HAVANA BOURGEOIS, a new play by Carlos Lacamara, opened at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre on May 15. As the daughter of a former ad man who did business in Cuba in the 1950s, this writer was intrigued with the subject that explores the impact of Fidel Castro’s Revolution on the Cuban middle class following the lives of the employees of an advertising agency during the transition from Capitalism to Communism.
The play reveals the transformation of Cuba from a thriving capitalist country into a sweltering Marxist Dictatorship in as little as two years. A poignant play with lots of laughs, HAVANA BOURGEOIS has a great cast including Danny Pino, the lead, and James Puig, the irreverent artist who carried the comedy. This is a production that will move anyone who has been touched by the revolution. For tickets, call 305-444-9293.
University of Miami students, Steven Sloan and Gyros Samale, spoke to gables Rotarians recently about their work with Engineers Without Borders (EMB). Raising their own funds for travel to El Socorro, Honduras and Casablanca, Peru by selling concessions during Dolphin home games and other activities, their efforts have already achieve results by helping provide clean water to 1,180 people in El Soccorro. A second trip is now planned to design a hydraulic system to secure future water distribution. In Peru, the initial trip resulted in fixing water pipes that were installed after the 2007 earthquake and never worked. The team engaged the community in making the needed repairs and they now have a fresh, clean water source for the town.
Speaking of Rotary, Rotary District 6990 Governor Marcy Ullom visited the Rotary Club of Coral Gables recently and presented awards from the District for outstanding work to two Gables Rotarians. Honored with the prestigious “Rotarian of the Year for Vocational Service” was Lan Nghiem- Phu for his undying devotion to anything connected to District Information Technology. The second award was presented to Yolanda Woodbridge, named “Rotarian of the Year for District International Service” for her outstanding work as GSE Team Chair this year.
Both of these Rotarians exemplify Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self.” Close to 300 guests recently attended Kristi House’s 3rd Annual Breaking the Silence Luncheon at Grove Isle. The event raised in excess of $320,000 in gifts and pledges to help children who have been sexually abused in Miami- Dade County. Leon Medical Centers underwrote the event at the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa. Co-hosts, Rachelle de Moya, Glenn Huber (of BNY/Mellon), Barbara Hinterkopf and Judy Zeder, also received support from table captains Lourdes Alvarez, Suzanne Anderson, Brett Barfield, Josephine Burke, Anita Cachaldora, Laura Cava Northrop, Mona Chanouha, Rima Shahin, Raquel Cohen, Alina Fernandez, Maureen Gragg, Liz Hogan, Joy Intriago, Anne Jackaway, Bobbie Jones-Wilfork, Marcia Koo, Richard Langhorne, Lourdes Leon, Edie Murphy, Lourdes Cuevas, Zandra Rucker, Mercedes and Barbara Saewitz, Fernando and Sue Tamayo and Marielena Villamil. For information, go to www.kristihouse.org .
Until next week, keep making each day count.
Keeping up with what’s happening in our community is quite a challenge and I am certain there are many activities I miss. If you would like to submit information for this column, please send your news via e-mail to galburns@aol.com .
