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Members of Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, wrapping up a trip to visit a sister church in Cuba. Photo by Joel Kramer.
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Barrs and Holly Lewis (in baseball hats) and Laurie Kramer, right, reading MinnPost in the lobby of Hotel Presidente. Photo by Joel Kramer.
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Most of the performers and crew are young and see themselves as speaking for a new generation. Cuban director Boris Gonzalez Arenas, left, American director Chi-wang Yang, center, Sage Lewis, right. Photo by Raphael Leib.
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Cuban and American cast and crew. Photo by Raphael Leib.
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Hip-hop musician Yrak Saenz with Leslie Mack, who flew with her family from Minnesota to see the show. Photo by Joel Kramer.
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Teatro Mella is a beautifully renovated facility, but the technical requirements of a hybrid theatre and film piece presented a complex challenge. Photo by Adrianne Koteen.
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Frequent power outages during rehearsals created plenty of anxiety as the cast and crew tried to coordinate live American actors interacting with Cuban actors on film. Photo by Adrianne Koteen.
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In this scene, for example, the American actor in the white shirt is live on stage; the Cuban actress hugging him is on film. Photo by Adrianne Koteen.
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The opening night crowd included many with Minnesota connections. Photo by Joel Kramer.
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New York theatre professional Teresa Eyring, formerly of Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, and documentary filmmaker Estela Bravo, creator of "FIDEL: The Untold Story." Born in the U.S., Bravo has lived in Cuba since 1963. Photo by Joel Kramer.
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These photos were taken in Havana Dec. 4-6 at the world premiere of "The Closest Farthest Away." Hundreds attended each performance at Teatro Mella. Audience members included the Cuban and American cast and crew, arts professionals from both countries and Minnesotans traveling in Cuba. The U.S. premiere is scheduled for March 2010 in Miami. Photo by Adrianne Koteen.
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Minnesota-born composer Sage Lewis, left, and his filmmaker wife Aleigh Lewis created and produced "The Closest Farthest Away" as a Cuban-American collaboration. Sponsored by Project Por Amor, the effort took more than three years and many trips to Cuba. Photo by Adrianne Koteen.
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