Theater News

John Herrera and Linedy Genao to Star in World Premiere of Havana Music Hall

The new musical by Richard Kagan and Carmen Pelaez will be directed and choreographed by Maria Torres.

John Herrera will lead the cast of the world premiere of Havana Music Hall.
John Herrera will lead the cast of the world premiere of Havana Music Hall.
(© Joseph Marzullo)

Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre has announced the complete cast of the world-premiere musical Havana Music Hall, running October 10-November 18, with opening night set for Friday, October 19.

John Herrera (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and Linedy Genao (On Your Feet!) will lead the cast, joined by Alexander Pimentel, Isbelia Duran, Rodrigo De la Rosa, Phillip Andrew Santiago, Bruno Faria, Elaine Flores, Anissa Gathers, Jorge Barranco, Angely Carucci, Sarita Colon, Michael Focas, Hector Fortun, Christopher Hernandez, Lauren Horgan, Macia McGeorge, Jane Papageorge, and Robbie Smith.

Havana Music Hall features music, lyrics, and original story by Richard Kagan and a book by Carmen Pelaez. It is described as follows: "Set in 1958 Cuba, the highly anticipated new musical tells the story of husband-and-wife musical team Rolando and Ramona Calderon, who are on the verge of breaking through to the world's stage when the Cuban Revolution tears apart the only life they've ever known. Almost 60 years later, the couple tries to forget the past in the now-devastated Havana Music Hall, but others won't let them."

Directed by Maria Torres, the creative team includes Cuban musicologist Jose "Perico" Hernandez (lyric translation), Larry Blank (music supervisor), Brian Murphy (music director), Carmen Rivera (dramaturg), Paul Tate dePoo III (set design), and Ann Closs-Farley (costume design).