Winter Garden finds partner for Garden Theatre

The first question Winter Garden Mayor John Rees asked after the Winter Garden City Commission unanimously approved a partnership with DNA Event Creative to manage the Garden Theatre was: “When’s our first play?”

“We’re ready to get started with our theater,” he said. 

The City Commission unanimously approved the partnership with the Winter Park-based performing arts organization during its meeting Thursday, April 23. 

The city has been looking for a third-party manager to reopen the Garden Theatre with full programming since April 2025. 

The Garden Theatre, located at the heart of Winter Garden on Plant Street, closed its doors in October 2024 due to financial duress. The city temporarily reopened the theater in December 2024 with holiday programming. Then in 2025, the city engaged a performing arts consultant to develop a business plan and lay the framework for an operating directive. 

City Manager Jon C. Williams said the Garden Theatre is a community treasure and an asset to the city that is vital to Winter Garden’s economic development.

Winter Garden received seven proposal, and city staff favorited DNA Event Creative by a landslide.

City Manager Jon C. Williams said the Garden Theatre is a community treasure and an asset to the city that is vital to Winter Garden’s economic development.

Marc Hutchinson, the city’s economic development director, said a five-person selection committee evaluated the organization based on experience in producing or presenting live theatrical or performing arts events; organizational structure and key personnel; list of similar projects completed within the past five years with an overview description, event/performance type, targeted audience, production budget and notable accomplishments; three client references; proof of insurance or statement of insurability; and financial statement or funding plan.

Hutchinson said DNA’s proposal was “the highest ranked, most responsive and best qualified organization to serve as the presenting partner” for the theater. 

DNA Event Creative has been designing and producing events for more than 20 years. The organization offers program management; live production and staging/production development; experiential production; multimedia and technology/AV support; video production and editing; housing accommodations and registration services; on-site account management supervision; graphic design; content development; theme development; event entertainment; and off-site events. 

The city now will enter contract negotiations with DNA Event Creative, and once the contract is finalized, DNA will work with the city to create a season calendar of events to take place in the theater.

Hutchinson said the Garden Theatre is fully operational for programming and is not in need of any immediate, major renovations, and renovation opportunities will be actively monitored and planned accordingly.

Planned programming, which Hutchinson said will commence this summer, includes plays, musicals, concerts, comedies, movies, special-interest events, summer camps and events showcasing local performing arts schools and nonprofits.