To the Editor:
Regarding A Tallahassee Twist in the Playhouse Drama, I wouldn’t trust that Fabien Basabe as far as I could throw him. He says one thing and either doesn’t follow through or does another thing diametrically opposed to the first thing.
Bay Harbor Islands has nothing to do with the Playhouse. That municipality just happens to be in his district.
Years ago, I was a volunteer usher at the Coconut Grove Playhouse for quite a while. After that I used to attend many of their shows. The theater was starting to fall apart even 30 years ago! The county’s plan to renovate it would have worked if all those protesters hadn’t impeded their progress.
I believe in protesting when necessary. After all, that’s part of our federal constitution’s first amendment. It’s very important, but protesting just to protest can backfire.
I really miss going to both The Coconut Grove Playhouse and the Gusman Center (The Olympia), because they were such beautiful venues (especially Gusman). I ushered there about 16 years.
Pitbull (working with SLAM charter school, which is buying the Olympia Theater from the City of Miami) said he would have some shows where the public could buy tickets.
Well, the centennial is coming up, but I haven’t seen any promotions to celebrate it. I’m glad he saved the building because it’s historic & the interior is so gorgeous, but if we the public can’t buy tickets to see a show, it’ll be a big letdown.
Once in the 1990’s when the City of Miami was going to shut down Gusman Center, I started a petition to save it. One of my customers (I worked for the county back then) was a friend of Rosario Kennedy. She was Sylvester Stallone’s local P.R. person.When Stallone heard about the possible closing of Gusman, he pledged $50,000 to save it! The city changed their minds and let it stay open. Stallone only gave $25,000, but it kept it open for many years.
Coconut Grove Playhouse was structurally in much worse shape than Gusman
(Olympia). That’s why it was partially destroyed. It would have fallen down otherwise.
The county wants to rebuild so that a 300-seat theater will be there. IMHO, that’s what should be done!
My two favorite performances that I was part of the audience were both seen at the Grove. One was “The Disputation” starring Theodore Bikel and the other was a Tony Bennett concert, so I really care about that saving that building!
Sara B. Leviten
North Miami
