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Home My WebLink AboutSubmittal-Mike Eidson-Coconut Grove Playhouse Preservation PlanCOCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE PRESERVATION PLAN Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/2019 City Clerk LewisS. "Mike' Eidson, President The Coconut Grove Playhouse Foundation 255 Alhambra Circle Penthouse Coral Gables, Florida 33134 Telephone 305 476-7400 e-mail: Mil<e@Colson.com www.playhousefoundation.org 5653-Submittal-Mike Eidson -Coconut Grove Playhouse Preservation Plan I ....,. . ...i. .w....� :n. en. ... .v Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 I on 5/23/ 19 City Clerk ca � COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE 3500 MAIN HWY, COCONUT GROVL, I L 33133 PROPOSED EXTERIOR RENDERING R.J. HEISENBO-ITLE ARCHITECTS, P.A. 2199 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, SUITE 400, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33134 PHONE: 305.446.7799 FAX: 305.446.9275 1ULY 91 2018 Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk Small Thea l nnov , By Submitted into the public e al r-------- — �o record for item(s) MV.1 GROSS E%ISTING HISTORIC THEATER=27,977 SF �= 5, �, g on 5/23/19 City Clerk I ® GROSS THEATER E%PANSION=1],502 SF I L------- w BO%THEATER 11,5571 R v,� — — r_----_ — — —GRO55 —� RE-1 GROSS AIL SPACE 9.637 SF ^ b �, I - I GROSS CONSERVATORY STOOI05 = 6,11111 NET CONSERVATORY SPACE=5,B04 SF nw o T GROSS OFFICE COMPONENT=B,40B 5F NET SS OFFICECOMPONENT 373GROSSACES NG GARAGE = iR,814 5F 0]35PACES I TOTAL BUILDING GROSS AREA=200,600 SF g O.OB' IT y / ,l' 00'0 r'20" E 174.91' 'N� / COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE GARAGE / RETAIL / OFFICE CONCEPTUAL PLANS R.J. HEISENBOT7LE ARCHITECTS, P.A. GROUND FLOOR PLAN Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 RESTORATION PLAN on 5/23/ 19 City Clerk FOR COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE 1. The Foundation Will Completely Restore and Modernize the Historic 1926 Coconut Grove Playhouse • All Work Will Be Done In Accordance With The Secretary of The Interiors Standards for The Restoration and Rehabilitation of Historic Structures • We Will Remove the Non Original Balcony Addition and Restore the Historic Proscenium Theater to Seat 700 Persons • We Will Construct a New State of the Art Stage House and Theater Support Space • We Will Restore the Original 1926 Facade, Lobby and Ground Level Retail Space • We Will Construct New Theater Offices and Rehearsal Space on the Second Level • We Will Construct New Loft Style Apartments for Visiting Actors and Directors on the Third Level 2. The Foundation Will Build a New 200 Seat Black Box Studio Theater Adjacent To The Historic Theater • The Studio Theater Will Have It's Own Independent Lobby, Donor Lounge, Catering Kitchen, Dressing Rooms and Storage Areas 3. The Foundation Will Construct a New Conservatory Building In Front of the New Miami Parking Authority Garage • The Conservatory Will Contain 6 Arts Education Studio Spaces • Each Studio Space Will Have 15 Feet High Ceilings, a Piano, Sprung Hardwood Floors and Independent Audio Systems • These Spaces Can Be Modified To Host Private and Corporate Events and Party's • The Ground Floor Will Contain 4,673 Sq. Ft. of Commercial Space to be Leased as a Restaurant • Third floor Will Contain 4,750 Sq. Ft. of Office Space ground level restaurant • All Lease Proceeds Will Go To Support Theater Operations Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/19 . City Clerk COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE PROSCENIUM THEATER Submitted into ,the public . y p record for item(s) MV.1 2. on 5/23/1949 City Clerk i COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE 3500 MAIN HWY, COCONUT GROVE, FL 33133 PROPOSED INTERIOR RENDERING R.J. HEISENBOTTLE ARCHITECTS, P.A. 2199 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, SUITE 400, CORAL CABLES, FLORIDA 33134 PHONE: 305.446.7799 FAX: 305.446.9275 OCTOBER 11, 2017 Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE STUDIO THEATER T X* X4 ILA Y3. I Olt; Fw NOT'! I ?11 j ip io ?4 /4 "1 1 AlO cr, .,flc. 12�csc k.� "ViA' - jL lop, fail OF Ar; 4p; ld"T x a� L) > L) a a� O a) G) ` co 0- N 'Q O k' COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE 3500 MAIN HWY, COCONUT GROVE, FL 33133 PROPOSED STUDIO THEATER INTERIOR RENDERING R.J. HEISENBOTTLE ARCHITECTS, P.A. 2199 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, SUITE 400, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33134 PHONE: 305.446.7799 FAX: 305.446.9275 IULY 3, 201 B Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE CONSERVATORY x ...-•- - 1 a .� i o ® co I co ® � �� ■ 20 N ilk 1I - — Lo 'Q 1 WIN ` E'er / 0 0 ,`. t� t - :IiRG COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE 3500 MAIN i IWY, COCONUT GROVL, EL 33133 PROPOSED EXTERIOR RENDERING R.J. HEISENBOTTLE ARCHITECTS, P.A. 2199 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, SUMS 400, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33134 PHONE! 305.446.7799 FAX: 305.446.9275 JULY 5, 201 S i r Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5 / 23 / 19 . City Clerk COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE 3500 MAIN HWY, COCONUT GROVE, FL 33133 PROPOSED EXTERIOR RENDERING R.J. HEISENBOTTLE ARCHITECTS, P.A. 2199 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, SUITE 400, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33134 PHONE: 305.446.7799 FAX: 305.446.9275 JULY 5, 2018 == 9-0 Z > L) IL : c O - - 4 co �Tzfax 3; +r KNOW ow ki've I n. t 1 pe:'aI±(�t7 If COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE 3500 MAIN HWY, COCONUT GROVE, FL 33133 PROPOSED CONSERVATORY STUDIO RENDERING — 7 R.J. HEISENBOTTLE ARCHITECTS, P.A. 2199 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, SUITE 400, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33134 PHONE: 305.446.7799 FAX: 305.446.9275 1UNE 26, 2018 Tzfg of ffliami, Tjariba J'i 3500 PAN AMERICAN DRIVE TOM?.s P. REGALADO 1^ MIAMI, FLORIDA 33I33 MAYOR ��t11 € 11 13 1 2 -5300 FAX I.- ®54 .. April4, 2017 Honorable Members of the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board: As you weigh the important issue of the historical appropriateness of a master plan to partially demolish and reconstruct the Coconut Grove Playhouse, I would request that you take a number of factors into consideration. The Playhouse was once the cultural heart of the Grove, since Its original establishment as a movie house some 90 years ago. For more than ten years, the 1000-seat theater has been shuttered and has fallen into disrepair. It is a sad sight for residents and for the history of this great City. I am grateful to County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami -Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs Director Michael Spring for putting together a plan and the resources to restore the Playhouse and revitalize the area. The only problem is that the proposal before you today includes a plan to reconstruct a much smaller theater than the Playhouse had. I sincerely believe that 300 seats is simply too small if our intent is to bring back the glory of the Coconut Grove Playhouse. History is not just about buildings, but about the life breathed into them by our vibrant community. I'm concerned that confining our vision to a very small theater now may limit the flexibility of the Playhouse as our community continues to grow and demand for culture increases. I believe our community should invest in this institution. In my role as Mayor, I intend to request that the City Commission commit $10 million toward the restoration of the Playhouse with a larger theater of 700 seats. I am currently exploring the City's ability to do this via the General Obligation Bond, if we are successfully able to place the issue on the ballot in November and get it passed by city voters - Thank you for your time and consideration on this important matter. Sincerely yours, Tomas ego lado��—��G? Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk BUSINESS PLAN COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE BUSINESS PLAN Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk The Coconut Grove Theater Foundation will a be successful, self-sustaining non-profit theater company with an important educational and community component. Of all the questions that have been raised about our plan this one is the easiest to prove. The evidence for our success is overwhelming. PREAMBLE: The Coconut Grove Theater Foundation will have more than three years to build a first-class operational leadership. This will begin with a strong and committed board of directors. The evidence that we will be able to build a great, self- sustaining theater company to operate the two theaters and the educational/community center is clear: A. The Coconut Grove Playhouse was successful for decades, both artistically and financially and had significant financial resources when it closed. It closed due to a short term cash flow and poor management not lack of success as an important producing non-profit theater company For most of the final 23 years before it closed Coconut Grove was a large successful regional theater producing important plays many of which transferred to Broadway and were performed by important stars. 1) The Coconut Grove Playhouse was the fifth largest regional theater in the country for over 20 years and balanced its budget 21 of the last 23 years before running into a cash flow problem and poor management. 2) Two years before it closed the theater was attracting an audience over 100,000 people and educating thousands of children in the Grove neighborhood. In 2004-2005 it received $20 million in bonds to restore the theater from the County and owned its three -acre site in Coconut Grove outright without a mortgage. People loved the theater and its productions and from a performance standpoint it was extremely successful. Audience was not the problem. It closed with a net worth of over $37 million and a debt of about $2.5 million. It should never have been allowed to close and its failure has been an economic and social catastrophe. 3) If we do not do something to change the current limited county plan the result is going to be another failure. B. COMPARABLES Quality regional theater is successful throughout the country. many of the largest regional/national theaters, in every part c directors of these theaters. Some of the theaters visited and Huntington in Boston Guthrie in Minneapolis Harman Center in Washington DC La Jolla in San Diego Maltz in Jupiter, Florida Goodman in Chicago Alliance in Atlanta Actors Repertory in Louisville, Kentucky Geva in Rochester New York Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5 / 23 / 19 . City Clerk We have gathered and studied financial data from if the country, and have visited with the leaders and researched include: C. AMS PLANNING AND RESEARCH INC. —THEATER PLANNING STUDY We hired the finest national consultant in research and planning for theaters to help us understand how to organize and operate a theater company and to find out whether our plan will be successful in Miami. The conclusion reached was that Miami will support a regional theater like we plan and that such a theater, professionally operated, will be self-sustaining. D. PRO FORMA OPERATING BUDGET/ARTISTIC PROGRAM We developed a thorough business plan that provides for a surplus in the first year. The attendance and income assumptions in this plan are reasonable and well within numbers for comparable theaters/educational centers. PRO -FORMA OPERATING BUDGET SUPPORT AND REVENUE Contributions $ 2,860,000 Ticket Revenue - Mainstage $ 3,549,000 Ticket Revenue — Other Artistic Events $ 477,500 Theater School Revenue $ 293,500 Other Revenue $ 729,250 Special Income $ 1,100,000 TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE $ 9,009,850 EXPENSES Personnel Expenses $ 4,581,185 General and Administration Expenses $ 775,000 Development Expenses $ 297,000 Marketing Expenses $ 905,000 Production Expenses $ 997,972 Theater School Productions $ 54,950 Other Artistic Events $ 357,400 TOTAL EXPENSES $ 7,968,507 Change in Net Assets - Operations $ 1,041,343 Depreciation Expense $ (100,000) Contingency $ (50,009 Change in Net Assets after contingency $ 891,343 Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk ARTISTIC & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE ARTISTIC PROGRAM NEW VENUE osof12.20.17 MAIN STAGE: Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 • 700 seat house scaled into two pricing sections: on 5/23/19 City Clerk o Premium Section (PS) 350 seats - premium pricing and locations o Standard Section (SS) 350 seats - standard pricing • Six Productions per season • Four subscription weeks at 8 performances/week • Option to extend each show for one additional performance week • Also see Other Artistic Events BLACK BOX STUDIO THEATRE: • 200 seat convertible Black Box Studio theatre • Resident Theatre Company (RTC) will produce Five productions • Each Show: One Tech Week + Four PerfWeeks at 8 performances/week • RTC will not pay rent but if they need to use rehearsal space, shops or other CGP spaces they will have to rent those. • RTC will pay for Box Office Services, Front of House Services, Utilities, Option to explore joint marketing promotional fund raising campaigns. THEATRE SCHOOL: • Three Student productions per year in the Black BoxTheatre • Each show will run for 5 performances • Students who get cast in shows pay production fee to participate • Rehearsals take place in classrooms/ studios • Three semesters of classes take place in classrooms/ studios • Summer camp will take place in classrooms, studios and Black Box • Outreach programs to local schools and parks OTHER ARTISTIC EVENTS and HOLIDAY SHOW: • Holiday Show in Main Stage Theatre for 24 performances in December • Co -Productions in both theatres for a total of 7 performances Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk o These include Music Nights, Improvisation, Comedy Nights, Special performers in one -person shows and Educational activities. • Play Readings: New Works and Classic Works in both Theatres. • Special Fund-raising events • Rentals - including Artistic, Corporate and/or Community organizations OPPORTUNITIES TO BE EXPLORED • CO -PRODUCTIONS • TOURS • PROFESSIONAL THEATRE FOR FAMILIES (CHILDREN) • BROWARD/PALM BEACH • ENHANCEMENT INCOME • CELEBRITY PAY HIGHER THAN MINIMUMS • AFFILIATIONS WITH UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY GROUPS Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk • OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE IN ROYALYIES ON SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTIONS FOR WORKS ORIGINATING AT CGP. • WORKSHOPS • FESTIVALS • AFFILIATIONS WITH GALLERIES, VISUAL ARTS MEMO From: LarryWilL-er (email address:wilkerliR heaterdreams.com) Date: December11,2017 Submitted into the public Larry Wilker record for item(s) M on 5/23/ 19 City y Clerk entire Miami area. From time to time. I have served as an adviser to this institution on Of p articular note, he served asPresident ofPlayhouse Squarein Cleveland,Ohio where he supervisedthe largest theater restoration proj ectin rheworld, creating a four -theater, 10,000 seatperfomting arts center.It is also widely credited with restoring much of downtotrnCleveland andmakztngit anattractiveplautovisit once again. Following his work in Cleveland,Mz. Walker was President ofthe Kennedy Center for 10 yearsw-here he oversaw a $120 million -year arts and entertainment institution. When he assumedleadership, it was $7million in debt, experiencing declining attendance, and progressively fewer pro ductions wlrile increasing debt by $2 million per year. In le ss than five years; Wilkee accomplishedthe following: • Paid offalldebt: ■ More than doubledthe attendance from900,000 to almost2 million per year; ■ More than double dthe number ofperformances from 15 80 to over 3300 per year-, • And increased fundraising from $13 million to $3 S million per year_ Mr Wilker brought anew dimension of creative leadership to the Kennedy Center. He created aPBS series. Kennedy Center Presents as well asthe Mark Twain Comedy Awards, on Comedy Central. He imtituted national tours of Kennedy Center theatrical and family entertainment, free concerts, circus and cab aretproductions, and a psychologically designed schedule o f o fferings aimed at bro a dening the appeal and scope aftheKennedy Center. He introduced the Italian singing sensation AndreaBacelli to America by presenting him in concert atthe Kennedy Center andthenin the fall of 1998 presentedBacelli in 27 concertsthroughoutAmerica grossing over S28million. In the fall o f2007, My- Wilker was engaged by the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami to proczde interim management services. Over his 14 months; the Center made dramatic progress in becoming aworld classperfornung arts center. Among accomplishments, Mr. Wa—er improved public perception and acceptance ofthe Center as a valuable community institution, and dramatic allv increased the quality and amount of programnung increasing annual attendance from4l°lmto 70",&. Mr. Wilker is cusently President and CEO ofTheatreDreams,andis a Tony Award winning, Emmy nominated pro ducer-entertainment executive. Since leasing the Arsht CentuNa. Wilkey hasliyed part-time inhfiami andresnainedfamiliarwlth its art scene, "The purpose m writing this memois to continue to support the Coconut Grove Playhouse Foundation's efforts to rtum great national theater to Coconut Grove and the various matters including budget, programming, administration and financing. Inmy view, Miami is a great theatermarket. Itis a large, international sophisticated city. Itis filled pith people who appreciate and seek culture. When the Arsht Centerwas being created and even a fter it opened, people feared and openly expressed the concem that it would not survive, butnow throughhard work andgood entertainmentthenaysayers were proven wrong anditis avery successful vear-round operation. The old Coconut Grove Playhouse thrived foryears(before mismanagernentbroughtit down) before hfiami t`,as aspopulous and worldly asit is today. iTihen I n ent to Clevelandto create the Playhouse Square, the critics said Cleveland was dead andwould not support a performing arts center. Today it has 7 theaters and a subscription series of over 40,000 annuallv. When I went to the Kenne dv Center the conventional wisdom was that it had re ached maturity and its maximum audience. vet in 10 v e ars the audience went from about900,G00to2millionpatrons avear. The factis,quality programmingcreates excitement andmotivates audiences. Inmv opinion, a properly managedCoconutGrove Playhouse Hill become a successful, self-sustaining non-profittheater once again. As America's ne+sestbig City, Miami deserves andwill support a large first class multi- stage theater and cultural arts facility as envisioned and planned by the Coconut Grove Playhouse Foundation. Larry Wilker President and CEO TheaterDreams, Inc. Luis Santiero From: Luis Santeiro <Santeiro ma�il.com> Date: May 14, 2019 at 3:59:5PM2 LDT To: fsuarez(@miamiGov.com Subject: From LuiSSanteiro/Re. Playhouse Preservation Vote Dear Mayor Suarez, Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/19 . City Clerk Please allow me to take a minute of your time as I throw in my voice in hopes that the Coconut Grove Playhouse can still be saved. It's already a given that The Playhouse was for decades a major landmark and important part of the artistic life of Miami. So, I will limit to briefly telling you how important it was for me, as a Cuban immigrant teenager recently arrived in your city. I was in the eighth grade at the, now long gone, Miami Military Academy, and after winning a short story contest in English class, my teacher invited me to go to The Playhouse. We saw a minor comedy, "The Gazebo," but for me, it was a lasting influence. I remember my teacher telling me that perhaps one day I would have a play of my own performed on that stage. I thought he was nuts. Yet, many years later, I had not only one, but four of my plays performed there. A fifth one was scheduled to be produced the season that the theater was closed. But perhaps one of the most important things about the Playhouse, was that it developed and producedwork that not only spoke to the Miami community, but often was also written by Miamians. With its absence, a very important part of the city's artistic life will be gone too. The Arscht Center does not provide the same grassroots need. I truly feel that with a revived Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami could have a theater to rival the best regional ones, like the the San Diego Rep, or the Denver Center. I thank you for taking the time to read these heartfelt thoughts. Wishing you all the best, Luis Santeiro Dick Lobo Submitted into the public record for item(s) MV.1 on 5/23/ 19 . City Clerk From: Dick Lobo <dicklobo@gmail.com> Date: May 10, 2019 at 11:58:52 AM EDT To: fsuarez@miamigov.com Subject: Good morning,fr. Mayor Sir, My name is Richard M. (Dick) Lobo, I am a resident of Coconut Grove ... my wife, Caren and I live in an enclave off Douglas Road called Ye Little Wood. We own a charming house built in 1902 by Mr. Little, the first Mayor of Coconut Grove and founder of the Coconut Grove bank. It has been designated an historic site by the Historic Preservation Board of Miami. I am a second generation Floridian, born in Tampa's historic Latin Quarter, Ybor City, of Cuban Grandparents who migrated here in 1904 to work as cigar makers in the factories that dotted that community. I graduated from the University of Miami in 1958 and went on to a lengthy career in broadcasting, media and public service. In 1988 1 was transferred to Miami from Chicago by NBC to serve as President and General Manager of WTVJ... the station where I began my career as a Newsman under Ralph Renick. It was then I met your distinguished father. We collaborated on several public service projects involving the City and our TV station. During that period, I also served on the Board of the Coconut Grove Playhouse. I ran WTVJ in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew struck.... our station and Brian Norcross, whom I hired, were the heroes of that tragic storm. I also served in Washington under two Presidents ..... first as the Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting under President Clinton, and later was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate, as Director of the country's International Broadcasting Bureau. I am now an active retiree serving on several boards, including the Center for Public Integrity in D.C. as well as on the Latino Advisory Council of the John F. Kennedy Center, also in D.C. I write today to ask you most sincerely and urgently, to use your veto to stop the County plan which destroys the soul and essence of the Coconut Grove Playhouse.) appreciate the pressures and controversies that are swirling around this proposal, but as an eternal optimist and a strong believer in the magical powers of the gifted Suarez family who have been good stewards of the institutions of our great city, I ask you and your staff to put on your thinking caps and try to find a creative solution to buy time and to try to implement the Playhouse Foundation/Eidson plan for this iconic building/site. Certainly a city that can build basketball and baseball arenas and work to build a soccer stadium, can find a way to preserve a piece of the history of this fragile neighborhood. There certainly must be a way to involve private foundations, nonprofits, arts organizations, wealthy donors to help in this worthy cause. Theaters have been saved and have risen from the ashes in many U.S. cities, we should have the brainpower, backbone and fortitude in our city's bureaucracy to solve this thorny problem. Too much of the Grove, its canopy and its history haven already been destroyed. The Black Grove, preservationists, neighborhood activists, historians, architects and many other concerned Grove voters have rallied to try to protect the building. I implore you to work with your colleagues, Russel and Hardemon, to come up with a City -led solution to this impending tragedy. Thank you. Dick Lobo