BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB's Natalie Venetia Belcon Wins 2025 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress
Buena Vista Social Club is now playing at the Schoenfeld Theatre.
Jun. 08, 2025
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Natalie Venetia Belcon has won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for Buena Vista Social Club.
Natalie Venetia Belcon is portraying the legendary Omara Portuondo in the one of a kind Buena Vista Social Club, and is beyond honored to have won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical and to have been nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Broadway credits include: Matilda (Mrs. Phelps), Avenue Q (original cast as Gary Coleman), Rent (Joanne). Off-Broadway credits include: Ahrens and Flaherty’s The Glorious Ones at Lincoln Center. She previously starred in the National Tour of Wicked as Madame Morrible. Her regional credits include: Ahrens and Flaherty’s new musical, Knoxville (adapted by Frank Galati) at AsoloRepertory Theatre, Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Belcon has had recurring and guest starring roles on a number of TV shows and featured roles in a few films. PBS Great Performances: Play On!
In Buena Vista Social Club, step into the heart of Cuba, beyond the glitz of the Tropicana, to a place where blazing trumpets and sizzling guitars set the dance floor on fire. Here, the real sound of Havana is born—and one woman discovers the music that will change her life forever. The musical is inspired by the true events that led to the Grammy Award-winning album. Buena Vista Social Club's self-titled album was released in 1997. It was created by an ensemble of Cuban musicians and directed by Juan De Marcos González and Ry Cooder.
The album was both a critical and commercial success, and led to a performance at Carnegie Hall in 1998. The album's creation was captured in a 1999 documentary of the same name. The album has been preserved in the United States National Recording Registry and has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the best-selling world music album. The musical features the same soul-stirring music of Cuba’s golden age, with a book by Marco Ramirez and direction by Tony nominee Saheem Ali. It is choreographed by Patricia Delgado and Tony Award winner Justin Peck and will feature a music team led by Tony Award winner David Yazbek and Music Supervisor Dean Sharenow.
The musical had its world premiere at the Atlantic Theater Company, New York City in December 2023 and was nominated for Best Musical by the Drama League and Outer Critics Circle organizations. The Broadway company features Natalie Venetia Belcon, Julio Monge, Mel Semé, Jainardo Batista Sterling, Isa Antonetti, Da’von T. Moody, Wesley Wray, Leonardo Reyna, Renesito Avich, Ashley De La Rosa, and Angélica Beliard, Carlos Falú, Héctor Juan Maisonet, Ilda Mason, Marielys Molina, Sophia Ramos. Ready to feel the beat? Don’t miss an unforgettable tale of big dreams, second chances, and the power of art to help us survive.
