Jackie Gleason Theater - Miami Beach, FL

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Miami Herald: 10/17/06

SOUTH BEACH

Residents resist a one-act Gleason

Miami Beach residents express their opinions -- pro and con -- about a permanent show at South Beach's Jackie Gleason Theater.

BY SUSAN ANASAGASTI AND DOUGLAS HANKS
sanasagasti@MiamiHerald.com

Miami Beach residents delivered a message to city officials Monday night: Don't transform South Beach's Jackie Gleason into a theater for Cirque du Soleil's popular acrobatic shows. That was the sentiment at a public hearing to discuss the future of the city-owned Jackie Gleason Theater, which will be voted on by commissioners Wednesday.

''As far as Cirque goes, I do not think that the residents of Miami Beach want to see one act here for the next 20, 30 years,'' said Roger Abramson, a Miami Beach resident and former concert producer. ``The Jackie Gleason Theater is an icon and the people of Miami Beach do not want to see it destroyed.''

For about a year, Cirque's top executives have been selling their pitch to city officials to make South Florida its newest home.

But in July, two top U.S. concert promoters -- AEG Live and Live Nation -- submitted their proposals to take over the theater.

On Monday, more than 100 residents and hoteliers gathered at the Gleason to make their case -- for and against -- Cirque's proposal to create a Brazil/Havana Tropicana-inspired version of its stage show at the Gleason, with about 430 performances a year.

City Manager Jorge Gonzalez outlined three proposals.

• Cirque du Soleil wants to design a South Beach show at the Gleason, with about 430 performances a year. It also would create a large garden surrounding the Gleason as part of the theater renovation. It is asking the city to provide $55 million as part of a $100 million redo of the Gleason.

• Live Nation wants to transform the theater into a venue for pop starts, alternative rockers and live musicians. The Los Angeles-based comedy group also plans to bring comedy acts to the Gleason. Live Nation offered a 15-year deal with $3.5 million of renovations and $1 million annual rent and limited incentives.

• AEG Live has a similar plan, but also wants to bring in theatrical productions, holiday concerts and televised award shows. AEG proposed a 10-year deal, spending $2 million in renovations of the Gleason and $250,000 annual rent, plus bonuses for higher ticket sales.

''Basically, what we have here is: What do we, as a community, want and need for the Jackie Gleason to do for us?'' Gonzalez said. ``Do we want to position the Jackie Gleason going into the future as a single purpose use or a multi-use venue?''

Miami Beach commissioners will select a winner during a special commission meeting Wednesday, creating a balancing act between the needs of the city, the tourism industry and the desire of its residents.

Several hoteliers, including The Delano and The National, endorsed the Cirque plan saying the eye-popping acrobatic show offers a unique attraction that won't compete with the new Carnival Center for the Performing Arts across the bay.

Mark Tamis, general manager of the Delano, urged the commissioners to pick the proposal that encourages the ``luxury brand of Miami Beach.''

''I can't just keep telling people there are a lot of night clubs here,'' said Amir Nben-Zion, owner of the Town House hotel.

Ray Breslin, president of the Collins Park Neighborhood Association, agreed. He has supported the Cirque du Soleil project since 2004, when Cirque was then the only proposal on the table.

''`A permanent venue is absolutely what the city of Miami Beach needs,'' said Breslin, a former travel agent, who says a permanent venue such as Cirque will attract conventions. ``Our bread and butter time and time again is the tourism industry. Don't forget that. If you give the Jackie Gleason just a shot of Botox it will die.''

William Talbert III, president of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, declined to endorse any of the proposals. Instead he urged the city to focus on expanding its convention center.

Many voiced their opposition to turning over the Gleason for a single show enjoyed primarily by tourists.

''This is not Orlando. This is not Vegas,'' said Michael Shertzer, of Miami Beach. ``We want variety.''

Added Raul Mateo: ``One of the things I love about Miami Beach is that I don't have to go across that causeway.''

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/15776035.htm

posted by harrowerplow at 7:24 AM

2 Comments:

  • While informative, this article fails to highlight the degree to which, almost unanimously, residents spoke out about the Cirque project.

    The meeting demonstrated that even though many residents like Cirque, they don't want to transform their largest public theater, owned and operated by the City for the residents, into a for-profit Cirque project with a nightclub, restaurant, and spa; basically, a place for Cirque to make millions off the sale of tickets, food, and alcohol.

    This Cirque projects violates the intended use of the theater and would be best built, with RDA funds if necessary, on another location within Miami Beach's borders.

    Last night's meeting failed to show good cause for transforming the Jackie Gleason into the Cirque project, but rather showed there might be good cause to investigate a separate location for a Cirque project.

    In other words, you don't tear down the Eiffel Tower to build Disney-Paris, you find a more suitable location.

    Further, it appears the only reason the City has considered the Jackie Gleason is the temptation of revenue, which the City doesn't need, as evidenced by the recent property tax rebate checks mailed to residents.

    Why would the City turn over a valuable community asset to a private, for-profit company?

    Further, how can the City justify entering into a partnership with a company that has an unapologetic history of discriminating against those with AIDS.

    Cirque de Soleil recently fired a healthy employee after the employee disclosed to his doctor that he was HIV positive. The doctor gave the employee a clean bill of health with regard to his work, but Cirque felt differently, and publicly stated that their firing of the HIV employee was 'socially-respnsible'...

    City, State, and Federal Authorities disagreed, as did the public, and Cirque settled a lawsuit for $600,000...

    In Miami Beach, which has been rejuvenated in large part by a gay and lesbian population, sadly most stricken with HIV, parterning with Cirque is a slap in the face...

    How does the City of Miami Beach intend to police Cirque and ensure that Cirque employs local residents, or their own employees, without discriminatory practices?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:45 AM EDT  

  • Good comment, but Cirque reversed that discrimination policy after federal investigators, and the EEOC, found that it constituted illegal discrimination. As far as I know, Cirque no longer discriminates against HIV employees, but I agree with the rest of this, this is our theater, who are the City officials to give to a bunch of Canadian profiteers?!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:51 PM EDT  

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