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Overview

Synopsis

Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Anna in the Tropics takes place In Ybor City, Florida in 1929. Here, a Cuban-American family eagerly awaits the arrival of their new lector, Juan Julian. In a cigar factory owned by the Patriarch of the family, Santiago, Juan Julian is hired to read to the family during their long days of rolling cigars by hand. Most of the family is overjoyed by the presence of a new lector, but when he starts reading from the Russian classic, Anna Karenina, the scandalous lives of Tolstoy’s characters start to intertwine with the lives of his listeners. As Juan Julian reads, the hot, humid Florida summer starts to resemble the cold Russian winter of the story. Infidelity, money problems, and violence spring to the surface as the family members grapple with their new found understanding of life and relationships. Conchita, Santiago’s daughter, confronts her husband, Palomo, about his extramarital affairs, and Palomo becomes aware of a budding relationship between his wife and Juan Julian. Cheche, Santiago’s half brother, tries to take over the factory, and Santiago has to admit to his wife that he is neck-deep in gambling debt. Instead of discovering the love and acceptance they seek, the family is met with tragedy in the end, just as in the story of Anna Karenina.

Show Information

Book
Nilo Cruz
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2002
Genres
Drama
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
cigar factory, ybor city (tampa), florida, 1929
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Santiago

Lead

Male

Spoken

Cheche

Lead

Male

Spoken

Marela

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Conchita

Lead

Female

Spoken

Palomo

Lead

Male

Spoken

Juan Julian

Lead

Male

Spoken

Ofelia

Lead

Female

Spoken

Eliades

Featured

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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Key Terms

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