3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Why the Coconut Grove Playhouse project is a revival, not a demolition
A recent Op-Ed in the Miami Herald by Miami resident and theatergoer Barry J. White about the Coconut Grove Playhouse renovation reflects a heartfelt concern.
The Playhouse, closed since 2006, is undergoing a long-awaited transformation, including the restoration of its historic front façade and the construction of a new 300-seat theater.
White argues that the current renovation is effectively a demolition of the original 1,100-seat main theater, replaced with a venue 'with just 300 seats,' which he believes 'is economically nonviable for hosting Broadway touring companies, which require at least 1,000 seats.'
I appreciate White's passion. As the producing artistic director of GableStage, which is entering its 27th season and is set to become the resident theater company at the renovated Playhouse, I'd like to offer some insight on what lies ahead. Most important, I want to emphasize that what we are building at the Playhouse is much more than just a building.
The project now underway is not about demolition — it is about revival. It honors the history that White rightly values while looking toward a future defined by artistic excellence, civic participation and lasting community impact.
As the future operator of the Playhouse, GableStage will perform in a fully equipped, state-of-the-art regional theater. The new venue will include an orchestra pit, fly loft, and wing space — essential infrastructure for producing ambitious, fully realized work.
What is being built is not a scaled-down version of something greater. It is a purpose-built space designed for world-class artistry and long-term sustainability. The revitalized Playhouse will once again become a cultural gathering place for Coconut Grove and the broader Miami community.
The impact of a theater is measured not only by what takes place on its stage, but by what it makes possible beyond its walls.
The mission of a regional theater is to serve as a center for imagination — a place where community and artistry meet, where ideas are exchanged, and where stories reflect the people it serves. That is the role GableStage embraces fully.
Currently, GableStage produces a five-play season in its 138-seat theater located at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. The company has received 72 Carbonell Awards — South Florida's most prestigious theater honor — and more than 200 nominations. We are also proud recipients of the Ruth Forman Award for major advancements in the South Florida theater scene.
Founded in 1979 as Florida Shakespeare Theatre, GableStage began by performing Shakespeare's plays in repertory at the outdoor Casino Gardens at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Our work has always been rooted in place, created with intention, and offered in direct dialogue with our audiences.
At the Grove, our impact will deepen. Through a transformational partnership with Florida International University, we will collaborate with both students and faculty across disciplines to build new bridges between education, the arts and civic life.
Our work has never been confined to the stage. A theater company is a citizen of its community. Whether through public programs, partnerships with local organizations, or expanded outreach to underserved schools, GableStage will continue to grow the work we already do across Miami.
Theater, at its best, is a civic necessity. It teaches us to listen, to empathize, to imagine. GableStage exists to inspire optimism and creative problem-solving in response to the challenges we face as a society.
We will continue to play a vital role in Miami's vibrant professional theater ecosystem— one we are proud to be part of and proud to help strengthen.
Our move to Coconut Grove is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in something enduring. We are not simply restoring a building; we are writing a new chapter in Miami's cultural story while honoring the legacy of the original Playhouse.
We are honored to do so — and we invite Barry White and others in the community to join us.
Bari Newport is the producing artistic director of GableStage, set to become the resident theater company at the renovated Coconut Grove Playhouse.
