‘Our final curtain:’ Garden Theatre in Winter Garden set to close after nearly 2 decades

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – The Garden Theatre in Winter Garden announced on Wednesday that it will be closing up shop after nearly two decades in business.

According to its website, the closure comes amid financial hardship for the theatre, which hasn’t been able to bring in enough funds to stay in operation.

Officials with the Garden Theatre offered the following statement:

“Since 2008, Garden Theatre has been a haven for artists, performers, and audiences alike. We have been proud to nurture local talent, bring stories to life, and foster connections through the power of live theatre. It goes without saying that the performing arts contribute greatly to a community’s quality of life. Unfortunately, rising costs and the challenges of recent times, including significant state budget cuts, have deeply impacted our ability to secure the funding required to maintain our mission.

Garden Theatre has been a major part of the West Orange community for 16 years. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years—our audiences, donors, volunteers, and artists. Your dedication and passion have been the heartbeat of this theatre, and we are honored to have been part of this community for so very long.

While our final curtain has drawn, the memories, friendships, and artistic achievements we’ve shared will live on.

Thank you for being part of our story and for allowing Garden Theatre to be part of yours.”

The Garden Theatre

The theatre was originally built in 1935, styled after a Spanish courtyard with “Romeo and Juliet” balconies, according to the city.

However, the Garden Theatre was renovated several teams before it closed in 1963 thanks to the newfound popularity of television.

Eventually, the building was bought by the city in 2002, and it was restored by the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation before being reopened in 2008.

This year, the theatre kicked off its 17th season with a rendition of “Little Shop of Horrors,” though no information has been provided about whether the Garden Theatre will finish out the season.