By Megan Fitzgerald Dunn

Meera Paul Hammad, the new general manager of the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, has long considered The Center home. In her youth, she first trained there as a dancer and later choreographed the summer camp programs. She even met her husband working at The Center.  After a six-year stint in Los Angeles as a talent agent, Hammad returned to Coral Springs to raise her family and returned to The Center to serve as marketing director. In addition to her husband and two young sons, Hammad also see her coworkers as family.

“I really truly love theater. I love the shows here and I love working with our staff,” she said. “We’ve all been working together for years. Some have been working here for 20 years. Some have been working here for 15, but we’ve all kind of grown here. We’re a family.”

Hammad has worked tirelessly with her team for months to facilitate the transition of The Center’s operations to the City of Coral Springs. She credits the smooth transition to her staff.

“We’ve all known each other for such a long time,” said Hammad. “We are very much in this transition together. Everyone is so supportive of one another because we all want to see each other do well.”

With the transition officially behind them and the staff now city employees, the team is focused on the future.

“Right now, our short-term goal is that we just want everything to transition as smoothly as possible. So, we’re keeping everything the same for now. We are going to do a minor face lift and then, in the next year or so, we are hoping to fully renovate the building, starting with the theater,” said Hammad.

Hammad is confident that The Center will continue to be a valuable resource for the Coral Springs community with quality programming.

“We have a fantastic after school and summer program called Next Stop Broadway. It’s probably the best training facility if you’re interested in the arts and in performing,” she said. “It’s so wonderful that I put my boys in it and now they are obsessed. They love it and it really gives them confidence. The arts in general really does that for children and gives them a different perspective—helps them become a little more well-rounded.”

Hammad notes that Coral Springs is a family-oriented town filled with young families and, and that while some of The Center’s programming reflects that, they also provide programming across ages. The operations of The Center may have moved under the City’s umbrella, but Hammad said that they will continue to work with the professional management company to bring good, high caliber, quality shows to The Center.

Hammad, who has a deep love of the arts, recognizes the importance of community access to the performing arts at places like The Center.

“It helps shape your mind and helps with growth in so many ways,” she said. “It offers a sense of unity and community for families. The Center offers a place where children and families can come and enjoy the arts.”