For actors, opening night is filled with nerves and excitement, a moment where everything they have been working towards comes to fruition.
Behind the curtain lies the dedicated and hard-working cast of Anna in the Tropics, who have lots to say about their experiences leading up to the play and how it changed them as actors and people.
The show was directed by Marc Anthony and ran from Mar. 13 to 17 in LBCC’s auditorium.
The story of Anna in the Tropics is multifaceted, touching on themes of love, assimilation and an immigrant family chasing the American dream. The family is learning to deal with change as industrialization affects its cigar business.
The actor who played Juan Julian, Barnabas Long, expresses how the struggles the family faces can mirror those of real life. Much like the character Conchita, people crave change as it helps one grow as an individual and find a new longing for life.
“I didn’t have the resources growing up to support it (dreams of acting), so now that I’m an adult and I have my own autonomy and free will to decide what I want to do. I moved out here to Long Beach years ago to pursue acting, and I’m really glad I did because I’m having the time of my life,” said Long.
“I’m broke as hell, and some days I’m a little hungrier than others, but that’s the life I chose, and there’s beauty in the suffering, I suppose,” said Long.
Anna in the tropics is a culturally rich story with Cuban culture at the forefront of the play; it was also imperative for the cast to reflect this.
“This is my first time being in a predominantly black and brown cast, and it’s been super amazing to have that type of experience and be around others who not only look like me but also have that same relatability with other people of color. It’s been an honor, and it’s just so beautiful to be able to cultivate such a strong bond with the people in this cast,” said Monaliese Rose Davis, ensemble cast member.
The play was double cast, meaning a different set of cast members would perform each night; nevertheless, the actors who weren’t performing that day still showed up to support their fellow castmates.
“Theater is a very good program to find people who carry the same passion, and I think theater creates very unique bonds in such a limited amount of time that are unforgettable. It’s very emotional when the play is over, but you feel very accomplished,” said Noeline Sanchez, actor playing Marela.
“I’m here as a supporter, especially my friend who has the same role as me (role of Marela) we’re always sitting next to each other, always memorizing lines together,” Sanchez says. “I think double casts help a lot with bonding because each individual shows a different story even though we have the same role, we have our own way of showing how the character is, and I think that’s beautiful.”
The cast shared a strong bond, seeing each other as friends rather than just classmates or co-workers. Before the show, they spent the entire time chatting, laughing, dancing, and singing together.
Oscar Servin, the actor who portrays Palomo, originally just wanted to try something new in the entertainment field, and LBCC just so happened to offer theater classes. As time passed, he started to really love and enjoy it, especially all the students and professors.
“I feel more connected with the cast in this play, and there was more variety in learning different techniques in acting, especially dancing,” said Servin.
For some of the cast members, this was their first performance outside of high school, like Nancy Tran, the actor portraying Conchita, who hadn’t been in a play in over ten years.
“There is a more heightened feeling because high school is more for fun, but this is, one, something you put on your resume, and two, you get the real full professional feeling,” said Tran.
This is also Noeline Sanchez’s first performance at Long Beach City College. She notes the differences in the environment and mentality of high school versus college-level productions.
“The energy in this production is way different than high school. In high school, I didn’t feel as confident, and I felt like more of a follower than believing in myself,” said Sanchez, “I’ve learned that passions can come true as long as you work hard enough. In this production I feel like I know myself more, and I feel more secure in myself.”
Barnabas Long was in one prior performance at LBCC, where he was part of the ensemble and had only a small speaking role. Compared to this play, where he portrays Juan Julian, a more prominent and significant role.
“When I auditioned, I wanted the role of Cheche. He’s kind of like the villain of the story, so when I read it, I only read it through his point of view. When I realized I got the role of Juan Julian, I reread it and realized how large of a character he was. So I felt scared and intimidated, but Marc Anthony is so good and so encouraging,” Long.
Long was ultimately grateful to get the role of Juan as he enjoyed the challenge. The character is beautifully written, rich in character and very out of the box; as an actor, there was so much to draw from.
Although the roles felt intimidating to most when it came to preparing for the roles, the actors agreed the best thing to do was to take it in bit by bit.
“I’ve never done a role that isn’t something I relate to. Ophelia is very motherly, bossy, and sophisticated. And I’m not really like that, so it was hard, but step by step, Marc Anthony really helped,” said Ashley Hurtado, the actor playing Ophelia
Ashley Hurtado prepared for this role by not taking it too seriously. Instead, she focused on having fun, getting herself out of her comfort zone and embodying the character.
“Acting has been something that I truly enjoy…I usually like to play powerful characters, and I really hope that when I play this character, people will be empowered and inspired by what I do in my art. That’s all I’m here for,” Hurtado.
Monaliese Rose Davis has been in the theater world since they were seven. Growing up, they only saw it as a hobby, realizing as they got older that it was something they could pursue seriously.
Most of the cast members shared this sentiment, never feeling that performing arts could be a career path. There is a stigma surrounding the performing arts, with people not seeing it as a viable career option and criticizing those who want to pursue it.
Despite that, the student’s success in this play and in the theater program overall makes it clear that the arts are something to be taken seriously.
If you missed the run of Anna in the Tropics, audiences can look forward to May 16-19, when the performing arts department will present its second show of the semester, Barbeque by Robert O’Hara.