The longest continuous-running community theater in South Florida is none other than Miami Lakes’ own Main Street Players, a theater that celebrates 40 years of productions this year.
Hundreds of actors, playwrights, directors, producers, set builders and many others have dedicated their talents over the last four decades.
Since 1974, the theatre has brought to life productions of all kinds, a concept initially started by beloved Hialeah Miami Lakes drama teacher, Joe Boyd, in the former Graham Dairy milking barn under the name The Miami Lakes Players Guild before moving to HML’s Little Theater.
In 1980 the group became The Community Theatre of Miami Lakes, its patronage having grown out of Little Theater, and found a home in Hialeah’s Goodlet Park and subsequently changed its name to The Community Theatre of Hialeah-Miami Lakes.
In 1991 the group opened a black-box theatre in its current location in Miami Lakes for a year while performing at Goodlet Park through 1999. However, after renovations at the park were announced the group produced shows only in temporary locations, having become a “homeless” troupe until the Miami Lakes developers, The Graham Companies, came to the rescue.
The theater's current location was offered and the Town Council approved funds to allow renovations for the space, previously a bookstore, to be transformed into a much grander version of the black box theater that was used in the early 90’s.
A full service theater, the Main Street Playhouse and the name Main Street Players, was born in 2004 in the heart of Miami Lakes. After finding a home, the theater put on Pulitzer-Prize winning and Tony-Award winning plays and in 2012, was recognized by the Miami New Times for Best Theatre for Drama.
The theater also frequently took on productions not often performed by community theaters and various set designs that were built creatively to capture the spirit of the productions while maintaining the intimacy of a black box theatre.
Despite a limited budget, small working space and casts made entirely of volunteers, the theatre has staged over 150 plays and musicals and have patrons visit from near and far. Some cast members have gone on to become professionals in New York and Los Angeles and others have added a spark of magic to day-time careers as lawyers and teachers.
The theater has also created a foundation for opportunity in the arts in welcoming talents from the community with open arms. Scholarships to high school seniors have been awarded by the theater and talents have been nurtured under the guidance of the theater's board members.
Main Street Players have survived years of changes and struggles thanks to the support of The Graham Companies and loyal patrons. It is “the little theater group that could,” and after 40 years, still has the spunk and spirit to keep pushing forward in creating wonderfully crafted productions.
Main Street Players is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that relies on contributions from individuals, foundations, and government agencies for support of its projects and programs. All contributions are tax-deductible and keeps the ultimate intimate theatre experience going strong.
The Main Street Players gratefully accept donations and a variety of benefits are available to donors including season tickets and other special recognitions. To donate, email president@mainstreetplayers.com or call 305-558-3737.