{"id":19690,"date":"2019-08-11T11:06:38","date_gmt":"2019-08-11T18:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/?p=19690"},"modified":"2019-08-11T17:03:33","modified_gmt":"2019-08-12T00:03:33","slug":"area-stage-company-theater-and-conservatory-marks-30th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/area-stage-company-theater-and-conservatory-marks-30th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"AREA STAGE COMPANY THEATER AND CONSERVATORY MARKS 30TH ANNIVERSARY"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/a>
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The creative team: Maria, Giancarlo, and John Rodaz.<\/p><\/div>\n

For 30 years the Area Stage Company (ASC) has been bringing world-class theatrical productions to south Florida.\u00a0 <\/span>Founder and Artistic Director John Rodaz and Executive Artistic Director Maria-Banda Rodaz have a passion for the theater and unending devotion to educating children in the art of acting, singing and dancing. Their son Giancarlo Rodaz is the Associate Artistic Director. ASC functions as an art center offering visual arts, music and dance series, a professional theater program, and the Conservatory program.<\/b><\/p>\n

The history of the ASC began in Miami Beach and moved to Coral Gables. In the lobby of the former Loew\u2019s Riviera Theater are backpacks on tables and theater posters on the walls. The sound of children singing comes from behind the closed doors of the Conservatory. The singing stops and the instructor begins with the classic count, \u201cAnd, five, six, seven, eight,\u201d as the next number moves on to dancing. In the theater, Maria is working on a costume fitting with the cast of ASC\u2019s production of Frozen JR. She breaks from her tasks and greets me in the lobby, \u201cDo you mind if we talk in the theater, we are finishing up the costumes.\u201d Inside is the usual pre-production clamor of performers, stagehands, and production people. Here we spoke about the ASC past, present, and future.<\/p>\n

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Among our topics is the continued use of the ASC\u2019s current venue. The square footage is ideal and the acoustics of the theater are among the best in south Florida. The issue is that the continued existence of the theater is bleak. The Riviera Theater shopping center on US1 is slated for demolition. The reality is that although their lease was extended, they are living day to day awaiting the phone call with the bad news. Maria is urging the community to help her find a new home for the ASC with 16 foot ceilings, 8,000 square feet of space, and a theater with great acoustics.<\/p>\n

Despite the threat of losing their theater, Maria remains optimistic, providing updates about the Company. She speaks of the Inclusion Theater Project (ITP) that sprang from their belief that performing arts training provides vital tools for life. ITP serves student actors across south Florida from ages five and up, with developmental disabilities who wish to expand their talents.\u00a0Additionally, ASC sends coaches to local schools to provide performing arts training. The Project helps to develop the skills needed via an innovative and comprehensive format. Students enrolled in the ITP receive free training thanks in part to grant funding and private donations.<\/p>\n\n\t\t