Director’s Concept For Anna In The Tropics: Highlighting

Director’s concept for Anna in the Tropics: highlighting themes and setting mood

This assignment requires developing a comprehensive director’s concept for the play "Anna in the Tropics," focusing on highlighting the central themes, creating the appropriate mood and atmosphere, designing the physical environment, and understanding character actions and stage logistics. The goal is to interpret the play’s core messages and translate them into a cohesive directorial vision that guides the overall production.

The play "Anna in the Tropics" by Nilo Cruz explores themes such as cultural identity, tradition versus modernity, the power of storytelling, and the impact of change within a close-knit community. As a director, my primary objective will be to underscore these themes through visual and theatrical choices that deepen the audience’s understanding of the characters’ internal and external struggles. The play is set in a Cuban cigar factory in Florida during the 1930s, a historical period marked by social change, economic hardship, and cultural preservation. To highlight themes of cultural heritage and generational conflict, I plan to incorporate visual elements that emphasize Cuban traditions, such as the use of authentic language, music, and customs in the staging, costume design, and soundscape.

The mood and atmosphere of "Anna in the Tropics" are contemplative, nostalgic, and subtly tense. The play reflects a community caught between old-world traditions and the encroaching influence of modernity. To evoke this mood, I intend to utilize warm, earthy color palettes in set and costume designs, reminiscent of cigars and tropical landscapes, complemented by soft, atmospheric lighting that shifts subtly to mirror emotional changes and thematic tensions. Incorporating traditional Cuban music at strategic moments will further enhance the authentic ambiance and reinforce the cultural backdrop. The stage space will support a mood of intimacy and introspection while also providing moments of heightened tension as characters confront change or personal revelation.

Regarding the physical environment, artifacts from the characters' lives—such as personal objects like photographs, religious symbols, or memorabilia from Cuba—will be integrated into the set to personalize the space. The factory setting itself is a critical artifact, representing not only the economic activity but also the cultural heartbeat of the community. One character’s point of view will influence the physical environment more significantly—likely the factory owner or the person overseeing the play’s main action—since their perception of tradition and change will shape the portrayal of the factory space. This character’s relationship with the environment may convey ownership or dominance, subtly indicating social hierarchies and power dynamics within the community.

The basic actions of the characters involve conversations, work-related tasks, and moments of personal reflection. Ensuring fluid entrances and exits is essential to maintain stage business and character interactions. Physical actions—such as rolling cigars, engaging in storytelling, or gesturing during emotional revelations—must be supported by the stage layout. To accommodate these actions, the stage will feature designated areas for work, conversation, and solitude, with movable set pieces that facilitate quick scene changes. The stage design will promote ease of movement for actors and ensure that physical actions align naturally with the narrative flow, emphasizing moments of tension or tenderness.

References

• Cruz, N. (2003). Anna in the Tropics. Dramatists Play Service.
• Gates, H. L. (2014). The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African-American Literary Criticism. Oxford University Press.
• Said, E. W. (1978). Orientalism. Vintage Books.
• Bradshaw, M. (2004). Theatrical Design and Production. McGraw-Hill.
• Strasberg, L. (1963). Acting: The First Six Lessons. Smith & Kraus.
• Miller, T. (2016). The Theatre Industry and Set Design. Routledge.
• Neel, R. (2017). Creating Atmosphere in Theatre. University of Michigan Press.
• Harrison, A. (2015). Costume Design and Cultural Identity. Sage Publications.
• Johnson, P. (2018). Stagecraft: An Introduction. Focal Press.
• Lehman, S. (2020). Stage Movement and Physical Theatre. Routledge.