Winter Park Playhouse turns 10

While the tone of the story may be a little bitter, the smooth voices of the performers can’t be tainted in the least bit. A velvety version of “Fever” floats throughout the modest theater, where no seat is a bad one. But in between the crooning come quick, witty jabs and some passionate and humorous bickering, the kind that can only be shared by former flames.

The show “Pete ‘n’ Keely” follows a divorced formerly famous singing duo as they reunite for a television special. It’s a trip down memory lane set in 1968 with original and pop tunes. The musical has been brought back to the stage by the Winter Park Playhouse, a favorite of patrons, in honor of the theater’s 10th anniversary.

The non-profit organization has come a long way since its start in 2002. The Winter Park Playhouse was started by Heather Alexander, executive director, and Roy Alan, artistic director, as a way to fill a niche in the community. Their mission was to focus on musical theater, comedies specifically. It began in the back of a performing arts school with just a 4-by-8-foot stage, 60 metal folding chairs and no lighting or sound system.

Over the years, the theater gained more support and freshened up its offerings to patrons. And in 2009, it moved to its current spot with more than 100 plush maroon velvet seats, a tinsel curtain full of flash and great sound and lighting equipment.

“Every year it’s growing by leaps and bounds,” Alexander said.

While other theaters have shut up shop, theirs has managed to keep its loyal following. And now it is one of only five places in Florida to see professional — shows put on by full-time, paid actors — musical theater.

Those who work and play at the theater said it’s the family feeling that keeps everyone so passionate about the shows there. In other theaters there’s generally a hushed tone before performances, but at Winter Park Playhouse, patrons have so much fun that their lobby is bouncing with excitement and talk, and sometimes it’s hard to get them to leave the party there, Alan joked.

Alexander said because they rely on patrons and donors to stay alive, they’re an integral part of the performance family. “We all own it,” she said.

And patrons really take the artists’ work to heart. Actors always mingle after the shows, hearing feedback from the audience. Many times they’ll hear that it’s the been the best day of someone’s month — a relief from real lives of financial worry, problems at home or even the stress of dealing with cancer.

“They say, ‘I know I can come here and find joy,’” Alexander said. “We just take them away.”

Many criticize their choice in specialty — musical theater is often called frivolous and cheesy Alexander said — but they know what they do is important. They love taking a story to the next level with music and dancing, and how that can elevate emotions higher than regular theater.

“It’s such a beautiful reflection of life and art,” musical director Christopher Leavy said. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever encountered.”

“There’s something magical about it,” Alan said.

“There’s nothing like being onstage and seeing people hum along, snap their fingers or tap their toes to the beat,” said Christopher Norton, who plays Pete in “Pete ‘n’ Keely.”

Winter Park Playhouse is at 711 Orange Ave., Suite C, in Winter Park. For more information and to purchase tickets for “Pete ‘n’ Keely,” opening Thursday, Sept. 13, visit winterparkplayhouse.org or call 407-645-0145. Visit winterparkplayhouse.org/outreach.html to learn more about their outreach program.

“Just feeling free … at any moment you can sing a song and be who you are,” he said.

Alexander and Alan have also developed the REACH (Relevant Educational Arts for Children) program, which takes their show to schools with disadvantaged children. Many times the schools have no funds for fieldtrips, and the students have never imagined seeing live theater.

Their show “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” brings down the house, where they get more screaming and clapping than ever, they said. Alexander says it’s a great feeling knowing they can expose children to something that can inspire dreams, help them gain self-esteem and just bring happiness. And really, to them, it’s a way to gain a few more fans for an art form they think is worth saving forever.

“As long as we have musical theater, there is hope for the world,” Leavy said.