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CNP/Duende CalArts presents "Passage of the Spiral" a world premiere documentary screening Thursday, April 11 at REDCAT.
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Daughter of a Cuban Revolutionary

Written and Performed by Marissa Chibás
Directed by Mira Kingsley

This solo tour de force tells an astonishing tale centered on three towering figures in the life of protean performer Marissa Chibás: her father, Raul Chibás, who co-wrote the manifesto for the Cuban revolution with Fidel Castro; her uncle, Eddy Chibas, who was the frontrunner for the Cuban presidency in 1951 before committing suicide during a live radio broadcast; and her mother, Dalia Chibás, Miss Cuba runner-up in 1959. Zigzagging through her own stories and key episodes in the history of her illustrious family, Chibás gives an impassioned, live-wire performance that is propelled by her near-death experience in the Venezuelan Amazonia.

Presentation History

Daughter of a Cuban Revolutionary opened at REDCAT in Los Angeles in January, 2007, and then traveled to New York for a 5-week run at the DRII Theater, co-produced by Intar. It toured to Miami in mid-November, 2008, to the Guadalajara Feria Internacional de Libri in December, 2009, and to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, 2011.

The Chibas Family

Eddy Chibás was born in Santiago de Cuba on August 26th, 1907. He began his law studies at the University of Havana in 1926. Chibas became politically active when he joined the Directorio Estudiantil Universitario of 1927 that protested against dictator Gerardo Machado. That same year he was expelled from the University and imprisoned. Once freed, he fled to the United States for political asylum. Chibás continued his fight in New York and founded the opposition paper Libertad. In 1930, after the murder of Rafael Trejo, president of the School of Law, Chibás returned to Cuba under an assumed name. This was a period of great political activity. On December 9th, 1931, he was arrested and spent a year in prison. Chibás fought Batista’s dictatorship during the years 1934-39. In 1939, he joined Gran San Martin’s Partido Revolucionario Cubano and was elected to the constitutional convention. In 1940, Eddy won a seat as congressmen of Havana. In 1944, he was elected to the Senate. Disillusioned with the PRC, he formed his own party, Partido del Pueblo Cubano, and ran for president in 1948. He lost the election and immediately began preparations for the campaign of 1952. Fidel Castro ran for congressman of Havana under Chibás’ party. Chibas’ weekly radio program had an enormous following. These programs focused on denouncing corrupt government officials. On August 5th, 1951, Eduardo Chibás fatally shot himself during one of his live radio broadcasts.

Raúl Chibás was born in Santiago de Cuba on April 25th, 1916. He began his participation in Cuba’s political struggle in 1930. He was a member of the Directorio Estudiantil Universitario that organized the strike of 1935 against the dictatorship of Batista. He received his Masters in philosophy from Havana University in 1940 and then joined the Partido Revolucionario Cubano with his brother Eddy. From 1940-1941 he did graduate work in Political Science at Columbia University. In 1947, Eddy and Raúl Chibas formed their own party, the Partido del Pueblo Cubano. Raúl was nominated for the Cuban Senate by the PRC for the 1952 elections. Raúl met Fidel Castro in 1952 when Castro was a student at the University of Havana. He was appointed President of the PRC in 1953. In December 1956, Raúl left the PRC and joined Castro’s 26th of July movement. He organized the Movement of Civic Resistance in Havana. On July 9th, 1957, he co-wrote and signed the “Manifesto of the Sierra Maestra” which was published that month in Cuba’s national magazine, Bohemia. He was also made treasurer of the rebel army. In August of 1960, Raúl and his wife Dalia went into exile in the United States. There he taught at Bronx Community College and Herrick Junior High School. His published articles have appeared in The New Republic, Nuestra America (Puerto Rico), Bohemia (U.S. and Cuba), El Nacional (Caracas VA) and El Universal (Caracas VA). Raúl Chibas died in Miami on August 15th, 2002.
Dalia Chibás was born in Matanzas, Cuba, on November 15th, 1931. Her father had a house that was very beautiful and sat on top of a hill that was right next to the Caves of Bellamar, where she spent most of her time playing. She moved to Havana and studied at the Graduate School of Teachers. After she graduated, Dalia moved to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming an actress. She later returned to Cuba to compete in the Miss Cuba pageant, hoping to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. During this time she met Raúl Chibás, who she later married and had two beautiful daughters, Marissa and Diana.
Production Team

Marissa Chibás, Writer and Performer
Mira Kingsley, Director
Dan Evans, Scenic Design
Rebecca M.K. Makus, Lighting Design
Karen Murk, Costume Design
Colbert S. David IV, Sound Design
Jon Gottlieb, Sound Design
Adam Flemming, Video Design
Anne Garcia-Romero, Dramaturg
Bethany Umbach, Associate Producer
Mauricio Lomelin, Associate Producer
Gary Kechely, Production Manager
Victor Sandoval, Stage Manager
Carol Bixler, Producer