Theatre alum Saheem Ali ’07 will direct the Broadway premiere of Buena Vista Social Club, a musical inspired by the story of the eponymous Cuban band and their Grammy Award-winning album. 2006 Prince Fellow Orin Wolf will produce the musical, which opens next spring at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.
Buena Vista Social Club is set in Havana and dramatizes the creation of the band’s self-titled album. After decades under Castro caused upheaval in the artists’ young lives and across the nation, the aging ensemble reunites to record an album celebrating Cuba’s musical heritage. Musical consultation was provided by original Buena Vista Social Club bandmate, Juan De Marcos. The songs—all attributed to the band—and dance numbers have been praised by The New York Times as “full-of-riches.”
The ensemble cast features actors alongside Cuban musicians making their Broadway debuts: Natalie Venetia Belcon (Avenue Q, Rent, Matilda the Musical) as Omara, Julio Monge (On Your Feet!, Twelfth Night) as Compay, multi-instrumentalist Mel Semé as Ibrahim, Jainardo Batista Sterling as Rubén, Isa Antonetti as Young Omara, Da’Von T. Moody (The Outsiders) as Young Compay, Wesley Wray as Young Ibrahim, pianist Leonardo Reyna as Young Rubén, guitarist Renesito Avich as Eliades, and Ashley De La Rosa (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Mean Girls) as Young Haydee.
Previews begin on February 21, 2025, and the play will officially open on March 19, 2025.
Tickets are available here.
Saheem Ali is a Kenyan director. He currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director/Resident Director at New York’s Public Theater. His work in Fat Ham was nominated for a Tony Award. His direction of Merry Wives at Shakespeare in the Park was filmed for PBS’ Great Performances and was the subject of an HBO documentary, Reopening Night. Before bringing Buena Vista Social Club to Broadway, Ali most recently directed its world premiere in the Off-Broadway venue Atlantic Theater Company.
Orin Wolf was the inaugural recipient of the Prince Fellowship. Since, he has won a Tony for his musical The Band’s Visit and produced numerous Broadway shows, including Once and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
