Wareham musicians to bring Cuba's plight to stage with song
The Cuba-focused musical “Always Remember” will premiere in Wareham on Aug. 26 and 27, but its composers hope to bring it to larger stages in the future.
“We’d like to take it to South Florida, Broadway, London – wherever we can get it on a big stage,” said Kirk Whipple of Cranberry Coast Concerts.
Whipple’s wife, Marilyn Morales, wrote the musical by drawing on her experiences while fleeing Cuba. In 1971, a 10-year-old Morales left with her family to Spain before ending up in Miami.
In addition to using events in her own life to write the work, Morales included real stories from fellow refugees, chronicling what they endured while escaping the island’s Communist regime.
“There are parts in it that are taken directly from her life experience,” said Whipple. “But basically every piece of the plot, if it didn’t happen to her, happened to someone we knew.”
The story follows the tale of the fictional Santos family as they leave Cuba and then struggle to reunite with one another in the United States.
For Morales, the upcoming performance will be the result of years of work. The music was first performed in 2014 after a two-year writing process. The Aug. 26 and 27 concerts mark the first time that the music, complete with actors and dialogue, will be performed.
“This is her magnum opus,” said Whipple.
The show will feature 40 people in total, including actors and musicians. Though the writing is finished, Whipple said set design and costumes are still a work in progress.
But even without an elaborate backdrop, the show will highlight the refugees' dramatic struggle through song.
“There are a lot of beautiful voices and talented people in the show. We keep finding more and more people that are really unbelievable,” said Morales. “I think they’re all becoming honorary Cubans.”
“Always Remember”will be performed at the First Congregational Church, 11 Gibbs Ave. on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before the show.
Tickets cost $25 for general admission, $20 for students and seniors and $15 per person for groups of 10 or more with advance notice. Children ages 5 to 17 attend free when accompanied by an adult, limit two children per adult.
For more information or to order tickets, call 508-291-8888 or check Cranberry Coast Concerts out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CCCFestival.