From a storefront in Miami Lakes, a small community theater company that stages ambitious and challenging productions is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The Main Street Players’ fourth home is 6812 Main St. Each year it puts on four major productions as well as smaller plays and events.
The theater was founded in 1974 by Joe Boyd, a drama teacher from Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School and it was then called the Miami Lakes Players Guild.
Its first home was The Barn in Miami Lakes. The Players moved to the James H. Goodlet Park theater in Hialeah and then in 2004 to Main Street in Miami Lakes.
During the pandemic it moved down the block to its current home.
“Their longstanding presence in our community dates to their first production, Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” at the Barn,” said Andrea Graham Rechichi, vice president of Corporate Relations at The Graham Companies.
While the theater presents nationally and internationally known productions, it also nurtures young actors and playwrights.
The Players work with graduates from Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University and the New World School of the Arts at Miami Dade College.
“We are focusing a lot on original works,” said Patty Fernandez, president and executive director of Main Street Playhouse. “A a lot of companies don’t focus on South Florida playwrights.”
She said students or graduates from area college theater programs are putting on shows at the theater. Fernandez credits the Players board of directors, backstage staff, donors and other supporters who have kept the curtain going up every season.
“I believe it’s the heart of the people involved [that have allowed the theater to survive],” Fernandez said.
In 2023, it presented the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Topdog/Underdog” by Suzan-Lori Parks, which was also revived on Broadway at the same time.
William F. Hirschman, editor and chief critic for the Florida Theater on Stage website, applauds the Players for taking on such big shows.
“They often will choose work that is intellectually and dramatically challenging,” Hirschman said. “The fact they were doing “Topdog” at the same time it was being performed on Broadway is indicative of what a strong vision they have.”
The company is also serving an audience that enjoys stage comedies and dramas in Spanish. Fernandez said that since at least 2017, the theater has put on a Spanish language show each season.
In June, it will offer the comedy-drama “No Cojas Lucha” (Don’t bother with it) by Sonia Cordoves.
The Players also strive to grow young creative people and young audiences, too.
“Not only do they produce wonderful plays, but they are also educating our children through their summer programming as well as bringing other performing arts programming, such as Open Mic Nights, to Miami Lakes,” Graham Rechici said. “We are fortunate to have this cultural gem in Miami Lakes.”
Next up on the boards: A retelling of the Greek anti-war comedy “Lysistrata,” in “Christiana Lysistrata” by Vinecia Coleman, from Feb. 16 – March 3.
For tickets visit www.mainstreetplayers.com.
A fundraising brunch to celebrate the Players’ golden anniversary will be held at noon on Feb. 25 at The Garrison Taproom, 6709 Main St. in Miami Lakes.
For information go to https://bit.ly/42yZoWV.