Cuban, American Actors Collaborate in Spanish-Language Production of ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Actors from the National Office of Scenic Artists of Cuba and University of Alabama performers are combining forces in a program of creative research for a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream En Español” to be presented Aug. 6-8 at UA’s Allen Bales Theatre in Rowand-Johnson Hall on the UA campus. The Cuban actors are in Tuscaloosa as a part of the UA-Cuba Initiative.

Seth Panitch, assistant professor of theatre and dance, directed a production of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” in Havana in December 2008 that included the Cuban actors and UA theatre students who acted in the play as part of their graduate research. Now he’s directing the Cuban-American cast in “Midsummer” rehearsals during the end of July and beginning of August. The American actors for “Midsummer” are Panitch’s students in UA’s acting program.

“This is purely creative research for us and for them,” Panitch says.

Many of the Cuban actors are not fluent in English, and the UA actors are not fluent in Spanish.  So the common language is artistic performance.   Panitch said the production provides a one-of-a-kind experience to see Cuban and American actors portray Shakespeare’s universal themes through a common artistic enterprise in an academic setting.

“We are able to see the Cuban actors through the lens of art,” he says. “We are able to see what they want to be and what their dreams are, which is what we see when we view a piece of art. We see how they respond in emotional situations as actors – what they think about love, what they think about family, what they think about the magic of the wilderness. All the things that are in Shakespeare’s play, we’re going to experience with them.”

In Tuscaloosa, “Midsummer” will be performed in Spanish using elements of the Cuban dialect. It features 10 actors as well as a stage manager and a production manager from Cuba. Tom Wolfe, associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, is composing a rock-themed score for the performance. Other faculty members involved include Rick Miller, set designer and UA assistant professor of theatre; Donna Meester, costume designer and UA associate professor of theatre; and John Virciglio, dance choreographer and UA dance instructor.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $5. For reservations, phone 205/348-3845 or send e-mail to spanitch@ua.edu.

Since 2002, UA has received academic travel licenses from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that permit travel to Cuba for specific academic activities as part of the UA Cuba-Alabama Initiative.  The license also provides opportunities for UA to invite Cuban scholars, such as the theatre professionals participating in this production, to the University for scholarly activities.

UA’s theatre and dance department is part of The College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.

The Cast

Actors from the National Office of Scenic Artists of Cuba

William Ruiz                                               Stage manager

Erich Cartaya                                             Production stage manager

Yarlo Osmel                                               Oberon

Noelvis Caridad                                         Titana

Rayssel Cruz                                              Lysander

Frank Egusquiza                                         Demetrius

Alianne Portuondo                                      Hermia

Linette Hernandez                                       Helena

Enrique Antonio Estevez                             Puck

Roberto Salomon                                       Peter Quince

Jorge Curbelo                                             Bottom

Diana Rosa Hernandez                               Peaseblossom

University of Alabama Student Actors

David Bolus                                                A Lord

Jake Boyd                                                  Flute

Katie Burton                                               Fairy

Sarah Carlton                                             Fairy

Allie Ficken                                                Starvelling

Lawson Hangartner                                    Snout

Erica Hansen                                              Fairy

Bria Knappe                                               A Lady

Nick Shabel                                               Philostrate