Buena Vista Social Club is a 2023 stage musical, with a book by Marco Ramirez and featuring the music recorded by the ensemble musician group Buena Vista Social Club.Buena Vista Social Club Off-Broadaway Database Listing] accessed 2024-04-26.
The musical is set in Havana, Cuba and spans time from the 1950s to the 1990s, following the lives of four prominent musicians, the effect communism and the rise of Fidel Castro had on musicians at the time, and their eventual collaboration in 1997 on the landmark album Buena Vista Social Club. The music in the show is presented entirely in the Spanish language, with the musical styles of son, danzón, and bolero represented in the musical score.
Production history Off-Broadway (2023) The show was developed by Saheem Ali, who also served as director. David Yazbek is a creative consultant on the show, as well as the real life Juan de Marcos González who is portrayed in the musical, Nick Gold, and Ry Cooder. Saheem Ali also serves as director, with choreography by husband and wife team Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck. The associate director is Moses Garcia, with Carlos Gonzalez as associate choreographer. Orchestrations and musical direction were by Marco Paguia and David Oquendo, alongside music supervisor Dean Sharenow. Scene design is by Arnulfo Maldonado with costume design by Dede Ayite.
The show premiered at the Atlantic Theater Company on November 17, 2023, and played until January 28, 2024, extending twice from the original end date due to high ticket sales and critical acclaim. The show was nominated for three Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, and Best New Off-Broadway Musical. The show was nominated for seven Lucille Lortel Awards including Outstanding Musical. At the Drama League Awards, the show was nominated for Best Direction of a Musical and Outstanding Production of a Musical.
Broadway (2025) The musical opened for previews on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on February 21, 2025, and opened on March 19, 2025. Producers of the show include John Leguizamo and LaChanze, as well as Orin Wolf, John Styles, Jr., Barbara Broccoli and Marc Platt.New York Times accessed 09/20/2024 The show tied for the most Tony Award nominations in 2025 alongside Death Becomes Her and Maybe Happy Ending, with a total of ten nominations including Best Musical and Best Featured Actress (for Natalie Venetia Belcon). The show leads all nominees after winning a Special Tony Award for its live musicians.
The show's cast album won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
A multi-year North American tour is set to launch from the Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, NY, in fall 2026.
West End (2027) In June 2026, lead producer Orin Wolfe announced plans to bring the musical to the West End in 2027, with dates, cast and venue to be announced.
Cast and characters CharacterOff-BroadwayBroadway20232025Omara Portuondo (adult)Natalie Venetia Belcon Omara Portuondo (young)Kenya BrowneIsa Antonetti Ibrahim Ferrer (adult)Mel Semé Ibrahim Ferrer (young)Olly SholotanWesley Wray Rubén GonzálezJainardo Batista Sterling Rubén González (young)Leonardo Reyna Compay SegundoJulio Monge Compay Segundo (young)Jared MachadoDa’Von T. MoodyEliades OchoaRenesito Avich Juan de Marcos GonzálezLuis VegaJustin Cunningham Haydee Portuondo (young)Danaya DesperanzaAshley De La Rosa
Notable replacements Broadway Omara Portuondo (adult): Gina Torresplaybill.com Gina Torres will leadaccessed 09/19/2026 The Narrator: Jose Iglesiasmlb.com Jose Iglesias to appear in Buean Vistaaccessed 09/19/2026
Musical numbers Act I "El Carretero" "Lágrimas Negras" (Prelude) "De Camino a la Vereda" "El Cumbanchero" "Veinte Años" "Que Bueno Baila Usted" "Bruca Maniguá" "Murmullo" "Drume Negrita" "Candela" "El Cumbanchero (Reprise)" "Dos Gardenias"
Act II "El Cuarto de Tula" "La Negra Tomasa" "Chan Chan" "Silencio" "Lágrimas Negras" "Dos Gardenias" (Reprise) "Bruca Maniguá" (Reprise) "Silencio" (Instrumental) "Candela" (Reprise)
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. 2025 Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Musical Buena Vista Social Club Distinguished Performance Natalie Venetia Belcon Tony Awards Best Musical Buena Vista Social Club Best Featured Actress in a Musical Natalie Venetia Belcon Best Direction of a Musical Saheem Ali Best Book of a Musical Marco Ramirez Best Scenic Design of a Musical Arnulfo Maldonado Best Costume Design of a Musical Dede Ayite Best Lighting Design of a Musical Tyler Micoleau Best Sound Design of a Musical Jonathan Deans Best Choreography Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck Best Orchestrations Marco Paguia Special Tony Award Buena Vista Social Club band Chita Rivera Awards Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show Buena Vista Social Club Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical Outstanding Choreography Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck Outstanding Orchestrations Marco Paguia
See also Buena Vista Social Club, Wim Wenders's Academy Award-nominated 1999 documentary film on the same subject
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