.

ROY ALAN
(Artistic Director)

Roy Alan has been working professionally for over 50 years as a performer, director, choreographer and Artistic Director. He has been a member of Actors' Equity Association, the professional union of actors and stage managers, since 1979. His impressive career includes work on over 300 productions across the country including Broadway, national tours, regional theatre, casinos and theme parks. Broadway credits include Pirates of Penzance with Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt and Nine with Raul Julia. National Tour credits include The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Pirates of Penzance, and the pre-Broadway production of Chaplin with Anthony Newley. Roy is a co-founder of The Winter Park Playhouse and The Florida Festival of New Musicals.

HEATHER ALEXANDER
(Executive Director)

Heather Alexander received a BBA in Management from the University of North Florida and has been with The Playhouse since its inception in 2002. She has been a member of Actors' Equity Association, the professional union of actors and stage managers, since 1992. She has worked in management, sales and entertainment for 32 years. Heather has appeared in numerous stage productions and cabarets and has a variety of commercial, industrial and television credits. She is a co-founder of The Winter Park Playhouse and The Florida Festival of New Musicals.

LISA MELILLO
(Marketing & Public Relations Director)

Lisa Melillo received a BS in Communications from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and has worked with The Playhouse since 2009. She is a 30+ year veteran of both the tourism and arts & culture industries and her professional career includes: Marketing Management - The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Worldwide Sales and Marketing Director - Hard Rock Cafe International; Vice President of Sales - Planet Hollywood International; and Director of Sales - The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Central Florida.

TODD ALLEN LONG
(Box Office Director)

Todd Allen Long received a BS in Music Education from Penn State University. He has worked in administration, management, education and entertainment for nearly 30 years and has held positions with The Winter Park Playhouse, Reebok, United Way, American Pharmacists Association, and Walt Disney World.

CHRISTOPHER LEAVY
(Musical Director)

Christopher Leavy received a BA in Theatre from the University of New Hampshire and has been the resident Musical Director at the Playhouse since 2007. He is a proud member of AFM Local 389 — part of the American Federation of Musicians, the world's largest union of musicians. Chris' professional career spans over 45 years and more than 100 shows as a music director, accompanist, vocal coach, and performer. He has performed around the world and has worked locally at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Orlando Shakes, SAK Comedy Lab, Orlando Fringe Festival, and Orlando Gay Chorus.

ALAN GALLANT
(Technical Director)

Alan Gallant received an MFA in Performance from the University of Central Florida and has been with The Playhouse since 2009. He has worked across the country as an actor, technician and educator and is currently also a professor of communications and theatre at Seminole State College. Some career highlights include working with Susan Stroman on a production of Chicago and writing and performing his original one-man show An Evening with Anton Chekhov.

J. ADAM SMITH
(Audio Designer)

J. Adam Smith received a degree in Studio Recording from Full Sail University and has been working as an Audio Engineer for over 20 years. He has worked around the country with national bands, solo artists, concerts, cruise ships, theme parks, night clubs, corporate events, and theatre productions. He has also produced multimedia presentations for major corporations. Locally, he has worked with The Dr. Phillips Center, The Orlando Science Center, and the Orlando Repertory Theatre.

JESSIE STENBERG
(Graphic Designer/Marketing Assistant)

Jessie received a BA in Hospitality Management and Event Management from the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. She has been with The Winter Park Playhouse as a Box Office Associate, Executive Assistant, and Graphic Designer since 2017. She has also worked in wedding coordinating, entertainment event production, and theme park operations at Universal Studios Orlando.

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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