This summer, Miami New Drama is bringing back an award-winning musical celebrating Venezuelan folklore and the immigrant experience.
Papá Cuatro originally debuted in the summer of 2022 and is back by popular demand at the historic Colony Theatre for a six-week run.
R. A. Benjamin) is owned by the City of Miami Beach and managed by Miami New Drama
Conceived by Venezuelan-Canadian director Juan Souki, Cuatro is a musical tribute to the lives of Venezuelan immigrants and the music that unites them. Speaking to the Miami New Times, Souki describes it as “something between a musical, a documentary, and a house party.”
The story follows five Venezuelan musicians who left their home country to rebuild their lives in search of new opportunities, bringing their traditions and instruments with them.
It stars singer/actress Mariaca Semprún, cuatro player Miguel Siso, harpist Eduardo Betancourt, bandola Llanera player Mafer Bandola, and percussionist Adolfo Herrera. The main cast members play themselves in the production.
The musical takes viewers on a journey across Venezuela’s diverse regional sounds, meshing traditional songs and original compositions with the real-life stories and immigration journeys of its characters.
The cuatro has a titular role in the play as a symbol of hometown memories and rituals, unifying the five main characters. The four-string instrument, popular in Venezuela and Puerto Rico, is derived from the Spanish guitar and is traditionally played at parties and family gatherings.
Director Juan Souki previously brought Viva La Parranda, another musical celebrating Venezuelan culture, to Miami New Drama in 2019. His works have gained support and popularity for capturing Latin American history and culture and narrating tales of minorities and their survival through art.
Papá Cuatro will be on view at the Colony Theatre (1040 Lincoln Road) through August 13. It will be presented in Spanish with subtitles in English.
You can reserve your tickets and view all showtimes here.
