MARIA Rodaz

The Theater Guru 

It was September of 1989 in Miami, and Maria Rodaz was in love with all things musical theater, and soon she would fall in love with her future husband John Rodaz and his budding new theater company on South Beach, Area Stage.

At the time there was very little theater in town and Maria and John started producing shows that quickly gained national attention. They were invited to be interviewed on “Nightline with Ted Koppel”. For the past 30 years, they have brought our city unique and innovative live theater productions including immersive shows and opportunities for inclusion in theater for all who wish to join. Area Stage has had a profound impact on our city and has changed the lives of thousands of people who have had a place to perform and follow their dreams. It even has famous alumni on their board like award winning actor Oscar Issac.

Maria grew up in Ecuador with cousins that had disabilities. She remembers how important theatre was in their lives and how it made them feel included. “You have the Special Olympics, but you don’t have the special theater. That is what the Inclusion Theater Program is…Music, dance, and theater are incredibly important to these young people, but they have no place to go.” Maria and the Board of Directors of Area Stage are providing such a place through the Inclusion Theater Program (“ITP”).

Unfortunately, last year Florida’s government reduced Arts grants and Area Stage went from teaching 400 kids with disabilities a year to now only 150 kids a year.

We asked Maria Rodaz to share some of her favorite stories from her time with Area Stage but our favorite was when U2 showed up behind their location on Lincoln Road looking for a place to rehearse. By then Maria was well known on South Beach and when it was time to break for lunch she proudly walked with Bono and The Edge while waiters yelled her name for her to choose their restaurant.Watch Maria’s full interview and learn about upcoming shows, immersive theater productions, and how her theater company has been invited to perform at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.