Coconut Grove Playhouse in FL Fires Most of Staff

By Beau Higgins

The majority of the staff of Miami's legendary Coconut Grove Playhouse have been told that their jobs are about to come to an end.

Embattled chief executive officer, Arnold Mittelman, broke the news to Playhouse staffers during a meeting in his office on Friday afternoon.

This Sunday is the Coconut Grove Playhouse's season ending performance, of Lucie Arnaz in Sonia Flew. Staffers were told that their Playhouse positions would cease after Sunday's performance of Sonia Flew.

Professionals at the Playhouse told this writer that at the meeting, Mittelman said that "front of house" personnel and stage hands would get their paychecks that day, Friday. Mittelman added that the remainder of the staff, would get their paychecks on Monday, May 1. He sadly made it clear that most workers would be receiving termination notices within the next few days.

The Coconut Grove Playhouse employs about 30 professionals. All but seven are expected to lose their jobs by Monday morning. The seven remaining work in accounting and the theater's educational program, which tours Miami-Dade schools . The educational program is scheduled to conclude sometime in May.

It is not clear whether any payroll will be allotted to Mittelman. His resignation was requested by members of the Board of Directors on Friday, April 21. Mittelman has not tendered his resignation. He has said he would like to "at least" finish out his contract which runs through 2008.

At April 26's Board meeting, it was disclosed that Mittelman inappropriately took out a loan for the Playhouse using a state grant as collateral. It was also announced at the meeting that a Blue Ribbon Panel of advisors and perhaps financial saviors was being formed to help salvage the Playhouse. At Wednesday's Board meeting, no decisions were made regarding the future of Arnold Mittelman or the future of the Playhouse.

Coconut Grove Playhouse Board Chair Shelley Spivak, has not yet returned phone calls to this writer. Telephone calls to Mittelman's office and home for comment, have thus far, gone unreturned.