Miami New Drama: A Hub for Multicultural Theater in South Florida
Founded in 2014, Miami New Drama is a nonprofit professional theater company dedicated to the production and development of contemporary theatrical works. Based in Miami Beach, Florida, the company serves as a creative incubator, focusing on the development of new plays and musicals that reflect the diverse, multicultural, and multilingual fabric of the local community.
Since October 2016, Miami New Drama has served as the resident theater company and operator of the historic Colony Theatre. By blending international perspectives with regional storytelling, the company has established itself as a vital voice in the American theater landscape, producing works by artists from the United States, Latin America, and beyond.
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Key Facts
- Founded: 2014 by Michel Hausmann and Moisés Kaufman.
- Home Venue: The historic Colony Theatre in Miami Beach, Florida.
- Mission: Developing new, diverse, and multilingual theatrical works.
- Growth: Scaled from a startup to an annual budget of nearly $3 million within its first three active years.
- Funding: Historically supported by individual donors (80%) and government funding from Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County (20%).
History and Evolution
Miami New Drama was co-founded by Venezuelan-born playwrights and directors Michel Hausmann and Moisés Kaufman. Moving from New York City to Miami, the founders aimed to create a regional theater that could foster cultural and political understanding through cross-cultural themes.
The company made its debut in January 2016 with the production of The Golem of Havana. This initial venture was a high-risk project, funded personally by Hausmann, Salomon Lerner, Len Schiff, their families, and the board. The success of this production paved the way for the company to take over the operations of the Colony Theatre on October 1, 2016.
The company's growth has been bolstered by significant grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, including two Knights Arts Challenge grants and a Knight New Work Miami 2018 award. Notably, Miami New Drama became the first theater company authorized by the Thornton Wilder Estate to modify the script of Our Town for its multilingual production.
By 2020, the company had produced over a dozen plays at the Colony Theatre, nine of which were entirely new works. Its influence extended to national broadcasting when PBS aired its production of One Night in Miami on January 23, 2019. Additionally, the company co-hosted the 29th National Conference of the Theatre Communications Group in June 2019.
Notable Productions
Miami New Drama is recognized for its bold programming, ranging from documentary theater to immersive musicals. Below is a summary of some of its most significant works.
| Production | Year | Key Feature / Theme |
|---|---|---|
| The Golem of Havana | 2016 | Jewish-Hungarian family during the Cuban revolution. |
| Terror | 2017 | American premiere; audience acts as a jury in a military trial. |
| Our Town | 2017 | Multilingual adaptation (English, Spanish, and Creole). |
| Queen of Basel | 2018 | Bilingual feminist re-imagining of Miss Julie set during Art Basel. |
| One Night in Miami | 2018 | Fact-based play about segregation and civil rights; broadcast on PBS. |
| Confessions of a Cocaine Cowboy | 2019 | Documentary theater regarding Miami's 1980s drug trade. |
| A Wonderful World | 2020 | Musical about Louis Armstrong; scheduled for Broadway transfer in 2024. |
Innovation in Storytelling
The company frequently employs documentary theater—a style that uses primary source materials like interviews, depositions, and newspaper articles—as seen in The Album and Confessions of a Cocaine Cowboy. They also experiment with immersive theater, such as in Queen of Basel, where audience members were seated on stage to enhance the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Miami New Drama?
The company was co-founded in 2014 by Venezuelan-born playwrights and directors Michel Hausmann and Moisés Kaufman.
Where is Miami New Drama located?
It is located in Miami Beach, Florida, where it operates the historic Colony Theatre.
What is the primary focus of the company?
Miami New Drama focuses on the development of new plays and musicals, acting as an incubator for diverse, multicultural, and multilingual theatrical works.
Which production was broadcast on PBS?
The company's production of Kemp Powers' play, One Night in Miami, was broadcast by PBS on January 23, 2019.
Has the company won any awards?
Yes, its productions have earned Carbonell Awards, including Best Actress in a Play for Betsy Graver in Queen of Basel and Best Scenic Design for One Night in Miami.