WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — The Garden Theatre is one step closer to opening its doors again after the Winter Garden City Commission unanimously approved a business plan to reopen the former entertainment venue. 

This comes after the theater shut down suddenly last October after the nonprofit that ran it dissolved, citing financial challenges.

The city worked with third-party consultant Alauna Friskics to put together this now approved recommendation.

Winter Garden officials will team up with a third-party company to share the responsibilities of running the theatre

“I think we’ll have an opportunity that really focuses the theatre back on the community will have a variety of different options available for everybody to enjoy,” Winter Garden City Manager Jon Williams said.

Now begins the process of finding the right operations partner.

The empty marquee and vacant poster cases outside the Garden Theatre are hard for local actor Landon Summers to look at.

“It’s sad, blank,” said Summers. “It’s a shell of its potential.”

Having given up on his dreams of performing, he fell in love with the theater shortly after moving to Winter Garden, even starring in productions of "Big" and "Parade."

“It kind of saved me in a way, you know, like it brought back that spark in me,” said Summers.

That’s why it was so devastating when the theater made its final curtain call last year, as the nonprofit that ran it cited financial issues. Summers believes it left a huge hole in the community.

“It’s just such a powerful medium, powerful venue for us all to come together, despite all of our differences, and really participate in something that transcends human nature,” said Summers.

But now, city leaders are taking steps to light up the stage again, saying it has a public benefit. Commissioners will decide on approving a new business plan for the theater.

In the plan for the city-owned building, a consultant laid out three types of business models, but is ultimately recommending the presenting model with limited rentals, as this would allow them to find a company to manage the space, while sharing the financial burden and control over the artistic product.

“I really hope that they reopen it and see the value that it adds,” said Summers.

However, in the business plan, the consultant recommends the theater stay away from fully run theater productions for at least the first year, instead focusing on concerts, movies, camps and classes as they are shorter and less costly events.

“You know, I’m totally fine with that if they want to wait a year, two years, that’s cool, but as long as there is a goal to bring it back, I think that’s what matters,” said Summers.

As for Summers, he can’t wait for the next production that is held here.

“I would be first to sign up on that audition list,” said Summers. “I wouldn’t skip a beat.”

Spectrum News reached out to city leaders ahead of tonight’s meeting, however, they said they could not comment at this time.