Buena Vista Social Club (musical)

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.^[1][2]

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.^[3][4]

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.^[5] 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, alongside music supervisor Dean Sharenow. Scene design is by Arnulfo Maldonado with costume design by Dede Ayite.^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8][9][10]

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.^[11] 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.

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)

• Buena Vista Social Club, Wim Wenders's Academy Award-nominated 1999 documentary film on the same subject

• Official website