Anna in the Tropics
This article reads like a press release or a news article and may be largely based on routine coverage. (October 2011) |
Anna in the Tropics | |
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Written by | Nilo Cruz |
Characters |
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Date premiered | 12 October 2002 |
Place premiered | New Theatre, Coral Gables, Florida |
Original language | English |
Setting | 1929, Ybor City, Tampa, Florida |
Anna in the Tropics is a play by Nilo Cruz. It won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Plot
The play is set in
In the play, the lector reads Anna Karenina, sparking the characters' lives and relationships to spin out of control.
Characters
- Santiago, owner of a cigar factory, late 50s
- Cheché, his half-brother, half-Cuban, half-American, early 40s
- Ofelia, Santiago's wife, 50s
- Marela, Ofelia and Santiago's daughter, 22
- Conchita, Marela's sister, 32
- Palomo, Conchita's husband, 41
- Juan Julián, the lector, 38
- Elíades, local gamester, runs cockfights, 40s
Productions
Anna in the Tropics was commissioned and originally produced by New Theatre, Miami, Florida, Rafael del Acha, Artistic Director, Eileen Suarez, Managing Director, in 2002 with support from the NEA/TCG Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights.
The South Coast Repertory presented the play on its Julianne Argyros Stage. It ran from 28 September to 19 October 2003. Directed by Juliette Carrillo, the cast included Jonathan Nichols (Eliades/Palomo), Tony Plana (Santiago), Geoffrey Rivas (Cheché), Onahoua Rodriguez (Marela), Adriana Sevan (Conchita), Karmín Murcelo (Ofelia) and Julian Acosta (Juan Julian).
The play started performances on Broadway at the
The first U.S. national tour starting in September 2004 and ending in February 2005 was a co-production between Dallas Theater Center, Arizona Theatre Company, and Pasadena Playhouse. Directed by Richard Hamburger, the cast included Al Espinosa (Juan Julián), Jacqueline Duprey (Conchita), Timothy Paul Perez (Eliades/Palomo), Apollo Dukakis (Santiago), Javi Mulero (Cheché), Adriana Gaviria (Marela), and Karmín Murcelo (Ofelia).[2]
L.A. Theatre Works presented Anna in the Tropics as part of its 2004–2005 season. Directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela, the cast included Jimmy Smits, Onahoua Rodriguez, Adriana Sevan, Jonathan Nichols, Winston Rocha, and Herbert Siguenza.[3]
On September 16, 2005, and translated as Ana en el trópico, the Spanish version opened in Madrid at the Teatro Alcázar and was directed by Nilo Cruz himself. The cast included: Luis Fernando Alvés (Palomo/Elíades), Joan Crosas (Santiago), José Pedro Carrión (Cheché), Toni Acosta (Marela), Lolita Flores (Chonchita), Teresa María Rojas (Ofelia), Pablo Duran (Juan Julián), Itziar Arza, Alfonso Ramos and Marian Sanz de Acedo (cigarreras/os).[4]
The play was presented in the UK at the Hampstead Theatre in London. Directed by Indra Rubasingham, it ran from 30 November 2005 to 15 January 2006. The cast included Diana Quick, Rachael Stirling and Joseph Mydell.[5]
Due to the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, Repertory Philippines' production of "Anna in the Tropics" closed on March 13, 2020, after two previews. The production was designed and directed by Joey Mendoza.[6]
Recognition
Anna in the Tropics was widely regarded as a "long shot" for the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, mainly because it had not been seen in New York City.[citation needed] The play premiered at the New Theatre in Coral Gables, Florida, and had to compete with Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? and Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out for the coveted award.
Cruz, a Cuban-born playwright living in New York, remarked,
It's wonderful. I cannot believe it. The other day I went to the bookstore and I saw a book by William Kennedy. He won the Pulitzer for Ironweed, which I adore. I was standing there looking at his books and thinking how amazing it was that this writer won a Pulitzer, and now I've been given one, too. I think I'm still in shock. I haven't completely acknowledged the grandness of the award.[citation needed]
His past works, such as Two Sisters and a Piano, have earned him a reputation for writing lyrical, atmospheric plays with powerful emotions and language.[citation needed]
Anna in the Tropics was honored with two nominations at the 2004
Film adaptation
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Academy Award nominee, Lee Daniels (Precious) has signed on to develop a film based on the play—which is being produced by Mankind Entertainment.[when?]
References
- ^ "Anna in the Tropics – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB". Archived from the original on 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- ^ "Smokin'". dallasobserver.com. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "PRX". beta.prx.org. Retrieved Sep 24, 2019.
- ^ Ana en el tropico gruposmedia.com
- ^ Billington, Michael (Dec 1, 2004). "Anna in the Tropics, Hampstead, London". The Guardian. Retrieved Sep 24, 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "Repertory Philippines' Anna in the Tropics Canceled; Carousel Postponed".
External links
- Anna in the Tropics at the Internet Broadway Database (2003 production)
- Anna in the Tropics at the Internet Broadway Database
- Anna in the Tropics[permanent dead link] at South Coast Repertory
- Anna in the Tropics[permanent dead link] at L.A. Theatre Works which offered an audio broadcast version in September 2007 as part of its Play's the Thing series
- Long Beach Shakespeare Company produced Anna in the Tropics, Directed by Denis McCourt April/May 2011
- McCarter Theatre Education Department. "Anna in the Tropics Study Guide". Retrieved June 8, 2011.