Author Archives: Bill Hirschman
Theatre League Summerfest Goes Virtual & Adds Workshops
The South Florida Theatre League is adapting its seventh annual Summer Theatre Fest of play readings across the region in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s also expanding the event’s scope and purpose to include a slate of online professional development workshops.
Miami Whale of a Tale Gets National Virtual Reading
Jenna and the Whale, which will get a high-profile virtual reading on Broadway On Demand at 5:30 p.m. June 30, is that rare exception: It’s a piece created by a pair of playwrights, Vanessa Garcia and Jake Cline.
Racism & South Florida Theater: Changing The Dance Steps
Asked to spotlight specific problems and potential solutions, everybody had a story of racism infecting the South Florida theater community. Some cited unintentional micro-aggressions in pressure-laden rehearsals. Others underscored systemic failings whose reform will require leaders, supporters and audiences to revaluate everything from what goes on stage to who decides what goes on stage.
Proposed Reforms For Theaters & Added Reading
Many people are asking what steps can theaters, funders and patrons take to address these issues. In our interviews and in other articles published across the country, here are action items that have been recommended:
Shows With Racial Themes Or Elements In South Florida 2015-2020
This is a list of most of the productions in professional theaters in the three counties in which the major or secondary theme dealt with race, acknowledged diversity, or intentionally featured minority characters regardless of the underlying theme.
Losses To Miami-Dade & Broward Arts Groups Climb Higher In New Figures
With few theaters seeing relief anytime soon, new updated data show that the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to hammer the arts communities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties with losses in the tens of millions of dollars.
Arsht Lists Titles & Dates For Zoetic Stage /City Theatre
The Arsht Center for the Performing Arts announced titles and dates for its Theater Up Close series, slated to begin in early December with locally-produced works from Zoetic Stage and City Theatre including world and regional premieres. But officials do not know whether the coronavirus will force changes in the schedule.
Coconut Grove Playhouse Back In Court For Key Hearing
Fourteen years after the Coconut Grove Playhouse shuttered and almost exactly one year after another round of court proceedings began, opposing attorneys from Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami argued complex details of their dispute Tuesday before appellate judges.
Delayed Carbonells To Be Awarded In Online Gala August 3
The virus-delayed 44th annual Carbonell Awards will be presented August 3, but the usually boisterous “Theater Prom” will be held online and include an acknowledgment of the current tumult about racism in America. The virtual pre-recorded program will be released at 7:30 p.m. on the Carbonell’s Facebook page and through the YouTube channel of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
GableStage Opens Commissions For Brand-New Online Works
GableStage is coping with the death of Joseph Adler plus the shuttering of live performances, but it has started new initiative meant to originate new material and support artists financially. Engage@GableStage is commissioning original world premieres for online works that mirror the theater’s vein of thought-provoking stories. Proposals/applications for the grants will be accepted through June 12.
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