New Theatre presents 6th Annual Miami Stories
New Theatre has recently announced its 6th Annual Miami Stories taking place on Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. at New Theatre’s new home at The Roxy Performing Arts Center. Miami Stories is New Theatre’s signature annual fundraising event. A night of great food, drinks, music and raffle prizes, the event includes three World Premiere short plays penned by local celebrities. This year’s celebrities and their plays:
J. Ricky Arriola is the President and CEO of Inktel Direct Corporation, a marketing and advertising firm that was named by Florida Trend Magazine as “Best Place to Work in Florida (Large Company) 2009”, “Best Place to Work 2007-2010” by the South Florida Business Journal and “Top Workplaces 2011” by the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Arriola serves as a member of the Board of Directors for American Teleservices Association and a member of the Board of Trustees for Miami Art Museum, and was a past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. In addition to serving in his local community, Mr. Arriola is a Board Member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. J. Ricky Arriola’s Miami Stories play entitled Save the Swanford tells the story of an emcee at a fundraiser who takes the podium drunk, continues to get drunk and reveals secrets creating hysteria.
James R. Kaufman is the founding and managing principal of Kaufman Rossin which was named ‘Best Place to Work’ in South Florida in 2012. Mr. Kaufman is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and is a member of the University Hall of Fame. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed with the State of Florida and is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and is frequently a lecturer. His firm has helped raise funds for such charities as P.E.O. which provides women with educational opportunities,LifeNet4Families which provides assistance to families who live in poverty, and the Jacob Isaac Rappoport Foundation, which helps families affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy. His firm has also created an innovative way to have its staff be philanthropic as well- one day a month has been designated “Jeans Day.” On this day, staff members make a donation which is collected and then donated to a different designated non-profit each month. James R. Kaufman’s Miami Stories play entitled Pilgrimage on Rye is about three college guys who make a pilgrimage to the Rascal House.
Eric R. Sisser is the President and CEO of Eric R. Sisser, Inc. Mr. Sisser is a lobbyist, and a past Chairman of the Miami Dade County Cultural Affairs Council and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Business & Industry Division. Throughout the years, Mr. Sisser has served as a member of the Board of Directors for many organizations, such as the Performing Art Center Trust, New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet, Arts for Learning, and the Jewish Museum. In 2008, New Times named him “Best Local Boy Made Good”. Mr. Sisser hosted a luncheon benefiting Miami-Dade’s “Friends of Drug Court” and helped raise over $10,000 for the program. He has also held fund-raisers to re-elect Miami Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez- Rundle and Democratic US Representative Ron Klein. Mr. Sisser currently serves as a Trustee for United Way and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and serves as a member of the Mayor’s Marketing Council. Eric R. Sisser’s Miami Stories play, as yet untitled, recounts the story of his 30-year drug addiction and how he is one of the lucky ones.
Returning to Miami Stories this year as Master of Ceremonies is David Samson, President of the Miami Marlins. Mr. Samson enters his 13th season in Major League Baseball and 11th as President of the Miami Marlins. He is one of only seven current Presidents in Major League Baseball who has presided over a World Series champion. Mr. Samson, among many other leadership roles, serves as member of the Board of Directors for CAF, and Miami Children’s Museum, member of the Board of Governors of the Miami Foundation, and is the President of the Miami Marlins Community Foundation, which focuses its efforts on baseball, arts and educational needs of the South Florida community. On April 27, 2012, Samson ran 50 miles from Pompano Beach to Marlins Park to raise over $500,000 for 10 “Charities of Choice” to honor the construction workers who made Marlins Park a reality.
Tickets for Miami Stories 2012 are $ 100.00 and can be purchased by phone at 305.443.5909 or online at www.new-theatre.org.
New Theatre at Roxy Performing Arts Center
1645 SW 107th Avenue
Miami, FL 33165
(305) 443-5909
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