The Buena Vista Social Club is a place, a band, an album, and a cultural landmark of Cuban music and history. Created in the 1990s, the album was brought to life in 2025 through a musical adaptation of the recording process. Developed by Saheem Ali, the musical focuses on Omara Portuondo and the ensemble of artists who reunited to record songs from Cuba’s musical golden age when these sounds were needed most.
The story is told in two time periods: the 1950s, when the musicians were young and exploring their talents amid a backdrop of revolution, and 1996, when the semi-retired musicians, whose heyday had passed, came back for one last record, not knowing it would change their lives. The musical opened on Broadway on March 15, 2025, garnering 10 Tony Nominations and winning four, including Best Featured Actress for Natalie Venetia Belcon’s portrayal of Omara Portuondo, plus a Special Tony Award in recognition of the band.
The award-winning musical then began a national tour, taking over the country with its musical tale. Buena Vista Social Club traveled to Orlando from Oct. 20 to Oct. 25.
I was lucky enough to see the production’s first performance in Orlando. Seated in the orchestra, due to the wonder that is student rush tickets, my mother and I had an incredible view of the stage, the musicians, and the dancers for the two-hour spectacle. The musical is unique in that the story is told in English, but each song is in its original language, Spanish, and Spanish-based creoles that mix the language of the colonizers with African tongues. Viewers get to experience unique languages and sounds that are so rare here in the United States. The applause after Jaleel Battles Jr.’s version of “Bruca maniguá” was thunderous; the story of African slaves and their descendants transcended language barriers and moved the audience.
The band was on stage the entire time, truly a highlight of the production for me. I’m used to the band being relegated to the pit, just out of sight, only heard. But here, the band was almost the star of the show. With over 10 musicians, playing different types of drums and delighting the audience with an incredible flute solo, the band proved that the power of the songs isn’t only in the performance and lyricism; the notes themselves are deeply moving.
Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck‘s choreography was also a sight to behold. I loved this duo’s work in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, and they certainly did not disappoint when bringing the Buena Vista Social Club and Tropicana Club to life. Each song was accompanied by a group of dancers, swaying, twirling, and floating in the air, bringing the story to life with their portrayals of heartbreak.
I can’t discuss the show without touching on the incredible performers that I got to witness, maybe 20 feet away from me. When I opened the program, I was struck by Mauro Castillo’s name among the cast. He is a Colombian-born singer and actor who portrayed Tío Felix in Disney’s Encanto and was also part of the famed Grupo Niche. His role was, unfortunately, smaller than I had hoped, but his voice commanded the stage in the closing song.
The younger cast was also particularly compelling to me. With a glance at the actor bios, I noticed how young many of these performers were, with only a handful of credits or having recently graduated with their Bachelor of Fine Arts. It was an absolute delight to see a fresh, up-and-coming group of actors on that stage.
Most of the performers were not actually born in Cuba, though the people they portray were, and it was almost refreshing for me to see that they were U.S. born. During intermission, my mom turned to me and said, “Some of those performers have your accents. You can tell not all the words come that naturally to them.” While it can sometimes be humbling or embarrassing to know I don’t fully blend in among Latinos, it was beautiful to see people who share my identity and lived experience on that stage, portraying some of the best of the best in Latin music.
The performance I saw of Buena Vista Social Club also featured a uniquely Orlando experience. At the start of the second act, one of the musicians announced a local musician would be joining the band, Maxwell Frost. The Florida representative held his own on the drums during “El Cuarto de Tula,” backing the musicians as the tres player and percussionists battled.
We might be hundreds of miles away from Cuba, but its heart has made it to Orlando. Buena Vista Social Club will be playing at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts through Sunday, Oct. 25. Go see this gorgeous work of art and enjoy a night at the theater while celebrating the history of Cuban music.