By Coral Gables Gazette staff

In a tribute decades in the making, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre has announced the official dedication of the Dr. Lawrence and Barbara Stein Center for the Performing Arts, honoring the founders whose vision saved a Coral Gables landmark and transformed it into one of South Florida’s premier cultural institutions.

The naming marks a milestone not just for the organization, but for the city itself. The Miracle Theatre—originally built in 1948 and now home to the award-winning regional theatre company—has become synonymous with Coral Gables’ artistic identity. Through this dedication, the Steins’ names will be permanently linked to the place they helped rescue, restore, and reimagine.

From saving a landmark to shaping a community

When Actors’ Playhouse was founded in 1988 by Dr. Lawrence and Barbara Stein, it operated out of a converted movie theater in Kendall. But by the early 1990s, the couple saw a chance to create something far more ambitious—and to protect a historic gem in the process.

The Miracle Theatre, a once-grand Art Deco cinema on Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile, had fallen into disrepair. Developers eyed the site for big-box retail, a plan that would have erased a piece of the city’s architectural and cultural fabric. The Steins had other ideas. Working in partnership with the City of Coral Gables, which purchased and now owns the building, they led a $10 million capital campaign to transform the historic theatre into a state-of-the-art, three-stage performing arts center and permanent home for Actors’ Playhouse.

What followed was a textbook case in public-private collaboration. With support from the State of Florida, Miami-Dade County, and a broad base of corporate and private donors, the project not only saved the theatre—it catalyzed the rebirth of downtown Coral Gables. Today, the area surrounding the Miracle Theatre is home to over 100 restaurants and retailers, a museum, an art cinema, residences, and more than 150 multinational businesses.

Full-circle moment: Man of La Mancha returns

When the newly restored Miracle Theatre reopened in 1995, its inaugural production was the musical Man of La Mancha. Thirty years later, the show is returning to the stage in a special anniversary production that will coincide with the celebration of the Steins’ contributions. For a couple who have always believed in the power of impossible dreams, the choice is especially fitting.

“No dream is impossible,” said Dr. Lawrence and Barbara Stein in a joint statement. “We are grateful for the team effort that built this legacy and hope this honor inspires a new generation to pursue their dreams and contribute to a vibrant community.”

The upcoming season promises to be both a retrospective and a recommitment to that founding ideal.

Building a cultural powerhouse

Today, Actors’ Playhouse is the largest self-producing professional theatre company in South Florida and one of 12 major cultural institutions in Miami-Dade County. It is also a designated Florida Presenting Cultural Organization, recognized for its consistent excellence and community impact.

The Miracle Theatre now houses three performance spaces: a 600-seat Mainstage, a 300-seat Balcony Theatre, and an intimate 100-seat space used for Children’s Theatre and special events. Each year, the company produces five Mainstage shows and four professional Children’s Theatre productions, offering a rich mix of Broadway musicals, comedies, dramas, and original works.

Actors’ Playhouse is also a leader in arts education. It runs a year-round Theatre Conservatory, summer camps, and the Young Talent Big Dreams youth talent competition in partnership with The Children’s Trust. The company’s Musical Miracles youth performance troupe and robust school outreach programs ensure that theatre is accessible to all ages and backgrounds.

Over its 38 seasons, the theatre has staged more than 200 Mainstage productions and 200 Children’s Theatre shows, and earned over 90 Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s highest honor for theatrical excellence.

Honoring vision and stewardship

The new naming formally recognizes not only the Steins’ historic role in founding and funding the organization, but also their decades of ongoing leadership. Barbara S. Stein, who serves as Executive Producing Director, and Dr. Lawrence Stein, Founding Chair of the Board, continue to guide the company alongside Artistic Director David Arisco and Children’s Theatre Director Earl Maulding—a leadership team that has remained intact since the theatre’s inception.

Their commitment has made the Miracle Theatre a cornerstone of civic life in Coral Gables. More than 150,000 patrons visit the theatre annually, and its economic and cultural impact is deeply felt throughout the city.

Gala Celebration planned

A Gala Celebration to commemorate the naming will be held at the Miracle Theatre on Saturday, October 4. The evening will honor the Steins and celebrate the lasting legacy they’ve created. Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available by contacting Jackie Zucker, Development and Engagement Director, at jzucker@actorsplayhouse.org.

For more information about the organization and its programming, visit www.ActorsPlayhouse.org.

Lasting legacy

The dedication of the Dr. Lawrence and Barbara Stein Center for the Performing Arts is more than symbolic—it’s a reminder of how vision, generosity, and community can come together to create something enduring. As downtown Coral Gables continues to evolve, the Miracle Theatre stands as both a cultural anchor and a monument to dreams realized.

As the curtain rises on the next chapter of Actors’ Playhouse, one thing is clear: the Steins’ belief in the transformative power of live theatre will continue to inspire artists and audiences for generations to come.