See how a landmark Coral Gables theater changed through the years. It’s hit a milestone

Howard Cohen
·5 min read

The Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables turned 75 this year. Now, arts institution, which has hosted Actors’ Playhouse productions for nearly 30 of its years, is ready to celebrate with an open house on Dec. 9.

The Miracle isn’t alone in its milestone. Also turning 75 this year: 2023 Kennedy Center Honors recipient and comedian Billy Crystal, rock icons Stevie Nicks and Ozzy Osbourne, and the British monarchy’s King Charles III.

This 1948 baby, The Miracle Theatre, home to Actors’ Playhouse since 1995, was once a movie palace that hosted Hollywood royalty — and a really big fish.

“Apparently the whole world saw “Jaws” there,” Rebecca Smith, then-head of Special Collections at HistoryMiami museum, recalled in a 2013 interview with the Miami Herald when the Miracle staged special retro screenings of the Steven Spielberg adventure film. Yes, she saw “Jaws” at the Miracle, too, in its original run in the summer of 1975.

More than 1,000 movie buffs turned out on Sept. 5, 2013, for the two screenings of “Jaws” at The Miracle Theatre when the venue hosted a retro presentation of the 1975 Steven Spielberg adventure film. The movie originally played at the Miracle in the summer of 1975.
More than 1,000 movie buffs turned out on Sept. 5, 2013, for the two screenings of “Jaws” at The Miracle Theatre when the venue hosted a retro presentation of the 1975 Steven Spielberg adventure film. The movie originally played at the Miracle in the summer of 1975.

READ MORE: Remember movie palaces? South Florida had plenty — and Hollywood-style premieres, too

75th anniversary celebration

The Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables grand opening on Dec. 7, 1948 on the left, with the Glenn Ford American comedy film, “The Return of October” on its marquee. For the opening gala, Ford’s costar in the film, Terry Moore, appeared in person at the Miracle in a Hollywood-styled opening night celebration. On the right, the opening night audience for “Sweet Goats and Blueberry Señoritas” on Nov. 10, 2023, staged a recreation of the old image for a photo shoot by Javier Ospina, conceived by Actors’ Playhouse.

Here are the details:

When: From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Actors’ Playhouse hosts a free 75th Anniversary Celebration to mark the Miracle’s milestone with special performances.

What: Among the activities: guided tours of the Miracle Theatre and its backstage area, holiday carols under the marquee, acting class presentations in the black box theater, a “Little Mermaid” rehearsal upstairs in the balcony theater, dance tunes spun by DJ CEELO, and workshops. Food and drink will be sold.

Where: The event runs at Actors’ Playhouse at The Miracle Theatre at 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables.

The Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables when it was a four-screen multiplex in 1994, showing movies including “Color of Night” and “It Could Happen to You” in this file photo from 1994. A year later the theater was purchased by Coral Gables and became the new home for Actors’ Playhouse.
The Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables when it was a four-screen multiplex in 1994, showing movies including “Color of Night” and “It Could Happen to You” in this file photo from 1994. A year later the theater was purchased by Coral Gables and became the new home for Actors’ Playhouse.

How you can be in a time capsule

Playwright and poet laureate Richard Blanco reads a poem he wrotein tribute to the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables on opening night of Actors’ Playhouse’s presentation of his Cuban-American play, “Sweet Goats and Blueberry Señoritas” on Nov. 10, 2023.
Playwright and poet laureate Richard Blanco reads a poem he wrotein tribute to the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables on opening night of Actors’ Playhouse’s presentation of his Cuban-American play, “Sweet Goats and Blueberry Señoritas” on Nov. 10, 2023.

You can also have your photographs immortalized in a time capsule that is being filled at the event, to be opened when the Miracle celebrates its 100th anniversary in 25 years in 2048.

Snap Away Photo Booths will have a station set up to take guest photos that will be printed and dropped into the time capsule. There will also be a hands-on station with coloring pages and writing materials so guests can either create a special piece of art or draft their own love letter to the Miracle Theatre the way Richard Blanco delivered his special poem on the “Sweet Goats” opening night in November.

You can also email your own photo memories of the Miracle Theatre to pr@actorsplayhouse.org by Friday, Dec. 15. All photos will be collected onto a USB drive that will be buried in the time capsule, said Brooke Noble, Actors’ Playhouse general manager for communications.

In this file photo from 1978, the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, then owned by Wometco, was undergoing renovations to go from a single screen movie palace to a two-screen Miracle Twin. Films showing that summer of 1978 at the Miracle included “Neal Simon’s Cheap Detective” and “Big Wednesday,” starring Jan-Michael Vincent.
In this file photo from 1978, the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, then owned by Wometco, was undergoing renovations to go from a single screen movie palace to a two-screen Miracle Twin. Films showing that summer of 1978 at the Miracle included “Neal Simon’s Cheap Detective” and “Big Wednesday,” starring Jan-Michael Vincent.

“There aren’t many opportunities that allow individuals to make a significant impact that positively influences a multitude of people, leaving them with a profound sense of pride,” said Lawrence Stein, founding chairman of the Actors’ Playhouse board.

“The transformation of the Miracle Theatre into a thriving performing arts center, made possible through the unwavering support of this vibrant community, the city of Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, and the state of Florida, stands as a testament to such a rare opportunity,” he said.

“Today, the Miracle Theatre proudly stands tall, its vibrant marquee illuminating the downtown area for 75 years and counting, a symbol of the collective effort that brought this remarkable vision to life,” added Barbara Stein, the venue’s executive producing director who founded the theater with her husband in Kendall in 1988 before moving it to the Miracle.

Playwright Nilo Cruz saw his “The Color of Desire” staged at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables. He is shown in this file photo there on Sept. 17, 2010.
Playwright Nilo Cruz saw his “The Color of Desire” staged at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables. He is shown in this file photo there on Sept. 17, 2010.

Miracle history

Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile, and the Miracle Theatre, in 1949. The movie palace was screening the 1949 comedy film, “The Life of Riley,” starring William Bendix, Rosemary DeCamp and James Gleason.
Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile, and the Miracle Theatre, in 1949. The movie palace was screening the 1949 comedy film, “The Life of Riley,” starring William Bendix, Rosemary DeCamp and James Gleason.

The Miracle Theatre opened on Miracle Mile on Dec. 7, 1948, with the Glenn Ford American comedy film, “The Return of October” on its marquee. For the opening gala, Ford’s costar in the film, Terry Moore, appeared in person at the Miracle in a Hollywood-sized, flashbulbs-popping opening night celebration.

Hollywood’s biggest fish also swam here. Who, among people of a certain age, didn’t stand in line to see “Jaws” at Coral Gables’ Miracle Theatre in the summer of 1975? Or go “Back to the Future” there with Michael J. Fox 10 summers later in 1985? Or see hundreds of theatrical productions by Actors’ Playhouse on the mainstage or from its children’s theater training stage since 1995?

The Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables opened on Dec. 7, 1948, with the Glenn Ford American comedy film, “The Return of October” on its marquee. For the opening gala, Ford’s costar in the film, Terry Moore, appeared in person at the Miracle in a Hollywood-styled opening night celebration.
The Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables opened on Dec. 7, 1948, with the Glenn Ford American comedy film, “The Return of October” on its marquee. For the opening gala, Ford’s costar in the film, Terry Moore, appeared in person at the Miracle in a Hollywood-styled opening night celebration.

The Miracle, with its Art Deco Streamline Moderne lobby and marquee, boasted 1,600 seats as a movie theater and for its first nearly 30 years played Hollywood hits as a single screener until June 1978.

In that summer of “Grease” and “Jaws 2,” the trend was to split theaters into multiplexes. Miami already had the AMC Omni 6 by that point, for instance. So the Miracle, part of the Wometco chain like the former Dadeland movie complex, was redesigned and renamed the Miracle Twin Theatre. The twin begat quadruples when it was further split into a multiplex, Miracle 4 Theatres, in November 1983.

“Norma Rae,” starring Sally Field in an Oscar-winning performance, and the Gabe Kaplan comedy “Fast Break” played on screens at The Miracle Theatre in 1979.
“Norma Rae,” starring Sally Field in an Oscar-winning performance, and the Gabe Kaplan comedy “Fast Break” played on screens at The Miracle Theatre in 1979.

In 1988, Actors’ Playhouse was born in a converted movie theater at a Kendall mall on 107th Avenue, its home for seven years.

The city of Coral Gables purchased the Miracle building from Wometco Enterprises and closed it as a full-time cinema to make it a performing arts regional theater in April 1995, upon the arrival of Actors’ Playhouse.

The theater underwent a $6.5 million renovation at the time, which revealed the green-and-white Deco floral patterns from the 1948 opening that had been hidden under fiberglass. The lobby was refurbished, too, restoring its Art Deco elements, according to Miami Herald archives. The mainstage area was restored to a 600-seat auditorium and the upstairs balcony theater for more intimate productions can seat 300.

Fun fact: CBS Miami meteorologist Lissette Gonzalez was once an actress, and before that, Miss Florida and a second runner up to Miss America in 1998. She costarred in an Actors’ Playhouse production of “Four Guys Named Jose ... and Una Mujer Named Maria” in October 2001 at the Miracle Theatre.

In this file photo from Oct. 3, 2001, actress and Miss Florida and second runnerup Miss America Lissette Gonzalez played a main character in Actors’ Playhouse’s production of “Four Guys Named Jose and Una Mujer Named Maria.” Gonzalez is currently CBS News Miami’s meteorologist.
In this file photo from Oct. 3, 2001, actress and Miss Florida and second runnerup Miss America Lissette Gonzalez played a main character in Actors’ Playhouse’s production of “Four Guys Named Jose and Una Mujer Named Maria.” Gonzalez is currently CBS News Miami’s meteorologist.

What’s next?

From left, Elizabeth Price as Georgie, Melissa Ann Hubicsak as Beatriz, and JL Rey as Tio Eme in “Sweet Goats and Blueberry Señoritas” by Richard Blanco and Vanessa Garcia opening at Actors’ Playhouse in Coral Gables in previews Wednesday, Nov. 8, and opening Friday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023.
From left, Elizabeth Price as Georgie, Melissa Ann Hubicsak as Beatriz, and JL Rey as Tio Eme in “Sweet Goats and Blueberry Señoritas” by Richard Blanco and Vanessa Garcia opening at Actors’ Playhouse in Coral Gables in previews Wednesday, Nov. 8, and opening Friday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023.

Most recently, the Miracle staged Miami poet laureate Richard Blanco and playwright Vanessa Garcia’s “Sweet Goats and Blueberry Señoritas” as Actors’ Playhouse’s 36th season opener. Next up is “Legally Blonde The Musical” running Jan. 31-Feb. 25.

Even the Miami Herald and Dave Barry held its then annual Herald Hunt with Coral Gables’ Miracle Theatre as one of the clue sites. This is a file photo from Nov. 7, 2005. Pictured are Tracy Deysher (left), Ashley Albert, Arlyn Albert, Howard Albert, and Kate Simses as they banded together to figure out the clue under the marquee at the Miracle.
Even the Miami Herald and Dave Barry held its then annual Herald Hunt with Coral Gables’ Miracle Theatre as one of the clue sites. This is a file photo from Nov. 7, 2005. Pictured are Tracy Deysher (left), Ashley Albert, Arlyn Albert, Howard Albert, and Kate Simses as they banded together to figure out the clue under the marquee at the Miracle.

Miami Herald staff writer Howard Cohen is a finals judge for Actors’ Playhouse and The Children’s Trust’s Young Talent Big Dreams at the Miracle since the competition’s inception in 2010. He saw “Jaws” at the Miracle Theatre with his mom and friends when the film opened there in the summer of 1975.