Above: Rent is the first show of its kind in Cuba in 50 years

By the Caribbean Journal staff

For the first time in more than a half-century, a Broadway musical premiered in Cuba on Wednesday night.

Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment launched a new production of the musical “Rent” at Havna’s Bertolt Brecht Theatre.

The Spanish-language production will run for three months, in partnership with the Cuban National Council of Performing Arts.

It is the first Broadway musical with a full-cast, musicians and “first-class production elements” in Cuba in more than 50 years, according to Nederlander.

Nederlander Worldwide held a production of Broadway Ambassadors in 2011, which then led the Cuban Ministry of Culture to invite Nederlander to present a full Broadway musical to a Cuban audience.

The production includes a company of 15 Cuban actors under the direction of Andy Señor, Jr, whom Nederlander called a “leading member of Broadway’s Cuban American community.”

“It has been a great pleasure to work with the Cuban National Council of Performing Arts and their extremely talented artists, musicians and technicians in Havana,” said Robert Nederlander, Jr. “We are honored to serve as a bridge between the Cuban cultural and Broadway communities and to bring the best of Broadway to Cuban audiences.”

See below for a video of a rehearsal of the show.