In keeping with the twists and turns that have marked the yearslong effort to save the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse, a Miami-Dade county government committee on Thursday pushed forward a vastly more ambitious restoration plan than the one previously considered by municipal officials.
The plan, which is being championed by mayoral hopeful and Commissioner Xavier Suarez, would seek to raise some $40 million over the next two years from private philanthropists, with the goal of creating two theaters within the grounds of the historic playhouse. Those funds would be added to the $20 million the county has already set aside for the restoration. Backing the fundraising drive is performing arts patron and personal injury attorney Mike Eidson. Eidson, chairman of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Trust and previous president of the Miami City Ballet, is a partner at Coral Gables-based Colson Hicks Eidson.
