FROM CUBA, WITH LOVE: The Story of a Peter Pan Kid – Written and Performed by Dr. Manuel Prestamo

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Between 1960–1962, more than 14,000 Cuban children were sent alone to the U.S. by parents desperate to protect them from Castro’s regime. Manuel Prestamo was one of them. In this deeply moving one-man show, Dr. Prestamo recounts his riveting journey:

From the fear and uncertainty of arriving in a new country alone at age nine.

To finding belonging in Sarasota, FL.

To ultimately becoming an American Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. State Department and earning his Ph.D. from NYU.

His story is poignant, at times even comical, and ultimately inspiring—a powerful reminder of resilience, hope and the immigrant experience. With today’s global events, his voice could not be more timely.

Available after the performance for Q&A.

PERFORMER BIO:

Sent to the United States on January 6, 1961 by his parents at the age of 9, Manuel had the good fortune to at least get brought out to the United States by his aunt. Nevertheless, in the intervening years before his mother, sister, and grandmother were able to get out and come to the United States his father had passed away. His early years here were difficult ones as his aunt’s brother was very opposed to encouraging Manuel’s interest in the arts and Manuel was forced to go out to a barn to practice and study violin. He progressed quickly and went to the university at the age of 16 on a full scholarship. By the time he was 21 he had earned a Ph.D. from NYU and become a college professor. He earned his living as a symphony orchestra conductor and became recognized for his work with youth orchestras. But, his love of acting as a child never left him and he sought out acting opportunities and played roles such as that of the King in Once Upon a Mattress, while serving as Dean of Arts and Humanities at Oklahoma Community College. When immigrant children were being separated from their parents during the Trump years, Manuel felt compelled to tell “his” story in support of those children. With the current exodus and the separation of families in Ukraine, this recurring immigrant theme is as poignant and relevant today is it was in 1961. In addition, Manuel’s estrangement from his parents was also a direct result of Russia’s influence on Cuba during the 1960’s. The show, The Story of a Peter Pan Kid, had its premiere in October of 2019 in a sold out showcase in Orlando which got a standing ovation and the show was immediately booked the next morning. With an expansive record of accomplishments, including winning the Mary Beth Treen Award from South Arts, and 2 Fulbright Scholar Appointments, Manuel’s services and expertise as a performing artist, administrator and educator have been utilized by organizations for some 40 years in the United States, Austria, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Israel, Chile, Columbia, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Argentina, Israel, and the Far East.