Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre will present the world premiere of the new musical, Havana Music Hall. This exciting new show centers around the lives of Havana Music Hall’s best-known musicians who are just about to get their big break before Fidel Castro seizes power. Havana Music Hall will debut at Actors’ Playhouse, Oct. 10- Nov. 18.
Set in 1958 Cuba, the highly anticipated new musical, with book by Carmen Pelaez, tells the story of husband and wife musical team Rolando and Ramona Calderon who are on the verge of breaking through to the world’s stage when the Cuban Revolution tears apart the only life they have ever known. Almost 60 years later, we find the couple trying to forget the past in the now devastated Havana Music Hall, but others won’t let them.
Directed by On Your Feet! co-choreographer Maria Torres, with a story and original score by Richard Kagan, the new musical captures the pain and joy of the immigrant experience like nothing before and will also have audiences dancing in the aisles.
Featuring new songs such as Escape to Havana, Place of My Birth, Todo Es Bueno en Cuba and I Have My Voice, this fast-paced new musical brings audiences inside the famed Havana Music Hall as hearts break and spirits soar against all odds.
“I was always interested in Cuban music and culture when I was younger after studying Spanish in college and visiting Puerto Rico,” said Richard Kagan, creator of Havana Music Hall. “When I first visited Cuba, I was moved by these amazing musicians and hearing stories of what happened to them during the Cuban Revolution. Their stories stuck with me and inspired me to write this musical for all immigrants.”
Actors’ Playhouse executive producing director Barbara Stein and artistic director and Havana Music Hall creative consultant David Arisco are delighted to bring this exciting world premiere that captures the power of life, the joy of music and the humanity of friends and family to Miami audiences.
The creative team for Havana Music Hall includes lyric translation by Cuban Musicologist Jose “Perico” Hernandez, music supervisor Larry Blank, music director Manny Schvartzman, dramaturg Carmen Rivera, set design by Paul Tate dePoo III, costume design by Ann Closs-Farley and additional casting by Binder Casting and acting consultant Seán Griffin.
Tickets are on sale to the general public, with prices ranging from $30 to $75. Tickets can be purchased by calling 305-444-9293, visiting https://bit.ly/2Kbt2Zz, or at the Actors’ Playhouse Box Office, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Group discounted rates are offered for 15 patrons or more through the group sales department at 305-444-9293, ext. 610, or on www.actorsplayhouse.org.
Preview performances will be Oct. 10-18. The show will open on Friday, Oct. 19, at 8 p.m. and the final performance takes place Nov. 18. Evening performances will be Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with afternoon matinees on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. A special weekday matinee is scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. Actors’ Playhouse artistic director David Arisco will lead a group discussion with the cast following the performance on Oct. 26 as part of the company’s “Second Fridays” series.
For more information and the latest updates, visit www.havanamusichall.com.
