The world premiere of Saida Santana Mahmut’s play La Indiana, a name that alludes to the cultural legacy emanating from the frequent trips made by so many across the Atlantic, from the Canary Islands to Cuba and back. Starring Ms. Santana herself, the plot revolves around Antonia, the playwright’s great-grandmother, a woman from Canarias who emigrates to Cuba at the turn of the 20th century (1905). After many years in Cuba, she becomes a widow and decides to return to Gran Canaria with her five children, earning the name of “La Indiana”, a nickname that was usually reserved for men. Antonia is the inspiration for a story that aims to capture a pivotal time during the Canarian migration to Cuba at the beginning of the last century, when many stood astride a cross-cultural junction, and later opted to return to the Canary Islands.
Following the playwright’s extensive research and interviews with Cuban-Canarian descendants in New York City in 2019, the play will be staged and taped in Madrid, without an audience, due to the pandemic. It will be streamed exclusively in New York City, and will be followed by a Q&A with the playwright via Zoom, moderated by Mayra McCarthy, director of our Theater Program.
DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, THIS EVENT WILL BE STREAMED ONLINE
THROUGH A PRIVATE LINK.
This event is absolutely FREE for all congress participants and attendees, who will receive an exclusive access code via email.
All others who wish to obtain an EXCLUSIVE ACCESS CODE to this event (and the December 1 and 18 events), click here:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4842583
For additional information, write to: cubanculturalcenter.org
Saida Santana Mahmut is an award-winning performer
whose career spans the theater, cinema, and television.
In recent years her work has revolved around the search
for identity through various creative endeavors. For her, acting,
screenwriting, directing, coaching, and teaching are sides of a
common polyhedron. Ms. Santana Mahmut has a Masters in Coaching
from Universidad Camilo José Cela, with a major in Psychodrama,
and a Ph.D. from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, where
she also received a Master’s degree in Dramatic Arts.
Oceanic trajectory between the Canary Islands and Cuba:
The following verses, by the poet Francisco Javier Viamontes Correa,
reveal the indeleble ties between Cuba and Canarias:
Canarias, cuando te llamo Del Sinsonte al Tocororo,
Me llegas en un suspiro, Del Tomeguín al Canario
Miro alrededor y admiro Va el mensaje solidario
Tu vigencia en mi reclamo. Hasta la tierra que adoro.
Tierra lejana que amo De mi cedro al sicomoro
Como a mi Cuba querida, Al vaivén de la palmera,
La nostalgia es una herida Canarias, si yo pudiera
Abierta en la lejanía… En mi décima abrazarte
Por su estoica geografía Y desde Cuba cantarte,
Cuba a Canarias unida. ¡No sabes cuánto quisiera!
This event is a part of a research residency co-sponsored by Instituto Cervantes and CECA (Instituto de Estudios Canarias-América de Hunter College, CUNY
With assistance for the creation of theatrical literature from Comunidad de Madrid
And is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
With the promotional collaboration of
“La Indiana” is a complementary presentation of the Cuban Cultural Center of New York’s 19th annual congreso, its flagship event, this year titled España en Cuba: Un ir y venir, streamed on our YouTube channel on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, 2020.