Wekiva River Players was born in the spring of 1993, making the group Seminole County's longest
running theater ensemble. Back then the group consisted of around 25 people who decided to call
themselves "Wekiva River Players" in honor of the communities surrounding the Wekiva River,
which they intended to entertain and support.
Opening night of WRP's first production of the musical Oliver was November 5th, 1993.
It featured a cast of 47, including 20 children, and was sold out every night.
In order to encourage attendance and give something back to the community, WRP received
donations of food at the performances on behalf of the Second Harvest Food Bank.
This philosophy of contributing to a charity started with
WRP's first production and continues today.
In the fall of 2000, after seven seasons and multiple performance venues, WRP began its eighth
season as the resident theater company of the Helen Stairs Theatre in Sanford, Florida.
With its first show of that season, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,
the company began to grow and flourish like never before, while entertaining huge audiences
in record number. Four seasons later the management at the Helen Stairs Theatre, apparently
and understandably inspired by WRP's popularity and success, decided to form a theater company
of their own. WRP's final show at that venue was 2004's Evita, after which WRP was again
faced with the familiar challenge to find a new home.
Currently, WRP uses a variety of venues including South Seminole Middle
School in Casselberry and Eastmonte Civic Center in Altamonte Springs.
Turning Pointe a Dance Studio in Longwood generously provides WRP with
rehearsal space. We are confident that with a great
deal of hard work, combined with support from the community, we will continue to provide
Central Florida with education, opportunities, and most importantly,
theatrical entertainment that is second to none.
Below is a list of each of WRP's shows to date, and the
local charities we have been honored to support and benefit:
- Inaugural Season 1993
- Oliver - November 1993 - Second Harvest Food Bank
- You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown - January 1994 Humane Society of Seminole County
- Chicago - May and June 1994 - Hope and Help Center of Central Florida & Centaur
- 1994-1995 Season
- Annie - October 1994 - Seminole County Friends of Abused Children
- Steel Magnolias - January 1995 - Pediatric Diabetes Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children
- The Boy Friend - June 1995 - Hospice of Central Florida
- The Tin Soldier and the Paper Doll - August 1995 - Muscular Dystrophy Association
- 1995-1996 Season
- The Sound of Music - November 1995 - Habitat for Humanity International
- Godspell - April and July 1996 - The Nurturing Center at the Coalition for the Homeless - Central Florida
- Arsenic and Old Lace - July 1996 - Community Care for the Elderly
- 1996-1997 Season
- The Wizard of Oz - November 1996 - American Red Cross
- Into the Woods - April/May 1997 - Ronald McDonald House of Orlando
- City of Angels - July 1997 - C.J.'s Angel
- 1997-1998 Season
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - November, 1997 - The Boggy Creek Gang
- Guys and Dolls - March 1998 - The Salvation Army of Seminole County
- Oklahoma! - July 1998 - House of Hope
- 1998-1999 Season
- Fiddler on the Roof - November 1998 - The Mustard Seed of Central Florida
- The Pirates of Penzance - March 1999 - Boys Town USA
- The Music Man - August 1999 - Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra
- 1999-2000 Season
- Man of La Mancha - November 1999 - The Christian Sharing Center
- Anything Goes - March 2000
- The King and I - July 2000
- 2000-2001 Season
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - October/November 2001 - The Morning Star School
- Carousel - March 2001 - Safe House of Seminole County
- Bye Bye Birdie - June 2001 - Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida
- 2001-2002 Season (This is the first season that WRP expanded its productions to three weekends.)
- Annie (second production) - October 2001 - "Tomorrow's Future" Child Development Program at Anthony House
- Rumors - January and February 2002 - Getting Well
- South Pacific - April 2002
- Father of the Bride - June 2002
- 2002-2003 Season WRP's 10th Season
- Oliver (second production) - October 2002
- The Odd Couple (female version) - January
and February 2003
- The Odd Couple (male version) - January
and February 2003
- My Fair Lady - April 2003
- Guys and Dolls Jr. - May 2003
- Hello Dolly - June 2003 - Community Coordinated
Care for Children
- 2003-2004 Season
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - September
- October 2003
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - December 2003 - Benefit for the Helen Stairs Theatre
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - March 2004 - Jacob's Angels
- Annie, Jr. - May 2004
- Evita - June 2004
- 2004-2005 Season
- Fiddler on the Roof - October 2004 - Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- The Sound of Music - March 2005 - Kids House of Seminole
- Cinderella Jr. - May 2005
- Jesus Christ Superstar - July 2005 - C.A.R.E. Foundation
- 2005-2006 Season
- Gypsy (concert version) - October 2005
- Godspell, Jr and
101 Dalmatians Kids! - November 2005
- The Mystery of Edwin Drood - March 2006
- Fiddler on the Roof, Jr and
Cinderella Kids! - May 2006
- 2006-2007 Season
- Into the Woods, Jr and
Jungle Book Kids! - November 2006
- Oklahoma! and
Honk, Jr - May 2007
- 2007-2008 Season
- Anything Goes - September 2007
- Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr. and
Aristocats Kids! - November 2007
- Willy Wonka, Jr. and
Sleeping Beauty Kids! - May 2008
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