Actors' Playhouse 20th Anniversary Celebration

ACTORS' PLAYHOUSE CELEBRATES 20 SEASONS OF GROWTH AND SUCCESS

Twenty years ago a small theatre company was born in a Kendall strip mall.
 
Actors' Playhouse Productions was the fulfillment of a life-long dream for co-founders Dr. Lawrence E. Stein and wife Barbara S. Stein, who wanted to create a theatre in South Dade to fill the void of cultural activities. Since these humble beginnings on Kendall Drive, Actors' Playhouse has grown into the largest regional award-winning professional theatre in South Florida, one of 22 Miami-Dade County Cultural Institutions, and the managing agent of the historic Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables.
 
"Like most little girls, I dreamed of singing and dancing on a Broadway stage," said Co-Founder and Executive Producer Barbara Stein. "So when the opportunity prevailed to create a production company and build a theatre in my community, I rolled up my sleeves, gave up any and all other interests and challenged my innate skills to make the project work."
 
Larry Stein recalls growing up in Philadelphia loving and attending live theatre on a regular basis.
 
"I knew that when the Wometco movie theatre lease was for sale in Kendall Mall in 1987, it was an opportunity to move forward with the project," Larry Stein said. "It was the love for the project and the benefit of our community that drove Barbara and I with steadfast passion and commitment."
 
Through the past 20 seasons, Actors' Playhouse has continued to grow, developing its audience base in a diverse South Florida community, surviving Hurricane Andrew, and partnering with the City of Coral Gables to renovate and restore the Miracle Theatre into a three-stage performing arts center.
 
"I've never regretted a minute of what I have done and look forward to every single day, no matter how difficult the challenge," Barbara Stein said.
 
This positive outlook on challenges is only part of what has made Actors' Playhouse a success. The theatre company's growth and prosperity is also due, in large part, to the hard work of a dedicated Board of Directors and a core executive team who have been together since the beginning. Larry and Barbara Stein along with Artistic Director David Arisco and Children's Theatre Director Earl Maulding have worked together to build a theatre company that produces the highest caliber of theatre for the community including Mainstage and Children's Theatre, an annual National Children's Theatre Festival, Conservatory and camp, playreadings and workshops of new theatre works, art exhibitions, educational outreach projects, the rental of the facility, and special events.
 
"The four of us have been here from the beginning. Larry and Barbara Stein with their vision and tenacity, Earl Maulding with his support and dedication to the youth of our community and myself trying to improve upon our artistic integrity with every passing year," David Arisco said. "It truly has been a team effort. One that leaves me looking forward to what we can now build upon, having finally achieved the stability and credibility to become the arts organization all of South Florida can be proud of."
 
Children's Theatre Director Earl Maulding remembers how luck had a hand at leading him to where he is today.
 
"I was definitely in the right place at the right time when I came to Actors' Playhouse and fate gave us all the opportunity to come to the Miracle Theatre," said Maulding who began working with the theatre company as an actor. "But it has been the love and dedication of anyone and everyone involved in this project that has made this Miracle come true."
 
To celebrate this exciting milestone in its history, Actors' Playhouse will hold a celebration event at the Hotel InterContinental Miami on Jan. 27, 2008 at 7 p.m.
 
With a buffet by the InterContinental and a complimentary bar by Bacardi, U.S.A, the celebration will also feature a trip down memory lane with performances from Actors' Playhouse's long history. Signature alumni performers will perform numbers from many of the company's beloved and Carbonell Award-Winning musicals. David Arisco will reprise his memorable portrayal of Tevya from Fiddler on the Roof, Lissette Gonzalez, CBS 4 Weather Anchor, will sing from 4 Guys Named Jose, Reggie Whitehead from The Full Monty, Irene Adjan from Joseph…Dreamcoat, and Stacy Schwartz from I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Highlighted among the performances will be a presentation by the cast of Actors' Playhouse's newest sensation Altar Boyz, the hot new boy band musical currently playing at the Miracle Theatre through February 10th. In addition to all these musical theatre performances, Kim Bankston of The New Platters will provide jazz music for the evening.
 
"This anniversary is such a landmark in our history," Stein said. "We've been entertaining Miami audiences for 20 seasons, and our guests will truly enjoy taking a journey back with Actors' Playhouse favorites, both new and old."
 
Seating is limited at this celebration event, and reservations are a $5 donation for each of Actors' Playhouse's 20 seasons, totaling $100 per person.
 
In addition to the Jan. 27 celebration, Actors' Playhouse will commemorate its anniversary with a special price of $20 for the 2 p.m. Sunday performance of Altar Boyz on February 3, which is the anniversary of Actors' Playhouse's very first performance.
 
"The community that helped us grow can come in and enjoy the theatre at this extraordinary 20th Anniversary price," Stein said. "We couldn't imagine a better way to celebrate than inviting the community in to see another amazing production."
 
The 20th Anniversary price of $20 is for single ticket buyers, based on availability, and is limited to two tickets per patron through the box office only. This offer is not valid on previous orders.
 
Tickets for all events can be purchased through the box office at 305.444.9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org. 

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