As part of their Sounds of the World Series of events, The Winter Park Playhouse has teamed up with Barbara Chandler Productions to present Blues and Southern Soul on Thursday, October 2nd at 7:00 pm. This event will feature professional vocalist Tonya Phillips Staples with Robert Bradley accompanying on piano.
The evening will be free of charge and held at the Winter Park Public Library in their Edyth Bush Theatre at 1052 W Morse Blvd. Doors open for seating at 6:00 p.m. with the performance beginning promptly at 7:00 p.m.
A departure from the Playhouse's traditional monthly Spotlight Cabaret Series, the Sounds of the World Series is part of the theatre's community outreach celebrating different cultures, heritages, and music styles. By teaming up with Barbara Chandler Productions, this series shines a spotlight on diverse and unique talent in the Central Florida community.
Sounds of the World is sponsored in part by Orange County Government through the Arts and Cultural Affairs program, the Winter Park Community Redevelopment Agency, Division of Arts & Culture and United Arts of Central Florida. The Winter Park Library is donating their Edyth Bush Theatre to help make the performances accessible to all.
Tonya Phillips Staples, daughter of the late Reverend John P. Phillips and Doris Phillips, is a native of Winter Park, Florida. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Stetson University and along with English, sings in Italian, French, Spanish, and German. Accolades include first place excellence awards for both AKA Academy and the Orlando Opera Guild competitions. Tonya is also a former Miss Black Orlando.
As a musical theatre performer and featured vocalist who is well versed in jazz, R&B, soul, gospel and many other genres, Tonya has toured nationally and internationally. Her credits include The Color Purple, Once on the Island, the national tour of Beehive: The 60's Musical, and the original cast of 8-Track: The Sounds of the '70s where she also served as choreographer.
Tonya is currently the director and choreographer for Joyful! A Celebration of the Season at Disney's EPCOT. She is a featured vocalist at Universal Studios and Walt Disney World among others. She is an actress, arranger, songwriter, vocal instructor, voice-over artist, praise & worship leader, and motivational speaker. In Blues and Southern Soul, Tonya pays tribute to these unique types of music and their origins.
"We are thrilled to have Tonya treat the audience to an evening full of music and dance that will touch the soul and teach the origins of blues and southern soul music masterfully!" —Barbara Chandler
General Admission tickets are FREE of charge. Doors open at 6:00p.m. for a 7:00p.m. show.
The Winter Park Playhouse will host its annual fundraising gala Curtains Up! on Saturday, November 1, 2025. This year, the popular event will take place at The University Club of Winter Park and, as always, 100% of the proceeds will directly benefit the Playhouse's professional musical theatre productions on its Mainstage and the free programming the non-profit puts on in the community.
The evening will include an open bar, a catered buffet, a live auction, and a special one-of-a-kind show featuring a cast of over 20 of the area's top professional actors and musicians, all of whom will be donating their time and talent. Tickets for the event are $200 per person and include reserved seating at a selected table. The University Club is located at 841 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789.
"What a fabulous way to support a worthy non-profit that reaches so many people with their uplifting performances!" —Roger Blauvelt
The Winter Park Playhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization and one of few professional theatres exclusively dedicated to musical theatre and musical programming. Its year-round programming on the Mainstage consists of five professional productions of Off-Broadway and small cast Broadway shows. The Playhouse also produces a monthly Spotlight Cabaret Series featuring a professional performer and accompanist, as well as One-Night-Only performances headlined by nationally-popular performing groups.
Along with the events at the theatre itself, the mission-based non-profit brings fully-funded, free arts programming to underserved children at Title l elementary schools in the area and to the facility-bound and economically-disadvantaged senior citizen population in our community.