The new musical Buena Vista Social Club has set a Broadway bow at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, with performances to begin February 21, 2025, ahead of a March 19 opening night. Director Saheem Ali (Fat Ham), as well as choreographers Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck (Illinoise), will return after staging the musical's Atlantic Theater Company world premiere.
Inspired by the Grammy-winning 1997 album of the same name, Buena Vista Social Club features a book by Marco Ramirez (The Royale). The musical brings the album to life, and tells the story of the legends who lived it.
The cast will feature Natalie Venetia Belcon as Omara, Julio Monge as Compay, Mel Semé as Ibrahim, Jainardo Batista Sterling as Rubén, Isa Antonetti as Young Omara, Da’Von T. Moody as Young Compay, Wesley Wray as Young Ibrahim, Leonardo Reyna as Young Rubén, Renesito Avich as Eliades, and Ashley De La Rosa as Young Haydee, with Angélica Beliard, Carlos Falú, Héctor Juan Maisonet, Ilda Mason, Marielys Molina, and Sophia Ramos.
Additional casting will be announced at a later date. Much of the cast are reprising their performances from the Off-Broadway world premiere, with the exception of newcomers Antonetti, Moody, Wray, De La Rosa, and Ramos. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting's Xavier Rubiano and Frankie Ramirez.
The Buena Vista Social Club music team is led by Tony winner David Yazbek (The Band's Visit) and music supervisor Dean Sharenow. The band includes Marco Paguia, who also serves as music director and is providing orchestrations and arrangements; David Oquendo; Gustavo Schartz; Hery Paz; Eddie Venegas; Jesus Ricardo; Javier Díaz; Mauricio Herrera; and Román Diaz.
The production features scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado; costume design by Dede Ayite; lighting design by Tyler Micoleau; sound design by Jonathan Deans; and wig, hair, and makeup design by J. Jared Janas. Arabella Powell will serve as production stage manager.
“It's been my honor to help develop Buena Vista Social Club into a new musical alongside Marco Ramirez, Saheem Ali, Patricia Delgado, Justin Peck, and David—all artists at the very top of their game," producer Orin Wolf said in a statement. "From our trips to Cuba getting to meet the incredible artists who created the album to our Off-Broadway premiere, the artistic process has been as invigorating as the energy and music that will begin pouring out of the Schoenfeld Theatre next year. Fans of the album and documentary will love how this new show opens up the story and we know Broadway audiences who come with fresh ears will be blown away as Buena Vista Social Club comes alive onstage.”
"I first heard the Buena Vista Social Club as a precocious youngster growing up in Nairobi, wearing out the original album from my father’s eclectic CD collection,” added Ali. “Though we spoke Swahili and not Spanish, I memorized the lyrics in my broken accent. I felt connected to the beautiful songs embodying the spirit of a distant culture. Decades later, I’m thrilled to be joining Orin, Marco, and the entire creative team on the journey to bringing this extraordinary, singular musical to Broadway.”
"In 1968, my grandfather left Cuba and got a job washing dishes a block from the Schoenfeld Theatre,” Ramirez said in a statement. “Almost 60 years later, we’ll be blasting his favorite songs there. Alongside some of the best artists—and people—I’ve ever met. I’m humbled by the chance to forge connections between two of the most musically iconic islands the world has ever known—Cuba and Manhattan.”
Buena Vista Social Club is produced on Broadway by Wolf, John Styles, Barbara Broccoli, Atlantic Theater Company, Luis Miranda, LaChanze, and John Leguizamo, with Executive Producer Allan Williams.
Visit BuenaVistaMusical.com for tickets. See photos from the Off-Broadway production below.
Company of Buena Vista Social ClubTM
Natalie Venetia Belcon and Julio Monge in Buena Vista Social ClubTM
Jared Machado, Kenya Browne, and Olly Sholotan in Buena Vista Social ClubTM
Natalie Venetia Belcon and Kenya Browne in Buena Vista Social ClubTM
Jared Machado and company of Buena Vista Social ClubTM
