National Theater of Cuba, Performance venue at Plaza de la Revolucion, Havana, Cuba
The National Theater of Cuba is a large performance building located at Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana with two main halls: the Sala Covarrubias and the Sala Avellaneda. Both halls accommodate various productions ranging from ballet to music and drama, and the complex includes extensive backstage areas, workshops, and a theater library.
Construction started in 1952 under President Fulgencio Batista and drew architectural ideas from New York's Radio City Music Hall. The building remained incomplete for many years until its full opening in 1979, when it became a central venue for Cuban arts.
The venue serves as a major center for Cuban performing arts, hosting a steady flow of national and international productions. It reflects how much the island values live performance and draws artists and audiences from across the country.
The entrance faces a busy public square where the building's distinctive design is easy to spot. Visitors should arrive with time to spare before a performance to explore the surrounding areas and find their way around comfortably.
The building was designed as one of the largest and most modern theaters in the Caribbean but spent decades as an unfinished structure. Its prolonged construction period mirrors the island's complicated history and gives the venue a special significance today.
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