Mad Cow Theatre began in late 1997 as a simple two-show project between a group of actors/directors in a former blueprint studio in Maitland, Florida. After an initial four year period of renting space from such mainstay Central Florida organizations as Rollins College, The Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival[1], The Civic Theatres of Central Florida, and the Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival, Mad Cow is now celebrating its 14th Season[2] in Downtown Orlando. Founding Artistic Director Alan Bruun retired in late 2010.[3] Mad Cow has built collaborative relationships with other downtown businesses and has received two Golden Brick Awards for outstanding contribution to downtown life. Mad Cow Theatre has also been named "Best Theatre" by Orlando Magazine for several years in a row.[4]
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Mad Cow Theatre is one of Orlando's most respected professional theatre companies presenting compelling works of theatre for a wide-range of audiences. With a passion for both classic and contemporary plays representing the best of American and World literature, Mad Cow presented its 101st mainstage production[5] with the start of the 2010 - 2011 season. Mad Cow Theatre works with Actors' Equity Association under the Orlando Area Theatre contract, and holds open auditions annually[6]. Each February, Mad Cow participates in United Arts of Central Florida's ArtsFest, providing free tickets to selected performances.[7]
In 2010, Mad Cow Theatre was the first regional theatre to produce Superior Donuts after its Broadway run[8].
Since 2002, Mad Cow Theatre has produced the Orlando Cabaret Festival, annually attracting the world’s finest cabaret talent to three weeks of lunchtime and evening shows, special events, and festivities in the heart of Downtown Orlando. The Cabaret Festival also features world-class local performers celebrating the best of the Great American Songbook. Taking place over three weeks, the Orlando Cabaret Festival encompass more than 40 performances.[9]
Adult and teen acting classes are offered evenings and during the summer at Mad Cow Theatre.[10]
Mad Cow Theatre enjoys collaborative partnerships with local governments, businesses, and Orlando arts groups, being named "Arts Collaborator of the Year" by United Arts of Central Florida.[11]
Mad Cow Theatre has collaborated with The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra for several concerts, presented at Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. These productions have included The Music Man, Sweeney Todd, My Fair Lady[12], and Guys and Dolls, and have attracted star talent, including Davis Gaines and Faith Prince[13]. They have also collaborated on a series of concert opera productions, including Carmen[14] and Porgy and Bess to fill the void left by the now-defunct Orlando Opera[15].
This annual festival traditionally takes place in the fall and features a mix of live theatrical performances as well as film, gallery, and puppet slam events, geared variously towards either adult or family audiences. Conceived in 2005 by Heather Henson (daughter of Jim Henson) to foster community interest in the art of puppetry, OPF has evolved from a weekend-long festival to a multi-venue, two month-long series of puppetry-related happenings that bring local, national, and internationally recognized artists from around the world to Central Florida.[16]
Since 2003, Mad Cow Theatre has been located in a storefront theatre at 105 S. Magnolia Avenue in Downtown Orlando. In this two-theatre complex, Mad Cow is Downtown Orlando's only professional theatre. The two theatres share a common lobby, box office, and wine bar on Magnolia Avenue, which doubles as an art gallery and can be used for social gatherings and catered functions.
The larger of the two theatres, Stage Left is a fully equipped theatre with 100 fixed seats.[17] This venue is used for the regular season, the Orlando Cabaret Festival, as well as business meetings and community and social events.
Stage Right is a fully equipped "black box" theatre with flexible seating of 50 - 60 patrons. This venue is used for productions in the regular season, as well as the Orlando Cabaret Festival and community events.[18]