It’s only natural to mention The Villages Theater Company and Judy Prior in the same breath. After all, the pint-sized dynamo has been a vital part of the popular club for the last two decades.

Under Judy’s leadership, The Villages Theater Company (TVTC) has evolved from a social club to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that benefits over two dozen area charities. Members put on outstanding performances for the public and participate in theatre-related activities throughout the year.

Born in Rhode Island, Judy has loved performing arts since starting dance class at age 5. She took dance until age 14 and performed in school plays.

Her claim to fame was competing in the Miss Rhode Island pageant in her town. “I won Miss Cranston in 1968 and then was third runner-up in the Miss Rhode Island pageant. I won Miss Congeniality twice, but at 4’9” I really didn’t have a shot,” Judy laughs.

She majored in microbiology at the University of Rhode Island. After graduating in 1967, she began working in research but quickly realized it didn’t fit her animated personality.  

 “There was no one to talk with. I took a pay cut to be a teacher. One day I was working in a lab; two weeks later I was standing in front of a class,” says Judy, who taught junior high for three years before becoming a high school chemistry teacher.

She married Jimmy Prior in 1969. Their daughter Rebecca was born in 1974. 

Judy taught for 28 years in Warwick, Rhode Island. After retiring, in 2002 she and Jimmy moved to Orlando, where Rebecca was living.

Discovering The Villages

When Rebecca and her family moved out of that neighborhood, Judy had an idea after visiting a friend who’d moved to The Villages.

“When I saw all the activities, I said, ‘That’s where I want to go.’ We moved there in 2004 and have lived in the same house all this time,” Judy says.

She was taking a tap dance class when another participant invited her to check out the theatre company.

“My brother was doing community theatre in his town and having so much fun. I went and the rest is history. I tried out a lot in the beginning and got parts in a few plays. I started volunteering, got on the board and then took over as president in 2011,” says Judy, who also performs with their traveling troupe Shows-to-Go, which performs for parties and other clubs in The Villages.

She thought she’d just help out for a while, but she’s been president ever since. TVTC obviously knows a winner when it has one.

TVTC was founded in 1992. All members must be Villages residents. In addition to acting, the company builds their own sets for most plays.

“We are a club with 200 members and have about 60 active members,” Judy says. “Some of our members were professional actors in televisions and movies, like Jerry Walsh.”

TVTC performs four plays each year, mostly comedies. All performances are held at Mulberry Grove Rec. Center. Only Villages residents can attend the summer play. Other plays are open for anyone to attend.

Like a Family

TVTC is far more than just a social club. 

“We call it the TVTC family. We’re around the same ages and we rally around and help each other,” Judy says. 

She experienced this firsthand when the close-knit group pitched in to lighten her load as she juggled theatre duties while caring for her husband of 55 years who had pancreatic cancer. 

She’d told the TVTC board she was retiring when she turned 80 in May 2025, but when Jimmy passed last October, Judy realized she still had more to give. Now she aims to retire as president when she’s 85. Meanwhile, she stays busy overseeing the business end of TVTC.

 When Judy took over as president, she found ways to save money and filed for TVTC to become a nonprofit. None of the board members get paid; all are volunteers.

TVTC can sell 1,296 seats for each play, spread out over four nights with 324 seats available for each performance. Those ticket sales benefit local charities.

“We started donating to charities in 2014 and give about $42,000 a year. We give to 27 charities, including area elementary schools, food banks and hospice,” Judy says.

All tickets are sold online on the TVTC website. You can purchase season tickets or tickets to individual plays. Season ticket sales open September 1. Tickets for “Artifice” (the October play) go on sale September 22.

Remaining 2025-’26 season

10/17/2025 – 10/20/2025  |  “Artifice”

1/23/2026 – 1/26/202  |  “Last Round-Up of The Guacamole Queens”

4/24/2026 – 4/27/2026  |  “Still Life with Pairs”

All seats are reserved (You choose seats.)

Online price/tickets $15-$25 (No added fees. Credit card only.)

All performances are held at Mulberry Grove Rec. Center, located at:
8445 SE 165th Mulberry Lane, The Villages

www.thevillagestheatercompany.com  |   www.facebook.com/thevillagestheatercompany

Photos: Nicole Hamel