HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Mike Edison-Letter to CommissionersSubmitted into the public
record for item(s) MV.1
on 05/23/2019 City Clerk
After debating the merits of disparate plans for nearly five years, we've finally managed to
coalesce the private sector and the preservationist community around a single vision for
bringing the Playhouse back to life.
The result — creation of a 70o-seat theater in the existing building alongside a Zoo -seat `black
box' theater — is the strongest case yet for building a self-sufficient performing arts center that
retains the historic structure and has a far-reaching impact through its programming,
educational initiatives and community outreach.
Best of all, our plan doesn't require any new allocation of City or County money. Every public
dollar that we envision using has already been earmarked for the renovation of the Playhouse.
Those funds will be complemented by dozens of private supporters who, like you and I, are able
to commit more than $20 million in combined funds toward bringing our vision to life.
Our plan achieves five important objectives:
i. Fully preserve a historic gem: Working with Miami's foremost preservation
architect, Richard J. Heisenbottle, we have devised a plan that keeps the entirety of the
circa 1926 Playhouse intact. This includes the building's iconic fagade, its proscenium
arch and stage, and the auditorium itself. Keep in mind that this is precisely what Miami -
Dade residents supported when they approved $20 million in County bond funds for the
theater's restoration — a far cry from the County's intention to demolish and start anew.
Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, a Nobel Prize winner, put it best when he wrote that
the disappearance of the historic Playhouse would be "a cultural disaster not only for
Florida, but for all who believe that theater is essential to the cultural life of our times."
2. Create a true public -private partnership: Miami's leading arts institutions are
grounded in strong public and private sector support, and the Playhouse should be no
different. Our Foundation has identified approximately $32 million in County, City and
State funding that is available for the renovation and relaunch of the Playhouse. Another
$4.5 million would be provided through tax credits for historical preservation.
These sources would be added to approximately $20 million from private sector
individuals, companies and foundations. All in, this totals approximately $56.5 million —
significantly higher than the approximately $48 million which will be required to restore
and reopen the building. This blend of County, City, State, Preservation Tax Credits and
private funds stands in stark contract with the County's existing plan, which relies solely
on public sector dollars to build and operate the Playhouse.
3. Meet demand for an artistically and economically significant playhouse:
Miami deserves a regional theatre company capable of producing and presenting shows
which cultivate local actors and offer a stage for international talent. Currently, Miami -
Dade County is home to a handful of 200-300 seat theaters on one end of the spectrum
and large performance halls at the other end. Our Foundation has spent thousands of
hours researching the optimal path for creating a self-sustaining institution, including
meeting with theatre professionals from New York to London and commissioning a market
study by AMS Planning & Research, one of the country's top arts consultancies.
AMS found substantial demand for a 70o-seat mainstage theater, making the Coconut
Grove Playhouse our best option for filling this void in the community. Likewise, our plan
5ubmittea into the pubic
record for items) MV.1
on 05/23/2019 City Clerk
to absorb the cost of operating a smaller `black box' theater would ensure Gables Stage has
a place to call home under the direction of Joseph Adler.
Equally important, a reinvigorated theater in Coconut Grove will bring new investment to
one of South Florida's most culturally important neighborhoods. After a decade of neglect,
Coconut Grove is again coming alive with new restaurants, businesses and residents. The
reopening of the Playhouse will accelerate the Grove's comeback by creating an arts
destination in the heart of this vibrant district. This is a model that is working in Boston at
the Huntington Theatre Company and in Cleveland at Playhouse Square.
4. Prioritize sound fiscal management: We have setup a private 501 (c)(3) nonprofit,
The Coconut Grove Playhouse Foundation, which is prepared to manage all aspects of
the theater's operations — from maintenance to marketing and everything in between.
World -class programming must be met with responsible governance, and Miami
taxpayers should not be asked to carry the burden of a publicly -run theater. A private
Foundation is the only way to ensure the Playhouse remains self-sufficient and
sustainably managed in perpetuity. I understand this firsthand from my time chairing
the Arsht Center board and the Miami City Ballet board, and I am prepared to volunteer
my time as a member of the Playhouse Foundation's board as well.
5. Ensure a deep community impact: A revived Playhouse comprising a center for arts
education common denominator for bringing together one of the country's most diverse
cities. Our Foundation will collaborate with Miami -Dade County Public Schools, Florida
Intl. University, more than a dozen schools located within 12 miles of the Playhouse, and
other community partners in Coconut Grove and beyond to expand our reach beyond the
theater's walls. With their involvement, we will position the Playhouse as a launching
pad and laboratory for a new generation of homegrown Miami talent.
Larry Wilker, a Miami resident who formerly led the Kennedy Center, the Adrienne Arsht Center
and Cleveland's Playhouse Square, is among the most respected members of the national
performing arts community. Larry understands the theater's potential and shares our vision for
renovating the Coconut Grove Playhouse. He summarizes his support this way:
"Miami is a large, international, sophisticated city filled with people who appreciate
and seek culture. The Coconut Grove Playhouse thrived for years long before Miami
was a populous and worldly city, succumbing in the end to mismanagement. Quality
programming creates excitement and motivates audiences. As America's newest big
city, Miami deserves a first-class regional theatre."
With Miami's arts awakening hitting its stride, we have an opportunity to cement our legacy as a
leader in the world of theatre programming and education. Fortunately, we are already home to
a worthy stage. Now it's up to us to restore the Coconut Grove Playhouse to greatness.
We have the right team onboard and the right vision in place. I am hopeful that you will join us
by making a landmark pledge that instills confidence in the public sector while inspiring other
members of our community to step up with their own support.
Thanks,
Mike