Anna in the Tropics was commissioned and originally produced by New Theatre, Miami, Florida, Rafael del Acha, Artistic Director, Eileen Suarez, Managing Director, in 2002 with support from the NEA/TCG Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights.
The South Coast Repertory presented the play on its Julianne Argyros Stage. It ran from 28 September to 19 October 2003. Directed by Juliette Carrillo, the cast included Jonathan Nichols (Eliades/Palomo), Tony Plana (Santiago), Geoffrey Rivas (Cheché), Onahoua Rodriguez (Marela), Adriana Sevan (Conchita), Karmín Murcelo (Ofelia) and Julian Acosta (Juan Julian).
The play started performances on Broadway at the Royale Theatre (since renamed Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre) on November 4, 2003, opening on November 16. Directed by Emily Mann, the cast included Jimmy Smits (Juan Julian), Priscilla Lopez (Ofelia), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Conchita), Victor Argo (Santiago), Vanessa Aspilaga (Marela), John Ortiz (Eliades/Palomo) and David Zayas (Cheché). The play closed on February 22, 2004, after 15 previews and 113 performances [1]
The first U.S. national tour starting in September 2004 and ending in February 2005 was a co-production between Dallas Theater Center, Arizona Theatre Company, and Pasadena Playhouse. Directed by Richard Hamburger, the cast included Al Espinosa (Juan Julián), Jacqueline Duprey (Conchita), Timothy Paul Perez (Eliades/Palomo), Apollo Dukakis (Santiago), Javi Mulero (Cheché), Adriana Gaviria (Marela), and Karmín Murcelo (Ofelia).[2]
L.A. Theatre Works presented Anna in the Tropics as part of its 2004–2005 season. Directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela, the cast included Jimmy Smits, Onahoua Rodriguez, Adriana Sevan, Jonathan Nichols, Winston Rocha, and Herbert Siguenza.[3]
On September 16, 2005, and translated as Ana en el trópico, the Spanish version opened in Madrid at the Teatro Alcázar and was directed by Nilo Cruz himself. The cast included: Luis Fernando Alvés (Palomo/Elíades), Joan Crosas (Santiago), José Pedro Carrión (Cheché), Toni Acosta (Marela), Lolita Flores (Chonchita), Teresa María Rojas (Ofelia), Pablo Duran (Juan Julián), Itziar Arza, Alfonso Ramos and Marian Sanz de Acedo (cigarreras/os).[4]
The play was presented in the UK at the Hampstead Theatre in London. Directed by Indra Rubasingham, it ran from 30 November 2005 to 15 January 2006. The cast included Diana Quick, Rachael Stirling and Joseph Mydell.[5]
Due to the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, Repertory Philippines' production of "Anna in the Tropics" closed on March 13, 2020, after two previews. The production was designed and directed by Joey Mendoza.[6]
