Now that the city has recovered from an Art Basel hangover, Miami Motel Stories is ready to check you in to their unique experience. Tickets for the immersive theatrical experience, which ends next week, are close to selling out (and after a mention from Vogue, you can guarantee it’s going to happen).

We chatted with director of the Miami Motel Stories, New York-based Mia Rovegno, about audience participation and the importance of accurately portraying the building’s history.

BREAK A LEG

For the experience at the Gold Dust Motel on Biscayne Boulevard, the audience is a participant rather than a passive spectator. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure experience with the opportunity to influence the storyline for one of the 30 actors.

“There is no boundary between actor and audience member. You are in a sense being given a role just by showing up at this event,” Rovegno said.

And showing up is important, Rovegno says, because we’re all so wrapped up in our screens and digital devices that more people crave human, interactive experiences. “People are wanting to share space together and be in a room together.”

A STORIED BUILDING

Rovegno’s previous projects were performed outside of the traditional, controlled theatre space. But this one is a bit different.

“We’re trying to understand how to represent the history that has taken place in this space and give visibility to it. And that’s when the characters and storylines start to emerge.”

The building provides stories of hustlers, tourists, and locals from the 1950s to today. Deep research by the playwright Juan Sanchez ensures every story has a piece of history and truth attached to it.

“We continue to take a step back and think, ‘Okay, are the ideas we are coming up with honoring the truth of the stories that happened here?’,” Rovegno said.

Decide for yourself. Tickets start at $45 and different ticket options grant access to different parts of the motel. Upon entry to the performance, you’re transported into a 1957 tiki party celebrating the opening of the motel, so come dressed to impress.

PRODUCED BY THE NEW TROPIC CREATIVE STUDIO WITH MIAMI MOTEL STORIES

What’s so funny? Miami’s fledgling stand-up comedy scene is starting to blossom, thanks in large part to Manny Gavarito, who left a not-so-funny career in banking to become a comedian Garavito opened Miami Comedy to find locations to host comedy shows when he noticed a dearth of venues for comedians. He’s managed to lure some big names to town, like Jim Florentine of VH1’s That Metal Show, Luis J. Gomez  of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and Mo Mandel of Chelsea Lately. If all continues as planned, Gavarito thinks Miami could become a hot spot of hilarity. (Miami New Times)

Election Reform Redux. Florida’s recent midterm elections … and subsequent recounts showed the nation yet again that the state’s election system needs an overhaul. Florida House Democrats propose adjusting voter registration deadlines, training supervisors on signature matching, and updating old voter machines before 2020. We’ll see if any of the suggestions are implemented, since Republican lawmakers aren’t clamoring for reform. (Tampa Bay Times)

Eyesore no more. The gateway to South Beach is about to get snazzier. The Miami Beach City Commission just approved plans to build a 3-acre park and luxury condo in the empty lots where the old South Shore Hospital was, near the exit of the MacArthur Causeway. The 44-story high rise will be one of the tallest buildings on South Beach. If another luxury condo in a community that’s already congested and full of them doesn’t get you pumped, the park is designed to soak up floodwater. And that’s something we really do need. Plus, who doesn’t love public green space? (Miami Herald)

I-95 in the sky. The roaring din of airplanes may get worse in Miami as the FAA plans to consolidate flight paths in an effort to save passengers time. The FAA’s proposal is called NextGen and it’s already stirring controversy among groups like the Miami International Airport Noise Abatement Advisory Committee, who are concerned about the extra noise pollution. Noise complaints have skyrocketed in communities near airports across the country where the plan is already implemented. Better put some noise cancellation headphones on your Christmas wish list. (Miami Herald)

Well that was fun! Hope your weekend is fantastic. Be sure to reach out and tag @thenewtropic on those grams if you are doing something cool.

– The New Tropic