| Buena Vista Social Club | |
|---|---|
 Broadway Promotional Poster | |
| Music | Various Artists |
| Lyrics | Various Artists |
| Book | Marco Ramirez |
| Basis | Buena Vista Social Club (1997) |
| Premiere | November 17, 2023:Atlantic Theatre Company |
| Productions | 2023Off-Broadway 2025 Broadway |
Buena Vista Social Club is a 2023 stagemusical, with a book byMarco Ramirez and featuring the music recorded by the ensemble musician groupBuena Vista Social Club.[1][2]
The musical is set inHavana,Cuba and spans time from the 1950s to the 1990s, following the lives of four prominent musicians, the effect communism and the rise ofFidel Castro had on musicians at the time, and their eventual collaboration in 1997 on the landmark albumBuena Vista Social Club. The music in the show is presented entirely in the Spanish language, with the musical styles ofson,danzón, andbolero represented in the musical score.[3][4]
The show was developed bySaheem Ali, who also served as director.David Yazbek is a creative consultant on the show, as well as the real lifeJuan de Marcos González who is portrayed in the musical,Nick Gold, andRy Cooder.[5] Saheem Ali also serves as director, with choreography by husband and wife teamPatricia Delgado andJustin Peck. The associate director is Moses Garcia, with Carlos Gonzalez as associate choreographer. Orchestrations and musical direction were by Marco Paguia, alongside music supervisor Dean Sharenow. Scene design is by Arnulfo Maldonado with costume design by Dede Ayite.[6]
The show premiered at theAtlantic 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.[7] The show was nominated for threeOuter Critics Circle Awards including Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, and Best New Off-Broadway Musical. The show was nominated for sevenLucille Lortel Awards including Outstanding Musical. At theDrama League Awards, the show was nominated for Best Direction of a Musical and Outstanding Production of a Musical.[8][9][10]
The musical opened for previews on Broadway at theGerald Schoenfeld Theatre on February 21, 2025, and opened on March 19, 2025. Producers of the show includeJohn Leguizamo andLaChanze, as well as Orin Wolf, John Styles, Jr.,Barbara Broccoli andMarc Platt.[11] The show tied for the mostTony Award nominations in 2025 alongsideDeath Becomes Her andMaybe Happy Ending, with a total of ten nominations includingBest Musical andBest Featured Actress (forNatalie Venetia Belcon). The show leads all nominees after winning aSpecial Tony Award for its live musicians.
| Character | Off-Broadway | Broadway |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2025 | |
| Omara Portuondo (adult) | Natalie Venetia Belcon | |
| Omara (young) | Kenya Browne | Isa Antonetti |
| Ibrahim Ferrer (adult) | Mel Semé | |
| Ibrahim (young) | Olly Sholotan | Wesley Wray |
| Rubén González | Jainardo Batista Sterling | |
| Rubén (young) | Leonardo Reyna | |
| Compay Segundo | Julio Monge | |
| Compay (young) | Jared Machado | Da'von T. Moody |
| Eliades Ochoa | Renesito Avich | |
| Juan de Marcos González | Luis Vega | Justin Cunningham |
| Haydee Portuondo (young) | Danaya Desperanza | Ashley De La Rosa |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Drama League Awards[12] | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Buena Vista Social Club | Nominated |
| Distinguished Performance | Natalie Venetia Belcon | Nominated | ||
| Tony Awards[13][14] | Best Musical | Buena Vista Social Club | Nominated | |
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Natalie Venetia Belcon | Won | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Saheem Ali | Nominated | ||
| Best Book of a Musical | Marco Ramirez | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Arnulfo Maldonado | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design of a Musical | Dede Ayite | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Tyler Micoleau | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design of a Musical | Jonathan Deans | Won | ||
| Best Choreography | Patricia Delgado andJustin Peck | Won | ||
| Best Orchestrations | Marco Paguia | Won | ||
| Special Tony Award | Buena Vista Social Club band | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Patricia Delgado andJustin Peck | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Marco Paguia | Won | ||
The musicians who make up the band ofBuena Vista Social Club: