Help Us Save the Coconut Grove Playhouse
Why the Coconut Grove Theater should be fully
preserved, protected and restored as a regional (LORT) theater.
The Coconut Grove Playhouse was a LORT theater–a type of regional theater that
operates under the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) agreement and
requires a minimum of 700 seats.
LORT theaters are typically located outside of New York City and serve as
cultural centers for their local communities.
The League of Regional Theaters works closely with the Artistic Director or a LORT regional theater in developing plays on their way to Broadway. In order to do this, the theater ‘box’, the stage and audience seat count is important to mimic the Broadway house they will eventually go in.
LORT theaters also typically employ Actors Equity actors and Union raising the bar for minimum salaries and working conditions for theater makers in South Florida and
they invest in building audiences through the city.
Here what the experts have to say...
- "A 300-seat theatre is economically unfeasible and culturally unsustainable," according to Zev Buffman, former CEO of the Coconut Grove Playhouse and past President & CEO of the Ruth Eckerd Hall. He stated in 2019 that, "restored large regional theaters across the country are the new trend and are thriving economically and revitalizing communities."
- "We think the theatre needs to be between 600-750 seats, states Lawrence Wilker, Interim President & CEO of The Adrienne Arsht Center. View 2007 letter. John Richard, The Adrienne Arsht Center CEO, declines request to operate the Playhouse because it is “not prepared to utilize the available $20 million to construct and operate a 300 seat theater for the purposes and conditions described in the RFP criteria.” View 2009 letter.
- "Miami and its surrounding area have the demographics for an institutional theater of prominence. Potential success exists with a two-theater, historically restored Coconut Grove Playhouse. Looking at other successful League of Resident Theatre operations in comparable U.S. markets, research proves that a fiscally prudent business plan focusing on audience, community and fund raising, requires a venue of at least 700 seats to capitalize on vital weekend and holiday income potential. A smaller venue would limit revenue growth and wouldn’t create enough foot traffic to help revitalize downtown Coconut Grove. Miami deserves a plan that combines responsible historic preservation, 21st-century technology and the best in artistic programming." Howard Rogut, Boca Raton, A veteran of nonprofit institutional and Broadway commercial theatre for more than 30 years. Credits include the Kennedy Center, Yale Repertory Theatre and Jujamcyn Theaters, one of the three major Broadway theatre owner/operators.
- Bradford T. Kenney, Executive Artistic Director for the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine explains what it takes to operate a nonprofit regional theater. He states that a 300 seat theater would be a grave mistake...view letter.
- The Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs in conjunction with the Board of the Coconut Grove Playhouse, commissioned the University of Miami’s Center for Urban and Community Design to conduct a charrette “to identify design strategies that could catalyze the western end of the Grove and to re-establish a cultural anchor while respecting the history and ambiance of historic Coconut Grove.” Steering committee members included architect Jorge L. Hernandez, Director of Cultural Affairs Michael Spring, and Playhouse Board members Shelly Spivack and Jorge Luis Lopez. The charrette’s concluding vision recommended that the Coconut Grove Playhouse be rehabilitated into a two-theater facility with a 600-seat main stage theater and 200-300 seat smaller venue, and multiple design schematics were developed.
- "Theatres with less than 350 seats are usually only successful when connected to some kind of subsidized larger organization….It takes about the same number of permanent staff to manage a 350 seat theater as it does a 900 seat theater. You need an Artist Director, Manager Director, A Finance Officer, Box Office And Operations Manager to name a few. Yes, HVAC will be higher and yes you have to fill the seats, but 350 seats will forever limit your income potential. Your only choice to increase income after the 350 seats are filled will be to raise prices and cut expenses. A sure way to put yourself out if business. The Asolo started out as a 360 seat theater, 60 years ago. Within 20 years we could no longer sustain our operation and we built a 500 seat theater, this year we will add 30 more seats (Raising a potential half a million dollars in ticket sales). There is a secondary impact to a larger theater which is that it will attract night time dinner crowds for before and after the performance dining. This should have a positive impact on the surrounding restaurants and other businesses….if it is feasible it should be preserved." Vic Meyrich, Productions and Operation Director for Asolo Repertory Theater. Served on the operations and production of live theater for almost 60 years and has written architectural programs for new and remodeled theater spaces.
OPINION - GROVE PLAYHOUSE
Lessons learned at PInecrest Gardens Cultural Arts Park
by former Mayor Cindy Lerner
May 2021
As Mayor of Pinecrest, our first major project was to focus on breathing life into Pinecrest Gardens, which had been a major tourist attraction since 1936, known as the Parrot Jungle , purchased by the Village of PInecrest in 2002. The “Jungle “was transformed into beautiful botanic gardens, but the wonderful facilities notably the 500 seat open air amphitheater known as the Banyon bowl, had been the site of the famous Parrot shows while a tourist attraction, had been abandoned and sat empty, was not being utilized for its highest and best use.
First step was to bring in a theatrical/ performance arts consultant who ultimately recommended the creation of a Cultural and performing arts venue . The Village Council embraced that vision and committed modest investments for a stage, sound system, lighting and eventually new seats were installed. Since completion in 2012, PInecrest Gardens is now a Cultural Arts venue, where our South Florida community enjoys a yearly Jazz series, Orchestra, local school Drama performances, Dance, community theatre and children’s theatre. However, we quickly learned that recruiting the musicians and other theater groups who would perform at Arsht, or Broward center was not possible with a 500 seat theatre. The Banyon Bowl has limitations on its ability to attract many performers and performance companies, and as we learned, size matters. PInecrest Gardens is quite proud of the cultural arts venue created, thanks in large part to our extraordinary PInecrest Gardens Director, Alana Perez, it has fulfilled the community mission and vision, to allow the site to meet its historic and future potential and has reached its highest and best use as we were able to breath wonderful life into it.
It is time for Miami Dade County to breath life back into the beloved Coconut Grove playhouse, which will require it to be restored to its highest and best use. To meet the needs of the 21 st century Coconut grove ,which is again vibrant, attracting thousands of residents to the many new high end residential towers and who expect high calibre talent to be available . The neighboring communities of Coral Gables, Pinecrest, South Miami and Key Biscayne as well all hunger for a fully restored theatre , one that will provide far more than a small community theatre. It is what the business and residential communities demand. It’s time for the new County Mayor to determine the best fit for the building and the programming, is to preserve the entire footprint, and to fully restore our Coconut Grove Playhouse.
What the prior county Administration proposed is something that does not honor the highest and best use as it does not commit to full restoration of a dynamic theatre and would never attract the talent the facility is capable of attracting. It is time for a new County plan.
Lessons learned at PInecrest Gardens Cultural Arts Park
by former Mayor Cindy Lerner
May 2021
As Mayor of Pinecrest, our first major project was to focus on breathing life into Pinecrest Gardens, which had been a major tourist attraction since 1936, known as the Parrot Jungle , purchased by the Village of PInecrest in 2002. The “Jungle “was transformed into beautiful botanic gardens, but the wonderful facilities notably the 500 seat open air amphitheater known as the Banyon bowl, had been the site of the famous Parrot shows while a tourist attraction, had been abandoned and sat empty, was not being utilized for its highest and best use.
First step was to bring in a theatrical/ performance arts consultant who ultimately recommended the creation of a Cultural and performing arts venue . The Village Council embraced that vision and committed modest investments for a stage, sound system, lighting and eventually new seats were installed. Since completion in 2012, PInecrest Gardens is now a Cultural Arts venue, where our South Florida community enjoys a yearly Jazz series, Orchestra, local school Drama performances, Dance, community theatre and children’s theatre. However, we quickly learned that recruiting the musicians and other theater groups who would perform at Arsht, or Broward center was not possible with a 500 seat theatre. The Banyon Bowl has limitations on its ability to attract many performers and performance companies, and as we learned, size matters. PInecrest Gardens is quite proud of the cultural arts venue created, thanks in large part to our extraordinary PInecrest Gardens Director, Alana Perez, it has fulfilled the community mission and vision, to allow the site to meet its historic and future potential and has reached its highest and best use as we were able to breath wonderful life into it.
It is time for Miami Dade County to breath life back into the beloved Coconut Grove playhouse, which will require it to be restored to its highest and best use. To meet the needs of the 21 st century Coconut grove ,which is again vibrant, attracting thousands of residents to the many new high end residential towers and who expect high calibre talent to be available . The neighboring communities of Coral Gables, Pinecrest, South Miami and Key Biscayne as well all hunger for a fully restored theatre , one that will provide far more than a small community theatre. It is what the business and residential communities demand. It’s time for the new County Mayor to determine the best fit for the building and the programming, is to preserve the entire footprint, and to fully restore our Coconut Grove Playhouse.
What the prior county Administration proposed is something that does not honor the highest and best use as it does not commit to full restoration of a dynamic theatre and would never attract the talent the facility is capable of attracting. It is time for a new County plan.