Theater Festival Producer Sees New Dawn for Coconut Grove

Lifelong Coconut Grove resident William Hector debuts his Coconut Grove Theatre Festival (CGTFest) at the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove featuring eight new works by local playwrights. (Photo by Patrick Farrell)

As the demolition on the venerable Coconut Grove Playhouse auditorium began in April, lifelong resident William Hector was putting the finishing touches on his inaugural Coconut Grove Theatre Festival (CGTFest).

The festival will feature new plays at the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove beginning Thursday, May 8 through Sunday, May 11.

“The idea first came to life in a phone call I had with Irene Munore, a member of the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove Arts & Culture Committee. As two lifelong Grovites, we instantly started dreaming of what this could be and what it could mean for the Grove for the theater in Miami,” said Hector.

Director Hattie Mae Williams talks with playwright Hannah Benitez over ZOOM. (Photo by Ted Hartshorn, courtesy CGTFest)

The festival founder and producer then said they got to work recruiting writers, directors, producers, crew, volunteers, donors and anyone else needed to bring the festival to life. The dream, too, is also a movement to revive Coconut Grove’s arts scene, according to the festival founder. From Walter De Garmo’s 1920s amphitheater to the U.S. premiere of “Waiting for Godot“ at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, Hector said that the neighborhood has long been a home for innovative theater.

“Miami has an amazing group of artists who want to not just make theater but make theater in Miami. The idea was to unite these local voices and creatives in a central destination like the Grove where there are walkable restaurants, shops, bars and cafes for a weekend of theater so that the audience can experience a full range of Miami storytelling in one place and one time to build support for the greater theater community.

“Liberty City Vignettes” Playwright Lolita Stewart-White and Director Karina Batchelor-Gómez. (Photo by Ted Hartshorn, courtesy CGTFest)

Hector’s interest in theater began in Coconut Grove, performing in school plays at St. Stephens Church and Ransom Everglades along with Summer Theater Camp at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. In 2015, he graduated with dual degrees in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and in Playwriting. He was also chosen to participate in Miami Dade County’s Playwright Development Program from 2015 to 2017.

He received a Knight Foundation New Work Miami grant to write, produce, and stage “G7: 2070” and in October 2023, the immersive experience was performed in the nine-acre botanical garden The Kampong. It was part of the vision of what he sees for the future of theater in Coconut Grove.

Director Amy Coker with “Humanization” playwright Michael Yawney. (Photo by Ted Hartshorn, courtesy CGTFest)

“My hope is for more theater in the Grove (and) for the festival to continue of course, because Miami is full of amazing writers and directors doing some of the most interesting work in the country. But also to have theater in the Grove throughout the year — storefront pop ups, black box productions, theater in restaurants, galleries, stores and parks. Theatre in the Grove could be a thriving ecosystem like a tropical version of London’s West End,” said Hector.

The plays will be presented as staged readings as an introduction to the new works.

7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 8

“Liberty City Vignettes,”  written by Lolita Stewart-White, directed by Hattie Mae Williams. A coming-of-age story of 14-year-old Liberty City Red, whose family and community face forced removal from the Pork N Beans Public Housing Projects by the Miami-Dade County Housing Authority.

5:30 p.m., Friday, May 9

“Humanization,” written by Michael Yawney, directed by Maha McCain. Father Chris is struggling to keep his parish alive when the wealthy, eccentric Angela offers as much complication as she does help, and lines blur between salvation and scandal.

8:30 p.m., Friday, May 9

“A Shiva for Joseph: Day Two,” written by Brandon Urrutia, directed by Charisma Jolly. Joseph is dead. His family is unraveling. And his 18-year-old son Joshua is in the next room, grappling with the fact that he is quite literally God incarnate. What does faith mean when even God is grieving?

2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 10

“The Death of Kings: An Encyclopedia,”  written by Vanessa Garcia, directed by Victoria Collado. A kaleidoscopic world seen through the eyes of Quin—a modern-day Harlequin, full of memory and mischief—on a mission to rewrite one of the most canonical works of centuries past: The Encyclopedia.

“When the Sea Wall Cracks,” playwright Alejandro Rodríguez, with director Maha McCain. (Photo by Ted Hartshorn, courtesy CGTFest)

5:30 p.m., Saturday, May 10

“The Queer Séance at #3 Sutton Place,” written by Hannah Benitez, directed by Amy Coker. It’s 1903 and the daughter of J.P. Morgan is desperate to secure her place in Daddy’s will. Her plan? Host a seance to summon the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci to authenticate a suspiciously acquired Mona Lisa.

8:30 p.m., Saturday, May 10

“Turbo Hybrid,” written by William Hector, directed by Gladys Ramírez. After the death of larger-than-life F1 world champion Miles Carmine, his overlooked teammate Anna Scholl sees an opportunity to become the winning driver she always believed she could be.

4:30 p.m., Sunday, May 11

“When the Sea Wall Cracks,” written by Alejandro Rodríguez, directed by Karina Batchelor-Gómez. A hurricane slams into Miami and through the lives of a Cuban business owner and his activist daughter, who are torn apart by the storm and their convictions as they embark on parallel journeys.

7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 11

“The Feral Spinster Society,” written by Andie Arthur, directed by Melissa Almaguer. Amelia Beauchamp has spent her entire life being overlooked… by men, by her family, and by her neighbors. However, when her niece, a notorious suffragist, finds herself in trouble — Amelia knows exactly who can save the day.

WHAT: The Coconut Grove Theatre Festival

 WHERE: Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove, 2985 S. Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove

 WHEN: Various times, Thursday, May 8 to Sunday, May 11

COST:  $20

 INFORMATION: www.cgtfest.com

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