Photo: Henry Perez
Text: Mary Damiano

Okay, so Yoko Ono, the most famous—perhaps the only—Yoko in the world, is not in this photo. And the me the title Yoko and Me refers to is Bonnie Clearwater, the curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art, who is also not in this photo. So, why the title? This is actress Tara Vodihn, who portrayed Clearwater in her short play, Yoko and Me, one of three plays presented at the 3rd annual Miami Stories, the fundraiser for New Theatre. Local personalities, in this case Clearwater, Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick and Dr. Sanford and Delores Ziff, wrote plays about their Miami experience. Slesnick’s play, On Roddey Burdines' Steps was about the iconic Orange Bowl, while the Ziff’s Blind Faith showed the connection made be two men from different backgrounds at a Miami coffee shop. Presented in the theatre of the Miami Science Museum, the actors were off-book and the design elements were sparse but intriguing. Under the direction of New Theatre’s artistic director Ricky J. Martinez, these three plays were the most professionally produced in the event’s three years. In addition to the plays, the event featured a silent auction of luxury trips and artwork, a fabulous cocktail hour with delicious hors d’ouevres and a sumptuous dinner. Good theatre, good food, good friends. Yoko would have loved it.