ORLANDO SHAKES — Dracula, Scrooge, Martin Luther King Jr. and Shakespeare’s Richard III are among the key players in the Orlando Shakes’ 2026-27 Season, which kicks off on Aug. 26 and will continue through May 9, 2027.

“Orlando Shakes proudly announces its upcoming 38th season, a vibrant and powerful collection of stories that span continents, generations, and genres — each one rooted in what theater does best: bringing people together,” Shakes notes. “From Broadway
sensations to beloved children’s tales, bold comedies to sweeping Shakespeare, this season invites audiences to laugh, feel, reflect, and belong … this season is packed with productions you won’t want to miss including.”

The Shakes, which last year completed renovations to its existing property at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park, including new carpeting and an improved air conditioning system, has 8 productions on tap for the fall season, and season tickets are already available.

What Plays Will be Performed at Orlando Shakes in the fall?

After a summer recess, Shakes kicks back into gear in August.

“At the heart of the season is a belief that stories shape who we are — and where we are,” Shakes noted in a news release.
“This year’s lineup reflects that spirit with productions that explore home, resilience, joy, and identity, while honoring Orlando Shakes’ commitment to both classic storytelling and new work created for today’s audiences.”

The Shakes’ Signature Series will open on Aug. 26 with the musical Come From Away, which will be performed in the Margeson Theater through Sept. 27. It’s billed as the “true story of 7,000 airline passengers grounded in the wake of 9/11 and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them.”

Next up is Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors, a spoof where “five actors sink their teeth into dozens of characters in this fast-paced,
laugh-out-loud version of Dracula.” This production will run in the Goldman Theater in time for the Halloween season, from Sept. 23 through Nov. 8. Then, right in time for the holidays, Shakes will revive its popular version of A Christmas Carol. This lavish production with a large cast and holiday songs will run from Nov. 25 through Dec. 24 in the Margeson.

Shakes had originally planned to start the new year with a production of the drama Their Eyes Were Watching God, an adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s classic novel by playwright James Ijames, and set in Eatonville. But this show has been moved to the 2027 – 2028 (39th) season, “to allow additional time for development. We are committed to delivering the strongest possible production and look forward to sharing it with audiences at its premiere,” Shakes noted.

The play The Mountaintop by Katori Hall, which looks at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the eve of his assassination, has been added and will run from Jan. 20-Feb.14, 2027 in the Margeson.

Shakespeare is up next: first, the Bard’s romantic comedy As You Like It will be performed from March 3-28, 2027 in the Margeson, followed by the drama Richard III: The Bottled Spider from April 7-25 in the Goldman Theater.

For As You Like It, Shakes is promising a production “bursting with mistaken identities, quick wit, and love in all its
ridiculous forms, As You Like It sends us from the high-stakes drama of the court into a romantic, dreamlike forest of secret meetings, poems on trees, and flirtation at every turn.”

Richard III will focus on Shakespeare’s “most notorious villain” as he “spins his web of lies and claws his way to the crown through manipulation, betrayal, and sheer force of will. Fans of Game of Thrones will recognize the ruthless family
rivalries and shifting alliances in this thrilling end of the Wars of the Roses. Told in raw, ‘Bare Bard/Original Practices’ style, Orlando Shakes’ actors will perform the play with no designers and no director – just like the acting companies of
Shakespeare’s time!”

What Else is Happening in the 38th Season?

Shakes will continue its Children’s Series with Corduroy (Oct. 14 – Nov. 8, Margeson Theater) and If You Give A Mouse a Cookie (April 14 through May 9, 2027, Margeson). Corduroy is from the book about a “beloved bear whose button has gone missing, and he can’t go home without it,” while in the second production, “One tiny cookie turns into a hilarious chain of requests — straw, napkin, bedtime story, and a whole lot more — as Mouse’s big personality takes over the day.”

Shakes will also host Playfest from Oct. 30 through Nov 8, 2026, and will release information about its upcoming concert series and other special events at a later date.

Where Can I Get Tickets For These Shows?

 Orlando Shakes is 812 E. Rollins St. in Loch Haven Park. Call the box office at  (407) 447-1700 to get information about season tickets or tickets for individual shows.

“Now’s the perfect time to lock in your seats and start planning your season with us. We can’t wait to share these stories with you,” Shakes notes.

Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright and author of the terrifying book “Bloody Rabbit”. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.