Legendary Publicist Charlie Cinnamon Reveals What Drew Him to the Theatre

In a new interview with the Miami Herald, legendary Florida publicist Charlie Cinnamon has opened up about what originally drew him to Broadway.

The roots of his love for the theatre industry began after serving in World War II. Following his return to the states, Cinnamon enrolled in NYU on the GI Bill, where he started to take in shows, an easy trip on the subway.

"You never got to Broadway when you lived in the Bronx but when I started to go to school," he said. "The lights of Broadway and the magic inside is what hooked me," he said. "Oddly enough, the first show I recall best was not a musical but Arthur Laurents' Home of the Brave. That story of a guy coming back from the war really moved me. That was really something that kicked me in the kishkes. The next big thing was Oklahoma!, and I was ready for my close-up."

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Cinnamon is a native New Yorker who, for the past fifty years, has resided in Miami. Strongly identified with legitimate theater, Cinnamon launched his career as Public Relations Director for Miami's Coconut Grove Playhouse moving directly into a 26-year professional relationship with Broadway producer Zev Buffman where, as National Press Representative, he represented a national theatrical circuit which in addition to Buffman's Broadway ventures, counted nine theaters across the country.

It was during those years that Cinnamon also launched his personal involvement with the arts communities of South Florida. Credited with having created Miami's now internationally famed Coconut Grove Arts Festival and soon after, the Miami Beach Festival of the Arts, he represented a variety of other clients including Judy Drucker's Concert Association of Florida; the formative years of Miami City Ballet in which he joined founder Toby Lerner Ansin; successfully launched the national campaign which brought the NBA franchise and the Miami Heat to Miami; and brought Elizabeth Taylor to South Florida for the Community Alliance Against AIDS first fund-raiser which resulted in $2.1 million for AIDS research, the largest amount ever raised in a single night in the country.

Cinnamon also orchestrated the Royal visit of Her Serene Highness, Princess Caroline of Monaco to benefit the Miami City Ballet and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA; was Publicity Chairman of the Miami Centennial Ball; designed and executed "A Tribute to Ted Arison" which raised over $5 million for the New World Symphony and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and for which, in 2006, he was press representative of NFAA's 25th Anniversary "An Affair of the Arts."

Recipient of the coveted Carbonell Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, now named the George Abbott Award, Cinnamon has through the years been frequently acknowledged by the community as a major contributor to the arts. He has been honored by the City of Miami Beach Fine Arts Board as "Man of the Year," was the first to have his footprints placed in the Jackie Gleason Theater's "Walk of Stars," and was later to receive a Proclamation from the city in honor of the Festival's 10th Anniversary.

Cinnamon has also been the recipient of a "Maxie" by the Miami Arts Exchange and the New World School of the Arts; was noted in the Florida Business Journal's "Who's Who" as one of the "100 People Who Make Things Happen in South Florida;" was honored by Ronald MacDonald House as one of the "Twelve Good Men of South Florida;" was awarded the Jan Pfeiffer Distinguished Service Award by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce; was twice named "Best P.R." by the New Times "Best of Miami;" was named one of the "The Top Movers and Shakers in Miami " by Ocean Drive Magazine;" and was twice listed among "100 Power Players in Florida" by Florida International Magazine.

Among his many activist activities, Cinnamon concluded eight years as a member of the Board of Directors of NPR's Friends of WLRN, Inc. In 2006, Cinnamon was awarded a Proclamation from the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County as a "Role Model" during A Tribute to Arts and Culture Day; was honored with a "Lifetime Achievement Award by the Coconut Grove Playhouse during its 50th Anniversary Gala;" and was named recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor awarded by the City of Miami Beach.

Among other high profile clients, Mr. Cinnamon continues to be engaged in the arts and leisure activities of South Florida as Florida Press Representative of "Broadway Across America;" as special consultant to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; Miami-Dade County; Director of Public Relations of the PlayGround Theatre; as special consultant to Florida Grand Opera's Met "Superstar" series; consultant to "Destination Fashion" to benefit The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis; as press representative of The World Erotic Art Museum; and press representative of prominent events impresario and restaurateur, Barton G. Weiss.

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