Coconut Grove Theatre Festival returns with expanded run

The Women's Club of Coconut Grove on South Bayshore Drive will host the third annual Coconut Grove Theatre Festival from April 19 to May 2, 2026. The event was founded by William Hector in 2025 to provide a venue for local playwrights, directors, and actors. The festival fills a gap in the neighborhood's cultural calendar that has existed since the Playhouse closed in 2006.

Hector launched the initiative after proposing the idea to Irene Munroe, a board member at the Women's Club of Coconut Grove. The original plan was to stage a single play. During discussions with the committee, the scope expanded to include eight different productions. Munroe, a longtime friend of Hector, supported the expansion because she recognized the community's need for the event. Munroe stated that she wanted to see the project come to life because of Hector's passion for theater.

The first festival took place in May 2025. More than 700 people attended the inaugural event. Hector spent several months organizing the production and raising nearly $40,000. He approached local businesses in the Grove to secure sponsorships. His goal was to frame the festival as a benefit to the neighborhood by increasing foot traffic and supporting local commerce. Hector described the strategy as a network where one connection leads to another, creating a durable structure over time.

Hector's approach to the festival reflects his academic background. He studied at the University of Miami in 2015, where he was the first student to complete an independent major combining politics, philosophy, economics, and playwriting. This educational path influenced his professional focus on building structures for community engagement. He views theater as a tool for preserving the neighborhood's artistic identity amidst changes in the local housing and business market.

Victoria Collado, a director for the festival, works closely with Hector on the productions. She describes his creative process as precise and immersive. Collado noted that Hector can revise scripts with exact timing, producing cuts that fit specific minute markers. She recalled reading G7: 2070, an immersive piece set in a future Miami. Collado said the work felt like an immersive novel rather than a traditional play because of the detailed world-building.

The festival features a variety of formats to appeal to different audiences. The schedule includes short plays, readings, immersive theater, dinner theater, one-person shows, outdoor performances, and children's matinees. Hector aims to make the atmosphere welcoming and exploratory. He believes that eccentricity and passion are key elements that help the Grove thrive as a community. The diverse lineup ensures that attendees have multiple options for engagement.

Hector continues to be active in the Grove's cultural life by attending social events and supporting local businesses. He grew up in the neighborhood and views his connection to the area as a driving force behind his work. The festival provides a platform for artists to create theater that reflects the current state of the community. Hector hopes the expanded 2026 run will inspire youth to participate in theater and continue the tradition of local performance in the Grove.