New Village Arts in Carlsbad is currently presenting Sandra Delgado’s world premiere docudrama/musical “La Havana Madrid” based on true stories from immigrants back in the late 50’s early 60’s who came to this country to make a new life for themselves and families.
They came from Columbia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and for the most part landed in Chicago. If you are from Chicago (which I am not) you will recognize all the places mentioned in the stories told by the new immigrants just settling there. It is also about the stories and the music that puts this experience among one of the best and most relevant productions to be seen in the county given the political climate today.
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| Michelle Caravia |
Directed with his usual flair by Richard Trujillo, with original music by Cristian Amigo and original lyrics by Sandra Delgado. It is set on the wide stage of NVA as designed by Christopher Scott Murillo and Scott Murillo like a nightclub (aka La Havana Madrid) with scenes showing various projections of the different time periods by Michael Wogulis and with elaborate period costumes by Jess Moreno Caycho.
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| The Cast |
The six very talented casts members (Lena Ceja, Fredy Gomez Cruz, Jawann McBeth, Alyssa Rodriguez, Leonardo Romero, Adrianna Cuba Cuentas and Paul Surel) plus two swings manage every Latin American dance number and lyric with precision and panache. Behind a curtain is a live band under musical director Carlos Ordiano on Bass others include: Joe Aportela, Percussions, MG Green, Guitar, Gabriella Hendricks, Horns and Carson Inouye, Keyboards. *
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| Lena Ceja |
Standing in as the Emcee or the character La Havana Madrid is the exceptionally talented Michelle Caravia. Caravia sets the stage for the series of stories that follow beginning with the thousands of youngsters sent to America and landed in Chicago as told my Maria (Alyssa Rodriguez). They were sent away to escape from the Castro takeover. Most were placed in foster homes, others sent to orphanages all over the city, or on their own to fend for themselves.
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| Jawann McBeth |
There are stories of gangs and riots in certain parts of Chicago and just like today, the police shoot randomly without regard of who or what gets killed as in one story a teenager was killed in the city because of the color of his skin, or a young Puerto Rican woman was attacked by gang members on the subway. One couple said their vows in two separate churches in two separate countries; one in the States and one in Columbia.
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| Lena Ceja |
The stories and the music go on for two + hours with one intermission. There are so many more stories and in much more detail than I could cover here that it would be well worth your while to see it for yourselves.
One of the things I found entertaining was when the actors broke the fourth wall and chatted with the audience. It gave the production a feeling of community.
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| Alyssa Rodriguez |
Aside from being an integral part of the Latino experience, the good , the bad, the ugly, I couldn’t stop thinking about the border raids, the busses filled with immigrants, both legal and illegal, going off to places unknown, the random shootings, and the hate! And this is 2025 not 1959.
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| Alyssa Rodriguez, Fredy Gomez Cruz, Lena Ceja |
See for yourselves.
See you at the theatre.
*Artistic Director and founder of NVA Kristiannne Kurner announced that after nine or so years of not having live music, NVA went all out and for “La Havana Madrid” the live band makes all the difference.
When: Opens March 29 and runs through April 27. 2 p.m. Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays
Where: New Village Arts, 2787 State St., Carlsbad
Tickets: $40 and up
Photo: Tanya Perez Photography
Phone: 760-433-3245
Online: newvillagearts.org
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