RITZ THEATER - SANFORD

By  Mike Miller October 7, 2025

The Ritz Theater at Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center is in Sanford, Florida. It hosts live theater, concerts, and community events.

The historic venue seats 823 patrons. Built in 1923, it features a proscenium arch and orchestra pit.

The center draws locals and tourists to downtown Sanford. It supports diverse performances like musicals and ballets. 

Ritz Theater Sanford - Interior

The building opened in July 1923 as the Milane Theater. It served as Sanford’s main movie house through the 1920s.

Sound films arrived in 1929. Soon after the name changed to Ritz Theater.  It closed in 1979 after decades of operation.

A fire damaged the interior in the 1980s. Community efforts began restoration in 1991. The Ritz Community Theatre group reopened it in 1996.

It was renamed Helen Stairs Theater in 2000 for a donor. The site joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. 

In 2008, it became the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center after major upgrades funded by the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust. 

The Ritz Theater is at 201 South Magnolia Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771. It sits in Historic Downtown Sanford near Lake Monroe.

The box office opens one hour before shows, typically at 6 PM on performance nights. Check their website for schedules.

Street parking is free nearby; use garages for longer stays. Arrive early for balcony seats. The theater is wheelchair accessible.

Events run year-round, with family movie days on select weekends. 

• The theater celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023 with a year-long series of events.  

• A 1930s-style Ritz sign was restored using LED lights in 2003.  

• The four-story fly system allows complex set changes for productions.  

• Oral history projects capture memories from patrons who attended since the 1920s.  

• The center hosts free family movie screenings, starting with classics like Willy Wonka. 

THE RITZ THEATER WEBSITE

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