There are some amazing things about this theatre space…read more I love the way the doors can slide open so on nice Orlando nights it's like an open air entrance. I love how beautiful the stairwell is going up to two. I love how much they have expanded their food and beverage line up over the years. The sound tends to be pretty good, the communication from the theatre is always amazing. They waive fees if you come to the box office to buy your tickets. The seats are comfy and almost every seat has a solid view. The box seats are the exception so be warned. The volunteers are always amazing and they are so nice. It would be cool if they opened a second location that served coffee because that line for espresso beverages is always really long. I love the breadth of show types. There's always something for everyone.

Swan Lake October 2025…read more This is one of those performances that stays with you long after the curtain comes down. I saw Swan Lake back in October 2025, and somehow I'm only just now sitting down to write about it.... I apologize for not getting this review out sooner. The last time I had seen this ballet... I was in my twenties, which feels like another lifetime ago. Swan Lake sits right up there with The Nutcracker in terms of recognition. You grow up knowing it, even if you've never actually seen it live. As a little girl, it lives in your imagination. The costumes, the movement, the elegance, and that quiet belief that maybe one day you could be that dancer. For a lot of people, that dream gets planted early and never fully leaves. Walking into this performance, I felt that history. Not just personal, but cultural. Swan Lake carries weight because it's about illusion versus truth, about wanting something you can't quite have and mistaking appearances for reality. Tension is built into every movement. Swan Lake is not the same experience as The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is festive and structured more like a showcase. Swan Lake is continuous, demanding, and far more intense. The lead roles require stamina, precision, and emotional control from start to finish, and the corps de ballet has to move in perfect synchronization with no room for error. It really is the Olympics of ballet. This performance delivered. It was polished, immersive, and held my attention the entire time. I found myself watching not just the choreography, but the control, the discipline, and the way each dancer carried themselves on stage. One dancer in particular stood out to me, Bernardo Betancor. He was exactly what you imagine when you think of a leading male ballerina. He carried a statuesque presence on stage and was, without question, easy on the eyes. More than that, he had command. The kind that makes your eyes go back to him whether you mean to or not. I'm glad I finally made it back to Swan Lake after all these years, and even more glad I didn't miss this one. Huge thanks to Ronnald M. for pulling me into this night, because let's be honest... this is not exactly a bad way to spend an evening.

Last night I stepped into the Winter Park Playhouse for Honky Tonk Angels, and it felt like opening…read morenight on Broadway, transported to Central Florida. The evening shimmered with energy--a perfect overture to the season. From the first note to the final bow, the cast carried us on a journey that pulsed with rhythm, harmony, and heart. Their voices soared, their timing danced, and their presence filled the stage with a brilliance that could rival any marquee in New York or London. Theatre, at its best, is a living symphony--dialogue weaving into song, song flowing into story--and this production captured that cadence flawlessly. As the curtain fell, I was struck by the artistry that thrives here in our own backyard. Having lived in Dubai, Las Vegas, London, and New York, I know the grandeur of global stages. Yet nowhere have I found such a steady stream of performances, each one crafted with care, directed with vision, and performed with soul, as I do here in the world's vacation capital. Heather Alexander and Roy Alan, the founders, discovered a rare niche: a theatre that doesn't rely on spectacle or technology, but on the timeless power of human talent. While Dr. Phillips Center dazzles with scale, the Winter Park Playhouse enchants with intimacy--family spirit, authenticity, and artistry that stands the test of time. This was more than entertainment; it was a celebration of craft, community, and pure theatrical joy. Honky Tonk Angels is a salute to the season and a reminder that the greatest value in Central Florida theatre lies not in spectacle, but in the artistry of performers who give themselves fully to the stage. Don't miss this production--it's a standing ovation waiting to happen.

Here with my Red Hat Society Ladies to see Wreck the Halls, a Christmas themed play. I didn't know…read morethere was a theater here so I'm pleasantly surprised. It's a short walk from several restaurants and bars so you can park in one of the large parking lots. I loved the sitting area in the lobby. Intimate seating behind large picture windows. There is a concession stand with wine available. As a matter of fact, you can pre-order a drink to pick up at intermission. So cool. I'm looking forward to returning in January for the next play.

Always love Cirque du Soleil ... and this one did not disappoint…read more Love how they incorporated Disney - it was so cute! Loved it. Plenty of free parking AND plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. Highly recommend taking the time to see the show - it was spectacular. Would I go back? If going with other people, sure. Just myself - probably not - but I am glad I went.

On a Thursday night Disney Springs was bustling with crowds at dinner, crowds shopping, crowds…read moreeverywhere, except at Drawn to Life. The parking was free and getting out of the parking garage was also easy. I LOVED Drawn to Life. The storyline was so sweet, and there was a point when the father fades in the background where I got teary. The villain and clowns were believable and had a redemptive arc. The music really elevated the show. I loved when the pillow started yodeling. Otherwise the music all had echos of the Disney songs they were modeled after. My favorite act was the fairies on the unicycles. They were absolutely mesmerizing. I also loved the juggling and the yodeling pillow. And I always enjoy a good pole act- in this case, the aerial pencil. Probably my second favorite cirque du soliel show after Auana, ahead of the shows in Vegas. I would love to watch this show again!

I love visiting The Ren for unique, captivating and contemporary theatre work. Part of the fun of…read morevisiting The Ren is discovering which space of their 15k square feet has been transformed and will be used in a custom design to match the current show - or in the case of annual Halloween spectacular Nosferatu, the entire space is turned into a sprawling maze of designed spaces filled with scary, sexy vampires. You can expect to see provocative, inclusive work that will challenge and excite you - and/or let you party into the night. The bartending team is always on point, with custom drinks to fit the show. Parking's easy and free in the AdventHealth garage next to the building. Expect a metal detector on entry and ID check as every show is 18+.

Although I love and support the theatre, I have to say Disco Boots is NOT worth $42. Way too…read moreexpensive and last year was a better production. The main cover should never be this expensive for this kind of event.

I'm always looking for an awesome show at an amazing venue and right here is exactly what that was…read morefrom start to finish! The given night I came here Driveways was playing and I must say it was a super fun show it sounded good the venue was awesome for music and the staff was very nice at the door! My gps did put me in the wrong spot so keep in mind that it's around the corner so if you don't see it right away keep venturing and you'll find it! Overall super cool venue with awesome sound hope to come back here again at some point for another show! Until then see you in the circle pit!

This place is great! We went for a live jazz performance. There is no food, just a bar…read more We were in section B and honestly it was great! I wouldn't recommend section C - they had those tall metal chairs that look uncomfortable in that section. I honestly wish I'd got section A, but those shows sell out so quickly that it seems harder to snag those. The sound was amazing & the band was really talented. The look/vibe is really great too! The doors don't open till right before showtime, but there's covered tables & chairs to sit & wait. Parking was a bit tight. The doormen were very fast & efficient. Everyone was friendly too! Overall I really like The Abbey & am going back again in a few weeks, Oh - pro tip - there's an absolutely OUTSTANDING sushi restaurant around the corner & they were very accommodating when we said we were in a hurry to get to the show on time. Check them out!

Really funny comedy show! Will keep you laughing and smiling…read more They have two shows, 6pm and 8pm. Come half an hour early for dinner. So if you purchased the 6pm show, show up 5:30pm. If you purchased the 8pm show, show up 7:30pm. Seating is first come first serve. Dinner is salad/pizza and soda/beer/wine. They have other food options, such as chicken wings. Don't expect good food. The comedy Magic show starts at 6pm/8pm and end at 7pm/9pm. The show is very interactive. The magician grabs people in the front to participate. His acts are hilarious. Wouldn't mind coming back. FYI, they are located in the WonderWorks building. There's a parking structure in the back. $5 for two hours. $7 for 3-4 hours. $10 for all day or lost ticket.

Omg love Tony Brent. He was sooo funny. The comedy/magic show was amazing. Def worth watching…read more Unlimited pizza and salad. Def worth the price. Service was excellent. Servers were super attentive. Mood was so fun. Would come back

What a great little theatre! If you wanna feel like you are watching from within the show no matter…read morewhere you sit this is the place to go for a show. Plus all of the staff are super nice and helpful, the location is super clean and elegant. They have a small table for refreshments and snacks, plus a bigger bar area with some seating for even more refreshments and snacks to pre-game in the pre-show. The show we saw Fat Ham was excellent and honestly one of the best written and acted shows I've seen in a long time. Definitely grab a show here!

We went to Orlando Shakes for our annual visit to see A Christmas Carol, and it was fantastic. It's…read morealways a holiday favorite, but this year we especially loved it because they changed things up a bit--it kept us excited to see what was coming next and made the story feel fresh. The actors and actresses are very talented, and the performance overall was great. Tickets are reasonably priced, which makes it a more affordable option if you love theater but don't want to spend the higher prices at the Dr. Phillips Center. The venue itself is easy to enjoy: there's a private parking lot, a lobby with drinks and snacks, and even a little gift shop to browse before or after the show. All in all, Orlando Shakes delivered a wonderful holiday experience, and we'll definitely keep coming back for A Christmas Carol each year.

I went here to see Carrie. I really like the theater and the surrounding areas. The theater looks…read morevery nice, the staff is friendly and the seats were very comfortable. The surrounding areas are very nice and are perfect for taking pictures. Parking is a bit challenging, but 5 minutes away from the theater were plenty.

What a great time today at the Annie Russell Theatre in Winter Park at Rollins College to see The…read more39 Steps! Since I can't afford a Renaissance or Eras ticket short of parting with a major organ, blowing 20 bucks to see college theatre will just have to do. Myself and about 50 or so senior citizens sat back to appreciate the chutzpah it takes to get up on a stage and PERFORM. This is a very charming theatre with decent-sized bathrooms. You can purchase concessions at the intermission for $2 each (did someone say Airheads?!?). There is also a shuttle operated by Rollins students that runs from the Truist Parking lot to the theatre and back for those that need it. I highly recommend checking out this lovely theatre and thanks to everyone on-site today who made the experience so much fun.

I've only been here once for the Buddy Holly Story, so this review is based solely on that... But I…read morewouldn't mind returning! Unfortunately for you, all remaining performances of Buddy Holly are completely sold out. ENVIRONMENT This is a nice theater. The lobby is quite nice. There are simple refreshments available for purchase. The seats are sufficiently spacious, padded, and comfy. The way the theater is set up, you can't really get a bad seat. We arrived 2 minutes late for a sold-out show and parking was a bit problematic. I recommend arriving early! BUDDY HOLLY STORY My husband wanted to see this. Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to it. But it was a very good show. The acting performances were much better than I've seen in other theater companies (coughmadcowcough) and the music was a joy to watch. I sat next to an older gentleman who lived during the time period of this show and he very much enjoyed it, saying he wanted to see it again. QUALITY COMPARED TO OTHER LOCAL THEATERS This is the top reason I recommend you make the drive out here. I've been to a few different theaters around the Orlando area and I thought this theater was significantly better. The environment is much more spacious and comfortable, the acting and performance was much more engaging and convincing, and they seem to have either more talented people or more resources to pull off a much better stage and set design, costumes etc. I get the impression these people are professionals.

We saw Grease here last week and I was really impressed by this theatre! It is a little place, but…read moreit has a good sized lobby and they sell snacks and drinks for an incredibly cheap price making this the perfect outing for a family because of its affordability. The staff were so sweet and accommodating and when we sat in our seats, a staff member took the stage to tell us about all the upcoming plays and a little about the theatre. I thought this was such a nice detail and it made me make a mental note to keep tabs on their upcoming shows, many of which sound amazing and are things I can't wait to check out! The theatre itself is small but the stage is decently sized and every seat in the house has a pretty darn good view which is awesome! The production itself was well thought out with attention to detail in the sets, costume design, and the choice of actors. The cast did a phenomenal job and I was super happy with our choice of attending the show for date night! Can't wait to go back :)

If you're looking for a fun dinner + show experience, this place is definitely worth it! I came…read morehere for a company party and ended up really enjoying the whole vibe. The show is inspired by a Chicago gang theme at Capone's Dinner & Show, and it's super entertaining from start to finish. I tried the chicken with pasta and it was honestly delicious, good portion and full of flavor. They also have a full bar, which makes it even better because you can sip your drink while enjoying the show. The atmosphere is lively and perfect for all ages, so you can bring the whole family and still have a great time. Prices are reasonable for what you get, especially with both food and entertainment included. Plus, it's conveniently located near ICON Park on International Drive. Definitely recommend if you want something different and fun for a night out! The service was exceptional

We wanted to try something different so we went for a dinner and a show. Capone's has a great price…read morepoint. We splurged on the VIP but it really wasn't necessary. You got a closer seat. That's the only perk that was taken advantage. We saw no difference in timing on seating when it came to a non packed show (the show starts exactly the same time for everyone) and we saw no difference in better drinks. We arrived as a party of 2 and they had our ticket ready at the front with the name it was booked under. We went through a cute speakeasy that takes place in Chicago. Walked to the bar to get a drink. This part was a long wait. The line was long. Someone ended up coming over and asking us what we wanted and grabbed it for us so we can sit down. We thought we were eating dinner during the show. Nope. Two separate areas. This is why when purchasing it tells you it's 6:30-10:00pm. The starters came out and they were good. Bread. Mozzarella sticks. Salads. Then the entrees came out and that was terrible. The chicken parm must have not been fresh. Frozen? The lasagna was okay. The pasta was less than ok. Everything had the same sauce actually. The food really was not good. And our bodies surely did react to eating this food. The dessert? Pass. The show was not necessarily what we thought. Think less gangster. Think more cheesy. We were engaged though and shared some laughs. Overall it was a relaxing night but it would only get a 3 - 3.5 star for the overall experience. Also if you're booking online, they don't tell you but you should bring cash to tip.