BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB on Broadway

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 10:11am

ANNOUNCEMENT: "‘Buena Vista Social Club’ sets Broadway run; initial casting announced" by Broadway News' Michael Abourizk - "The new musical, which premiered with Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company in December 2023, will begin Broadway previews on Feb. 21, 2025 and open on March 19 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Tony Award nominee Saheem Ali will direct the production, with joint choreography by Patricia Delgado and Tony winner Justin Peck. ...

Featuring a book by Marco Ramirez, “Buena Vista Social Club” chronicles a group of musicians who collaborate on a unique sound in pre-Castro Cuba. ... The musical’s cast will include Renesito Avich as Eliades, Natalie Venetia Belcon as Omara, Julio Monge as Compay, Leonardo Reyna as Young Rubén, Mel Semé as Ibrahim, Jainardo Batista Sterling as Rubén, with ensemble members Angélica Beliard, Carlos Falú, Héctor Juan Maisonet, Ilda Mason and Marielys Molina, all of whom will reprise their performances from the Off-Broadway staging. New to the company will be Isa Antonetti as Young Omara, Ashley De La Rosa as Young Haydee, Da’von Moody as Young Compay, Sophia Ramos as ensemble and Wesley Wray as Young Ibrahim. ...

In addition to Orin Wolf, John Styles and Barbara Broccoli, “Buena Vista Social Club” is being produced by Atlantic Theater Company, Luis Miranda, LaChanze, Nick Gold and John Leguizamo." https://bway.ly/i1itb3

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 10:16am

This show was AMAZING at Atlantic but I wish it was in a slightly more intimate venue.

Natalia Venetia Belcon has just entered the Best Actress in a Musical race and may become a true contender - and those who saw her off-Broadway will know EXACTLY why

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 10:46am

Now Dead Outlaw just has to announce their theatre for the spring and David Yazbek has himself a season!

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 10:46am

Absolutely loved this show and so excited for it to come to Broadway!   Going to disagree with Quiz though, I think a larger venue will let the piece breath better, as was the case with Once. 

My only hope is that there are major cuts to the book (including the removal of characters) and that more music is added to the show, there is so much more exceptional music in the band’s catalog. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 11:06am

For some reason, I thought the Schoenfeld was bigger than it actually was, so I’d like to recant as I feel this is a sufficient theatre for it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 11:14am

I didn't see this downtown and somehow completely missed that Natalie Venetia Belcon was in it, so I'm so so so excited, now. 

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 11:26am

The book was a little wobbly but goodness gracious did this give me a high for days. If I lived in the area I'd have gone back again and again.

Natalie Venetia Belcon was EXTRAORDINARY.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 11:41am

Play Esq. said: "My only hope is that there are major cuts to the book (including the removal of characters) and that more music is added to the show, there is so much more exceptional music in the band’s catalog."

It's SUCH a weak book. There's nothing supporting those great tunes. I wish they had just let it be a choreographed song cycle.

I have a hard time seeing this becoming a Broadway success but I wish them well.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 12:48pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I have a hard time seeing this becoming a Broadway success but I wish them well."

No star and no mainstream appeal. This will close by the Tonys or right after.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 12:57pm

The one thing this does have going for it is it'll be different than any other Broadway offering.

But we've also seen other shows with that distinction come and go quickly.

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 1:00pm

Fosse76 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I have a hard time seeing this becoming a Broadway success but I wish them well."

No star and no mainstream appeal. This will close by the Tonys or right after."

*A Strange Loop, Kimberly Akimbo, The Band’s Visit, and Hadestown have entered the chat and would like a word*

 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 1:45pm

I could see A Wonderful World being a sleeper hit.  Swept Away is definitely going to be a hit.  Death Becomes Her, Tammy Faye, we’ll see.  I think Maybe Happy Ending has already flopped. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 1:49pm

quizking101 said: "Fosse76 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I have a hard time seeing this becoming a Broadway success but I wish them well."

No star and no mainstream appeal. This will close by the Tonys or right after."

*A Strange Loop, Kimberly Akimbo, The Band’s Visit, and Hadestown have entered the chat and would like a word*"

Yes, plenty of shows that don't seem commercial on paper have found Broadway success. BUT the thing those shows have going for them is a gripping story and characters that the audience could relate to. IMHO, the show that I saw at the Atlantic lacks that.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 2:42pm

I'm surprised to see them having ticket such a wide window for ticket sales.  I know that on sale dates aren't guarantees that it'll run that long but they have tickets on sale up to January 2026 when most shows don't have tickets for sale past July

[BETTY22]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 2:57pm

Exciting....i loved it off broadway.....

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 3:00pm

chrishuyen said: "I'm surprised to see them having ticket such a wide window for ticket sales. I know that on sale dates aren't guarantees that it'll run that long but they have tickets on sale up to January 2026 when most shows don't have tickets for sale past July"

If they're hoping for a robust group sales business (especially when targeting the Latin community), it helps to open up sales for a wide window of time. It probably won't make a major impact on sales either way, but if a group is traveling to NYC in November 2025, it's one of the few options they could book now.

Group sales agents are always requesting for tickets to be put on sale for longer periods of time. GMs and box offices usually advocate for a shorter period of time in an effort to frontload sales & reduce refund headaches.

Updated On: 9/16/24 at 03:00 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 3:18pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "chrishuyen said: "I'm surprised to see them having ticket such a wide window for ticket sales. I know that on sale dates aren't guarantees that it'll run that long but they have tickets on sale up to January 2026 when most shows don't have tickets for sale past July"

If they're hoping for a robust group sales business (especially when targeting the Latin community), it helps to open up sales for a wide window of time. It probably won't make a major impact on sales either way, but if a group is traveling to NYC in November 2025, it's one of the few options they could book now.

Group sales agents are always requesting for tickets to be put on sale for longer periods of time. GMs and box offices usually advocate for a shorter period of time in an effort to frontload sales & reduce refund headaches."

 

The group sales business has pretty much dried up post-Covid shutdown. It's a negligible portion of advance sales - even on the "big" musicals.

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 3:27pm

JSquared2 said: "The group sales business has pretty much dried up post-Covid shutdown. It's anegligible portion of advance sales - even on the "big" musicals."

Yes, but that doesn't stop producers from TRYING to reach them  Broadway loves to try to reach a nonexistant or unsustainable audience. (See also: the 2021/2022 belief that sustainable numbers of Black ticketbuyers would magically start paying $100+ to attend Broadway shows that didn't include a major star or branded property.)

[Melissa25]

Posted: 9/16/24 at 5:15pm

I loved this at the Atlantic and went to see it twice. From the moment the band starts, there is just so much soul that fills the space and you feel like a specially invited guest to a party. When the impeccable dancers appear, there is a flutter in your heart since they are so gorgeous.  I am glad they will have more space at the Schoenfeld to spread out a bit. Agree that the book needed tweaks but boy did I fly out of the theater on such a high after this show. I cannot wait to see it again. I am very excited that I will get to experience all this art again.