Area Stage will hold a heartfelt life celebration honoring the late Broadway Producer Arthur Whitelaw who was also an esteemed Area Stage’s Board of Advisors member. The cocktail reception will take place on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025, at Area Stage’s Black Box Theatre and will be followed by the unveiling of a new scholarship named after him. If you would like to attend, please use the following RSVP link here.
The Arthur Whitelaw Grant, is an annual grant that will sponsor college auditions for aspiring actors in the pursuit of a theatre degree. In lieu of flowers, the family warmly requests that guests consider making donations to support the grant fund.
Following this tribute in Miami, a separate event in Mr. Whitelaw’s honor will be held on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025, at Sardi’s in New York City.
MIAMI EVENT DATE: September 24th, 2025, 7 PM
LOCATION: Area Stage Black Box Theater, 5701 Sunset Dr Suite 286, South Miami, FL 33143
ABOUT ARTHUR WHITELAW
Arthur Whitelaw enjoyed a prolific 61-year career as a producer, director, writer, and actor, earning every major industry honor—including the Tony, Oscar, Emmy, Olivier, and Drama Desk Awards—and discovering stars such as Liza Minnelli and Christopher Walken in his first production, Best Foot Forward. His acclaimed works spanned the globe, with notable stage productions like You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Butterflies Are Free, Minnie’s Boys, Snoopy!!!, and Sweet Sue; Emmy-nominated and Emmy-winning television specials including You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (NBC) and Celebrating Gershwin (PBS/BBC); and films such as Butterflies Are Free, Tom Sawyer, and Huckleberry Finn. He completed his autobiography, Working for Peanuts, and last year donated his extensive theatre archives to the Library of Congress. A devoted champion of the arts, Whitelaw reconnected with John and Maria Rodaz of Area Stage, directing Snoopy!!! and co-writing the new musical Letters from Camp about the children of the Holocaust. His enduring wish was to see the professional arm of Area Stage flourish and for the community to support that vision.
ABOUT AREA STAGE
Founded in 1989 by John and Maria Rodaz, Area Stage began as one of the pioneers of the Miami Beach arts community on Lincoln Road. Now celebrating 36 years of artistic excellence, this non-profit theater company has become one of South Florida’s most influential cultural institutions, dedicated to artistic innovation, education, and accessibility to the arts. In addition to its acclaimed Mainstage productions, Area Stage houses a world-class Conservatory, providing professional training to hundreds of young aspiring artists each year. The company is also home to the Inspire Theatre Project, which offers meaningful performance opportunities to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Recently, Area Stage was recognized with the 2024 Miami Dade Favorites Silver Award and honored by Miami-Dade County with a Proclamation designating June 6, 2025, as Area Stage Inc. Day in celebration of the Inspire Theatre Project’s outstanding contributions to the community—a true testament to the company’s lasting impact. Committed to pushing artistic boundaries, Area Stage continues to provide extraordinary theatrical experiences to the Miami community and beyond.