Area Stage’s Inclusion Theatre Project to Receive $20,000 Award from the National Endowment for the Arts

South Miami, FL— Area Stage is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $20,000.

This grant will support Area Stage’s Inclusion Theatre Project, a one-of-a-kind performing arts program for children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The NEA will award 1,127 Grants for Arts Projects awards nationwide totaling more than $31.8 million as part of the recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants.

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including what the Inclusion Theatre Project has in store for its upcoming season.”

Founded in 2014 by Maria Banda-Rodaz, Area Stage’s Inclusion Theatre Project (ITP) is a one-of-a-kind program for aspiring theatre professionals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Led by Irma Becker, ITP serves ~175 participants a year, offering performing arts classes taught by specialized instructors onsite and at local partner schools, presenting a total of two musical productions and twelve outreach performances that reach about 10,000 people per year. As part of the program, Area Stage is also very proud to host the United States' first Royal Academy of Dance ballet curriculum for neurodiverse dancers. ITP provides a platform for neurodiverse artists to develop their talents and share them with the community. These inspiring performances prove just how much individuals with disabilities are capable of, embodying the vision of a more inclusive society where such individuals are seamlessly integrated into the fabric of everyday life.

“We are deeply honored to receive this outstanding grant, which empowers us to continue making a meaningful difference through the work we do every day at Area Stage,” says Maria Banda-Rodaz, Executive Director of Area Stage. “Our heartfelt thanks to the NEA for recognizing and supporting our mission to enrich and uplift our community.” 

For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

PRESS CONTACT: Jennifer Gomez, jennifer@areastage.org 

Area Stage Co. to present its 2022 premier Conservatory production at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theater

Miami, FL, For Immediate Release - Area Stage Company (ASC) is excited to announce the presentation of its 2022 premier Conservatory production at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (title under consideration). This marks the first time in the ASC Conservatory’s 12 year history that a student Conservatory production will be produced offsite. 

Beauty and the Beast will run for only one weekend in the Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theater from August 5th - 7th. This will be a lavish, full scale, enchanting production, featuring a full cast of exquisitely talented Conservatory students, perfect for the whole family to attend. It will be directed and choreographed by ASC Director of Conservatory Education, Rebecca Ashton, with music direction by Katie Duerr. 

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman with a book by Linda Woolverton, is based on the 1991 animated classic film. This “tale as old as time” tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Tickets for this production are not yet on sale, but are expected to be available through the Arsht Center box office in late September.

ABOUT AREA STAGE COMPANY (ASC)

Area Stage Company is a non-profit, professional theatre company that, for over 32 years, has staged provocative, world-class theatre and musical productions becoming one of South Florida’s most influential arts organizations. Focusing on artistic innovation, education, inclusion, and equity, ASC produces a yearly season of mainstage works, houses a world-class youth Conservatory, the LGBTQIA+ initiative: The Miami Queer Collective, the eÑe Project for Spanish speaking artists and audiences, and the Inclusion Theatre Project, which offers free training to students with developmental disabilities. Area Stage has recently won the coveted titles of “Best Theatre Company 2019 & 2020” -- the Miami New Times Readers Choice Poll, and “Best Performing Arts Theater in Coral Gables 2019”.

Area Stage Co. announces auditions for the Conservatory production of Marvel’s Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play

Miami, FL, For Immediate Release - Area Stage Company (ASC) is excited to announce auditions for its Conservatory Stage III (ages 14+) production of Marvel’s Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play.  This will mark the first time the ASC Conservatory will present a play from the Marvel franchise.

Enrollment is by audition only. UPDATED Audition date: Thursday, September 16th, 7:00-9:00PM. Please register to attend the audition by joining the “Waitlist” for this production on our website enroll page. This is a Conservatory(student) production intended to be an educational experience for young actors wishing to make the transition to a college program or professional theatre work. Participation fee: $650

SYNOPSIS: FIND THE HERO WITHIN! When a strange Terrigen Mist descended upon Jersey City, Kamala Khan was imbued with polymorphic powers. Her life was changed forever and so were the lives of her family and friends. Using her newfound abilities to fight evil and protect Jersey City, she became the all-new Ms. Marvel!

Kamala attempts to boost Ms. Marvel’s fledgling superhero profile by writing her own fan fiction. But when building a fandom becomes an obsession, Kamala’s schoolwork and relationships begin to suffer. To become the Jersey City hero of her dreams, Kamala must learn to accept herself just as she is – imperfections and all.

Character Breakdown:

THE TEENS

KAMALA KHAN – a.k.a. Ms. Marvel. Female identifying.
NAKIA BAHADIR – Kamala’s best friend. Female identifying.
BRUNO CARRELLI – Kamala’s other best friend and sometime crush. Male identifying.
GABE HILLMAN – Bruno’s friend, the smooth guy. Male identifying.
ZOE ZIMMER – Kamala’s kinda snotty classmate. Female identifying.
JOSH RICHARDSON – Zoe’s boyfriend, the jock. Male identifying.
LEE – Josh’s friend. Male identifying.
ALEX – Josh’s friend. Any gender.
MICHAELA “MIKE” GUTIERREZ – Bruno’s girlfriend, the new girl. Female identifying.
FANGIRL – Female identifying.
STUDENTS

THE ADULTS

AMMI – Kamala’s mother. Female identifying.
MS. NORRIS – Physics teacher. Female identifying.

THE FAN FIC CHARACTERS

FAN FIC MS. MARVEL I, II, & III – Played in three different scenes by three different actors. Any gender.
BADDIES – REESE & FLYNN. Any gender.
DELI WORKER – Any gender.
CAT BURGLAR – Any gender.
REPORTER (1-2) – Any gender.
THIEF – Any gender.
FAN FIC ENSEMBLE

THE SUPER HEROES

CAPTAIN MARVEL – Female identifying.
IRON MAN – Doubled by the actor playing JOSH. Male identifying.
BLACK WIDOW – Doubled by the actor playing ZOE. Female identifying.
DOCTOR STRANGE – Doubled by the actor playing LEE. Male identifying.

ABOUT AREA STAGE COMPANY (ASC)

Area Stage Company is a non-profit, professional theatre company that, for over 32 years, has staged provocative, world-class theatre and musical productions becoming one of South Florida’s most influential arts organizations. Focusing on artistic innovation, education, inclusion, and equity, ASC produces a yearly season of mainstage works, houses a world-class youth Conservatory, the LGBTQIA+ initiative: The Miami Queer Collective, the eÑe Project for Spanish speaking artists and audiences, and the Inclusion Theatre Project, which offers free training to students with developmental disabilities. Area Stage has recently won the coveted titles of “Best Theatre Company 2019 & 2020” -- the Miami New Times Readers Choice Poll, and “Best Performing Arts Theater in Coral Gables 2019”.