Regional Theatre of the Week: Actor's Playhouse in Coral Gables, Florida

By Michelle Petrucci

BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre site on the Internet, is excited to announce a new feature to its comprehensive regional coverage - the Featured Regional Theater of the Week! Each week, BWW will introduce its readers to a regional theater located in one of our (over 130!) coverage cities. By exploring these different venues, their history and showcasing the production seasons, BWW continues its commitment to expand our presence in communities and cities across the United States. 

This Week's Featured Regional Theater: Actors' Playhouse in Coral Gables, Florida. 

Standing out among a vibrant theatre community in southeast Florida is Actors’ Playhouse, located at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables. Its location is prime: a beacon among the high-end shops and restaurants on the heavily traveled Miracle Mile. Entering into its 25^th Anniversary Season, the theatre is nationally recognized and known for producing award-winning plays and musicals with talent from both out of town and South Florida. Helmed by Executive Producing Director Barbara S. Stein, Actors’ Playhouse is the largest not-for-profit Equity theatre in Miami-Dade County.

The beautiful art deco Miracle Theatre was built in 1947 and operated as a grand 1,600 seat movie theater for decades. Eventually, the City of Coral Gables purchased the property which then underwent a massive $7 million renovation with attention paid to restoring its original art deco style and 1940s detailing. The balcony of the 600-seat Mainstage was turned into a smaller 300-seat theatre perfect for more intimate shows and a 100-seat black box was also created. In 1995, Actors’ Playhouse moved into its new digs from its old space in Kendall where the company was originally formed in 1988. As a result, the theatre fosters its relationship with the city through educational and community outreach programs that bring the performing arts into the lives of kids and teens who might never have otherwise been exposed to theatre.

Vital to bringing Actors’ Playhouse into the forefront of the theatre community is Artistic Director for the past 24 years, David Arisco. He as either acted in or directed most of the company’s biggest successes, most recently playing Edna Turnblad in HAIRSPRAY, and has an impressive amount of Carbonell Awards (for theatre excellence in South Florida) and nominations under his belt. Supported by the best designers and musicians in the area, the theatre’s upcoming 25^th season is sure to be one of their best, featuring GODSPELL, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, OTHER DESERT CITIES, THE FOX ON THE FAIRWAY, RATED P FOR PARENTHOOD and the first regional production of the 2008 Tony winning musical IN THE HEIGHTS.  Currently running at the Actors' Playhouse is REAL MEN SING SHOW TUNES...AND PLAY WITH PUPPETS.   

To learn more about Actors’ Playhouse and to see their upcoming shows, please visit: www.actorsplayhouse.org. 

Know of a theater we should feature?  Send us your suggestion to romi@broadwayworld.com

The cast of Les Miserables, winner of the 2010 Carbonell Award for Best Production of a Musical. Photo: Alberto Romeu.

Hunter Foster as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. Audrey puppet plant created by The Jim Henson Company. Photo: Joan Marcus.

Ivore Rousell, Actors' Playhouse Artistic Director David Arisco as Edna Turnblad, Walter Kemp, II, and Michael Joseph in Hairspray. Photo: Alberto Romeu.

Past Shows at the Actors' Playhouse