C olumbia U niversity RECORD November 9, 2001 3 OFF CAMPUS A Return to Helps Eduardo Machado Find Home and Inspiration

BY KRISTIN STERLING

“Did they throw me out, or did I walk away from my country?” This question plagues many Cuban exiles and resonates throughout Eduardo Machado’s “ is Waiting.” The play is a semi-autobio- graphical drama inspired by Machado’s own emotion-filled return to Cuba in 1999. At the age of nine, Machado’s parents put him and his younger brother on a “Peter Pan” flight to the U.S., a decision that Machado, like many others, has questioned and resented all of his life. Over 13,000 Cuban children made similar flights during the early 1960s, as their parents feared Communist indoctrination and the revolutionary government under . Machado, an associate profes- sor in the Theatre Arts Division of the School of the Arts, describes his return to Cuba as “the most important experience of my adult life… that trip opened up a whole world of things that I yearn for.” PHOTO BY CAROL ROSEGG, COURTESY OF SPRINGER/CHICOINE PUBLIC RELATIONS Machado reveals much of him- Felix Solis, left, Bruce MacVittie, center, and Ed Vassalo, right, take a journey home in Eduardo Machado’s play, “Havana is Waiting.” The self in this very personal, production will run through Dec. 31 at the Cherry Lane Theatre. thoughtful and political work. He uses both humor and drama to Gonzalez, is found on the shores Machado’s signature comic style Drowns in Sand,” to great but more importantly Havana, or address the issues that arise. The of Miami, arousing feelings of and is well depicted by MacVit- acclaim at the Actors Theatre of as they say in Cuba, La Habana, play explores the need in all of us nostalgia, loss of home, family tie, as the Valium-popping Fed- Louisville’s Humana Festival. was waiting for me to return.” to “find home” and understand and identity. erico. All three give passionate After that performance, Michael Machado has authored more roots and childhood in order to Their taxi driver/guide (Felix performances as they each make Phillips of the “LA Times” than 27 plays and has served as define oneself. “I felt sometimes Solis) provides political and his- the journey towards their own described the work as “a lovely writer, director, actor and film- at home and sometimes a total toric context as he helps the pair self-discovery. and rueful comedy blending maker on several movies. His alien,” Machado told The New find Federico’s childhood home. The modest scenery is autobiography, a friendship on plays include: “The Floating York Times, referring to his time He is quick to remind Federico enhanced through Machado’s the verge of a love affair … this Island Plays” (produced in L.A.), in Cuba. “I realized that I really and Fred that Cuba has entered vivid use of language, delivered year’s ringer… a tight, crafty and “Cuba and the Night,” “Stevie was American and I couldn’t sur- the “family reconciliation peri- eloquently by Vassallo through exceptionally eloquent play Wants to Play the Blues,” vive there.” od” and to solicit their support in monologues that help the audi- about identity politics on every “Rosario and the Gypsies,” The story opens in New York ending the embargo against ence envision what the characters scale… finds Machado going “Across a Crowded Room,” and with a harried Federico (Bruce Cuba. Solis injects humor into are seeing. Percussionist Richard home again, rewardingly.” “Don Juan in .” MacVittie) reconsidering his the performance with his spunky Marquez adds to the performance Machado, explaining the title His films include “Exiles in New decision to return to his native delivery and animated facial by using instruments to commu- change, says “the title of my new York,” “China Rios” and “Her Cuba after 38 years of exile expressions. nicate emotion and signify that play [“Havana is Waiting”] refers Name was Lupe” (HBO), “Cross- since his parents sent him to the References to Peter Pan, healing has begun. Traditional to many things. First, Havana is ing the Border” and “Home Free” . At the encourage- Wendy and “never-never land” Cuban rhythms and melodic waiting for a 40-year old embar- (CBS). He is currently featured in ment of his friend, Fred (Ed Vas- are woven throughout the play, ocean waves provide background go to end. Havana means wait- the film “Pollock.” sallo), the two begin the journey as is a rapid shift in sentiment and help set the scene. ing, for the people who live there. “Havana is Waiting” runs at the to Havana and arrive at the same from longing to doubt to fear to The play opened last April, Waiting interminably in lines for Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Com- time the newest “lost boy,” Elian blame. This shift is part of under the title “When the Sea anything from a bus to ice cream, merce Street, through Dec. 31. Cleveland Chamber Symphony’s Edwin London Wins Columbia’s Ditson Conductor’s Award George Rupp to the conductor London received his Ph.D. works chosen from leading BY LORALEE NOLLETTI at the Nov. concert. In his cita- from the University of Iowa colleges, conservatories and tion, Rupp praised London for (1961). At Iowa he studied universities. Under the leader- Edwin London, founder of the diversity of his musical composition with Philip Gree- ship and artistic direction of the Cleveland Chamber Sym- interests, a reference to Lon- ley Clapp. Subsequent teachers London, the CCS has received phony, has won the 2001 Dit- don’s simultaneous beginnings have included Luigi Dallapic- recognition over the years for son Conductor’s Award for his in a jazz band and in a sym- cola, Darius Milhaud and Gun- its excellence. ASCAP has commitment to the perfor- phony orchestra, and for the ther Schuller. awarded the Cleveland Cham- mance of American works. conductor’s central focus on London was composer-con- ber Symphony five John S. Composer/conductor London American music. Rupp went dutor for the Toledo/Antioch Edwards awards, the country’s will receive the award at a per- on to acknowledge that Lon- Shakespeare and Lyric Theater most prestigious honor recog- formance of the Cleveland don’s performances have won Festivals (1956-57) and later nizing an orchestra’s commit- Chamber Symphony, which he praise from composers of toured with the Armando ment to showcasing American will conduct, at Cleveland every “stylistic persuasion,” Trovajoli Orchestra in Rome as music. Other honors include State University on Nov. 5. noting that in the last three sea- a French horn player and com- the American Music Center Described as a “champion of sons more than fifty news poser. He taught at Smith Col- Letter of Distinction, the Lau- new American music,” London works have been performed in lege (1960-68), the University rel Leaf Award from the Amer- has been a major figure in the public or recorded. of Illinois (1973-83) and the ican Composers Alliance and contemporary music field for The Ditson Conductor's Edwin London University of San Diego others. more than 40 years, forming Award, the oldest honoring (1972-73), before being named As a composer London has two highly acclaimed ensem- conductors for their commit- 1929, London began his career chairman of the music depart- received awards from the bles: Ineluctable Modality, a ment to American music, was as a horn player in both sym- ment at Cleveland State Uni- Guggenheim Foundation, new music choral ensemble, in established in 1945 by the phony orchestra and the Oscar versity in 1978. National Endowment for the 1968 and the award-winning Alice M. Ditson Fund at Pettiford jazz band, demon- The Cleveland Chamber Arts, Fromm Foundation, Ohio Cleveland Chamber Symphony Columbia. Past recipients strating early on his ease in Symphony is dedicated to sup- Arts Council, ASCAP and in 1980. include Leonard Bernstein, moving between the worlds of porting the creative work of Meet the Composer. He has Robert Ward, chairman of Eugene Ormandy, Michael “concert hall” and “popular” “emerging” composers by the received the Cleveland Arts the Ditson Advisory Commit- Tilson Thomas and James music. presentation of semi-annual Prize and was named Individ- tee, will present the citation DePriest. After graduating from Ober- concerts and recordings of ual Artist of the Year by the from Columbia’s President Born in Philadelphia in lin Conservatory (BM, 1952), competitively selected new Ohio Arts Council.