About
Theatre Winter Haven Youth Programs are part of Theatre Winter Haven, which produces a three-play youth series along with a five-play MainStage subscription season, a Professional Series, and numerous Tribute Tuesday Series events. The youth programs take place within the broader Theatre Winter Haven organization, which also offers fall classes for young participants and has fall semester registration available for youth programs.
• Schedule: Box Office Hours are Tuesday–Friday, 1:00pm–4:00pm and 90 minutes prior to scheduled curtain times.
Theatre Winter Haven was established in 1970 as the cultural arts arm of the City of Winter Haven and became a separate nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity in 1981. Its mission statement is: “We inspire, challenge, entertain, and educate our community by creating exceptional theatrical experiences.” The organization produces a five-play MainStage subscription season, a three-play youth series, a Professional Series, numerous Tribute Tuesday Series events, and a three-play SecondStage subscription season in the Norman and Linda Small SecondStage, its Blackbox theatre that opened in fall 2022. Theatre Winter Haven has been called “one of the best community theatres in America” by the Tampa Tribune, the Lakeland Ledger, and the Winter Haven News Chief.
The leadership team includes Producing Director Dan Chesnicka, Operations Director Nick Judy, Technical Director Derek Wyatt, Director of Outreach Sara Barnes, Education Director Molly Judy, Assistant Technical Directors Kadesh Lewis and Sebastian VanHorn, Business Director Dana Rigney, Ritz House Manager Shawn Melanson, Costume Designer Heather Clarke, and Box Office Manager Sue Fisher. The board and officers include President Marilyn Riggs, Vice President Sally Wagner, Secretary Sharon Bates, Treasurer Jeremy Chase, multiple board members, a Diversity Chair, a Finance Chair, emeritus board members, and several ex-officio board members representing Theatre Winter Haven, the City of Winter Haven, Advent Health Fieldhouse, Ridge Art Association, the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, and Polk County Public Schools. Community involvement is reflected in these ex-officio roles and in Theatre Winter Haven’s origin as the cultural arts arm of the City of Winter Haven.
Audience members have shared written comments about Theatre Winter Haven, including statements that they feel the theatre has been “incredible hosts,” that the talent “rivals anything you’d find in a big city,” and that the production quality is “simply outstanding.” Other testimonials describe long-time season ticket holders, first-time visitors who became fans, and reactions such as being “hooked” from the moment the curtain rose and experiencing “a magical experience from beginning to end.”
Last updated July 4, 2026.
• Schedule: Box Office Hours are Tuesday–Friday, 1:00pm–4:00pm and 90 minutes prior to scheduled curtain times.
Theatre Winter Haven was established in 1970 as the cultural arts arm of the City of Winter Haven and became a separate nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity in 1981. Its mission statement is: “We inspire, challenge, entertain, and educate our community by creating exceptional theatrical experiences.” The organization produces a five-play MainStage subscription season, a three-play youth series, a Professional Series, numerous Tribute Tuesday Series events, and a three-play SecondStage subscription season in the Norman and Linda Small SecondStage, its Blackbox theatre that opened in fall 2022. Theatre Winter Haven has been called “one of the best community theatres in America” by the Tampa Tribune, the Lakeland Ledger, and the Winter Haven News Chief.
The leadership team includes Producing Director Dan Chesnicka, Operations Director Nick Judy, Technical Director Derek Wyatt, Director of Outreach Sara Barnes, Education Director Molly Judy, Assistant Technical Directors Kadesh Lewis and Sebastian VanHorn, Business Director Dana Rigney, Ritz House Manager Shawn Melanson, Costume Designer Heather Clarke, and Box Office Manager Sue Fisher. The board and officers include President Marilyn Riggs, Vice President Sally Wagner, Secretary Sharon Bates, Treasurer Jeremy Chase, multiple board members, a Diversity Chair, a Finance Chair, emeritus board members, and several ex-officio board members representing Theatre Winter Haven, the City of Winter Haven, Advent Health Fieldhouse, Ridge Art Association, the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, and Polk County Public Schools. Community involvement is reflected in these ex-officio roles and in Theatre Winter Haven’s origin as the cultural arts arm of the City of Winter Haven.
Audience members have shared written comments about Theatre Winter Haven, including statements that they feel the theatre has been “incredible hosts,” that the talent “rivals anything you’d find in a big city,” and that the production quality is “simply outstanding.” Other testimonials describe long-time season ticket holders, first-time visitors who became fans, and reactions such as being “hooked” from the moment the curtain rose and experiencing “a magical experience from beginning to end.”
Last updated July 4, 2026.
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