Theatrical Adaptation of DREAMING IN CUBAN in Development

Cristina García is officially adapting her award-winning novel, Dreaming in Cuban, for theatrical production. She is collaborating with AdrIan Alexander Alea, who most recently assistant directed The Public Theater's A Midsummer Night's Dream, to direct and produce this most anticipated piece.

García is working to keep the magical essence of her critically acclaimed original work, while adapting and expanding the novel's themes of home, longing, and identity. Alea's vision is to incorporate music in the production as a spiritual reflection of the inner psychology of its main characters and their bitter divisions over the Cuban Revolution. He is in preliminary talks with talented musicians who, he hopes, will amplify the story to a graceful timelessness.

"While the novel follows three generations of women weaving in and out of political, social, economic, and personal struggle, Dreaming in Cuban is really a story about love," says Alea. "I ultimately hope to explore how we love today - especially during a time of great political divisiveness that is also so vividly depicted in the book."

García and Alea are working on an expedited timeline to develop a full script for readings and workshops by early 2018.

Bio/About

Cristina García is the author of seven novels: Dreaming in Cuban, The Agüero Sisters, Monkey Hunting, A Handbook to Luck, The Lady Matador's Hotel, King of Cuba, and Here in Berlin (October 2017).

García has edited two anthologies, Cubanísimo: The Vintage Book of Contemporary Cuban Literature and Bordering Fires: The Vintage Book of Contemporary Mexican and Chicano/a Literature, published books for young readers, and a collection of poetry. García's work has been nominated for a National Book Award and translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Writers' Award, and an NEA grant, among others. García has taught at universities nationwide and lives in the San Francisco Bay area.

AdrIan Alexander Alea is a director and producer based in New York City. Under the tutelage of Lear deBessonet and Benny Medina, his recent assistant directing credits include: A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park), Kill Move Paradise (National Black Theater), Venus (by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks at the Signature Theatre), Alice By Heart (musical workshop at MCC), The Odyssey (Public Works), The Songs of Eli Bolin, and The Columbia University Song Book (54 Below).

Before returning to NYC, he was a management associate for The Medina Company. His main projects included Jennifer Lopez's Las Vegas Residency: All I Have and the "Ain't Your Mama" music video. He holds a BA from Columbia University and a forthcoming MS from Northwestern University.

More info: http://www.cristinagarcianovelist.com