A state-of-the-art venue for world-class entertainment. The Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, formerly the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, is a performing arts center located in Cutler Bay. The Moss Center ushered in a new era for Cutler Bay and South Miami-Dade when it opened in October 2011. The state-of-the-art venue designed by award-winning architectural firm Arquitectonica is home to a 961-seat main stage theater, a black box theater, lab theater and backyard concert lawn, as well as classrooms and a dance rehearsal studio. Dedicated to multi-disciplinary cultural arts, the center stages everything from opera to film, musicals, bands, dance and stand-up comedy, while also acting as a community gathering place with education and outreach at the core of its mission.

Programming & Performances

The Moss Center can’t be beat for an evening of fun-filled entertainment and cultural enrichment. A calendar of diverse performances every season means there’s something for everyone. Partnering with a number of top-tier arts organizations, the center presents productions ranging from the Miami Lyric Opera to the Miami Youth Ballet, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami and Sin Salida.

The center also creates its own impressive productions such as the Indie Flicks Series, modern and world dance, as well as musical performances like the Igor Butman Quintet, Ranky Tanky and “The Music of Meat Loaf.” It also showcases a wide range of talent like Shane Kocyzan, Jason Bishop and “the Naked Magicians” duo of Mike Tyler and Christopher Wayne.

A major priority at the Moss Center is making theater and the performing arts accessible to everyone in the community, so it offers many generous programs including Culture Shock Miami, which provides $5 tickets to select shows for patrons ages 13 to 22. Other discounts are available for senior citizens, students and active military personnel. There are also dance, cabaret and subscription packages offering discounts to patrons who wish to see multiple shows throughout the season.

Education & Community

In addition to the Moss Center’s beautiful main stage, there’s a collection of smaller venues onsite. These spaces are available for rent in order to encourage community participation in the arts. There are also plenty of opportunities for volunteers to get involved. Orientations for ushers take place every month.

The Black Box Theater and Lab Theater are both multipurpose spaces that can be arranged to stage intimate performances, rehearsals and auditions. Each has a capacity of 129 people. The Dance Rehearsal Studio boasts high ceilings with sprung wood floors and mirrors with a sound and video system. The center’s 12-week ballet, jazz, and hip-hop classes for children take place here. The space can also be used for yoga and exercise classes.

Additionally, a classroom with gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows provides space for workshops, master classes, meetings or luncheons. Set against the picturesque Black Creek Canal, the center boasts an impressive backyard concert lawn and plaza for festive outdoor performances and events for up to 700 people.

Whether it’s a night at the opera or the jaunty notes of a brass band under the stars, the Moss Center is a world-class venue and a cornerstone of the South Miami-Dade arts community.

By: Shayne Benowitz