8 of the Best Latin-Themed Musicals Ever on Broadway: From ‘West Side Story' to ‘Buena Vista Social Club'
Two Latin-themed musicals have opened on Broadway within five weeks of each other, receiving some love from the Tonys this year: Buena Vista Social Club, which co-leads the list of nominees for the June 8 awards ceremony with 10 nods, and Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, which received two.
More from Billboard
Patti LuPone Apologizes for Her 'Demeaning and Disrespectful' Comments on Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald
Los Alegres del Barranco Cancel Show in Michoacán for 'Security Concerns'
Grupo Firme Cancels U.S. Concert Due to Work Visas Being in 'Administrative Process'
Buena Vista Social Club — which narrates the story of the Cuban artists who brought the acclaimed Grammy-winning album of 1997 to the world — competes in categories including best musical, best performance by an actress in a featured role (Natalie Venetia Belcon), best book (Marco Ramirez) and best direction (Saheem Ali). Furthermore, the musicians who make up the band in the show will be recognized with a special Tony Award.
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical is nominated for best original score — by Latin music star Joy Huerta (half of the Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy) and Benjamin Velez — and best performance by an actress in a featured role (Justina Machado). Based on the play by Josefina López and HBO's movie adaptation, it follows 18-year-old Ana García, a daughter of immigrant parents who struggles between her ambitions of going to college and the desires of her mother for her to get married, have children and oversee the small, rundown family-owned textile factory.
And a third Latin-themed show is currently in the works: BASURA, with music and lyrics by no other than Cuban-American superstar Gloria Estefan and her daughter, songwriter Emily Estefan. Inspired by a true story, BASURA (Spanish for 'garbage') will narrate the journey of Paraguay's Recycled Orchestra, a group of young artists who turn scrap material into instruments and music into possibilities.
But Broadway has had a long-standing history affair with Latin music and artists, with shows ranging from classics like West Side Story, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Evita and Man of La Mancha, to more recent productions like In the Heights and On Your Feet! — and legendary stars from Rita Moreno and Chita Rivera, to Lin-Manuel Miranda.
There was also the short-lived The Capeman [1998] starring Rubén Blades, Marc Anthony and Ednita Nazario, a Paul Simon musical based on the life of convicted murderer Salvador Agrón which closed after only two months; and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown [2010], an adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar's iconic black comedy film, which received mostly negative reviews and lasted three months.
Meanwhile, some non-Latin themed shows have featured Latin stars throughout the years, like Hamilton, starting with creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and including Anthony Ramos and Javier Muñoz; and Chicago, with Mexican actress Bianca Marroquín playing both Roxie and Velma intermittently 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 airing live on CBS and Paramount+, here are eight of the best Latin-themed Broadway musicals from past and present, in alphabetical order.Opening Date: Mar 19, 2025
Closing Date: n/a
About: Inspired by true events, Buena Vista Social Club brings the 1997 Grammy-winning album to life as it tells the story of the Cuban legends who lived it.
Music By: Buena Vista Social Club
Book By: Marco Ramirez
Main Original Cast: Natalie Venetia Belcon (Omara), Julio Monge (Compay), Mel Semé (Ibrahim), Jainardo Batista Sterling (Rubén), Isa Antonetti (Young Omara), Da'Von T. Moody (Young Compay), Wesley Wray (Young Ibrahim), Leonardo Reyna (Young Rubén), Renesito Avich (Eliades), Ashley De La Rosa (Young Haydee), Justin Cunningham (Juan De Marcos).
Tony Nominations: 10
Tony Awards: TBDOpening Date: Sep 25, 1979
Closing Date: Jun 26, 1983
Revival: Apr 5, 2012 to Jan 26, 2013
About: Set in Argentina, Evita tells the story of Eva Perón, the iconic first lady of the Latin American country, who rose from poverty to become a powerful figure in the region. The musical explores her political ambitions, charity work, and eventual death from cancer at age 33.
Music / Lyrics by: Andrew Lloyd Webber / Tim Rice
Book By: Tim Rice
Main Original Cast: Patti LuPone (Eva Perón), Bob Gunton (Perón), Mandy Patinkin (Che)
Main Revival Cast: Elena Roger (Eva Perón), Michael Cerveris (Perón), Ricky Martin (Che)
Tony Nominations: 11 for the original, 3 for the revival
Tony Awards: 7 for the original, including best musical, best book of a musical, best original score, best actress in a musical (Patti LuPone), best featured actor in a musical (Mandy Patinkin), best lighting design, and best direction of a musicalOpening Date: Mar 9, 2008
Closing Date: Jan 9, 2011
About: A story of heritage, faith and healing love, In the Heights is about the hopes and struggles of residents of New York City's Washington Heights.
Music / Lyrics By: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Book By: Quiara Alegría Hudes
Main Original Cast: 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 Merediz (Abuela Claudia), Karen Olivo (Vanessa)
Tony Nominations: 13
Tony Awards: 4, including best musical, best original score written for the theatre, best choreography and best orchestrationsOpening Date: May 3, 1993
Closing Date: Jul 1, 1995
About: Based on the 1976 novel by Manuel Puig, Kiss of the Spider Woman explores the complex relationship between Molina and Valentin, two cellmates in an Argentine prison during the Dirty War. Molina, a gay man, uses his imagination and his love for movies to create a world of escapism for himself and, unexpectedly, for Valentin, a political prisoner.
Music / Lyrics By: John Kander / Fred Ebb
Book By: Terrence McNally
Main Original Cast: Chita Rivera (Spider Woman / Aurora), Brent Carver (Molina), Anthony Crivello (Valentin)
Notable Replacements: Vanessa Williams played Spider Woman from Jun 27, 1994 to Mar 18, 1995; Maria Conchita Alonso portrayed the role from Mar 20, 1995 to Jul 01, 1995
Tony Nominations: 11
Tony Awards: 7, including best musical, best book of a musical, best original score, best actor in a musical (Brent Carver), best actress in a musical (Chita Rivera), best featured actor in a musical (Anthony Crivello), and best costume designOpening Date: Nov 22, 1965
Closing Date: Jun 26, 1971
Revivals: Jun 22, 1972 to Oct 21, 1972; Sep 15, 1977 to Dec 31, 1977; Apr 24, 1992 to Jul 26, 1992; Dec 5, 2002 to Aug 31, 2003
About: A retelling of Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote and his quest, Man of La Mancha celebrates the perseverance of one man who refuses to relinquish his ideals and who is determined to see life not as it is, but as it ought to be.
Music / Lyrics By: Mitch Leigh / Joe Darion
Book By: Dale Wasserman
Main Original Cast: Richard Kiley (Don Quixote – Cervantes), Irving Jacobson (Sancho Panza), Joan Diener (Aldonza – Dulcinea)
Tony Nominations: 7 for the original, 1 for the 1977 revival, 3 for the 2002-2003 revival
Tony Awards: 5 for the original, including best musical, best composer and lyricist, best actor in a musical (Richard Kiley), best scenic design, and best direction of a musicalOpening Date: Nov 5, 2015
Closing Date: Aug 20, 2017
About: On Your Feet! tells the inspiring true story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, two people who believed in their talent —and each other— to become an international sensation. Featuring their hits like 'Rhythm Is Gonna Get You' and 'Conga', the show is a celebration of their musical journey and the challenges they faced in music and in life.
Music / Lyrics By: Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan
Book By: Alexander Dinelaris
Main Original Cast: Ana Villafañe (Gloria), Josh Segarra (Emilio), Andréa Burns (Gloria Fajardo), Alma Cuervo (Consuelo), Eduardo Hernandez (Nayib)
Tony Nominations: 1
Tony Awards: 0Opening Date: Apr 27, 2025
Closing Date: n/a
About: Set in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles in 1987, Real Women Have Curves follows Ana García, an bright 18-year-old determined to become the first member of her family to go to college. But when the family garment business receives a make-or-break order for 200 dresses, Ana finds herself juggling her own ambitions, her mother Carmen's expectations, and a community of women all trying to make it work against the odds. The show is based on the play by Josefina López and HBO's movie adaptation.
Music / Lyrics By: Joy Huerta, Benjamin Velez
Book By: Lisa Loomer, Nell Benjamin
Main Original Cast: Tatianna Córdoba (Ana García), Justina Machado (Carmen García), Florencia Cuenca (Estela García), Mauricio Mendoza (Raúl García)
Tony Nominations: 2
Tony Awards: TBDOpening Date: Sep 26, 1957
Closing Date: Jun 27, 1959
Revivals: Apr 27, 1960 to Dec 10, 1960; Apr 8, 1964 to May 3, 1964; Feb 14, 1980 to Nov 30, 1980; Mar 19, 2009 to Jan 02, 2011; Feb 20, 2020 to Mar 11, 2020
About: A modern representation of Romeo & Juliet, West Side Story is set in the West Side of New York City during the summer of 1957, and explores the rivalry between two youth warring street gangs: The Jets, of European roots, and the 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 Sharks' leader.
Music / Lyrics By: Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
Book By: Arthur Laurents
Main Original Cast: Mickey Calin (Riff), Larry Kert (Tony), Carol Lawrence (Maria), Ken Le Roy (Bernardo), Chita Rivera (Anita)
Tony Nominations: 6 for the original production; 2 for the 1964 revival; 2 for the 1980 revival; 4 for the 2009-2011 revival
Tony Awards: 2 for the original production, including best scenic design and best choreography; 1 for the 2009-2011 revival, for best featured actress in a musical (Karen Olivo)
Best of Billboard
Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1
Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits
H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
How to watch the 2025 Tony Awards
The 2025 Tony Awards are taking place on Sunday from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, as the theater community gathers to celebrate Broadway's biggest night. The ceremony, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will honor the best in theater, with several recognizable film and TV actors among the nominated. There's also a highly-anticipated reunion of the original 'Hamilton' cast. Harvey Fierstein is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre honor. Here's what else you need to know about the 2025 Tonys. The Tony Awards will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The show will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. 'The Tony Awards: Act One,' a live pre-show hosted by Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry, will be available to watch at 6:40 p.m. ET/3:40 p.m. PT on PlutoTV. Oscar nominee and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo is making her hosting debut on Sunday, serving as the telecast's emcee. 'I am so proud and excited to take on this glorious honor,' the 'Wicked' star said in a statement in February. 'I am looking forward to ushering the theater community at large through a night that celebrates the wonderful performances we have witnessed throughout the year. I hope I can rise to the occasion.' Erivo is also not unfamiliar with Broadway and its biggest night, having previously won a lead actress Tony in 2016 for her role as Celie in 'The Color Purple' and performed 'I'm Here' from that hit show during the ceremony. She is next set to take on the title role in a production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at the Hollywood Bowl in August, just ahead of the November release of 'Wicked: For Good.' Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will act as the show's announcer. 'Buena Vista Social Club,' 'Death Becomes Her' and 'Maybe Happy Ending' are the productions that earned the most nods with 10 each. Productions including 'Dead Outlaw,' 'John Proctor is the Villain,' 'Sunset Blvd.' and 'The Hills of California' all earned seven each. This year's ceremony will also feature plenty of Hollywood talent, with film and TV actors including George Clooney and Sarah Snook, among others, earning their first-ever nods. Clooney earned a Tony nomination in the lead actor in a play category for his performance in 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' a story that follows Edward R. Murrow's (Clooney) historic on-air interview with Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Daniel Dae Kim, who was nominated for his role in 'Yellow Face,' and Cole Escola ('Oh, Mary!'), Jon Michael Hill ('Purpose'), Harry Lennix ('Purpose') and Louis McCartney ('Stranger Things: The First Shadow') are also nominated in the category. Snook, who was nominated for 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' in the the lead actress in the play category, is up against fellow first-time nominees Sadie Sink ('John Proctor is the Villain') and Mia Farrow ('The Roommate'). Veterans Laura Donnelly ('The Hills of California') and LaTanya Richardson Jackson ('Purpose') are also nominated in the category. The original cast of 'Hamilton,' including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ariana DeBose and Leslie Odom Jr., among others, will reunite for a special performance honoring the Tony-winning production's 10th anniversary. The ceremony will also feature performances from the casts of 'Buena Vista Social Club,' 'Dead Outlaw,' 'Death Becomes Her' and 'Gypsy,' among many others. The Broadway Inspirational Voices choir will also make a special appearance during the telecast.
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
Tony Awards offer many intriguing matchups in a star-studded season
NEW YORK — A pair of singing androids. Two Pulitzer Prize-winning plays. A drunken Mary Todd Lincoln. A musical with a corpse as its hero. Romeo, Juliet and teddy bears with rave music. Not to mention George Clooney. Broadway has had a stuffed season with seemingly something for everyone and now it's time to recognize the best with the Tony Awards, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, set for Sunday night on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tony Awards offer many intriguing matchups in a star-studded season
NEW YORK (AP) — A pair of singing androids. Two Pulitzer Prize-winning plays. A drunken Mary Todd Lincoln. A musical with a corpse as its hero. Romeo, Juliet and teddy bears with rave music. Not to mention George Clooney. Broadway has had a stuffed season with seemingly something for everyone and now it's time to recognize the best with the Tony Awards, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, set for Sunday night on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Broadway buzz is usually reserved for musicals but this year the plays — powered by A-list talent — have driven the conversation. There's Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Othello,' Sarah Snook in a one-woman version of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and her 'Succession' co-star Kieran Culkin and Bob Odenkirk in 'Glengarry Glen Ross.' (Clooney, Snook and Odenkirk are nominated for Tonys.) There were two Pulitzer winners — 2024 awardee 'English' and 'Purpose' from 2025 — but perhaps one of the season's biggest surprises was 'Oh, Mary!,' Cole Escola's irreverent, raunchy, gleefully deranged revisionist history centered on Mary Todd Lincoln. All three are nominated for best play, along with 'John Proctor is the Villain' and 'The Hills of California.' On the musical side, three options seem to be in the mix for the top prize: 'Maybe Happy Ending,' a rom-com about a pair of androids; 'Dead Outlaw,' about an alcoholic drifter whose embalmed body becomes a prized possession for half a century; and 'Death Becomes Her,' the musical satire about longtime frenemies who drink a magic potion for eternal youth and beauty. 'Maybe Happy Ending,' 'Death Becomes Her' and another musical nominee, 'Buena Vista Social Club,' lead nominations with 10 apiece. The 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion, making it the highest-grossing season ever and signaling that Broadway has finally emerged from the COVID-19 blues, having overtaken the previous high of $1.8 billion during the 2018-2019 season. 'We're going through this strange period, which I would think someday we can draw the line from COVID to this, as you can draw the line from the early 1980s with AIDS to the explosion of big musicals again,' says Harvey Fierstein, who will get a special Tony for lifetime achievement. Audra McDonald, the most recognized performer in the theater awards' history, could possibly extend her Tony lead. Already the record holder for most acting wins with six Tonys, McDonald could add to that thanks to her leading turn in an acclaimed revival of 'Gypsy.' She has to get past Nicole Scherzinger, who has been wowing audiences in 'Sunset Blvd.' And Kara Young — the first Black female actor to be nominated for a Tony Award in four consecutive years — could become the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively, should she win for her role in the play 'Purpose.' Other possible back-to-back winners include director Danya Taymor, hoping to follow up her 2024 win with 'The Outsiders' with another for 'John Proctor Is the Villain,' and 'Purpose' playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who won last year with 'Appropriate.' Other possible firsts include Daniel Dae Kim, who could become the first Asian winner in the category of best leading actor in a play for his work in a revival of 'Yellow Face.' And Marjan Neshat and her 'English' co-star Tala Ashe could become the first female actors of Iranian descent to win a Tony. Broadway this season saw a burst in alt-rock and the emergence of stories of young people for young people, including 'John Proctor is the Villain' and a 'Romeo + Juliet' pitched to Generation Z and millennials. Sunday's telecast, as usual, will have a musical number for each of the shows vying for the best new musical crown, as well as some that didn't make the cut, like 'Just in Time,' a musical about Bobby Darin, and 'Real Women Have Curves.' This year, there's also room for 'Hamilton,' celebrating its 10th year on Broadway. But the musicals 'BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical' and 'SMASH' didn't get slots. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
