RENT opens in Cuba for Christmas
The first Broadway musical to play in Cuba in 50 years opened for the Christmas holiday; the debut of RENT for a Cuban audience is a sign that,–at least at an artistic level–relations between the US and the island are improving. SEE ALSO: Will the next Congress lift the Cuban embargo? Fifteen Cuban actors took to a stage in Havana, singing songs such as One Song Glory and Seasons of Love, all familiar numbers from the critically acclaimed show. The performance of these songs at the Bertolt Brecht Theater in Havana is particularly significant in the wake of President Barack Obamas announcement that relations with Cuba are being reestablished. This is because the Cuban revolution banned Broadway musicals decades ago. RENT opens in Cuba The shows producer, Robert Nederlander Jr, told the The Telegraph, that at 50 cents a seat, putting on the show was more about bringing a piece of Broadway to Cuba and less about the money. It debuted on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. As with the reestablishing diplomatic relations between both countries, putting the show on stage was a drawn out process. “Getting permission to bring the show here was extremely challenging. It took us well over a year to negotiate,” Nederlander Jr. told The Telegraph. Cuba before and after the revolution has never suffered from a lack of artists in all mediums, but after the Communist revolution, the arts suffered on different levels. Between censorship of art that the government deems threatening to the Castro dictatorship, lack of money and resources, artists have often felt neglected. In the case of the famous Cuban National Ballet, the acclaimed troupe is often forced to perform the same classic productions year after year, because they cant pay for the rights to perform newer productions. Many have defected for better opportunities in the US or abroad. SEE ALSO: Renewed US-Cuba relations could bring old cars back to life But in the case of Broadway shows, Cubas government showed resistance and hadn’t allowed shows of this type to be produced on the island. When asked why “RENT” was a good fit for a Cuban audience, Nederland told “NPR”: “It’s a universal story which transcends particular nationalities – a story of love, friendship, struggling and succeeding over adversity.” The show is expected to run for at least one more month in Havana.The post RENT opens in Cuba for Christmas appeared first on Voxxi.
The first Broadway musical to play in Cuba in 50 years opened for the Christmas holiday; the debut of RENT for a Cuban audience is a sign that,–at least at an artistic level–relations between the US and the island are improving.
SEE ALSO: Will the next Congress lift the Cuban embargo?
Fifteen Cuban actors took to a stage in Havana, singing songs such as One Song Glory and Seasons of Love, all familiar numbers from the critically acclaimed show. The performance of these songs at the Bertolt Brecht Theater in Havana is particularly significant in the wake of President Barack Obamas announcement that relations with Cuba are being reestablished. This is because the Cuban revolution banned Broadway musicals decades ago.
RENT opens in Cuba
The shows producer, Robert Nederlander Jr, told the The Telegraph, that at 50 cents a seat, putting on the show was more about bringing a piece of Broadway to Cuba and less about the money. It debuted on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve.
As with the reestablishing diplomatic relations between both countries, putting the show on stage was a drawn out process.
“Getting permission to bring the show here was extremely challenging. It took us well over a year to negotiate,” Nederlander Jr. told The Telegraph.
Cuba before and after the revolution has never suffered from a lack of artists in all mediums, but after the Communist revolution, the arts suffered on different levels. Between censorship of art that the government deems threatening to the Castro dictatorship, lack of money and resources, artists have often felt neglected.
In the case of the famous Cuban National Ballet, the acclaimed troupe is often forced to perform the same classic productions year after year, because they cant pay for the rights to perform newer productions. Many have defected for better opportunities in the US or abroad.
SEE ALSO: Renewed US-Cuba relations could bring old cars back to life
But in the case of Broadway shows, Cubas government showed resistance and hadn’t allowed shows of this type to be produced on the island.
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When asked why “RENT” was a good fit for a Cuban audience, Nederland told “NPR”: “It’s a universal story which transcends particular nationalities – a story of love, friendship, struggling and succeeding over adversity.”
The show is expected to run for at least one more month in Havana.
The post RENT opens in Cuba for Christmas appeared first on Voxxi.
