Annie Russell Theatre

Posted: 05.12.2025 | Updated: 05.12.2025

The campus of Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, is home to the notoriously haunted Annie Russell Theatre. Built in the 1930s, this historic playhouse is known for being haunted by its namesake, actress Annie Russell. 

Over the years, thespians have seen Annie’s figure in the balcony and heard her applause. In fact, spotting Annie is considered good luck by aspiring actors in the Theatre Department.

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Who Haunts the Annie Russell Theatre?

The Annie Russell Theatre is reportedly haunted by Annie herself as well as five male entities. Actors, tech crew, and other staff members have witnessed full-body apparitions, orbs of light, and floating mists in the theatre. Paranormal investigators have recorded EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) capturing the voice of Annie Russell’s friendly spirit. It’s no wonder the Annie Russell Theatre is considered one of the most haunted spots in the Orlando area.

History of the Annie Russell Theatre

Although it wasn’t built until the 1930s, the history of the Annie Russell Theatre dates back to January 12, 1864, when Annie Russell was born in Liverpool, UK. Annie made her stage debut when she was eight years old and accompanied her brother Tommy, a fellow actor, to the West Indies for a theatrical production when she was twelve. 

Annie went on to formally study theatre and appeared in stage plays in England and North America throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her most notable role was the lead in “Major Barbara,” a play written specifically for Annie by esteemed playwright George Bernard Shaw. 

Annie suffered from poor health throughout her career and was forced into retirement in 1918. It was at this time that she moved to Winter Park, FL, and the Annie Russell Theatre came to life.

Annie’s Second Act

After moving to Winter Park, Annie was encouraged by her friend Mary Curtis Bok Zimbalist to get involved with the Theatre Department at Rollins College. After some deliberation, Annie began teaching classes and directing plays at the college. 

Mary eventually gifted Rollins with a brand new theatre named after Annie. It was built in a Romanesque and Mediterranean Revival style, with stucco walls and a clay tile roof. 

The Annie Rollins Theatre had its grand opening in 1932. Annie starred in its first production, “In a Balcony” by Robert Browning. Annie taught and directed for another four years until her death in 1936. However, death did not stop Annie from visiting her beloved theatre.

Hauntings at the Annie Russell Theatre

Students, faculty, and staff at the Annie Russell Theatre have reported it to be haunted for decades. The primary ghost at the theatre is Annie herself. Annie is most often seen sitting in the third row of the balcony (right side, second seat over). 

The seat is usually folded down as if someone is sitting in it. There is a legend that if anyone sees Annie in the balcony between midnight and 1 a.m. the Wednesday before a show opens, it will be a success.

Annie is known for being a friendly and encouraging ghost to young actors. Drama students have felt an unseen hand pat them on the back during auditions or after a performance. 

Those who see Annie sitting in her preferred balcony seat during auditions are always cast in a production. The sound of phantom clapping coming from the balcony is also a good sign for fledgling thespians.

A Caring Spirit

Annie takes care of students offstage as well. In 1978, a young actress was exhausted after hours of rehearsal and fell asleep on a couch in the green room. When she awoke, she found that someone had placed a blanket over her.

A chair had also been moved next to the couch, which she thought was meant to catch her in case she rolled off. What was so bizarre about this event is that no one else was in the theatre at that late hour, leading many to assume Annie was responsible. 

There’s a room above the stage that used to be Annie’s private dressing room. During renovations, the staircase to the dressing room was removed, and the space was turned into an electrical room. Although the door is padlocked, the backstage crew has noticed the door open by itself on opening nights of a production. It’s happened enough times that it is considered a sign of good luck from Annie.

Annie most often appears as a full-body apparition wearing a lavender dress. Those who spot Annie watch in disbelief as she vanishes before their eyes.

The Phantom Phone Call

In 1962, two college students were performing tech work by themselves at the theatre. One of the students was climbing a ladder to fix a stage light when he felt someone pull on his pant leg twice. 

The student looked around, thinking it was his friend, but saw no one. The student continued climbing the ladder, grabbed the stage light, and was immediately electrocuted by a live wire.

The student fell from the ladder and fractured his spine. The other students found him lying on the floor a few minutes later and called 911. The response the second student got mystified him.

When the second student asked for an ambulance, the 911 dispatcher informed him that an elderly woman had already called for an ambulance minutes earlier. Many believe that this was Annie’s ghost, who had also tried to warn the student by tugging at his pant leg.

The student survived, but as a reminder of the event, the words “electrocuted” and “broke his back” are still spray-painted on the theatre wall near the site of the accident.

Haunted Orlando

The hauntings at the Annie Russell Theatre are some of the most persistent and well-documented as far as haunted playhouses are concerned. It seems that Annie still loves supporting students, and they appear to be equally pleased to have her around. 

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Sources:

• https://www.rollins.edu/news/the-haunting-of-annie-russell/

• https://hauntedhouses.com/florida/annie-russell-theatre/

• https://www.winterparklibrary.org/blog/spirits-stage