2026-27 Season Update: Orlando Shakes Adds The Mountaintop

Orlando Shakes announced an update to its 2026–2027 season lineup on April 28, 2026, shifting the anticipated stage adaptation of Their Eyes Were Watching God to the following season while adding Katori Hall’s drama The Mountaintop to the current schedule. The adjustments, confirmed by media contact Jennifer Neumann on behalf of Central Florida’s largest non-profit professional theater, alter production windows across the upcoming theatrical calendar at the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center.

Development Timeline for Their Eyes Were Watching God

The stage version of Their Eyes Were Watching God was originally slated for the theater’s 38th season. It will now move to the 39th season spanning 2027 to 2028. Executive Director Cheryl Collins stated that the schedule change provides Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames additional time to complete the adaptation. “When a project needs additional time, we support that process so the final production can have the impact it deserves,” Collins said.

Roberta Emerson, Director of New Play Development, emphasized the cultural significance of the text. “This is a story rooted in the legacy of Eatonville and the lived experiences of Black communities that deserve to be honored with care, specificity, and intention,” Emerson said.

The Mountaintop Replaces the Hurston Adaptation

Katori Hall’s play The Mountaintop will take the Loch Haven Cultural Park stage from March 17 to April 18, 2027. The production reimagines the final night of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life following his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. Artistic Director Jim Helsinger described the work as dramatic, humorous, and deeply human. “It invites audiences to see Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. not just as a historical figure, but as a man grappling with purpose, doubt, and legacy,” Helsinger said.

Revised 2026–2027 Season Schedule

Alongside the replacement of the production, Orlando Shakes adjusted dates for two classic titles in its Signature Series. The updated calendar runs alongside unchanged runs for holiday programming and children’s theater.

• Come From Away: August 26 – September 27, 2026 (unchanged)
• Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors: September 23 – November 8, 2026 (unchanged)
• A Christmas Carol: November 25 – December 24, 2026 (unchanged)
• Richard III: January 13 – January 24, 2027 (updated dates)
• As You Like It: February 17 – March 14, 2027 (updated dates)
• The Mountaintop: March 17 – April 18, 2027 (new addition)
• Corduroy: October 14 – November 8, 2026 (unchanged)
• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: April 14 – May 9, 2027 (unchanged)
• PlayFest: October 30 – November 1 & November 6 – 8, 2026 (unchanged)

Subscriptions and ticket purchases for the revised 2026–2027 season remain available through the Orlando Shakes official website. Patrons holding current subscriptions for the affected theater blocks can manage their bookings directly through the box office located near the Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village entertainment districts.