Miami New Drama Welcomes First Executive Director

Miami New Drama (MiND), an international cultural startup that has continued to defy expectations, announces Florencia Jimenez-Marcos as its first Executive Director.

After a successful first year of programming and overseeing Colony Theatre in Miami Beach, the resident theater company has taken the next steps to pursuing growth and success with this new addition to the team.

Artistic Director Michel Hausmann and Co-founder Moises Kaufman welcome Jimenez-Marcos, one of Miami's leading arts & culture advocates. She is a seasoned business professional with 20 years of expertise in project management and strategy in both professional and civic organizations. Her knowledge in the travel, hospitality, real estate, and arts and culture sectors have prepared her for this new role with the historical structure on Miami Beach.

"This is a game-changer for us. Florencia is someone I've admired for a very long time. She is a visionary, kind-hearted and hard-working leader loved by the community," remarked Hausmann. "I am ecstatic! This is exactly what we need to turn our vision of a world-class theatrical institution into a reality."

Jimenez-Marcos will oversee and coordinate both management and development functions of MiND. Her new role at the theater follows the widely acclaimed success of the previous season's highlights including an extended run of the beloved play The Golem of Havana, Terror a play directed by two-time Tony winner, and a Knight Foundation grant award. As a Miami Beach resident for 18 years, she is committed to helping shape the ever-changing cultural arts landscape on the Beach, Lincoln Road and beyond. In her new role, she will also be working with the Board to focus on strategic development and managing historic operations for the cultural gem that is the Colony Theatre.

"Miami New Drama is a world-class organization producing creative, thought provoking works in this amazing city I am proud to call home," said Jimenez-Marcos. "I am honored and inspired to be a part of the family. I can't wait to begin this adventure with the artistic team and continue to help the Miami arts and theater community flourish."

Jimenez-Marcos' strategy and marketing expertise stem from her roles at non-profit, academic institutions, start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. She is currently finishing her tenure as President of Friend of North Beach Elementary Board, the school's parent-run fundraising 501c3 and is the immediate past Board Chair of Friends of the New World Symphony. She has also served in leadership positions at Miami Book Fair's Literati Society, Arsht Center's Green Room Society, Wharton Club of South Florida, and City of Miami Beach Personnel Board. Most recently, Jimenez-Marcos has been a Managing Partner at Biscayne Bay Group, a boutique advisory and investment firm. She is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business where she earned both a MBA and a MA in International Studies from the Lauder Institute.

Jimenez-Marcos officially begins June 1. Her first steps will begin with finalizing the innovative 2017-2018 season programming, focusing on outreach and working on strategic planning with the Board.

For more information about Miami New Drama, visit www.miaminewdrama.org. Follow MiND on social media via Facebook and Instagram. For more information about Colony Theatre, visit www.colonymb.org. Follow the Colony on social media via Facebook and Instagram.

Colony Theatre is located in the heart of South Beach on Lincoln Road. It first opened on January 25, 1935 as an upscale Paramount Pictures movie house. In 2006, the building underwent a three-year, $6.5 million renovation to restore its original Art Deco grandeur and update its stage and technical equipment. Today, the theatre is a 417-seat state of the art venue proudly managed by Miami New Drama. MiND's vision is to transform this gem into a world-class cultural institution. The Colony's impressive Art Deco design makes it one of the last remaining original crown jewels of Miami Beach. The theatre hosts an exciting array of events including music, dance, film, comedy, and theater performances. as The Managing theater company, Miami New Drama brings original and critically-acclaimed plays produced exclusively for the Colony. For more information, visit www.colonymb.org.

Housed at the historic Colony Theatre, Miami New Drama (MiND) is a producing and presenting organization committed to theatrical excellence and to telling stories designed for the intersections of Miami's multicultural 21st-century audience. By sharing work where cultures, dialogue, and communities intersect, MiND serves audiences as diverse as the city itself.

MiND's inaugural production, The Golem of Havana, was a popular success. More than 6,500 people attended the musical production in an extended five-week run, breaking every record for past productions at the Colony Theatre and grossing over $250,000-- more than any other theater show in Miami's recent history. Its success inspired the City of Miami Beach to invite them to transform Colony Theatre into a vibrant cultural institution. Past productions include the American premiere of Ferdinand von Schirach's Terror directed by Tony Award winner Gregory Mosher and the southern premiere of Por Piedad Teatro's A Special Day. For more information, visit www.miaminewdrama.org.