Buena Vista Social Club Review: Multigenerational Broadway Musical Experience
Original Broadway Cast of Buena Vista Social Club
This electrifying musical celebration brings Cuban music and culture to vibrant life on the Broadway stage. Buena Vista Social Club honors the legendary musicians and their timeless music while telling a powerful story about generations, healing, and the enduring power of art to connect us across time and borders.
What Makes Buena Vista Social Club Special:
Spectacular dancing and music that makes you want to move
Stunning vocal performances throughout
Live musicians creating an intimate, authentic experience
Powerful themes about healing and generational connection
A celebration of Cuban culture and history
Our reviewers were moved from the opening moments. "The world is lucky enough to get this music. Stunning craft. The dancers and the music were spectacular. It's exciting. Those voices and those dancers and those musicians on this stage are well. I cried from the moment it started."
The highlight? The warmth and authenticity of the production. "Before the show began, I watched the musicians file on one by one. These are people I assume work together every day. They all gave each other's hugs. It was very warm and welcoming that carried throughout the show."
The joy was palpable, especially in the second act. "The opening number of the second act. Didn't want it to end. Dancing and the music and the joy."
Your Family Guide to Buena Vista Social Club
Theatre for Family Audiences (TFA) Rating: Family Friendly
Recommended Age: All ages
Conversation Starter: After
Marvelous Family Pick: ⭐ Yes
What Parents Need to Know
This is a multigenerational experience that celebrates family, music, and cultural heritage. "I feel like everybody can come see the show. Families. It's great. Take everyone. I mean, this is for sure of all the shows that I have seen recently, this is a family show. Young people, grandparents. I want everybody to come and experience this together because the show is about generations of time. It's about healing."
Content to be aware of:
A moment of violence (a fight, a fist thrown) presented as historical context
References to the Cuban revolution and its repercussions
Some aspects of Cuban history may be vague without prior knowledge
Themes about loss, displacement, and healing
What Makes This Special for Families
The music and dancing are the heart of this show, creating an experience that transcends language and age. "The music, the dancing, which I think the strengths of the show, the opening number of the second act. Didn't want it to end."
Great for families who:
Want to experience different cultures together
Love music and dance
Are interested in history presented through art
Want to share a multigenerational theater experience
Important Context to Share
"If you're not familiar with the story, what the Cuban revolution was and all the repercussions of it, maybe things were a little bit vague on stage and I think the reasons why they were vague. It's a conversation opener and it's the beginning of something."
One reviewer who is Cuban American noted: "This is history. This is a point of view on history and I'd want to make sure that the people that I brought with me understood that or were ready to have that kind of a conversation or enjoy that kind of a show."
The Bottom Line
"I loved it. The energy is great. It sits beautifully in the pocket of artistry with something beautiful to say. And maybe that's what artistry does."
"I was crying from the second the curtains open. It is a very good thing for this to be on Broadway." The show creates an experience where families can discover this music together. "I'm lucky enough to have been born into this music having it around me. And now you guys get to see it and feel it and hear it."
