All cabarets for the 2025-2026 season will be held in the Mandell Theatre at Orlando Shakes. All seats will be a ticketed admission. Drinks are not included in the ticket price but are available for purchase at the lobby bar.

Tonya Phillips Staples

Live performances: April 22 & 23, 2026 at 7:30pm

Virtual encore viewing: May 8–11, 2026

Tonya Phillips Staples is back on the cabaret stage at The Winter Park Playhouse with her latest solo cabaret Blues, Jazz & Soul. Joseph Jevanni will accompany on piano. The Playhouse cabarets are currently being performed in The Mandell Theater at Orlando Shakes, located at 812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803.

Join Tonya for a powerful cabaret filled with soul-stirring classics as she take audiences on a journey through time, performing hits like "Hound Dog," "Miss Celie's Blues," "Cry Me A River," "Give Me One Reason," and more!

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 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, and the national tour of Beehive: The 60s Musical. She was also in 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 for 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.

The Winter Park Playhouse Spotlight Cabarets are being performed inside the Mandell Theater at Orlando Shakes located at 812 E. Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803. Tickets are $23 and all seats are reserved.

The cabaret will be filmed and available to enjoy virtually Friday, May 8th through Monday, May 11th, 2026. A private link will be sent at 5:00 pm on Friday, May 8th, and will be valid for 4 days. Virtual tickets are $23 and can be purchased online or by calling the box office.