Carmelita Tropicana (Alina Troyano)

Carmelita Tropicana is a performance artist and is the alter ego of author Alina Troyano. She is a comedienne, actress, singer, and dancer. She is a character that is featured throughout most of the plays that are contained in the collection of the works of author Alina Troyano. Carmelita is a Cuban national who began her show business career at the Tropicana club in Havana. Carmelita, who attempted to assassinate a corrupt Cuban official during the 1955 revolution, fled to the United States. Although she first landed in Miami, she eventually made her way to New York City where she opened the Tropicana-a-Go-Go, a replica of her night club in Havana.

Carmelita is a non-traditional performer and is openly gay. She strives for acceptance in the United States where she feels a bias against her heritage and her unconventional artistry and lifestyle. Although Carmelita makes a...