Artists Repertory Theatre is thrilled to present the world premiere production of the new musical Cuba Libre at the Winningstad Theatre from October 3 – November 8, Broadway World reports .

The irresistible rhythms of Cuban music drive this riveting, timely story of a man caught between countries, losses and loves, and his search for freedom. Set in America and Cuba, this universal tale reverberates across politics, ambition and romance with quick-witted dialogue, joy-filled dance and Latin-fusion beats. This Broadway-scale, contemporary musical features the internationally acclaimed, three-time Grammy nominated band Tiempo Libre with a company of 22 actors, dancers and musicians in a not-to-be-missed theatrical event.

Cuba Libre involves a primarily Latino creative team, many of whom are Cuban-American, who are focused on telling this story with authenticity, integrity and joy. Backing this production with funding and deep Broadway-producing expertise is Tony-nominated producer Susan Dietz (Fela!, Topdog/Underdog, It’s Only a Play). Cuba Libre represents the most ambitious project in Artists Rep’s 33-year history, and comes at a time of renewed public interest in the relationship between the United States and Cuba.

Cuba Libre Director Dámaso Rodriguez says: “Cuba Libre is a dream many years in the making. When I was invited by Tiempo Libre and producer Susan Dietz to join this project over three years ago, we did not have a script or even a story. Our collective intention, however, was crystal clear: create a bold, bilingual musical theatre experience that would introduce Tiempo Libre’s exhilarating brand of Afro-Caribbean music (known as “timba”) to a wider audience while telling a universally resonant story of modern-day Cuban life capturing some of the complexity of the immigrant experience. Despite our hopes, we could not have predicted that a team of such inspired collaborators as playwright Carlos Lacámara and choreographer Maija Garcia would join this project, nor could we have predicted that a surprising, still-developing chapter in the history of Cuba’s relation to America would begin before Cuba Libre’s premiere.”

Cuba Libre is a contemporary musical inspired by the collective histories of the members of Tiempo Libre, featuring a book by playwright Carlos Lacámara, the band’s own music and spectacular choreography told by a company of 22 actors, dancers and musicians. The musical is a bilingual theatre experience with the majority of the dialogue in English and the music largely in Spanish. Told in flashbacks from present-day Miami to 1990s Cuba, the story centers around a Cuban musician still haunted by the sacrifices he, his friends and family made for him to pursue his artistic dreams in the U.S. while he makes a new life for himself as an American.

For the original report go to https://www.broadwayworld.com/portland/article/CUBA-LIBRE-World-Premiere-Musical-Comes-to-Artists-Rep-This-Fall-20150717