The Legacy of Buena Vista Social Club

(Photo/Buena Vista Social Club/New York Theatre Guide)

By Giselle Bradshaw

On the evening of April 30, 2025, The Morningside Post staff went to see Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway. I was a theater kid in high school, so I was excited to see the show. 

Buena Vista Social Club is a musical set in Havana, Cuba that tells the story of the musicians who would make up the Social Club during the ’50s. Because of the political upheaval of the Cuban Revolution, these musicians’ lives and careers were disrupted. Some of the musicians later came back together in the ’90s to record an album after convincing the initially reluctant vocalist Omara Portuondo, played by the talented Natalie Venetia Belcon. 

If I could describe the show in one word, I would use energetic. I was captivated by everything from the music, to the choreography, to the bright warm colors of costumes. The scenes always felt like they were moving, especially thanks to the animated choreography. The dancers added to the liveliness of the show overall.

The show also covers serious themes, such as connecting with others through music, navigating political unrest, and sibling relationships. Omara’s close relationship with her sister becomes strained when her sister decides to leave Cuba for the United States amid the tense political environment. Their close bond, previously characterized by mutual support for one another and a shared passion for their musical careers, is suddenly overwhelmed and tested by forces larger than themselves. To me, their relationship demonstrates how sometimes you need to make painful decisions because of things that are outside of your control. It also shows how, despite periods of distance and desperation, love for your family can still exist and persist. 

I would recommend the show to anyone interested in history, Afro-Cuban music, or a story about reconnecting.

The show opened on Broadway earlier this year, and is currently playing at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.