Five Tony Awards, a Grammy and enough Cuban rhythm to make sitting still feel like a punishment. Buena Vista Social Club brings an extraordinary musical legacy to the Broward Center with powerful vocals, athletic choreography and a story that goes well beyond the music.

October 13th, 2026

If there was a competition to see who could remain perfectly still during Buena Vista Social Club, the audience at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center probably wouldn’t have produced many winners.

And who could blame them?

Between the blaring horns, relentless percussion, energetic dancers and singers who seemed determined to give their vocal cords a serious workout, the October 13 performance was practically begging people to abandon their seats and join the festivities.

The musicians were already setting the mood before the show officially began, appearing to warm up as audiences settled in. It was almost as if we’d wandered into a Havana nightclub where the entertainment had started without bothering to check the clock.

But the award-winning musical has considerably more on its mind than showing everyone a good time.

Destinee Jimenez and Armando Brydson in the North American Tour company of Buena Vista Social Club, photo by Matthew Murphy

Behind all the music and dancing, there’s a far more complicated story unfolding, one where political turmoil, family ties and dreams of stardom force people to make choices that can haunt them for years.

Sometimes chasing a dream comes at the expense of everything familiar. Other times, staying behind can be just as costly.

Fortunately, the production doesn’t spend two hours and ten minutes dwelling on life’s disappointments. There’s far too much music to play, dancing to do and Cuban personality to go around.

And judging by the applause throughout the evening, Fort Lauderdale was more than happy to come along for the ride.

When Yesterday’s Music Became Tomorrow’s Sensation

The history behind Buena Vista Social Club is nearly as remarkable as the music itself.

For generations, Cuba’s traditional son, bolero and other musical styles filled social clubs, dance halls and neighborhoods, becoming an essential part of the country’s cultural identity.

But as musical tastes and political circumstances changed, some of the artists who helped shape those traditions gradually faded from the international spotlight.

Their talent hadn’t disappeared. The rest of the world simply wasn’t paying as much attention.

That changed in 1996 when veteran Cuban musicians gathered in Havana for recording sessions that would produce the landmark Buena Vista Social Club album the following year.

Irving Aday O’Connor (seated at piano), Aidan Olmo, Liana Morales and Isabel Gonzalez, photo by Matthew Murphy

Among them were Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, Rubén González and Omara Portuondo, performers whose extraordinary abilities would soon captivate audiences around the world.

For some, it was an unexpected return to prominence. Ferrer had largely stepped away from professional music and supplemented his income shining shoes, while González had retired from regular performing.

The album sold millions of copies, earned a Grammy and inspired an acclaimed 1999 documentary. International performances followed, introducing these veteran musicians to an entirely new generation.

Talk about a second act.

Importantly, Buena Vista Social Club didn’t rescue Cuban music from extinction. Those traditions had continued to thrive within Cuba. The project helped bring them to a much wider international audience while giving several extraordinary artists the recognition they deserved.

They may have been slightly forgotten by the wider world, but they were never completely outdated.

And nearly three decades later, their music has found another audience through Broadway.

Havana Comes Alive

The touring production transports audiences between Havana in 1956 and 1996, using the musicians’ later recording sessions to revisit their younger years.

The scenery creates an inviting Cuban neighborhood, complete with weathered facades, shuttered windows, balconies and architectural details that give the surroundings a lived-in quality.

Colorful costumes, vintage shirts, stylish hats and flowing dresses add plenty of personality, while the musicians remain prominently featured throughout the performance.

The entire setting feels wonderfully lively, with a little Cuban sass thrown in for good measure.

But as attractive as the surroundings are, the real attraction is what happens when the music begins.

The live band is exceptional.

San Miguel Pérez, Roisel Suárez and Joaquín Sosa in the North American Tour company of Buena Vista Social Club, photo by Matthew Murphy

From the piano and brass to the percussion and distinctive Cuban tres, the musicians deliver performances that could easily stand alone as an outstanding concert.

Call that a compliment or a potential criticism, but give these performers their instruments, a stage and an audience, and you’ve already got one heck of an evening.

The arrangements are filled with warmth, spontaneity and personality. Instruments frequently take turns commanding attention, creating the impression of musicians enjoying a lively conversation through their playing.

Songs such as “Chan Chan,” “Dos Gardenias,” “Candela” and “El Cuarto de Tula” bring familiar Cuban rhythms to life, alternating between festive celebrations and more intimate, emotional moments.

And the rhythms?

Good luck resisting them.

The music has a way of sneaking into your feet before your brain even realizes what’s happening.

Too Much Talent to Pick Just One Favorite

Trying to single out one singer would be doing Buena Vista Social Club a tremendous disservice.

The entire ensemble is fantastic, delivering powerful vocals and performances overflowing with passion.

Mauro Castillo, portraying Ibrahim Ferrer, is certainly among the standouts. The Colombian singer and actor brings tremendous vocal strength and stage presence, with performances that carry both personality and emotion.

Karmine Alers and Mauro Castillo in the North American Tour company of Buena Vista Social Club, photo by Matthew Murphy

Karmine Alers, portraying Omara Portuondo, helps anchor the production’s more dramatic moments. Her character’s return to the recording studio brings memories and unresolved feelings rushing back, revealing the personal consequences of decisions made decades earlier.

The younger and older versions of the characters connect those experiences, allowing audiences to understand how their relationships and ambitions shaped their futures.

But the production’s greatest strength remains its collective talent. Voices blend beautifully, performers complement one another and the ensemble frequently comes together with enough musical force to command the entire theater.

There’s also some welcome humor.

Frank Rodríguez, portraying Compay Segundo, brings an especially endearing charisma to the stage. His playful personality and well-timed comedic moments provide several genuine laughs, particularly when the storyline ventures into heavier territory.

Frank Rodríguez and Karmine Alers in the North American Tour company of Buena Vista Social Club, photo by Matthew Murphy

Sometimes a look or a quick remark is all it takes.

And in a production filled with powerful voices, a little personality can go a long way.

Dancing That Makes Your Knees Hurt Just Watching

If the music wasn’t enough to get audiences excited, the choreography certainly finished the job.

The dancers maintain an incredibly high level of energy, executing intricate movements that look difficult enough to perform individually, let alone in perfect synchronization with an entire ensemble.

Rapid turns, elaborate footwork, complicated partner movements and seemingly endless twirling fill the stage with color and motion.

Flowing dresses swirl through the air as performers transition between demanding sequences without missing a beat.

Some of those movements look like they should require a medical waiver before attempting them.

Jaleel Battles Jr. (center) and the North American Tour company of Buena Vista Social Club, photo by Matthew Murphy

Meanwhile, the dancers execute everything with smiles on their faces, as though this is simply how they spend an ordinary Tuesday evening.

Show-offs.

What makes the choreography especially enjoyable is how naturally it complements the music. The movements have attitude, flair and a playful confidence that perfectly matches the production’s lively Cuban personality.

And the stamina?

By the time some of the larger sequences concluded, I was exhausted just watching.

Apparently, nobody told these performers that human beings are supposed to get tired.

The Price of Having Your Voice Heard

For all its celebratory spirit, Buena Vista Social Club explores some difficult realities.

Political unrest, family obligations and artistic ambition shape the characters’ lives, forcing them to confront decisions that don’t necessarily offer happy endings.

What happens when following your dreams means leaving behind the people you love? What if staying loyal to your family or homeland means sacrificing opportunities that might never come again?

Sometimes there simply isn’t a winning option.

Isabel Gonzalez and Jaleel Battles Jr. in the North American Tour company of Buena Vista Social Club, photo by Matthew Murphy

The story also examines the price of having your voice heard, particularly when personal expression and political circumstances collide.

These themes provide an emotional foundation beneath the music, reminding audiences that the musicians’ later success didn’t erase the sacrifices, disappointments and complicated relationships that came before it.

Yet the production never allows those heavier moments to completely overshadow the celebration.

There’s always another melody waiting around the corner.

And often, another reason to smile.

No Spanish Required, Just a Willingness to Listen

One of the show’s greatest strengths is its ability to connect with audiences unfamiliar with Spanish.

The dialogue is performed in English, making the storyline easy to follow, while the songs retain their Spanish lyrics.

And when the performers begin singing, translation becomes almost irrelevant.

You don’t need to understand every word to recognize heartbreak, longing, excitement or joy.

The emotion does the explaining.

Isabel Gonzalez in the North American Tour company of Buena Vista Social Club, photo by Matthew Murphy

A powerful voice can communicate more through a melody than several minutes of dialogue, while the percussion and brass hardly need subtitles to invite audiences into the celebration.

It’s the same universal appeal that helped the original Buena Vista Social Club recordings reach millions of listeners around the world.

And if you find yourself tapping your feet without knowing what anyone is singing about, congratulations.

You’ve understood the assignment.

Some Music Doesn’t Know When to Retire

The production arrived in Fort Lauderdale with an impressive collection of accolades, including five Tony Awards and a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.

After experiencing the performance, it’s easy to appreciate why.

The musicians are exceptional, the vocals are powerful and the choreography is a remarkable display of athleticism and coordination. Add the colorful surroundings, charismatic performers and a story with genuine emotional weight, and you’ve got considerably more than a typical night at the theater.

Several moments throughout the October 13 performance prompted applause, reflecting the connection between the performers and the Broward Center audience.

At two hours and ten minutes, including intermission, the production delivers an entertaining combination of live concert, family drama and celebration of Cuban musical heritage.

Its greatest achievement may be how successfully it honors the past without becoming trapped there.

Karmine Alers (right), Irving Aday O’Connor (seated at piano), Jaleel Battles Jr. and Isabel Gonzalez (center), photo by Matthew Murphy

The original Buena Vista Social Club introduced extraordinary veteran musicians to a world that had largely overlooked them. This theatrical adaptation continues that legacy, allowing another generation to appreciate their music and the complicated lives behind it.

It’s also a reminder that growing older doesn’t necessarily mean growing irrelevant.

Sometimes the world moves on a little too quickly, leaving remarkable people and their accomplishments waiting to be rediscovered.

The musicians behind Buena Vista Social Club proved that talent doesn’t come with an expiration date.

And if the Fort Lauderdale performance was any indication, their music has no intention of slowing down.

Slightly forgotten? Perhaps.

Completely outdated? Not a chance.

Now, if somebody could just explain how those dancers managed to keep moving like that for two hours without needing an ice pack, we’d really be onto something.

Buena Vista Social Club: National Tour

Broward Center for the Performing Arts: Fort Lauderdale, October 13–18, 2026

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts: Orlando, October 20–25, 2026

Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, including intermission.

Official tour information: https://tour.buenavistamusical.com/

Broward Center: https://www.browardcenter.org/

Dr. Phillips Center: https://www.drphillipscenter.org/