Suzanne O'Donnell

Florida Repertory Theatre's 2021-2022 Season continues with a reimagined remounting of its 2020 production of “A Doll's House, Part 2” by Lucas Hnath.

Orlando's Suzanne O'Donnell stars as the story's narrator. A fixture in Central Florida's arts scene, the veteran actor has performed with Orlando Shakes since 1993, when she played Rosalind in As You Like It and Adriana in The Comedy of Errors. Since then, she has acted in numerous Shakespeare plays, while also giving life to characters in many new productions at Orlando Shakes.

Acting master classes for adult performers now offered by Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF's professional teaching artists. Actors of all skill levels are invited to brush up their acting skills by joining professional instructors for a Zoom class.

As school, work and social interactions go online, Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF announces a series of free online classes for adults. From Storytelling for Seniors to Interview skills to Shakespeare technique, these stand alone classes are ideal for adults seeking to broaden skills and develop new ones in the safety of their own homes. Participants will be able to livestream the class with Orlando Shakes professionals via webcam.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Orlando Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The people have spoken nominations are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

There's just a few weeks left to make your voice heard and submit your votes for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Orlando Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The people have spoken nominations are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

Field trip performances of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, produced by Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF, sold out within minutes of going on sale. In order to reach more students in the community, Orange County Public Schools is providing Orlando Shakes with the opportunity to use Boone High School's new, 852-seat auditorium. Boone students will see Orlando Shakes' production first at a special Halloween-day performance. Three other performance dates are available to other OCPS schools at a cost per student with bus transportation provided by OCPS.

William Shakespeare's Macbeth, produced by Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF, runs from October 9 - November 24, 2019. Tickets (starting at $30) are available now by phone (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online at orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street).

A staged reading of Steve Yockey's Blackberry Winter, presented by Orlando Shakespeare Theater (Orlando Shakes) in Partnership with UCF as a part of UCF Celebrates the Arts, will appear April 9, 2018 in the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater. This production of Blackberry Winter originally appeared at Orlando Shakes in 2017, after the script was featured as a reading at the Theater's PlayFest 2014. To raise awareness of caregiving in its various forms for Alzheimer's, dementia, and other conditions, the reading will be followed by a post-show talkback with the playwright, caregivers, and performers. Tickets ($20) are available online now at http://arts.cah.ucf.edu/event/blackberry-winter.

The Luckiest People, a tense, new family dramedy produced by Orlando Shakespeare Theater (Orlando Shakes) in Partnership with UCF, comes to the Goldman Theater from March 28 - April 29, 2018. Tickets ($25 - $50) are available now by phone (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online www.orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street).

Bells will ring and angels will get their wings during Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF's (Orlando Shakes) production of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Adapted by Joe Landry with original music and arrangements by Kevin Connors, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play runs from November 29 December 30, 2017 in the Margeson Theater. Tickets ($13 - $50) can be purchased by calling (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online at www.orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 E. Rollins St.).

Bells will ring and angels will get their wings during Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF's (Orlando Shakes) production of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Adapted by Joe Landry with original music and arrangements by Kevin Connors, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play runs from November 29 December 30, 2017 in the Margeson Theater. Tickets ($13 - $50) can be purchased by calling (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online at www.orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 E. Rollins St.).

Bells will ring and angels will get their wings during Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF's (Orlando Shakes) production of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Adapted by Joe Landry with original music and arrangements by Kevin Connors, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play runs from November 29 December 30, 2017 in the Margeson Theater. Tickets ($13 - $50) can be purchased by calling (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online at www.orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 E. Rollins St.).

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF (Orlando Shakes) invites audiences to take a risk on new plays at PlayFest presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust (PlayFest 2017) from October 27 29, 2017 and November 3 5, 2017. Tickets to individual PlayFest readings ($10) are available now by calling (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, visiting www.orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street).

What does it mean to watch a parent suffer from an illness that there is no known cure for?  What does it mean for someone who prides themselves on being capable and proactive to feel helpless and out of control?  What does it mean, as an actress, to navigate these emotions and deliver them to an audience almost entirely by yourself, for ninety minutes, six times a week?

My mother is…. For many, these three little words evoke things such as "interesting," "crazy," or even "getting old." But when you hear "My mother is suffering - no not suffering - living with Alzheimer's disease," these three little words take on a whole new meaning. When your own mother starts to forget you, do you even know your mother anymore? Do you even know yourself? These are the questions Vivienne painstakingly tries to answer in Steve Yockey's BLACKBERRY WINTER.

Years of success, meticulous planning, and an eye for detail have in no way prepared Vivienne Avery for her mother's slide into the grip of dementia. Vivienne recounts memories of her aging mother and the difficult decisions regarding her care. Interwoven with these stories is an evolving, wondrous 21st century Alzheimer's creation myth-an origin story about a White Egret who tries to protect forest animals as they lose their memories to a blind, oblivious Mole. Blackberry Winter is a moving, occasionally humorous, and deeply human new work.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater (Orlando Shakes) in Partnership with UCF presents Steve Yockey's Blackberry Winter.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater (Orlando Shakes) in Partnership with UCF presents Steve Yockey's Blackberry Winter. Yockey's new play tells the story of a daughter doing her best to shepherd her mother in safety and comfort through the memory loss and dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. Blackberry Winter appears from January 4 - February 5, 2017 in the Goldman Theater. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in character below!