The sounds of Cuba filled Shea’s Buffalo Theatre as “Buena Vista Social Club” brought its music, history and culture to Western New York during Hispanic Heritage Month.
The 2025 Tony Award winning Broadway musical ran at Shea’s from Sept. 12 through Sept. 19 —marking the beginning of the musical's first national tour — bringing the story of the legendary Cuban musicians behind the internationally recognized “Buena Vista Social Club” album to Buffalo audiences.
The 1996 musical ensemble, Buena Vista Social Club, was primarily made up of Cuban musicians that introduced generations of listeners around the world to traditional Cuban sounds. Their debut eponymous album reunited Cuban musicians like Ibrahim Ferrer and Compay Segundo and the album became an international success that became one of the best-selling Latin albums of all time.
The musical takes that history to the stage through the story of Cuban singer Omara Portuondo and the musicians around her. The production moves between different moments in Portuondo’s life while exploring love, friendship, music and the experiences that shaped the iconic recordings. The production features songs from the original album, with music and dance playing a major role throughout the show. Spanish songs are combined with English dialogue, allowing the production to maintain the Cuban identity of the story while making it accessible to the audiences.
As the show arrived during Hispanic Heritage Month, the city took the opportunity to celebrate the broader Hispanic culture in Western New York through music and theater. Shea’s partnered with the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York Inc. — a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Hispanics in Western New York — recognizing Sept. 12 -19 as “Buena Vista Social Club Week.” Events surrounding the musical gave members of the community an avenue to experience Cuban culture beyond the performances.
The story of “Buena Vista Social Club” demonstrates how music can preserve culture and connect people across generations. The original musicians recorded their famous album decades ago, yet their music continues to reach new audiences through the Broadway stage. While audiences may recognize songs associated with the original “Buena Vista Social Club” album, the musical gives context to the people and experiences behind the music.
As “Buena Vista Social Club” continues its national tour, its week in Buffalo represents more than the opening stop of a Broadway production. The production brought Cuban music and storytelling into a city known for its own diverse cultural communities.
For one week, Shea’s became a place where Buffalo audiences could experience Havana through music, dance and theater, showing how a story rooted in a different country and generation can still find a place in the Queen City.
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
