Orlando Theater Celebrates 100 Years of Magic for Kids

A theater that has sparked wonder in countless young hearts is turning 100, and everyone's invited to the party.

Orlando Family Stage is hosting a reunion on February 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. to celebrate exactly one century since its first performance at the Beacham Theatre. The event at 1001 E. Princeton St. welcomes anyone who has ever been part of the theater, whether as a child actor, parent volunteer, or audience member.

The theater has worn different names over the decades. It started as the Central Florida Civic Theatre, later became the Orlando Repertory Theatre, and now goes by Orlando Family Stage. But its mission has stayed the same: creating magic for young audiences.

Today, it stands as one of the nation's 10 largest theaters dedicated to children and families. It's also the only professional theater in Florida focused entirely on young audiences, giving kids a rare chance to experience live theater made just for them.

Sunny's Take

The reunion promises to be a walk down memory lane with food, refreshments, and special archive tables. Guests can browse through costume sketches, programs, photos, and artifacts from every decade of the theater's history.

In a beautiful twist, the theater partnered with the University of Central Florida Department of History to preserve these memories digitally. All the archival materials will be added to the Riches Mosaic Interface, a platform dedicated to collecting and sharing Central Florida stories for future generations.

The celebration represents more than just nostalgia. It's a testament to how many families have passed through those theater doors, how many children discovered their love of performing arts there, and how many memories were made under those stage lights.

The reunion is free, though RSVPs are required at OrlandoFamilyStage.com. It's a chance for generations of theatergoers to reconnect and remember the joy they found there.

A hundred years of laughter, applause, and dreams coming true on stage deserves one amazing party.