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ANNA IN THE TROPICS

A play by Nilo Cruz

A poignant and poetic drama, Anna in the Tropics is set in 1929 in Ybor City, Florida, in a small Cuban American cigar factory where cigars are still rolled by hand and "lectors" are employed to educate and entertain the workers. When a handsome new lector reads aloud from Anna Karenina, he unwittingly becomes a catalyst in the lives of his avid listeners, for whom Tolstoy, the tropics, and the American dream prove a volatile combination.

February 8-10, 2017 Reprise for National School of Drama (Bharat Rang Mahotsav Theatre Festival), New Delhi and Pune, India: The celebrated One World Theatre production of Anna in the Tropics March 2016 performed at the prestigious 19th Bharat Rang Mahotsav Theatre Festival.

NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR 

It was happy news to many of us Americans when relations between Cuba and the USA began to normalize. Art (and baseball) had a part in that détente, after the 1999 documentary film The Buena Vista Social Club by Wim Wenders introduced this marvelous musical group from the island, and the play Anna in the Tropics by Cuban American Nilo Cruz won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in 2003. Now we are happy to introduce Cuban American drama and music to many in Kathmandu, interpreted through the wonderful talents of our Nepali artists and their understanding of the cost of migration and modernizations, the charms of family and tradition, and the power of love and art. 

SPECIAL THANKS

Institute for Advanced Communication, Education and Research for free rehearsal space.
Raju Shah, Group General Manager, Shangri-La Hotel and Resort for Guest Artist support.
Jeebesh Rayamajhi, Managing Director of Theatre Village, for press and audience outreach.
Sajan R. Bhandary, Advocate, Kathmandu Legals, for Pro Bono advising. 
Charles Greene, Director Marin Community Foundation, for crucial financial support.
David Kleiman, who faithfully stands behind each One World Theatre production. 

CHARACTERS                                                                                Actors                    

  • SANTIAGO, owner of a cigar factory, late 50’s                                     Sajag Rana
  • CHECHÉ, his half-brother, half-Cuban, half-American, early 40’s        Hemanta Chalise
  • OFELIA, Santiago’s wife                                                                        Loonibha Tuladhar
  • MARELA, Ofelia and Santiago’s daughter, 22                                      Rojita Buddhacharya 
  • CONCHITA, her sister, 32                                                                      Kavita Srinivasan
  • POLOMO, her husband 41                                                                   Rajkumar Pudasaini
  • JUAN JULIAN, the lector, 38                                                                 Divya Dev
  • ELIADES, local gamester, runs cockfights, 40’s                                    Sangam Panta
  • ROOSTER, FACTORY WORKER, DANCER                                              Kripa Bajracharya
  • ROOSTER, FACTORY WORKER, DANCER                                              Saroj Guragain
  • MALE ENSEMBLE: COCK FIGHT, FACTORY, PARTY                               I. P Acharya, Raj Poudel, Nishan Adhikari

PRODUCTION GROUP

  • DIRECTOR                                                                                   Deborah Merola
  • PRODUCTION MANAGER                                   `                       Divya Dev                  
  • LIGHTING DESIGNER                                                                  Rajkumar Pudasaini             
  • COSTUME DESIGNER                                                                  Kalsang Lama
  • STAGE MANAGER /SOUND OP                                                   Ashutosh Sharma
  • PROPS DESIGNER                                                                        Mary Lama   
  • PROPS DESIGNER/PROPS/MASK MAKER                                    Binita Buddhacharya
  • PROPS MAKER                                                                             Sharmila Shrestha                
  • PROPERTY MISTRESS                                                                   Jyotsna Simha Thakuri
  • CHOREOGRAPHY                                                                          Kripa Bajracharya 
  • MUSIC COMPOSER                                                                       Sangam Panta
  • LIGHTING OP                                                                                 Shrawan Rana
  • BOX OFFICE                                                                                   Meera Gurung
  • ACCOUNTS MANAGER                                                                  Hemanta Chalise