John was hired to oversee and direct the restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Miracle Theater, a beautiful Deco Moderne movie house. built in the nineteen-forties in Coral Gables, Florida, and a superb example of the style. The theater had undergone a series of interior modifications, bastardizing and ignoring its original glorious Deco Moderne characteristics, including rare and exquisite examples of hand-scrolled pilasters, extensive brilliantly etched mirrors in the Front Lobby and beautiful customized millwork throughout. Due to the Actor’s Playhouse Group being a non-profit organization, most of the consultants, contractors, and materials were either donated or contributed at a fraction of their normal worth. This created a unique challenge for John, with none of the normal financial incentives to maintain the pace of the Work. There was a grand reopening ceremony scheduled for an inflexible date, which would include Florida’s Governor, the Coral Gables Mayor, its Commissioners, and a host of other highly visible dignitaries. The Playhouse Group only engaged John after unsuccessfully attempting the renovation themselves, but not even completing the initial phase of demolition in the first 5½ months of a 7-month schedule ending with the grand reopening.

John received much acclaim for completing the balance of the renovation in the only remaining 7 weeks before the celebration. This included extensive redesigns, construction of a Stage Proscenium, Orchestra pit, all new seating, restoration of decorative features, restoration of Lobby meticulous original terrazzo floors, mirrors and millwork, outside marquee, carpeting, Public Restrooms, Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC systems.