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Record Group Number: 000151
Series/Collection Number: .S 2017
Creator: Florida. Office of Secretary of State.  --Office of General Counsel.
Title, Dates: Coconut Grove Playhouse administration and restoration files, 1998-2002.
Amount: 2 cubic ft.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement: Arranged by subject.
Restrictions: Restricted:  Any building plans, blueprints, schematic drawings, or diagrams of government facilities or structures in this series are exempt from public disclosure as per Florida Statutes Chapter 119.071 (Chapter 2002-67, Laws of Florida, HB 735, 2002).  This restriction does not apply to facilities or structures that no longer exist.
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:     The Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida was built as a movie house in 1926.  The Playhouse was purchased by the State of Florida in 1979 and was leased back to the not-for-profit corporation, Coconut Grove Playhouse, Inc.  The historic playhouse includes two stages, the 1,100-seat Mainstage Theater and the 135-seat Encore Room Theater.  The Playhouse is a South Florida landmark and has been an acclaimed home for live theater since 1956.  It is considered among the most prestigious regional theaters in the nation.  Through enlightening and entertaining theatrical productions, community outreach, and its many education programs which serve South Florida residents of all ages, the Coconut Grove Playhouse strives to speak to all members of a community defined by its diversity.
    In 2001, structural problems were discovered during the renovation of the Encore Room Theater.  After thorough evaluations at that time, the facility was deemed in need of preservation and major renovation work.  Beach sand that was used in the construction of the building in 1926 had corroded steel within the structure and weakened it.  Exterior walls were shored up with scaffolding and supports to prevent the walls from buckling.  Renovation of the structure became a priority since life and safety of the public was at stake.  State funding for the renovations was requested to maintain the structural integrity, historical character and operational efficiency of the facility.

    In 2004, the Trust Fund of the State of Florida signed a quitclaim deed releasing ownership of the land (including the building, the surface parking lot, and the former Bicycle Shop property) to Coconut Grove Playhouse LLC Inc.


Summary:     This series documents the State of Florida's operation of the Coconut Grove Playhouse and its efforts to restore the structure.  The series contains notes, correspondence, research,  leases/subleases (active and inactive) with the Department of State, documents from the Department of Management Services regarding repair and maintenance schedules/procedures for the facility, signed petitions of support for the Coconut Grove Playhouse, building blueprints, as well as 4 videotapes from the Revenue Estimating Conference held on June 27, 2002 as they related to the Coconut Grove Playhouse property.
Finding Aids: Folder listing available. 0
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Associated Materials:
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
General Note:
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields: Florida. Dept. of State.
Florida. Office of Secretary of State.  --Office of General Counsel.
Florida. Dept. of Management Services
Coconut Grove Playhouse (Miami, Fla.)
Architecture Florida
Arts Florida
Historic preservation Florida
Performing arts Florida
Theaters Florida
Electronic mail. aat
Letters. aat
Blueprints. aat
Videocassettes. aat
Budgets. aat
Coconut Grove (Miami, Fla.)
Florida Government
Florida Officials and employees
Florida Politics and government 1951-
Miami (Fla.)
Added Entries