Orlando Family Stage marks 100 years with reunion event and expanded archival preservation partnership

A century after its first performances, a local institution convenes alumni and launches a new preservation push

Orlando Family Stage is commemorating its centennial with a community reunion designed to bring together former performers, technicians, educators, volunteers, staff members, patrons and supporters from every era of the organization’s history. The event, titled “The Hundred Year Reunion,” is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3, running from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the theatre’s Loch Haven Park campus, 1001 E. Princeton St. Admission is free, with advance RSVPs requested for planning purposes.

The date aligns with the organization’s first known performances on Feb. 3, 1926, when the company—then operating under earlier names—staged plays at the former Beacham Theatre in downtown Orlando. Over the decades, the institution evolved through multiple identities, including Orlando Little Players, Orlando Little Theatre, Central Florida Civic Theatre and Orlando Repertory Theatre, reflecting changes in structure, programming and the region’s growing cultural ecosystem.

What the reunion includes—and what it signals about the centennial

Programming for the reunion is structured as both a social homecoming and an informal public history display. Theatre officials have planned archival tables featuring materials from across the decades, including programs, photographs, costume sketches and other artifacts. Organizers have also indicated that refreshments will be available on site and that the event is intended to welcome participants from any period of the theatre’s operations, including those who engaged through classes, school field trips or community productions.

The reunion is part of a broader Centennial Celebration tied to the organization’s 2025–26 season. The centennial has been framed as extending beyond a single anniversary event, with additional public programming and initiatives planned across multiple seasons.

Archival preservation moves to a wider public platform

A central component of the reunion is the launch of an expanded effort to preserve and share the organization’s historical records. Orlando Family Stage has confirmed a partnership with the University of Central Florida’s Department of History to integrate archival materials into the RICHES Mosaic Interface, a Central Florida-focused digital platform that organizes historical resources using map- and timeline-based search tools. The project is intended to make portions of the theatre’s history more accessible to students, families, educators and researchers, while also creating a structure for future community contributions through planned “history harvest” collection efforts.

Recent rebrand underscores a broader audience strategy

The centennial arrives after a significant recent change: in June 2023, Orlando Repertory Theatre rebranded as Orlando Family Stage following an extended research and review process. The organization stated the name change was intended to better communicate its mission and clarify its focus on theatre experiences for young people and family audiences across generations.

• Event: The Hundred Year Reunion

• Date and time: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 5:30–8 p.m.

• Location: Orlando Family Stage, 1001 E. Princeton St., Orlando

• Cost: Free (RSVP requested)

The reunion is designed as a cross-generational gathering that pairs on-site archival displays with a longer-term plan to expand access to the theatre’s historical materials through digital preservation.