MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – From the colorful sounds of Seussical the Musical to the dramatic tension of The Girl on the Train, South Florida’s vibrant theater scene showcases a broad range of talent and storytelling.
But now, many of these productions — and the people behind them — are facing a new kind of drama: survival amid looming federal budget cuts.
“Theater is very important on so many levels,” said Maria Banda-Rodaz, executive director of the Area Stage Company.
“It’s chicken soup for the soul, the heart and mind,” added Barbara Stein, executive producing director at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre.
Under President Donald Trump’s proposed discretionary budget for fiscal year 2026, the National Endowment for the Arts would be eliminated entirely — part of a broader effort to reduce federal spending.
For local nonprofits like Area Stage and the Actors’ Playhouse, the potential loss is not just symbolic — it’s financially devastating.
“I think it is a big deal,” Stein said. “Everybody will lose without funding for the arts.”
The Actors’ Playhouse previously received a $50,000 NEA grant that helped cover tickets for 1,200 local students to see major productions like Jersey Boys.
“We brought students from different neighborhoods to see Jersey Boys,” Stein said. “We are changing lives, we are giving inspiration to kids.”
Over at Area Stage, a “notice of termination” from NEA arrived with little warning.
“It’s very difficult for me,” Banda-Rodaz said. “I have to sit down and see how I can stretch our dollars.”
For Area Stage, NEA grants funded their Inclusive Theatre Program, which provides training and performance opportunities for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
“That money goes to paying for our coaches,” Banda-Rodaz added. “As a nonprofit organization, we couldn’t do what we do without the support of grants.”
She said losing the grant has shaken the company’s financial foundation just as they prepare for an immersive production of Disney’s Tarzan the Musical.
“It’s really devastating for our financial stability to have a cancellation of a grant last minute,” she said. “So we find ourselves in a very dire situation right now.”
To move forward with Tarzan, Area Stage has begun rerouting funds from ITP and launching emergency fundraising efforts.
“I’m just hoping that our efforts with our team will be able to raise the funds for Tarzan, which is a few weeks down the road,” Banda-Rodaz said. “If not, I may not be able to do it. It’s that serious.”
Theaters and nonprofits across the country have the option to appeal the terminations, but time is tight and uncertainty looms.
“It would be very difficult to not get this grant,” Stein said.
