Buena Vista Social Club (musical)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:00:46 PM Wikipedia source
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. 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.
Infobox
Music
Various Artists
Lyrics
Various Artists
Book
Marco Ramirez
Basis
Buena Vista Social Club (1997)
Premiere
November 17, 2023: Atlantic Theatre Company
Productions
2023 Off-Broadway2025 Broadway
Tables
· Cast and characters
2023
2023
Character
2023
Off-Broadway
2025
Omara Portuondo (adult)
Omara Portuondo (adult)
Character
Omara Portuondo (adult)
Off-Broadway
Natalie Venetia Belcon
Omara (young)
Omara (young)
Character
Omara (young)
Off-Broadway
Kenya Browne
Broadway
Isa Antonetti
Ibrahim Ferrer (adult)
Ibrahim Ferrer (adult)
Character
Ibrahim Ferrer (adult)
Off-Broadway
Mel Semé
Ibrahim (young)
Ibrahim (young)
Character
Ibrahim (young)
Off-Broadway
Olly Sholotan
Broadway
Wesley Wray
Rubén González
Rubén González
Character
Rubén González
Off-Broadway
Jainardo Batista Sterling
Rubén (young)
Rubén (young)
Character
Rubén (young)
Off-Broadway
Leonardo Reyna
Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo
Character
Compay Segundo
Off-Broadway
Julio Monge
Compay (young)
Compay (young)
Character
Compay (young)
Off-Broadway
Jared Machado
Broadway
Da'von T. Moody
Eliades Ochoa
Eliades Ochoa
Character
Eliades Ochoa
Off-Broadway
Renesito Avich
Juan de Marcos González
Juan de Marcos González
Character
Juan de Marcos González
Off-Broadway
Luis Vega
Broadway
Justin Cunningham
Haydee Portuondo (young)
Haydee Portuondo (young)
Character
Haydee Portuondo (young)
Off-Broadway
Danaya Desperanza
Broadway
Ashley De La Rosa
| Character | Off-Broadway | Broadway |
| 2023 | 2025 | |
| Omara Portuondo (adult) | Natalie Venetia Belcon | |
| Omara (young) | Kenya Browne | Isa Antonetti |
| Ibrahim Ferrer (adult) | Mel Semé | |
| Ibrahim (young) | Olly Sholotan | Wesley Wray |
| Rubén González | Jainardo Batista Sterling | |
| Rubén (young) | Leonardo Reyna | |
| Compay Segundo | Julio Monge | |
| Compay (young) | Jared Machado | Da'von T. Moody |
| Eliades Ochoa | Renesito Avich | |
| Juan de Marcos González | Luis Vega | Justin Cunningham |
| Haydee Portuondo (young) | Danaya Desperanza | Ashley De La Rosa |
· Awards and nominations
2025
2025
Year
2025
Award
Drama League Awards
Category
Outstanding Production of a Musical
Nominee
Buena Vista Social Club
Result
Nominated
Distinguished Performance
Distinguished Performance
Year
Distinguished Performance
Award
Natalie Venetia Belcon
Category
Nominated
Tony Awards
Tony Awards
Year
Tony Awards
Award
Best Musical
Category
Buena Vista Social Club
Nominee
Nominated
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Year
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Award
Natalie Venetia Belcon
Category
Won
Best Direction of a Musical
Best Direction of a Musical
Year
Best Direction of a Musical
Award
Saheem Ali
Category
Nominated
Best Book of a Musical
Best Book of a Musical
Year
Best Book of a Musical
Award
Marco Ramirez
Category
Nominated
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Year
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Award
Arnulfo Maldonado
Category
Nominated
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Year
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Award
Dede Ayite
Category
Nominated
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Year
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Award
Tyler Micoleau
Category
Nominated
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Year
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Award
Jonathan Deans
Category
Won
Best Choreography
Best Choreography
Year
Best Choreography
Award
Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck
Category
Won
Best Orchestrations
Best Orchestrations
Year
Best Orchestrations
Award
Marco Paguia
Category
Won
Special Tony Award
Special Tony Award
Year
Special Tony Award
Award
Buena Vista Social Club band
Category
Won
Outer Critics Circle Awards
Outer Critics Circle Awards
Year
Outer Critics Circle Awards
Award
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Choreography
Outstanding Choreography
Year
Outstanding Choreography
Award
Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations
Outstanding Orchestrations
Year
Outstanding Orchestrations
Award
Marco Paguia
Category
Won
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Buena Vista Social Club | Nominated |
| Distinguished Performance | Natalie Venetia Belcon | Nominated | ||
| Tony Awards | Best Musical | Buena Vista Social Club | Nominated | |
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Natalie Venetia Belcon | Won | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Saheem Ali | Nominated | ||
| Best Book of a Musical | Marco Ramirez | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Arnulfo Maldonado | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design of a Musical | Dede Ayite | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Tyler Micoleau | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design of a Musical | Jonathan Deans | Won | ||
| Best Choreography | Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck | Won | ||
| Best Orchestrations | Marco Paguia | Won | ||
| Special Tony Award | Buena Vista Social Club band | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Marco Paguia | Won | ||
References
- Buena Vista Social Club Off-Broadaway Database Listing] accessed 2024-04-26.http://www.iobdb.com/Production/7200
- rollingstone.comhttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/buena-vista-social-club-musical-cuba-1234872787/
- Observerhttps://observer.com/2023/12/review-cubas-past-sings-out-in-buena-vista-social-club/
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/production/buena-vista-social-club-off-broadway-atlantic-theater-company-linda-gross-theater-2023
- timeout.comhttps://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/buena-vista-social-club-musical-review-off-broadway
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/world-premiere-of-atlantic-theater-companys-buena-vista-social-club-begins-performances-november-17
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/buena-vista-social-club-world-premiere-extends-again
- "2024 Drama League Award Nominations Announced - TheaterMania.com"https://www.theatermania.com/news/2024-drama-league-award-nominations-announced_1737887/
- lortelaward.comhttps://lortelaward.com/2024-nominees/
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/dead-outlaw-leads-2024-outer-critics-circle-award-nominations-read-the-full-list
- New York Times accessed 09/20/2024https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/16/theater/buena-vista-social-club-broadway.html
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/2025-drama-league-awards-nominations-are-out-read-the-full-list
- www.tonyawards.comhttps://www.tonyawards.com/shows/buena-vista-social-club/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/legit/news/tony-nominations-2025-complete-list-1236383117/