PARDON OUR DUST
With financial support from the City of Orlando, Orlando Shakes is undergoing renovations to refurbish the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center! We look forward to bringing live theater back to our stages with the opening of “A Christmas Carol” this November!
This project is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program.
Stay tuned for updates on our transformation and get ready for a spectacular year here at Shakes!
THE CITY OF ORLANDO PROCLAIMS “JIM HELSINGER 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION DAY”
JUNE 10, 2025
CONTACT: Isabella Rodrigues, Public Relations and Marketing Manager
EMAIL: IsabellaR@OrlandoShakes.org
Artistic Director Jim Helsinger honored with “Jim Helsinger 30th Anniversary Celebration Day” on June 2, 2025, to celebrate three decades of outstanding leadership.
ORLANDO, Fla. — In recognition of three decades of excellent leadership and dedication at Orlando Shakes, the City of Orlando officially proclaimed June 2, 2025, as “Jim Helsinger 30th Anniversary Celebration Day.”
Before becoming Orlando Shakes’ Artistic Director in 1995, Jim acted in various shows at the then Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo & Juliet. Throughout his leadership tenure, Jim has directed/produced over 256 mainstage productions at Orlando Shakes, including his adaptations of A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein, The Modern Prometheus, and Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker.
“The City of Orlando is proud to join in the recognition of Jim’s 30 years of leadership,” wrote Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We thank him for his countless contributions to our community and express our collective gratitude for his passion and commitment which have helped to shape a more vibrant and welcoming community for all.; now, therefore, I, Buddy Dyer, Mayor of the City of Orlando; do hereby proclaim June 2, 2025, as ‘Jim Helsinger 30th Anniversary Celebration Day’ in the City of Orlando.”
“It is a pleasure working alongside Jim,” said Executive Director Cheryl Collins. “His artistic leadership, collaborative spirit, and dedication to Orlando Shakes and the greater arts community have left an incredible mark. This celebration is a great honor.”
As a member of both the Actors’ Equity Association and National New Play Network, Jim is committed to advocating for professional actors and the arts, as well as new play development. He is also a valued faculty member of the University of Central Florida’s Theatre Department, where he’s taught over 2,340 pupils, 28 graduating classes, and over 100 Master of Fine Arts students.
“There are so many people to thank for the growth and success of Orlando Shakes – our audience, donors, staff, and volunteers,” said Jim Helsinger. “I’m so proud to be a part of it all, and I am deeply moved by this honor and recognition.”
Jim remains a driving force at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, where his passion for Shakespeare and thought-provoking new plays continues to shine. Orlando Shakes and the City of Orlando proudly celebrate Jim Helsinger’s 30th anniversary as Artistic Director.
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ABOUT ORLANDO SHAKES
Now in its 37th season, Orlando Shakes, in partnership with UCF, is Central Florida’s largest non-profit professional theater, featuring classic, contemporary, and children’s plays at the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Conveniently located in Loch Haven Cultural Park, just minutes from the heart of Orlando’s Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village Main Street entertainment districts, Orlando Shakes is one of the region’s top date-night destinations. Visit OrlandoShakes.org to learn more about our annual Signature Series, Children’s Series, PlayFest, concert series, and immersive educational programming.** Orlando Shakes is sponsored in part by the City of Orlando, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs, and by United Arts of Central Florida, your local agency for the arts. Additional support is also provided by generous individual donors.
The mission of Orlando Shakes is to enrich our community with engaging professional theater, inspiring educational experiences, and thought-provoking new plays.
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” – The Tempest
AWARD-WINNER NAT ZEGREE ADDS FOURTH PERFORMANCE TO ORLANDO SHAKES’ CONCERT SERIES
MAY 21, 2025
CONTACT: Isabella Rodrigues, Public Relations and Marketing Manager
EMAIL: IsabellaR@OrlandoShakes.org
AWARD-WINNER NAT ZEGREE ADDS FOURTH PERFORMANCE TO ORLANDO SHAKES’ CONCERT SERIES
First three shows of multi-talented showman sold out weeks before run;
Tickets now on sale for Saturday, June 7 at 3 p.m.
ORLANDO, Fla. — After selling out all three upcoming performances at Orlando Shakes, multitalented showman Nat Zegree has added a fourth performance of The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Orlando Shakes.
Tickets for The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll are now on sale for Saturday, June 7 at 3 p.m. His original show lineup on June 6-8 sold out well in advance.
“We are happy to announce an additional performance for Nat Zegree at Orlando Shakes,” said Artistic Director Jim Helsinger. “The demand has been very high, and we’re thrilled our patrons are just as excited as we are to witness Nat Zegree’s return to Shakes.”
The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll is part of Orlando Shakes’ 2025-26 concert series that features some of Central Florida’s finest entertainers performing in the Margeson Theater at Orlando Shakes, seating nearly 350 people.
Zegree is a multi-talented showman with such credits as playing Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet for over 300 performances, Mozart in a live music production of Amadeus, and as a virtual singer for the Broadway hit Dear Evan Hansen. Zegree has also written 3 original musicals with Eric Holmes (CBS’s The Good Fight), including Fly More Than You Fall, which has received sold-out praise and 11 Broadway World awards in its pre-broadway engagements. This accomplished composer/recording artist will take Orlando audiences on a musical journey like no other in The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
“To see such an overwhelming demand for my show truly warms my heart,” said Nat Zegree. “I love the people of Orlando, and I love Orlando Shakes, so I could not be more excited to come rock it out with so many wonderful people! It’s going to be an absolute blast, guaranteed.”
Orlando Shakes will welcome the Bahamian Theater group, Shakespeare in Paradise, and their Music of the Bahamas August 2-3. A local favorite, Ricky Sylvia and The Buzzcatz, will perform two shows on September 27-28, and the concert series will wrap up with a Valentine’s Celebration February 14-15. Tickets are still available for all remaining concerts. To order, call 407-447-1700×1 or visit here.
The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll is sponsored by Janet & Bob Ziomek with additional support from Alvin Wang & Lorrie Culbertson.
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ABOUT ORLANDO SHAKES
Now in its 37th season, Orlando Shakes, in partnership with UCF, is Central Florida’s largest non-profit professional theater, featuring classic, contemporary, and children’s plays at the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Conveniently located in Loch Haven Cultural Park, just minutes from the heart of Orlando’s Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village Main Street entertainment districts, Orlando Shakes is one of the region’s top date-night destinations. Visit OrlandoShakes.org to learn more about our annual Signature Series, Children’s Series, PlayFest, concert series, and immersive educational programming.** Orlando Shakes is sponsored in part by the City of Orlando, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs, and by United Arts of Central Florida, your local agency for the arts. Additional support is also provided by generous individual donors.
The mission of Orlando Shakes is to enrich our community with engaging professional theater, inspiring educational experiences, and thought-provoking new plays.
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” – The Tempest
Orlando Shakes Alumni Present an Original Practice Production of Hamlet
Contact: Keith Traver
Education Coordinator, Orlando Shakes
407-447-1700 ext. 254
KeithT@orlandoshakes.org
ORLANDO, FL (April 23, 2025) – Alumni of The Young Company (TYC), Orlando Shakes’ summer intensive for high school students, will present an original practice production of Hamlet as a fundraiser for the Orlando Shakes Education Department. The performance will take place Friday, July 25 at 7:30 PM at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center.
TYC is one of the longest-running programs in Orlando Shakes’ education department, established in 1992. Conceived in 1991 by Dr. Stuart Omans and Judith Rubinger, TYC was founded as the primary educational branch of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. The program serves high school students from economically diverse backgrounds who are inclined toward the performing arts, using theater to support their emotional, social, and academic growth.
The production will follow original practice techniques, including limited rehearsal, onstage prompters, live music, and audience interaction. All proceeds from the performance will support Orlando Shakes’ educational programming.
Tickets will be available at www.orlandoshakes.org/upcoming-events/ or by calling the box office at 407-447-1700 ex 1. For more information, click HERE.
About Orlando Shakes
In partnership with the University of Central Florida, Orlando Shakes produces classic, contemporary, and children’s theater while fostering new play development. The organization provides professional training for artists of all ages through its educational programs.
ORLANDO SHAKES ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO 37TH SEASON
Central Florida’s leading professional regional theater adds ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles,’ moves ‘Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors’ to 2026-27 season
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Shakes has made a change to its 2025-26 season lineup, moving one show to the following 2026-27 season while replacing it with another fan-favorite.
The rights to Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors have changed and it is no longer available for production in Orlando in the fall of 2025. Therefore, Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF, Central Florida’s premiere professional regional theater, has moved its production of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors to Fall 2026.
In its place, Orlando Shakes will now feature The Hound of the Baskervilles, the most popular play produced in Shakes’ Goldman Theater. In this comic spoof, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson investigate the mysterious case of the Baskerville family. Holmes is on the case in this hilarious madcap take on the most famous detective of all time. “We are so excited to bring back this popular comic spoof,” said Jim Helsinger, Orlando Shakes’ artistic director, “a trio of actors play a dozen roles in a production that is a master class in funny and perfect for the Halloween season!”
The Hound of the Baskervilles will take the spot left open by Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, running September 24 through November 2, 2025. The upcoming season will still feature five productions as part of its Signature Series, two children’s shows, and its Christmas time audience favorite, A Christmas Carol.
Orlando Shakes’ mainstage season will kick off in August with Anna in the Tropics, the Pulitzer Prize winning drama of love, longing and betrayal set in a Cuban cigar factory in Ybor City, 1929. In September, The Hound of the Baskervilles will run through Halloween, while the first children’s show of the season, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, begins in October. The annual holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol closes out calendar year 2025 with performances from late-November through Christmas Eve.
2026 kicks off in January with Shakespeare’s tragic story about forbidden love, Romeo and Juliet, followed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning sizzling cookout comedy, Fat Ham, an uproarious southern-fried take on Hamlet in March. The season ends in April 2026 with the popular Fire and Reign series, a Bare Bard / Original Practices production of the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI Part 3: The Rise of Richard, and the final children’s show, DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL!
PlayFest, the two weekend festival of new plays that features readings of raw, unproduced works, also returns to Orlando Shakes the weekends of October 24-26, and October 31-November 2. And the Concert Series brings regionally-and-nationally-known entertainers to our Margeson Theater stage with four weekend performances throughout the season, including Nat Zegree (Million Dollar Quartet’s Jerry Lee Lewis) live for three shows (“The History of Rock ‘N Roll”) June 6-8, 2025. (Full Concert Series details to be released soon.)
Current Orlando Shakes Signature Series subscribers still have a few weeks to renew their season tickets. New subscriptions will go on sale in May, as will single tickets and Choose Your Own packages.
** 2025-2026 titles and dates, as well as renewal and on-sale dates, are subject to change.
Orlando Shakes’ (Revised) 37th Season | 2025-26
SIGNATURE SERIES
Anna in the Tropics
By Nilo Cruz
August 27 – September 21, 2025
The Hound of the Baskervilles
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson
September 24 – November 2, 2025
Romeo & Juliet
By William Shakespeare
January 15 – February 8, 2026
Fat Ham
By James Ijames
March 4 – March 29
Henry VI, Part 3: The Rise of Richard
By William Shakespeare
April 1 – 19, 2026
CHILDREN’S SERIES
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
Created by Jonathan Rockefeller
Based on the books by Eric Carle
Produced by Rockefeller Studios
Original Direction / Staging – Jonathan Rockefeller
Composition & Sound Design – Nate Edmondson
Puppets created by The Rock Shop
October 15 – November 9, 2025DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL!
Based on the book by Mo Willems
Script by Mo Willems and Mr. Warburton
Lyrics by Mo Willems
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Dramaturgy by Megan Alrutz
April 14 – May 8, 2026
SPECIAL PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS
A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens | Adapted by Jim Helsinger
November 26 – December 24, 2025
Massey Services Opening Nights
Every opening Friday night of the season becomes a not-to-miss party starting 90 minutes before the curtain goes up! Featuring a live musical guest, a delicious restaurant partner for small bites, and an exclusive pre-show chat with each production’s creative team. Entering its fourth season as a staple of Orlando Shakes’ Opening Nights, the party continues bigger and better in our 37th season.
37th Season Gala
Save the date now for our annual fundraising extravaganza – Sunday, March 22, 2026.
All shows are subject to rights pending and/or changes in production schedules.
ABOUT ORLANDO SHAKES
Currently in its 36th season, Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF is Central Florida’s leading non-profit professional theater, featuring classic, contemporary, and children’s plays at the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Conveniently located in Loch Haven Cultural Park, just minutes from the heart of Orlando’s Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village Main Street entertainment districts, Orlando Shakes is one of the region’s top date-night destinations. Visit OrlandoShakes.org to learn more about our annual Signature Series, Children’s Series, PlayFest, concert series, and immersive educational programming.** Orlando Shakes is sponsored in part by the City of Orlando, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida. Orlando Shakes is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program. Orlando Shakes is supported by United Arts of Central Florida, host of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com. **
The mission of Orlando Shakes is to enrich our community with engaging professional theater, inspiring educational experiences, and thought-provoking new plays.
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” – The Tempest
CONTACT: Isabella Rodrigues, Public Relations & Marketing Manager
EMAIL: Isabellar@orlandoshakes.org