COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Writes of Spring

Writes of Spring is a fully produced production that is adapted from the writings of hundreds of Central Florida students. Graduate students in the University of Central Florida’s Theatre for Young Audiences MFA program create the script and coordinate the production.

The Justice Project

Piloted by Orlando Family Stage in the spring of 2016, The Justice Project paired 22 African-American students from the Evans High School Men’s Leadership Program with law enforcement recruits at Valencia College’s Criminal Justice Institute. Over the course of several days, Teaching Artists from Orlando Family Stage posed various questions to the attendees, and gave them the tools to begin impactful conversations through storytelling and theatre techniques.

Arts and Character Training programs (ACT)

ACT programs are a diverse set of residencies that invite youth from our community to participate in the arts in order to promote access to theatrical training, experiences, dialogue, engagement in the community, awareness, and even social change.

Engaged Learning Through the Arts (ELTA)

Orlando Family Stage partners with the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C. and Orange County Public Schools to create Engaged Learning Through the Arts (ELTA), a program that assists teachers in integrating the arts into their daily classroom curriculum.

Social Awareness, Arts for Empowerment (SAAFE)

Students at Title I schools used visual and performance arts to combat bullying on their campuses.

No Empty Bus

The No Empty Bus Program ensures access to theatre for students in all schools. Orlando  REP provides heavily discounted or free field trip tickets, and a portion of bus or fuel subsidies, to schools in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, with specific focus on underserved schools and those that are classified as Title 1.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY SERIES

Orlando Family Stage has presented Sensory-Friendly performances since 2013. These performances are specifically modified for patrons with sensory-processing disorders and special needs. Orlando Family Stage presents three public Sensory-Friendly performances each season, featuring special modifications made to the production as well as the theatre itself. Some of these modifications include:

  • Quiet spaces around the theater
  • Open seating
  • Adjusted lighting and sound levels
  • Theatre house-lights stay partially illuminated

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

Orlando Family Stage presents one American Sign Language (ASL) performance for each of their mainstage season productions, having a total of 6 ASL-interpreted shows per season.

OTHER STATISTICS/FACTOIDS

Orlando Family Stage reaches over 65,000 individuals annually through productions and programs.

38,000 school children attended one of Orlando REP’s productions on field trips during 2016. Another 33,000 family and youth audiences visited Orlando Family Stage for a weekend performance.

In 2017-2018, Orlando Family Stage awarded over $45,000 in free or discounted field trips for Title I schools.

Season Subscriptions at the Rep

AWARDS

Wave of Women’s Writers Award | Women’s Playwright Initiative (2007, 2008, and 2014)

Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award | Bank of America (2008)

Champions for Children Award | Association of Fundraising Professionals – Central Florida, (2010 and 2016)

Top 100 Companies | Orlando Sentinel (2016)

Diversity and Inclusion Award | State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs (2016 and 2017)