Actors' Playhouse Executive Producing Director Barbara S. Stein Honored with George E. Merrick Award of Excellence

Actors' Playhouse Executive Producing Director Barbara S. Stein was honored by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce with the distinguished George E. Merrick Award of Excellence on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at the historic Biltmore Hotel. The George E. Merrick Award of Excellence is presented annually by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with The Allen Morris Company, to recognize the outstanding achievements of an individual who has excelled at perpetuating the vision of the City of Coral Gables and Chamber Founder, George E. Merrick.

Each year, five iconic individuals from the Coral Gables community are singled out and recognized as distinguished honorees, with one leader earning the most esteemed award. Stein, who spearheaded Actors' Playhouse's extensive restoration of the historic Miracle Theatre in 1995 that ultimately resulted in the catalyst for revitalizing downtown Coral Gables, was honored with four other finalists: Luis Boué, Richard Heisenbottle, Former Mayor of Coral Gables Donald D. Slesnick and G. Ed Williamson II. CBS Miami Anchor Cynthia Demos emceed the event.

Barbara Stein co-founded Actors' Playhouse with her husband Dr. Lawrence E. Stein in 1988. For the past twenty-six years, under her stewardship, Actors' Playhouse has grown into the second largest not-for-profit professional Equity Theatre in Miami-Dade County and one of its major cultural institutions. Ms. Stein, a resident of Miami for over 50 years, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and is an active member and leader in many community organizations. In 1996, Ms. Stein was honored as a "Florida Woman of Achievement," and her portrait is part of an annual exhibit for "Woman's History Month" that has been previously displayed in the United States and Florida Capitol Buildings. Under Ms. Stein's leadership Actors' Playhouse was awarded the Coral Gables Chamber 1999 Diamond Award recognizing outstanding businesses in the Coral Gables community. Ms. Stein was honored with the "Spectrum Award for Culture" from the American Red Cross and twice acknowledged in Miami Today as one of South Florida's top business Achievers. Stein is also the recipient of Miami-Dade County's "In The Company of Woman" Award, the "Community Service Award" from the South Florida International Press Club, and honored by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and South Florida Business Journal as the "Business Woman of the Year." Barbara and husband Dr. Lawrence Stein are proud recipients of the Ruth Foreman Award presented by the Carbonell Awards committee that commemorates the founding and development of Actors' Playhouse, saving and restoring a historic facility, and for nurturing the arts in South Florida.

About Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Actors' Playhouse is the nonprofit resident theatre company and managing agent of the historic Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Actors' Playhouse, which has brought home 82 regional Carbonell Awards for artistic excellence, is a Florida Presenting Cultural Organization and one of 13 major cultural institutions in Miami-Dade County. In addition to its Mainstage season, Actors' Playhouse offers a year-round season of Musical Theatre for Young Audiences, a National Children's Theatre Festival, a Theatre Conservatory and Summer Camp Program, as well as educational arts outreach programs for underserved youth, and has initiated a Young Talent Big Dreams contest for children in partnership with The Children's Trust. www.actorsplayhouse.org