Photo Flash: First Look at Huntington's BECOMING CUBA

Huntington Theatre Company continues its 2013-2014 Season with playwright-in-residence Melinda Lopez's latest play, the stirring new drama Becoming Cuba. Huntington Associate Producer M. Bevin O'Gara makes her Huntington directorial debut of the Huntington's playwright-in-residence's latest work. Performances of Becoming Cuba began at the South End / Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA on March 28. Due to popular demand, the run has been extended to May 3, 2014. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

O'Gara previously directed Lopez's Gary (Boston Playwrights' Theatre), a reading of Caroline in Jersey (Huntington's Breaking Ground Festival), and a workshop of Becoming Cuba (Huntington's 2012 Summer Workshop).

Becoming Cuba takes place in 1897 Cuba on the eve of the Spanish-American War. Spirited widow Adela, the daughter of a Spanish mother and a Cuban father, runs her late Spanish husband's pharmacy, indifferent to the mounting conflict around her. But when the rebellion comes home to Havana in the form of her half-brother Manny, a rebel fighter, she must choose between loyalty to country or to family. By turns funny, steamy, and political, this powerful new drama asks whether freedom is something we all want.

The ensemble cast features Christina Pumariega (The Miracle at Naples) as Adela; Boston native Rebecca Soler (The Year of the Baby at Soho Rep) as Adela's spirited sister, Martina;Juan Javier Cardenas (Boleros for the Disenchanted) as their brother Manny, a rebel fighter; and Christopher Tarjan (Our Town) as Davis, the American journalist who is witness to the mounting conflict. Christopher Burns (Captors) plays Isador, a Spanish lieutenant, and Conquistador; Marianna Bassham (Our Town, Luck of the Irish) plays Isador's wife Fancy and Hautey's wife; and young actor Brandon Barbosa plays Cuban boys Cucho and Mambi.

Becoming Cuba was commissioned by North Coast Repertory Theatre, where it received its premiere production in May-June, 2013. It was developed at the Huntington during the 2012 Summer Workshop for Huntington Playwriting Fellows.

For more information, visit huntingtontheatre.org.

Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson