A Battle Over Language That Reshaped A City - A Gripping Portrait Of Miami At A Cultural And Political Breaking Point

Set in 1980 Miami, English Only unfolds in the turbulent aftermath of the Mariel Boatlift, when more than 125,000 Cuban refugees arrived on South Florida’s shores, reshaping the region overnight and igniting a fierce political battle over identity, language, and belonging. As tensions mounted, a grassroots movement emerged to make English the county’s sole official language, sparking a heated showdown with activists fighting to preserve Miami-Dade’s bilingual future. The newly formed grassroots group, Citizens of Dade United, led by Emmy Shafer, launched a campaign designed to end the county’s official bilingual policies and remove Spanish from government documents, communications, and civic life. Standing in opposition was Young Attorney Manny Diaz of the Spanish American League Against Discrimination, who recognized that this was not just a symbolic gesture but a direct attempt to reshape political power, civil rights, and the identity of a city transformed by immigration and fear.

English Only is the first theatrical work to dramatize a ballot initiative to remove Spanish as the official language, offering a gripping, human portrait of a city at a crossroads. As Miami reemerges at the forefront of national conversations, the moment feels especially meaningful. “This is a story about power, fear, and the fight to be heard,” says Nicholas Griffin, journalist, author, and playwright whose work, including Dangerous Days, has long explored the forces that shape Miami. When Miami New Drama’s Artistic Director, Michel Hausmann, came to Griffin, he was immediately attracted to the idea. “The debates at the heart of English Only are not relics of the past. They are the very conversations shaping Miami today,” says Michel Hausmann. “The chance to illuminate a defining moment in Miami’s history, with all its tension and humanity, was impossible to pass up.”

This production continues the Miami History series that Miami New Drama has undertaken in recent years, which brings pivotal moments from our community to the stage, including Elian, Dangerous Days, and Confessions of a Cocaine Cowboy.

The remarkable cast bringing English Only to life on the Colony Theatre stage is led by Andhy Mendez as Manny Diaz; the ensemble also features Rene Granado, Stan Rogers, Carmen Pelaez, Lucy Alvarez, Linda Mugleston, Barbara Simmons, Laura Faye Smith, and Emmy Shafer, along with an outstanding supporting company. Together, this group of actors delivers depth and emotional clarity to Nicholas Griffin’s world premiere, creating performances that feel both intimate and urgently of the moment.

Behind the scenes, a powerhouse creative team guides every detail of the production. English Only is directed by Margot Bordelon with Karina Batchelor-Gomez serving as Assistant Director, and written by playwright Nicholas Griffin, with Dramaturgy by Jocelyn Clarke. The visual and technical world is shaped by Lighting Designer Solomon Weisbard alongside Nathalie Sore and Shane Cassidy, Sound Designer and Composer Salomon Lerner, Costume Designer Beth Goldenberg, Wig designer Carol Raskin, Projections Engineer and Mapper Steve Covey, Props Designer and Supervisor Tyler Correa, and Scenic Designers Justin and Christopher Swader. Casting is by Kelly Gillespie, with Production Stage Management by Amy Rauchwerger and Gunilla Alvarez Munoz, and Overall Production Management by Sajari Hume.

This collaborative team comes together to create a bold, thoughtful, and resonant theatrical experience worthy of its world premiere, thereby marking a significant addition to The Colony Theatre’s commitment to presenting new works that illuminate the cultural forces shaping South Florida and the country at large.

When:

Dates: Thursday, January 29th, 2026 — Sunday, February 22nd, 2026

Where:

The Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, Florida 33139

Show Date & Times:

Thursday - Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets:

$40-$90 Tickets will be available through The Colony Theatre box office and website: https://miaminewdrama.org/

About Miami New Drama

Founded by visionary playwright and Director Michel Hausmann, Miami New Drama is the largest bilingual professional theater company in the United States, dedicated to producing socially relevant, artistically ambitious new work. Since 2016, MiND has been the resident company at Miami Beach’s historic Colony Theatre, premiering more than 20 groundbreaking plays and musicals. Notable world premieres include 7 Deadly Sins (Drama League Award), A Wonderful World (Tony Award–nominated, Broadway), The Cuban Vote, Lincoln Road Hustle, Birthright, The Museum Plays, Elian, and the first-ever multilingual adaptation of Our Town. The company has received national recognition with honors including the Thornton Wilder Prize, multiple Knight Arts Challenge Awards, and the Silver Palm Award.

For tickets and additional information, visit: https://miaminewdrama.org.