A musical about the Cuban artists behind the “Buena Vista Social Club,” an internationally-recognized album of the country’s most popular musical stylings, will open on Broadway next year.
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Producers Orin Wolf, John Styles, and Barbara Broccoli announced the production of the new musical, also dubbed “Buena Vista Social Club,” on Monday morning. Previews begin on Feb. 21, while the production is scheduled to open March 19 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater.
“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,” said Wolf. He also recounted the group’s joint trips to Cuba, “getting to meet the incredible artists who created the album to our Off-Broadway premiere,” and promised “Broadway audiences who come with fresh ears will be blown away as Buena Vista Social Club comes alive on-stage.”
With a book by Marco Ramirez, “The Royale,” and direction from Saheem Ali, the upcoming musical will incorporate an ensemble of performing artists, including an Afro-Cuban band of musicians who will help portray the true story of the artists who recorded “Buena Vista Social Club” in 1997. The show enjoyed an off Broadway run at Atlantic Theater Company late last year.
Choreography will be heralded by Patricia Delgado and Tony award winner Justin Peck (“Illinoise,” Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story”) and a music team will be led by Tony Award winner David Yazbek (The Band’s Visit) and Dean Sharenow.
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The Broadway company features Natalie Venetia Belcon (Omara), Julio Monge (Compay), Mel Semé (Ibrahim) Jainardo 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 Beliard, Carlos Falú, Héctor Juan Maisonet, Ilda Mason, Marielys Molina, Sophia Ramos. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
Tickets are on sale now at http://www.buenavistamusical.com .
“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,” added Ali. “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 Ramirez. “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.”
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