Barbara Stein: Artistic leader of Actors’ Playhouse looks toward its future

Celebrating 36 years, the mission of Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre’s founding executive producing director, Barbara S. Stein, is to continue to enrich South Florida’s cultural vitality with the highest caliber classic and contemporary live theater productions that the playhouse can offer.

Considered one of 13 major cultural institutions in Miami-Dade County, the Actors’ Playhouse works hard to provide comprehensive educational and outreach programs to multi-cultural audiences, Ms. Stein said, and to provide a supportive and creative work environment for Florida-based theater professionals, all while maintaining the historic identity of its home venue, the Miracle Theatre.

Established in 1988, the company was in a converted Kendall movie theater for its first seven years. In 1995, Actors’ Playhouse entered a partnership with the City of Coral Gables to renovate the historic Miracle Theatre, transforming the Art Deco facility into the company’s new home. 

In exchange for free rent under a 45-year lease, Actors’ Playhouse bears full responsibility for operating the city-owned facility, managing all programs, and raising all necessary funds for operations and capital improvements. 

The renovation of the Miracle Theatre was made possible with support from the State of Florida, Miami-Dade County, and many corporate and private donors. The historic landmark hosts a 600-seat, a 300-seat, and a 100-seat space, Ms. Stein added.

Actors’ Playhouse has produced more than 180 mainstage productions including Broadway and Off-Broadway style musicals, mystery/thrillers, comedies, and new works, and over 170 Children’s Theatre productions. 

Actors’ Playhouse has received and has won 90 Carbonell Awards for artistic excellence. The Children’s Musical Theatre is continually voted “Best of the Best” Kids Crown Award by South Florida Parenting Magazine.

In addition to Mainstage and Children’s year-round programming, the theater has a Theatre Conservatory, offering classes to children, teens, and adults, as well as a summer camp; a Kids Fest Weekend, and sponsors the annual Young Talent Big Dreams countywide youth talent contest in partnership with The Children’s Trust.

Partnerships with the county’s public schools provide educational resources for students and teachers with special programs for at-risk individuals. Performance, technical, and arts business administration internships are offered in partnership with the Miami-Dade schools, Florida International University, The University of Miami, and other regional colleges and universities.

“The Actors’ Playhouse serves a multi-cultural audience of residents in South Florida and is a cultural destination for domestic and international travelers to Miami,” Ms. Stein said. Programming is developed to appeal to audiences of diverse ages, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. 

Over 2.5 million children have experienced cultural and educational experiences through Actors’ Playhouse programs for youth. “Sixteen percent of our tickets are contributed to students and individuals each year to attend live theatrical performances,” Ms. Stein said.

Ms. Stein spoke with Miami Today reporter Abraham Galvan.

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