Recalling Herman Wouk and ‘Carnival’ at the Playhouse

Reading of the remarkable author Herman Wouk’s passing at 103 took me back to the most financially successful production I oversaw in my 21 years leading the Coconut Grove Playhouse.

“Don’t Stop The Carnival” was a novel by Wouk that he adapted into a libretto for a musical with a score by the wildly popular Jimmy Buffett, who brought us the project. Buffett had a dream, having walked by the Playhouse many times as a young performer, of one day performing there.

The fact that he pursued and accomplished writing a musical with Wouk made the Playhouse, with its rich history, the perfect place for its premiere. What followed was an amazing journey leading to a theatrical event that sold out every performance during its run.

Getting to know Wouk was a gift that I will cherish forever. He was kind, caring, thoughtful and open to input during a collaborative process unlike anything he’d experienced. His admiration for Buffett, the design team, creative directors and acting company was ongoing during rehearsals and the run. So was his respect for Playhouse staff.

He had the unique gift of making those who met him feel at ease in his presence. We tried to maintain his deserved title of “Mr. Wouk,” but he preferred Herman.

He was a devout Jew, which meant not riding during the Sabbath. Our opening night was a Friday, so in his honor, we held the curtain until he walked in from the Grove’s Chabad Temple. What a thrill for me to be told, “Herman was in the house” with his wife. As they headed to their seats, they received a standing ovation.

– Arnold Mittelman, president, National Jewish Theater Foundation, founding director, NJTF Holocaust Theater International Initiative at University of Miami Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies, Coral Gables REMEMBERING SANDY

As an investigative reporter for the Miami Herald and WPLG-TV in Miami, it was often said my stories weren’t edited; they were litigated. And the litigator for most of those years was Sandy D’Alemberte.

I was a reporter for 30 years, mostly in Miami. I found great editors were extremely rare. Sandy was not only a great lawyer, he was a great editor. In all my stories he reviewed, he never kept any of them from being published or broadcast.

“This will get us sued. And we’ll lose,” he’d tell me. “But if you’ll just change this phrase, I can defend the story and win.”

His influence in government and politics was immense.

He and Janet Reno had an almost brother-sister relationship.

I’m sure Sandy suggested Reno’s appointment as U.S. attorney general to President Bill Clinton.

Sandy led the campaign to put news cameras in Florida courtrooms.

For many years, every nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court was asked during his or her committee appearance whether Supreme Court oral arguments should be broadcast. That question had been prompted by Sandy.

Sandy knew absolutely everybody. Nobody in my memory was as wellknown, respected and loved.

And now mourned.

– Clarence Jones, Bradenton