Buena Vista Social Club Musical Sets Broadway Transfer

Buena Vista Social Club, a new musical that premiered earlier this year at the Atlantic Theatre Company, will come to Broadway beginning February 21 at the Schoenfeld theatre. Opening night is set for March 19.

A theatrical origin story for the legendary Cuban musical ensemble, Buena Vista Social Club has a book by Marco Ramirez, direction by Saheem Ali, choreography by Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, music supervision by Dean Sharenow, music production by David Yazbek, and orchestrations, arrangements, and music direction by Marco Paguia.

The Broadway cast will be led by original off-Broadway company members  Natalie Venetia Belcon (Omara), Julio Monge (Compay), Mel Semé (Ibrahim), Jainardo Batista Sterling (Rubén), Leonardo Reyna (Young Rubén), Renesito Avich (Eliades), Angélica Beliard (ensemble), Carlos Falú (ensemble), Héctor Juan Maisonet (ensemble), Ilda Mason (ensemble), and Marielys Molina (ensemble).

New for Broadway are Isa Antonetti (Young Omara), Wesley Wray (Young Ibrahim), Ashley De La Rosa (Young Haydee), and Sophia Ramos (ensemble). Full casting will be announced at a later date.

Paguia’s band will include 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). Additional arrangements are by Javier Diaz and David Oquendo, with music consultation by Juan de Marcos.

The production has sets by Arnulfo Maldonado, costumes by Dede Ayite, lighting by Tyler Micoleau, sound by Jonathan Deans, and wigs, hair & make-up by J. Jared Janas.

Paguia won 2024 Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for his orchestrations.

Of the off-Broadway run, our critic called Buena Vista Social Club “one of the most invigorating, joyous, and soul-satisfying shows playing in New York.”