Collaboraction and Teatro Vista Present: Sandra Delgado’s La Havana Madrid

Collaboraction and Teatro Vista present the return of Sandra Delgado’s La Havana Madrid, bringing back to life the eponymous 1960's Lakeview nightclub, where Latine immigrants new to Chicago found refuge to gather, sing, dance, find love and discover their destinies, hailed as “heartfelt and fascinating bursting with music and warmth” (Chicago Tribune). This staged concert version of the smash hit play, directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce, recreates a special time and place in Chicago history by immersing audiences in live music, dancing and stories inspired by real stories of Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Colombian newcomers.

Throughout, La Havana Madrid reveals how and why these new Chicagoans originally migrated to the shores of Lake Michigan, only to be pushed further west – away from the lake – by the forces of gentrification and racism. And alongside the stories, a live band led by Roberto “Carpacho” Marin, chronicles the history of Caribbean Latine music, from boleros, to mambo, to the birth of salsa. By the end of the show, audience members need little encouragement to get on their feet and dance right along. This special performance will kick off with a DJ Julio Bishop spinning salsa classics to get the party started.

Official Organizer: Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events