Upcoming Musical Inspired by Buena Vista Social Club in Durham
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) – A Tony and Grammy award-winning musical inspired by the legendary Buena Vista Social Club is visiting the Triangle this week. The production is currently being held at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC).
This show celebrates groundbreaking Cuban musicians whose work gained global recognition after the release of the acclaimed Buena Vista Social Club album in the 1990s. The album introduced many to Cuban music and culture while narrating the stories of artists experiencing a resurgence in their careers.
Patricia Delgado, a choreographer for the musical and a second-generation Cuban American, expressed the team’s fascination not just with the music but also with the artists’ stories. “We were interested in the story behind these artists and how this album came to be made, especially considering it was created by artists at the end of their careers,” she said.
Delgado, who won a Tony Award in 2025 for Best Choreography, made history as the first Latina woman to receive this honor. She describes the musical’s music as a captivating blend of influences from Cuba, the Caribbean, and Africa, connecting deeply with audiences regardless of language. “It’s world music,” she notes. “Even if you don’t speak Spanish, you understand the emotion behind these songs.”
Working on this production also provided Delgado with a personal connection to her family’s heritage. “I was able to imagine what it must have been like for my grandparents living in Cuba at that time,” she reflected. “When you understand other cultures, you understand yourself as well.”
Buena Vista Social Club will be playing at DPAC through Sunday, with a limited number of tickets still available.
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