Photos: BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB Opens At Atlantic Theater Company
Inspired by true events, the new musical Buena Vista Social ClubTM brings the iconic Grammy-winning album of pulsing Afro-Cuban music thrillingly to the stage.
By: A.A. Cristi Dec. 18, 2023
Atlantic Theater Company’s world premiere musical, Buena Vista Social Club ™ officially opened Off-Broadway on December 13th. See photos from opening night.
Buena Vista Social Club™ is written by Marco Ramirez, directed by Saheem Ali, and choreographed by Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck. David Yazbeck leads the music team.
Inspired by true events, the new musical Buena Vista Social ClubTM brings the iconic Grammy-winning album of pulsing Afro-Cuban music thrillingly to the stage.
In 1950s Havana, a group of young musicians creates a sound that shakes the world of Cuban music – until the revolution changes everything. Forty years later, the band is brought back together to record the songs they left behind. With decades of heartbreak fueling every note, they unexpectedly go on to create the greatest-selling world music album of all time, immortalizing their songs and their legacy.
The international cast of Buena Vista Social ClubTM features Skizzo Arnedillo (Best Original Choreography Nominee Off-Broadway, A Class Act), Renesito Avich (Latin Grammy nominee), Natalie Venetia Belcon (Matilda), Angélica Beliard (Summer), Kenya Browne (Off-Broadway debut), Danaya Esperanza (Comedy of Errors), Carlos Falú (Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story), Francisco J. González (Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”), Jared Machado (Off-Broadway debut), Héctor Juan Maisonet (On Your Feet!), Ilda Mason (West Side Story), Marielys Molina (Motown), Julio Monge (Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story), Leonardo Reyna (Off-Broadway debut), Mel Semé (Off-Broadway debut), Olly Sholotan (Peacock’s “Bel-Air”), Jainardo Batista Sterling (Whitney Museum’s Lacks Criticality), Nancy Ticotin (In The Heights), and Luis Vega (Tell Hector I Miss Him).
The band of Buena Vista Social ClubTM features music supervisor Dean Sharenow, music director, orchestrations & arrangements by Marco Paguia, additional arrangements by Javier Diaz and David Oquendo, consultant Juan de Marcos, and musicians Javier Diaz, Román Diaz, Guido Gonzalez, Mauricio Herrera, Hery Paz, Gustavo Schartz, and Eddie Venegas.
Buena Vista Social ClubTM features sets by Arnulfo Maldonado, costumes by Dede Ayite, lighting by Tyler Micoleau, sound by Jonathan Deans, music supervisor Dean Sharenow, music director, orchestrations & arrangements by Marco Paguia, additional arrangements by Javier Diaz and David Oquendo, consultant Juan de Marcos, wigs, hair & make-up by J. Jared Janas, props by Matt Carlin, dialects by Rosie Berrido, vocal coaching by Dawn-Elin Fraser, fights by Lisa Kopitsky, and casting by Tara Rubin Casting; Xavier Rubiano, CSA; Frankie Ramirez. Amanda Michaels serves as the Production Stage Manager.
Buena Vista Social Club ™ is now open at the Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street). The production will run until January 21st, 2024.
Photo Credit: Ahron R. Foster
Ilda Mason and Héctor Juan Maisonet
Olly Sholotan
Olly Sholotan and Mel Semé
Julio Monge and Mel Semé
Héctor Juan Maisonet
Jainardo Batista Sterling and Leonardo Reyna
Justin Peck and Patricia Delgado
Justin Peck, Patricia Delgado, and Carlos Gonzalez
Buena Vista Social Club company, band, and creative team
Buena Vista Social Club company, band, and creative team
Renesito Avich
Renesito Avich, Marco Paguia, and Leonardo Reyna
Jared Machado and Julio Monge
Jared Machado
Renesito Avich and David Oquendo
Carlos Falú and guest
Eddie Venegas and guest
Francisco J. González and Nancy Ticotin
Jared Machado and family
Jainardo Batista Sterling
Leonardo Reyna
Natalie Venetia Belcon and Orin Wolf
Natalie Venetia Belcon
Luis Vega and Juan De Marcos
David Oquendo, Renesito Avich, Danaya Esperanza, and Juan De Marcos
Lupita Nyong'o, Saheem Ali, and Neil Pepe
Mary McCann and Neil Pepe
Dean Sharenow and Hery Paz
Orin Wolf, Isabella Schiavon, and Hannah Rosenthal
Carlos Gonzalez and Kurt Crowley
Jamie deRoy and Stefany Bergson
Buena Vista Social Club ensemble
Jainardo Batista Sterling and Leonard Reyna
Julio Monge and Jared Machado
Mel Semé and Olly Sholotan
Danaya Esperanza and Kenya Browne
Natalie Venetia Belcon
The company and band of Buena Vista Social Club
The band of Buena Vista Social Club
Angélica Beliard
Kenya Browne
Kenya Browne and Olly Sholotan
Kenya Browne and Olly Sholotan
Kenya Browne and Jared Machado
Kenya Browne, Olly Sholotan, and Jared Machado
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