News
Cuban Children’s Troupe’s Performance in Washington a Success
Cuba’s La Colmenita Children’s Theater Company performed on Sunday at Kay Chapel of the American University, in Washington D.C. This was the premiere in the United States of the show entitled Abracadabra (Hocup Pocus), which tells the story of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters who, since 1998, have been unjustly imprisoned in the United States.
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Granma Internacional
Date
Cuba’s La Colmenita Children’s Theater Company performed on Sunday at Kay Chapel of the American University, in Washington D.C. This was the premiere in the United States of the show entitled Abracadabra (Hocup Pocus), which tells the story of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters who, since 1998, have been unjustly imprisoned in the United States.
In a trial plagued with irregularities and held in a highly biased Miami court, the Cuban Five —Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero and Rene Gonzalez— were given harsh sentences ranging from 15 years to consecutive life terms plus 15 years.
The five Cubans were working to uncover information about terrorist activities being planned and carried out against Cuba by ultra-rightwing organizations based in southern Florida with a long record of terrorist actions against Cuba and the Cuban people. When they turned their information over to authorities they were arrested and have been in jail ever since.
After the show, which was attended by hundreds of children and people of all ages, the children artists received a phone call from Rene Gonzalez, one of the Cuban Five, who was recently release on parole after serving 13 years in prison. For nearly an hour, Gonzalez talked to the 22 children, ages 6 to 15, who made up the delegation currently in the United States. Over the phone, the children interpreted Silvio Rodriguez’ song El Mayor for Gonzalez.
Invited by the Brownstone Foundation, the company will be presenting through October 30 in different venues in Washington, New York and San Francisco. This is La Colmenita’s second tour of the United States. In addition to Hocus Pocus, they will be presenting the show La cucarachita Martina, which includes bolero, cha cha cha, merengue, son and zarzuela numbers.
In 2007, La Colmenita children’s company was declared Good Will Ambassador by UNICEF.
In a trial plagued with irregularities and held in a highly biased Miami court, the Cuban Five —Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero and Rene Gonzalez— were given harsh sentences ranging from 15 years to consecutive life terms plus 15 years.
The five Cubans were working to uncover information about terrorist activities being planned and carried out against Cuba by ultra-rightwing organizations based in southern Florida with a long record of terrorist actions against Cuba and the Cuban people. When they turned their information over to authorities they were arrested and have been in jail ever since.
After the show, which was attended by hundreds of children and people of all ages, the children artists received a phone call from Rene Gonzalez, one of the Cuban Five, who was recently release on parole after serving 13 years in prison. For nearly an hour, Gonzalez talked to the 22 children, ages 6 to 15, who made up the delegation currently in the United States. Over the phone, the children interpreted Silvio Rodriguez’ song El Mayor for Gonzalez.
Invited by the Brownstone Foundation, the company will be presenting through October 30 in different venues in Washington, New York and San Francisco. This is La Colmenita’s second tour of the United States. In addition to Hocus Pocus, they will be presenting the show La cucarachita Martina, which includes bolero, cha cha cha, merengue, son and zarzuela numbers.
In 2007, La Colmenita children’s company was declared Good Will Ambassador by UNICEF.