Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center

The Ritz Theater at Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center is a historic community theater in downtown Sanford, Florida, operating out of a building originally constructed in 1923 as the Milane Theatre. The venue was renamed the Ritz Theater in 1936 and later renovated and re-dedicated as the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in 2008 to honor major donors who helped restore it. Significant improvements in 2015 — including a new LED marquee replicating the theater's 1930s look — returned the building's character to Magnolia Avenue. The venue hosts theatrical productions, ballet, live concerts, tribute shows, classic film screenings, and private events. Two rentable spaces are available: the main theater, which features a full production stage, and the Annex, a flexible gathering space that can accommodate a range of event formats from business meetings and church gatherings to recitals, film shoots, and weddings. Both spaces can be rented individually or together, with optional add-ons that include a staffed concession area, tech crew assistance, marquee customization, and box office support.