‘Havana Night’ may enjoy a new dawn

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006 | 12:33 p.m.

When "Havana Night Club" premiered at the Stardust in August 2004, it was a ragtag production.

Not all of the costumes and props had arrived on opening night.

Even the cast of 54 Cubans was not complete - several dancers and musicians were en route or stuck in bureaucratic limbo in some other state or country.

But during the show's final performance Feb. 4 things could not have gone better.

"Havana Night Club" was in top form for a performance that was almost sold out.

The musical evolved into a lavish production that lasted 18 months and more than 400 performances.

And now it is over.

Or is it just beginning?

"I am happy that I can move on and create a new version," said Nicole "ND" Durr, the show's creator, producer, artistic director, choreographer and costume designer. "Always in life a chapter is important because every chapter brings you to another chapter."

What a chapter that first one was, filled with drama, intrigue, adventure and romance.

The troupe of Cubans had been traveling the world for several years, performing in dozens of countries, when Durr (a native of Germany who grew up around the world) secured a six-week engagement at the Stardust in early July 2004.

But the U.S. and Cuban governments balked, initially.

Durr says she was arrested in Cuba and thrown out of the country.

Eventually both nations relented. The United States allowed them to enter this country, but Cuba would not allow them to leave as a company - only individually.

After the entire cast was safely out of Cuba, most of them asked for and were granted political asylum.

Four have returned to their native country.

A husband and wife, performers who had been separated by the ordeal, were reunited. A couple of female cast members married and quit the troupe. Two in the show fell in love and will be married.

A DVD of the show has been produced.

A script for a feature film based upon the events is being written.

"I am very grateful we were able to do this chapter," Durr said. "And I am happy that we can move on and create something that is 'now' - this show is now antique and I am happy, as an artist, to be able to create something more."

Durr has begun work on the new production.

"It will be dramatically different," she said. "The new show will be a more expensive production, and I will put in a story line."

The working title is "Havana Night Club, The Journey of the Drum."

Where its home will be is being kept under wraps until Feb. 22, when it will be announced on "Don Francisco Presenta," a popular Spanish-language variety show that airs on Univision.

Durr says the new production should debut in a venue on the Strip in late March or early April 2007.

It's certain the show will not be at the Stardust, which is going to close in early 2007 to be replaced by Echelon, a $4 billion complex that will open in early 2010.

According to Durr the cast will perform a segment of its new production on the Latin Grammys show on Nov. 3, and then go on tour on Nov. 4.

Vegas Views

Ashleigh Zayda Hackett was born on Jan. 31 in West Hills, Calif. The couple have a 6-year-old son, Oliver Richman, from Miller's previous marriage.

Wally Eastwood, billed as "The World's Fastest Juggler," has been replaced as the featured act in "Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana, by comic juggler Michael Holly and pianist Zeidwig.

"Naked Hearts": Golden Rainbow, an organization created to help the victims of AIDS, will sponsor a fundraiser at 11 p.m. today at Krave, near the northeast corner of the Strip and Harmon Avenue.

"Naked Hearts" will feature performances by many local entertainers, including cast members from Celine Dion's "A New Day ...," "Chippendales," "Fantasy," "Folies Bergere," "La Cage" and "Mamma Mia."

Tickets are $20 in advance. For information, call 384-2899 or visit GoldenRainbow.org.

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at jerry@lasvegassun.com.