The Tony award-winning musical “Buena Vista Social Club” is still going strong in 2026. It tells the story behind the recording of the famous album, of which it shares its name. The musical is co-directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, of “Hamilton” and “In The Heights” fame, and his father, Luis A. Miranda Jr. The musical showcases the experiences of 4 musical artists in Cuba, as their careers and lives are deeply impacted by the rise of Fidel Castro and communism, and their eventual collaboration to create an album that shared their country’s music with the world.
One of the many unique aspects of this production is the performance of the songs in their original form. They are sung entirely in Spanish and without subtitles. Those who don’t understand Spanish may see this as an exclusionary act, but by presenting the music in this way, the show demonstrates a sense of authenticity that would otherwise be lost. Performing the music in the same way it has been heard for decades creates a sense of nostalgia and shared tradition.
In fact, Rolling Stone magazine listed “Buena Vista Social Club” on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003. It is one of only two albums on that list that were produced in a non-English-speaking country. It doesn’t matter if you understand the lyrics or not; music is a universal language. The Buena Vista Social Club musical has demonstrated that time and time again.
In a time where people are encouraged to turn against one another and many communities feel divided, Buena Vista Social Club reminds us of the importance of community and culture.
Buena Vista Social Club has also been included in the list of participants for NYC Broadway Week, an event in NYC Tourism + Conventions’ “Winter Outing Program”. The event runs from January 20 to February 12. A total of 26 shows are now offering 2-for-1 tickets, so if you are looking for an activity sure to put a smile on your face and a jump in your step, make sure to reserve your seat before theaters fill up.
