The best cultural experience sometimes is that which is presented on a stage. It is not Broadway, however South Florida offers plenty of locations to enjoy any performance you desire during your stay.
Miami
The Gusman Center for the Performing Arts is a unique, sophisticated and charming setting to enjoy a ballet, musical or movie. Open since 1925, nowadays this theater leads a double life. During the day, its lobby becomes the Downtown Miami Welcome Center. When darkness descends, a faux night sky donning 246 twinkling stars and clouds cast over an indigo-deep, sensual shade sparkle in the lobby ceiling, ensuring every person who enters experiences the old-world glamor this historical place has always been known for. Complete with arches, statues, glowing chandeliers and a majestic curving staircase, this theater makes you feel like you have been trasported to an older and simpler time. A must see!
Actors Playhouse at Miracle Theater
This 80-year-old theater is a gorgeous deco structure. It contains within it three performance venues: a 600-seat stage auditorium, a children’s theater and a black box for modern performances works. You may visit the theater whether you’ve got tickets or not. This wonderful theater stages musicals and comedies, children’s theater and avant-garde productions. Actors’ Playhouse is a Carbonell Award winning theatre. Check out their site for the performance schedule.
The Gablestage is located in beautiful Coral Gables and was originally the Florida Shakespeare Theatre. It is now residing on the property of the historical Biltmore Hotel. Audiences are lucky enough to still witness the company performiming an occasional Shakespeare play, however most recently it presents more contemporary and classical pieces. Recent productions have received great reviews.
West Palm Beach
The Kravis Center is worth the drive. It is many things to different people. It contains a main concert hall, the black-box Rinker Playhouse, a pavilion housing lecture halls and practice rooms, and an outdoor amphitheater. The Kravis Center is known for its classy productions, including the World Famous Count Basie Orchestra. A favorite for many is its authoritative presentations of lavish opera productions.
The Harriet Himmel Theather is located within Cityplace, an 11,000-sq-ft space housed in a 1926 Methodist church. It’s the place to go to see a weekly Sunday Brunch Jazz Series, and the First Tuesdays Piano Series. It is available for rental and fully equipped for any lighting, sound system and staging needs for weddings, fundraisers and other events. It is a charming, restored historical landmark available for a tour.
