The Miami world premiere of Havana Music Hall, a new musical by playwright Carmen Pelaez (Rum & Coke) and composer-lyricist Richard Kagan, begins its run at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, Florida, October 10.
Set in 1958 Cuba, Havana Music Hall 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 at the dawn of the Cuban Revolution.
Maria Torres, the associate choreographer of Broadway’s On Your Feet!, directs and choreographs the limited engagement that officially opens October 19 for a run through November 18.
Leading the company is Tony Award nominee John Herrera (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), who created the role of Kevin in the Off-Broadway premiere of In the Heights, as Older Rolando. On Your Feet! Broadway cast member Linedy Genao, who understudied the role of Gloria Estefan, joins him as Young Ramona.
WORLD-PREMIERE MUSICAL HAVANA MUSIC HALL WILL PLAY MIAMI THIS FALL
The cast also features Alexander Pimentel as Young Rolando, Isbelia Duran as Older Ramona, Rodrigo De la Rosa as Older Julio, Phillip Andrew Santiago as Young Julio, Bruno Faria as Alberto, Elaine Flores as Maria, Anissa Gathers as Mercedes, Jorge Barranco, Angely Carucci, Sarita Colon, Michael Focas, Hector Fortun, Christopher Hernandez, Lauren Horgan, Macia McGeorge, Jane Papageorge, and Robbie Smith.
The creative team includes music supervisor and orchestrator Larry Blank, music director Brian Murphy, dance music arranger and dance orchestrator Oscar Hernández, lyric translator and Cuban music historian Jose “Perico” Hernandez, Cuban musicologist Luis Serrano, and dramaturg Carmen Rivera, with set design by Paul Tate dePoo III, lighting design by Cory Patta, costume design by Ann Closs-Farley, sound design by Lucas “Rico” Corrubia, projection design by Eye Q Productions, and additional casting by Binder Casting. The acting consultant is Seán Griffin.
Havana Music Hall received a West Coast workshop last year.
Tickets range from $30 to $75 and can be purchased at actorsplayhouse.org.
