Performance Halts for Orlando Renaissance Theatre Company Following Building Condemnation

ORLANDO, Fla. – At the height of its season, the Renaissance Theatre Company was compelled to close its doors this weekend after Orlando city officials condemned the venue and issued vacate orders.

Renaissance Theatre Company Co-Founder Donald Rupe addressed the signs on the front of The Ren Theatre that say “Condemned” and “Notice to Vacate.”

“It looks like it’s like the building is about to fall down, and the building is fine,” Rupe said.

Rupe said it was part of their annual inspection with the city.

“City inspectors visit annually, and for the past four years, we’ve encountered no significant issues. This time, however, they highlighted a few adjustments needed for our temporary set,” stated Rupe.

Rupe explained that the temporary sets are used for their immersive shows, where the audience walks around with the actors.

Rupe elaborated on the requested modifications, explaining, “We need to ensure all set pieces are treated for fire safety, and that they are stable and secure. These are all manageable and solvable issues, and we’re eager to collaborate with the city to make the necessary improvements.”

Rupe said they had shows planned for the weekend that had to be canceled.

On Saturday, an update from the Renaissance Theatre Company was shared on social media, partially stating, “Pioneering new, creative work often requires finding a way to mesh with existing infrastructure, and we are enthusiastic about embarking on this endeavor with the city.”

While temporarily closed, Rupe said the financial impact is significant.

“Every weekend that we’re closed, we lose about 40, 50,000 dollars. So, it is a big economic impact,” he said.

As far as a timeline for reopening, Rupe said it’ll depend on the permitting process.

“We work very fast here at The Ren and if they approve our permit to edit the set, we would get that done very quickly,” Rupe said.

News 6 has reached out to the city of Orlando for more details. Once we hear back, we’ll be sure to add any additional details to this article.