The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington (GMCW) today announced the performance schedule for their first-ever tour of Cuba by a gay chorus, set to take place from July 11-19, 2015.
https://youtu.be/Z7CA-XwIvzM
The schedule of nine performances is nearly twice as large as previously announced and includes a first-ever performance by GMCW with Mano a Mano, Cuba’s new gay chorus, and a tour finale event at the Casa de las Americas, one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in Cuba.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to perform at nine different locations in and around Havana during our tour of Cuba and we look forward to meeting with and learning from Cubans of all walks of life in settings as diverse as a block party and one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the country,” said GMCW Executive Director Chase Maggiano. “Person-to-person exchange is vital to fostering understanding and acceptance and we are ready to use the power of song to help open lines of communication about social policy and LGBTQ equality.”
The tour performance schedule is as follows:
- Sunday, July 12 – 3:00pm – Exchange with the Marina de Gonitch Chorus. Will meet members of the chorus and exchange experiences. Each chorus will sing for ½ hour each. Location: Casa de la Amistad – (House of Friendship).
- Monday, July 13 – 11:00am – GMCW will perform at the National Library of Havana for 1 hour. Location: National Library Auditorium.
- Monday, July 13 – 3:30pm – Visit the Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture) in Arroyo Naranjo, a suburb of the city of Havana. Dance and singing presentation by Cuban children. Following the presentation the GMCW will perform. ½ hour each.
- Monday, July 13 – 8:30pm – Block party in a residential area of Havana. Street will be blocked and the GMCW will perform for 1 hour during the block party.
- Wednesday, July 15 – 2:30pm – Visit with CENESEX. The visit will take place at ICAP – Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos – (Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples) Dr. Mariela Castro Espin has been officially invited to exchange with the GMCW Delegation for 2 hours. Following the meeting the GMCW & Cuba’s gay chorus “Mano a Mano” will perform.
- Wednesday, July 15 – 7:30pm – GMCW will perform at the Quinta Avenida Hotel for special invited guests. Performance 1 hour (cocktail reception)
- Thursday, July 16 – 9:30am – Visit to the Convento Nuestras Señora de Belen – (Convent of Our Lady of Bethlehem). There will be a presentation by the Convent & the GMCW will perform for the community and the elderly that are part of the convent’s program. Program ½ hour each.
- Friday, July 17 – 2:30 – Bebe Company will perform at Teatro/Theater “Bertold Brecht” with a variety of children’s program. The GMCW will perform following the presentation. Program ½ hour each.
- Friday, July 17 – 7:00pm – Visit the prestigious Casa de las Americas – GMCW will perform in the Ernesto Che Guevara room. Program 1 hour.
The tour, which is being conducted in partnership with Youth For Understanding USA (YFU), will mark the first time a gay chorus has toured the country and the first time YFU has hosted an adult exchange program anywhere in the world.
About the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC (GMCW)
Under the direction of Artistic Director Thea Kano, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC is in its 34th season with a mission that is dynamic and socially-relevant. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington delights audiences and champions gay equality with robust artistry, fun and surprise. GMCW has more than 220 singing members, two select vocal ensembles, 100 support volunteers, more than 400 subscribers, 500 donors and an annual audience of more than 10,000 people.
GMCW is honored to include in its history iconic venues such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the White House, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall in Boston, the Lincoln Memorial, presidential inauguration celebrations, and more. GMCW features two select outreach vocal ensembles: Potomac Fever, a 14-voice close harmony group, and Rock Creek Singers, a 35-voice chamber ensemble.
Since 2001, GMCW has maintained a robust youth outreach program, GenOUT, that offers free tickets to high school students, parents and teachers, in addition to offering in-school outreach and empowerment programs. The Chorus demonstrates its commitment to community outreach projects by participating in the Whitman-Walker AIDS Walk, an annual toy drive to benefit Community Family Life Services, Christmas Eve caroling at the National Institutes of Health and volunteering at Food & Friends. GMCW is a proud member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses) and Chorus America.
Mission: The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington delights audiences and champions gay equality with robust artistry, fun, and surprise.
LINK
DCMetroTheaterArts’ reviews and coverage of The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington.
The article was penned by Craig Cipollini.
