Anna in the Tropics

20 Years After its Original Debut Pulitzer Prize-Winning Anna in the Tropics Comes Back to Miami

In this Cuban American cigar factory poetic storytelling is rolled up into one moving sexy and heartbreaking drama directed by Nilo Cruz

MIAMI BEACH Fl. December 2022 -- Miami New Drama is preparing to roll out the red carpet on the 20th Anniversary production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Anna in the Tropics. Written by Miami playwright Nilo Cruz it was commissioned by the New Theatre in Coral Gables back in 2002. Since then it has made the rounds including London L.A. and Broadway and has featured award-winning actors such as Jimmy Smits Tony Plana and Lolita Flores to name a few. After 20 years Miami will not only get to see it at The Colony Theatre but this time they’ll get to experience it with Nilo Cruz as its director for a three-week run between January 12 through February 5 2023.

The audience will be transported back to 1929 to a Cuban American cigar factory where Cuban migrants labored away hand rolling each cigar as a hired “lector” who was traditionally well-dressed and eloquent would read to them as a form of entertainment. When a new lector enters the scene and begins to read aloud Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina he unwittingly becomes a catalyst in the lives of his avid listeners and suddenly the lives of the workers begin to parallel the novel. Old traditions and new ways collide while longing love and betrayal spark a volatile flame that signals the end of an era.

“Nilo and his achievements bring a huge sense of pride to our community and we are honored to continue collaborating with him and call him a dear friend. Anna in the Tropics is a beautiful balance of a strong story with poetic storytelling that is moving sexy heartbreaking and spectacular” said Michel Hausmann Artistic Director at Miami New Drama.

The cast for this 20th Anniversary production includes Daniel Capote as Cheche (Miami New Drama’s The Cuban Vote and ELIÁN Zoetic Stage’s Frankenstein and The Caretaker) Brandon Espinoza as Palomo (Broadway: Spongebob Squarepants. Off-Broadway: Substitution (Playwrights Realm) Scarcity (Atlantic Theater Company). Regional: View from The Bridge (Ivo van Hove; Goodman Theater) Way of the World (Dir/Playwright: Theresa Rebeck; Folger Shakespeare Theater). TV: Detective Garcia on “Raising Kanan” - STARZ) Serafin Falcon as Santiago (Film/TV: The Sopranos Burn Notice Graceland Transporter 2 NCIS: LA The Chosen. On stage: Anna in the Tropics (Colony Theatre/Bay Street Theatre/Sierra Madre Playhouse August G for Casa 0101) Andrea Ferro as Marela (Colony Theatre Debut) Hannia Guillen as Conchita (TV credits: Burn Notice Passions and The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. Theatre credits: The Color of Desire A Bicycle Country Bathing in Moonlight Sotto Voce Hotel Desiderium and Kisses Through The Glass all written by Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright Nilo Cruz) Gabriell Salgado as the lector Juan Julian (Zoetic Stage’s Frankenstein as ‘The Creature’ Palm Beach Dramaworks’ 4000 Miles and The Foundry’s Red Speedo) and Saundra Santiago as Ofelia (Film/TV: Damages Hightown The Sopranos Law & Order Madame Secretary The House that Jack Built 25th Hour. Stage: Chronicle of a Death Foretold the Lincoln Center Hello Again Bernarda and Evita).

The creative team includes Director/Screenwriter Nilo Cruz Scenic Designer Arnulfo Maldonado (Broadway: A Strange Loop (Tony Nominee); Topdog/Underdog; Trouble In Mind) Costume Designer Christopher Vergara (Broadway Associate credits: Free Man of Color The Visit People in the Picture Eclipsed The Color Purple and Once on this Island and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’s most recent domestic and international tours) Lighting Designer Yuki Nakase Link Sound Designer and Composer Salomon Lerner Wig Design by Carol Raskin Choreographer Samantha Pazos and Stage Manager Lalis Solórzano Martínez. 

Anna in the Tropics runs from January 12 2023 through February 5 at the Colony Theatre (1040 Lincoln Road Miami Beach FL 33139) with an opening night scheduled for October 29th. Performances are scheduled Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets ($40 - $70) are on sale at miaminewdrama.org or by calling Miami New Drama’s Box Office at (305) 674 -1040 or email at [email protected]. 

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