From “West Side Story” to “Buena Vista Social Club”

Two musicals on the Latin theme have opened in Broadway within five weeks of each other, receiving a little love of Tonys this year: Buena Vista Social Clubwho co-directs the list of nominees for the prize ceremony of June 8 with 10 headlines, and Real women have curves: musicalwho received two.

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Buena Vista Social Club – which tells the story of the Cuban artists who brought the album acclaimed to the 1997 Grammy Awards to the world – participates in categories, including the best musical, the best performance of an actress in a star role (Belcon Natalie Venetia), the best book (Marco Ramirez) and the best direction (Sahie Ali). In addition, the musicians who make up the group in the show will be recognized with a special Tony Award.

Real women have curves: musical is nominated for the best original partition – by Latin music star Joy Huerta (half of the Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy) and Benjamin Velez – and the best performance of an actress in a star role (Justina Machado). Based on the play by Josefina López and the film adaptation of HBO, he follows Ana García, 18, a daughter of immigrant parents who fight between her ambitions to go to university and the desires of his mother to marry, have children and supervise the little factory of public family textiles.

And a third show on the Latin theme is currently underway: WasteWith music and words other than the American Cuban superstar Gloria Estefan and her daughter, the composer Emily Estefan. Inspired by a true story, Waste (Spanish for “Garbage”) will tell the journey of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay, a group of young artists who transform equipment into instruments and music into possibilities.

But Broadway has had a long -standing story story with Latin music and artists, with shows ranging from classics like West Side Story,, Kiss the spider woman,, Avoid And Mancha manto more recent productions such as In height And On your feet! – and legendary stars of Rita Moreno and Chita Rivera, at Lin-Manuel Miranda.

There was also the short duration The capeman [1998] With Ruben Blades, Marc Anthony and Ednita Nazario, a musical by Paul Simon based on the life of the murderer condemned Salvador Agrón who closed after only two months; And Women on the verge of nervous breakdown [2010]An adaptation of the emblematic film of the black comedy by Pedro Almodóvar, which received mainly negative criticisms and lasted three months.

Meanwhile, some non -Latin theme shows have presented Latin stars over the years, as HamiltonStarting with the Lin-Manuel Miranda creator and including Anthony Ramos and Javier Muñoz; And ChicagoWith the Mexican actress Bianca Marroquín playing both Roxie and Velma intermittent since 2006, and star guests, including Sofía Vergara, Jaime Camil and Sebastián Yatra.

In honor of the 78th Tony Awards, scheduled for June 8 at the Radio City Music Hall and broadcast live on CBS and Paramount +, here are eight of the best Broadway musicals on the Latin theme of the past and the present, in alphabetical order.

Buena Vista Social Club

Opening date: March 19, 2025

Closing date: n / A

About: Inspired by real events, Buena Vista Social Club gives life to the album winner of a Grammy in 1997 because it tells the story of the Cuban legends that experienced it.

Music by: Buena Vista Social Club

Book by: Marco Ramirez

Main course: Natalie Venetia Belcon (Omara), Julio Monge (Compay), Mel Sémé (Ibrahim), Jainardo Batista Sterling (Rubén), Isa Antonetti (Young Ora), Da’von T. Moody (Young Compay), Wesley Wray (Young Ibrahim), Leonardo Reyna (Young Ruben) (Eliades), Ashley de la Rosa (Young Haydee), Justin Cunningham (Juan de Marcos).

Tony nominations: 10

Tony Awards: TBD

Avoid

Opening date: Sep 25, 1979

Closing date: June 26, 1983

Awakening: April 5, 2012 to January 26, 2013

About: Located in Argentina, Avoid tells the story of Eva Perón, the emblematic first lady of the country of Latin America, which has risen poverty to become a powerful figure in the region. The musical explores its political ambitions, its charity work and its possible death of cancer at 33 years old.

Music / Words of: Andrew Lloyd Webber / Tim Rice

Book by: Tim Rice

Main main plenty: Patti Lupone (Eva Perón), Bob Gunton (Perón), Mandy Patinkin (Che)

Main presentation of renewal: Elena Roger (Eva Perón), Michael Cerris (Perón), Ricky Martin (Che)

Tony nominations: 11 For the original, 3 for renewal

Tony Awards: 7 For the original, including the best musical, the best book of a musical, the best original partition, the best actress in a musical (Patti Lupone), the best star actor in a musical (Mandy Patinkin), the best lighting design and the best direction of a musical

In height

Opening date: March 9, 2008

Closing date: January 9, 2011

About: A story of heritage, faith and healing love, In height concerns the hopes and difficulties of residents of Washington Heights from New York.

Music / Words of: Lin-manuel miranda

Book by: Quiara Alegría Hudes

Main course: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Usnavi), Andréa Burns (Daniela), Janet Dacal (Carla), Robin de Jesús (Sonny), Carlos Gomez (Kevin), Mandy Gonzalez (Nina), Christopher Jackson (Benny), Priscilla Lopez (Camila), Olga Merrediz (Vanessa)

Tony nominations: 13

Tony Awards: 4, including the best musical, the best original partition written for the theater, the best choreography and the best orchestrations

Kiss the spider woman

Opening date: May 3, 1993

Closing date: July 1, 1995

About: Based on the 1976 novel by Manuel Puig, Kiss the spider woman Explore the complex relationship between Molina and Valentin, two cell comrades in an Argentinian prison during the dirty war. Molina, a gay man, uses his imagination and his love for films to create a world of escape for himself and, unexpectedly, for Valentin, a political prisoner.

Music / Words of: John Kander / Fred EBB

Book by: Terrence McNally

Main main plenty: Rivera Guitar (Spider Woman / Aurora), Brent Carver (Molina), Anthony Crivello (Valentin)

Notable replacements: Vanessa Williams played Spider Woman from June 27, 1994 to March 18, 1995; Maria Conchita Alonso depicted the role from March 20, 1995 to July 01, 1995

Tony nominations: 11

Tony Awards: 7, including the best musical, the best book of a musical, the best original partition, the best actor in a musical (Brent Carver), the best actress in a musical (Chita Rivera), the best featured actor in a musical (Anthony Crivello), and the best design of costume

Mancha man

Opening date: November 22, 1965

Closing date: June 26, 1971

Revivals: June 22, 1972 to October 21, 1972; Sept. 15, 1977 to December 31, 1977; April 24, 1992 to July 26, 1992; December 5, 2002 to August 31, 2003

About: Don Quixote’s account of Miguel de Cervantes and his quest, Mancha man celebrates the perseverance of a man who refuses to give up his ideals and who is determined to see life not as it is, but as it is necessary.

Music / Words of: Mitch Leigh / Joe Darion

Book by: Dale Wasserman

Main main plenty: Richard Kiley (Don Quixote – Cervantes), Irving Jacobson (Sancho Panza), Joan Diener (Aldonza – Dulcinea)

Tony nominations: 7 For the original, 1 for the revival of 1977, 3 for the 2002-2003 renewal

Tony Awards: 5 For the original, including the best musical, the best composer and lyricist, the best actor in a musical (Richard Kiley), the best panoramic design and the best direction of a musical

On your feet!

Opening date: November 5, 2015

Closing date: August 20, 2017

About: On your feet! tells the true inspiring story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, two people who believed in their talent – and to each other – to become an international feeling. With their hits like “Rhythm is Gonna Get You” and “Conga”, the show is a celebration of their musical journey and the challenges they have encountered in music and in life.

Music / Words of: Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan

Book by: Alexander Dinelaris

Main main plenty: Ana Villafañe (Gloria), Josh Segarra (Emilio), Andréa Burns (Gloria Fajardo), Alma Cuervo (Consuelo), Eduardo Hernandez (Nayib)

Tony nominations: 1

Tony Awards: 0

Real women have curves: musical

Opening date: April 27, 2025

Closing date: n / A

About: Located in the Los Angeles Boyle Heights section in 1987, Real women have curves Ana García, an 18 -year -old woman, followed to become the first member of her family to go to university. But when the family clothing company receives a brand or breakdown order for 200 dresses, Ana finds herself juggling with her own ambitions, the expectations of her mother Carmen and a community of women trying to make it work against the chances. The show is based on Josefina López’s play and HBO’s film adaptation.

Music / Words of: Joy Huerta, Benjamin Velez

Book by: Lisa Loomer, Nell Benjamin

Main main plenty: Tatianna Córdoba (Ana García), Justina Machado (Carmen García), Florencia Cuenca (Estela García), Mauricio Mendoza (Raúl García)

Tony nominations: 2

Tony Awards: TBD

West Side Story

Opening date: Sept. 26, 1957

Closing date: June 27, 1959

Revivals: April 27, 1960 to December 10, 1960; April 8, 1964 to May 3, 1964; February 14, 1980 to November 30, 1980; March 19, 2009 on January 02, 2011; February 20, 2020 to March 11, 2020

About: A modern representation of Romeo and Juliet,, West Side Story Take place in the western side of New York in the summer of 1957, and explores the rivalry between two young street gangs at war: jets, European roots and sharks, of Puerto Rican origin. Things get complicated when Tony, a member of the jets, falls madly in love with Maria, the sister of the head of the Sharks.

Music / Words of: Leonard BERNSTEIN / STEPHEN SONDHEIM

Book by: Arthur Laurents

Main main plenty: Mickey Calin (Riff), Larry Kert (Tony), Carol Lawrence (Maria), Ken Le Roy (Bernardo), Chita Rivera (Anita)

Tony nominations: 6 for original production; 2 for the revival of 1964; 2 for the renewal of 1980; 4 for the 2009-2011 renewal

Tony Awards: 2 For original production, including the best panoramic design and the best choreography; 1 for the 2009-2011 renewal, for the best featured actress in a musical (Karen Olivo)

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