Cocoa Village Playhouse

Posted: 10.26.2025 | Updated: 10.24.2025

While most people think of Orlando as the place of magic and wonder, remember, they, too, have an attraction called the Haunted Mansion. And for good reason. Behind the veneer and shine, there is a darkness to the city, one that spawns tales of hauntings and free-roaming spirits.  

After the curtain calls and the applause, the true performances begin at the Cocoa Village Playhouse. Whether it’s the friendly spirit affectionately known as Joe sweeping up after the show or the more sinister spirit lurking backstage and in the gallery, there is no shortage of spirits or experiences to secure the Cocoa Village Playhouse as one of the most haunted areas in Orlando. 

Would you like to tempt those spirits? Perhaps you’d like to learn about the legends behind these and other notable Orlando area ghosts and ghouls? Why not book one of our ghost tours with Orlando Haunts to find out more? 

Who Haunts Cocoa Village Playhouse?

One of the most commonly seen spirits is that of a caretaker, apparently still dedicated to keeping the beautiful playhouse clean. He only asks that you not toss your garbage on the floor. That’s not too much to ask, is it? 

That’s not to say there isn’t darkness in the theater, because there are some areas that not even stage lights can penetrate. There is a dark, malevolent thing lurking backstage, powerful enough that some performers have left their productions without taking the stage. 

The Theater with the Neverending Show

This tale truly begins over one hundred years ago in Cocoa, Florida, when the Aladdin theater opened in August 1924. It offered silent movies, plays, and musicals to the crowds, which steadily flowed to what was known as the Indian River Section. When “talkies” became all the rage, it was the first theater in the region to show them.

Decades later, it was renamed the Cocoa Village Playhouse and has continued to thrill audiences for close to 100 years. Brevard Community College was instrumental in the name change and agreed to take care of all operational costs in the best interests of the community. Little did they know that the community included more than patrons.

The theater was built on a former livery stable and artesian well, which is said to have fueled the rampant spirit activity. 

The Unseen but Heard Crowd

Don’t pay any attention to the phantom applause raining down from the empty seats, which seem to have a mind of their own, opening and closing for no reason. It’s simply the spirits who love a good show. And never mind about footfalls crossing the stage when no one is present. It’s just someone moving stage right, or is it left?

Would you want to be there when the curtain finally closes and you’re left alone in the empty theater with a couple thousand empty seats, waiting for the first one to close as the spirits head to the exits? There’s one now. Did you hear it?

Rest assured, you won’t be witnessing the performance alone. There are plenty of patrons from beyond to keep you company.

Joe the Caretaker

The kindest of all the spirits in the Playhouse is Joe the Caretaker. His presence is everywhere, where he meticulously keeps the gallery, stage, and backstage areas spotless. He only asks that you not throw your trash on the floor. Joe is most frequently spotted in the balcony, moving along the rows of seats with his push broom.

He can be playful too, opening and closing doors and turning the lights on and off throughout the playhouse. On one particular evening, the current manager was working late at night. Turning off the lights in Joe’s area, she walked to her car only to realize she had forgotten her keys. When she turned to go back into the building, Joe’s light was back on. 

Joe was a big man who had questionable hygiene practices, so an unwelcome smell of body odor often preempts his appearance. Despite that, he is a polite spirit, often pulling chairs back from tables to allow women to take a seat. 

Daniel the Stable Boy

Daniel is perhaps the saddest of all the spirits to call the playhouse home and one of the most endearing. He was just a young stable hand, caring for the horses. His love of animals made him a perfect fit for the stable. But one day, he was accused of stealing horses, something he would never do. 

Though he was innocent, those who accused him had him hanged in the stable. He begged for mercy, tears streaming down his face. None was shown, and the men were intent on seeing Daniel swing from the gallows. Legend says that the artesian well near the stable turned briny after his death, because of the salt in Daniel’s spent tears when he was wrongly hanged.  

Malevolence Personified

While Joe is a gentle spirit, there is said to also be a spirit thick with darkness and despair. The air is always heavy when this spirit wants to make an appearance. The current manager once left her office keys in the door while sitting at her desk. The keys began to rattle by themselves, eventually shaking violently. 

There is so much more. 

On many occasions, shouts have been heard from the empty gallery, almost as if cheering on a performance that ended a century ago. The empty seats frequently open and close on their own, too, and the sound is loud in the expanse of the playhouse. 

Haunted Orlando

So, now that you know who is haunting the playhouse, wouldn’t you like to find out about other Orlando area hauntings? One great way to find out more is by taking one of our ghost tours with Orlando Haunts. You can also explore other area hauntings on our blog. 

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Sources:

• https://www.discovertitusville.com/ghost-stories/5-cocoa-village-playhouse

• https://cocoavillageplayhouse.com/about/history

• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/2021/10/22/spirits-and-legend-await-you-at-cocoa-village-playhouse/8510973002/