Carmen Cubana (musical)

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Carmen Cubana is a musical written by Kim Duddy (book & lyrics), Martin Gellner and Werner Stranka (music & lyrics). Carmen Cubana premiered at the Musical Sommer in Amstetten, Austria on the 19th July, 2006. The show is based on the story of Carmen by Prosper Mérimée. It remains close to the emotion of the opera with several themes from the opera heard through the show with a more modern feel. The BEAT4FEET music production and composing duo, Martin Gellner and Werner Stranka, created many new songs for the show as well as using a couple of songs from their own back catalogue. The book and lyrics were written in English (one song is in Spanish), and for the Amstetten production, the book was translated to German.

1 Story
2 Original Amstetten Creative Team
3 Production History
4 External links

[edit] Story

"Carmen Cubana' is set in 1994 when many Cubans were fleeing Cuba across the Florida Straits to America to seek a better life. Carmen escapes on one of the make shift boats, but the boat does not make it and capsizes. Luckily, Carmen and the occupants of the boat are saved by the Coast Guard (Unlike many who perished on the journey). After being saved from the ocean, Carmen and her friends are detained at the American Navel base in Guantanamo Bay. It is in Guantanamo that Carmen meets Joe, a US soldier working at the naval base. Carmen is placed in the prison by Sergeant Cooper (who tries to make a unsuccessful move on Carmen) after a fight with one of the other inmates. Joe is her guard and this is where Carmen seduces Joe. Joe helps Carmen escape Guantanamo, but he gets caught in the process by Sergeant Cooper and is himself placed in the prison. Carmen makes it back to her friends at her old place of work (Lillas Pastias's bar) and resumes her life back in Cuba. More to follow....