Awarded nearly $200,000 in grants, the Coral Gables Art Cinema and Actors’ Playhouse are among the recently announced winners in the Knight Arts Challenge. The awards are part of the $23 million investment made by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation into South Florida’s arts community.

The Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., received a $150,000 grant, which will allow it expand to include a number of new components. The cinema will produce a three-day annual event as part of existing family programming, in partnership with the New York International Children’s Film Festival, and launch initiatives to support feature film production and distribution, including visiting director, screenwriter and producer residencies, in conjunction with existing exhibition programs.

With a $40,000 award, Actors’ Playhouse will introduce high school seniors to Broadway by making 3,000 seats available to its production of the Tony-winning musical In the Heights, and engage the audience through a rap-writing contest. Students will prepare with study guides on the show’s plot line and will participate in discussions with the director, actors and creative team to better understand the performance and possibilities for arts careers. Students will then write their own personal or family story that mimics the play’s musical score or is in a style appropriate to their cultural background. Finalists will perform their works at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile.

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