Buena Vista Social Club is getting ready to make its Broadway debut at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, with performances set to begin February 21, 2025 ahead of a March 19 opening night. Get a first listen to the cast performing "Chan Chan" from the score above, featuring lead vocals by David Oquendo and Renesito Avich. You can also go behind the scenes in the recording studio here.
“’Chan Chan’ might be the most famous song the from Buena Vista Social Club album,” says music supervisor Dean Sharenow in a statement. “It gets into your soul in a way that only the best music can. Whether you understand the lyrics or not, it instantly touches you.”
“The music of Buena Vista Social Club is originally from Cuba, but it is truly international," adds music consultant Juan de Marcos González. It is listened to all over the world.”
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. Director Saheem Ali (Fat Ham), as well as choreographers Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck (Illinoise), will return after staging the musical's 2023 world premiere Off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company.
The musical has completed its Broadway cast with Justin Cunningham (Juan de Marcos), Andrew Montgomery Coleman, Carlos Gonzalez, Anthony Santos, Martín Sola, and Tanairi Sade Vazquez joining the previously announced 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, Ashley De La Rosa as Young Haydee, Angélica Beliard, Carlos Falú, Héctor Juan Maisonet, Ilda Mason, Marielys Molina, and Sophia 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 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.
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.
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
