850 GOOD NEWS: Bringing Broadway to Panama City

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Here in Panama City, one woman’s dream to bring Broadway-style theatre to the Gulf Coast almost didn’t make it past opening night.

But when the curtain rose, so did an entire community.

And that’s what makes this story 850 good news.

Leigh Gladden moved to Florida with a musical theatre degree, memories of performing on star-studded stages and a desire to bring it all to Panama City for her next act.

But when she arrived, the backdrop wasn’t bright lights-- it was hurricane Michael destruction.

“My heart was really yearning for theatre,” said Panama City Theatre Company founder Leigh Gladden.

With no theatre company in town, Gladden was driving to Destin to perform-- until one bright idea.

“One night, it just hit me on the drive home. I thought to myself, ‘well, why don’t we just have a theatre company here in Panama City,’” said Gladden.

And with that light bulb moment, she was off.

In 2022, gladden formed an LLC-- the Panama City Theatre Company-- by the following year, she produced the Wizard of Oz.

“We were in such a small space, so I’m running the projections. I’m running all the sound. It was kind of overwhelming,” said Galdden.

Overwhelming enough that she almost walked away.

“I kind of was like, ‘Well, if this isn’t meant to be, then it’s not meant to be,’” said Galdden.

But by 2025, her production of hairspray wasn’t just a hit.

“It completely sold out, and everyone that came just raved about it,” said Galdden.

And with that success came realization.

“I realized this really can work here,” said Galdden.

She’s now wrapping production for the Grinch-- the theatre company’s third and biggest play.

“It’s the storytelling. It’s the connection. It’s the magic that is created in just sharing an experience with another actor on stage and then sharing that with your audience,” said Galdden.

Leigh’s got big plans to grow the company.

But until then, every performance reminds her why she started.

“There really is just nothing like it, and that feeling of bringing people together-- it just makes me so proud and just so happy to be a part of it all,” said Galdden.

As she preps for next year, she’s living proof, the best productions begin when someone decides the show must go on.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app, and check out what’s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app.