Buena Vista Social Club™ -- The Musical - AmNews Curtain Raiser

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Monday, September 16, 2024

Buena Vista Social Club™ -- The Musical


 A New Broadway Musical

Book by Marco Ramirez

Music by the Grammy Award-winning Buena Vista Social Club

Choreography by Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck

Developed and Directed by Saheem Ali

 

At Broadway’s Schoenfeld Theatre

Previews Begin FridayFebruary 21, 2025

The opening is Wednesday, March 19, 2025

 

Tickets Now on Sale

 

“THE FULL-OF-RICHES NEW MUSICAL ADDS THE THRILL OF INTIMACY AND THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY, BRINGING A CLASSIC RECORD TO LIFE.  EXQUISITE HARMONIES, DELIRIOUS POLYRHYTHMS AND RAW BRASS.” – NEW YORK TIMES

 

★★★★ AN IRRESISTIBLE TROPICAL VACATION. A CELEBRATION OF CUBAN MUSICAL HISTORY, IT’S A GETAWAY AND A GATEWAY: JUST GIVE YOURSELF OVER TO BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB.”  TIME OUT NEW YORK

 


Producers Orin Wolf, John Styles, and Barbara Broccoli announce a Broadway production of the acclaimed new musical BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB™.  With a book by Marco Ramirez (Drama Desk Award, The Royale), director Saheem Ali (Tony Nominee, Fat Hamleads an ensemble of visionary performing artists, including a band of renowned musicians from across the globe to tell the legendary story of the artists who recorded the original album. BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB features the soul-stirring music of Cuba’s golden age, choreography by Patricia Delgado and Tony Award winner Justin Peck (Illinoise, Steven Spielberg's West Side Story) and a music team led by Tony Award winner David Yazbek (The Band's Visit) and Music Supervisor Dean Sharenow

 

The new Broadway musical will begin performances on Friday, February 21, 2025, and open on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (36 West 45th St).  Tickets are on sale now at www.buenavistamusical.com.

 

Step into the heart of Cuba, beyond the glitz of the Tropicana, to a place where blazing trumpets and sizzling guitars set the dance floor on fire. Here, the sound of Havana is born—and one woman's remarkable journey begins.

Inspired by true events, the new Broadway musical BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB brings the GRAMMY® Award-winning album to thrilling life—and tells the story of the legends who lived it. A world-class Afro-Cuban band is joined by a sensational cast in this unforgettable tale of survival, second chances, and the extraordinary power of music.

The Broadway company features Natalie Venetia Belcon (Omara), Julio Monge (Compay), Mel Semé (IbrahimJainardo Batista Sterling (Rubén), Isa Antonetti (Young Omara), Da’von Moody (Young Compay), Wesley Wray (Young Ibrahim), Leonardo Reyna (Young Rubén), Renesito Avich (Eliades), Ashley De La Rosa (Young Haydee), and Angélica BeliardCarlos Falú, Héctor Juan Maisonet, Ilda Mason, Marielys Molina, Sophia Ramos. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

The BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB™ band features Marco Paguia (Piano, Music Director), David Oquendo (Guitar), Gustavo Schartz (Bass), Hery Paz (Woodwinds), Eddie Venegas (Trombone), Jesus Ricardo (Trumpet), Javier Díaz (Percussion), Mauricio Herrera (Percussion), and Román Diaz (Percussion).

 

The band of BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB features orchestrations, arrangements, and music direction by Marco Paguia, additional arrangements by Javier Diaz and David Oquendo, and music consultation by Juan de Marcos. 

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB features scenery by Arnulfo Maldonado, costumes by Dede Ayite, lighting by Tyler Micoleau, sound by Jonathan Deans, wigs, hair & make-up by J. Jared Janas, and casting by Tara Rubin CastingXavier Rubiano, CSA; Frankie RamirezArabella Powell serves as the 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 Yazbek - all artists at the very top of their game.  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,” says Orin Wolf, producer.  “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 on-stage.”

“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,” said Saheem Ali, director. “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,” said Marco Ramirez, book writer. “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 Orin Wolf, John Styles, Barbara Broccoli, Atlantic Theater Company, Luis Miranda, LaChanze and John Leguizamo with Executive Producer Allan Williams.

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB made its world premiere at the Atlantic Theater Company, New York City in December 2023 and was nominated for Best Musical by the Drama League and Outer Critics Circle organizations.

 

TICKETS

Tickets are available at www.buenavistamusical.com.


BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB™ is both the name given to this extraordinary group of musicians and the album, recorded in just seven days in 1996, the trio of Cuban bandleader Juan de Marcos González, American producer and guitarist Ry Cooder, and British producer and label owner Nick Gold assembled an impromptu group of Cuban musicians in Havana’s 1950s vintage EGREM studios. It was clear from the atmosphere of the recording sessions that something very special was taking place. However, no one could have predicted that Buena Vista Social Club would become a worldwide phenomenon – awarded a Grammy in 1997 and, at over 8 million copies, outselling any other record in the same genre. The acclaim of the original album has elevated the artists (including Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González & Omara Portuondo) to superstar status, inspired an award-winning film by Wim Wenders, and has contributed to popularising Cuba’s rich musical heritage. Produced by Ry Cooder for World Circuit, the timeless quality of the music and the sheer verve of the veteran performers have ensured that this will go down as one of the landmark recordings of the 20th century.  Album:  BVSC album


To learn more about the Club, the original album and musicians:  STORY | Buena Vista Social Club

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