From ‘West Side Story’ to ‘Buena Vista Social Club’

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.

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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.

Buena Vista Social Club

Buena Vista Social Club

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 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: TBD

Evita

Evita

Opening 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 musical

In the Heights

In the Heights

Opening 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 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 orchestrations

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Opening 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 design

Man of La Mancha

Man of La Mancha

Opening 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 musical

On Your Feet!

On Your Feet!

Opening 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: 0

Real Women Have Curves: The Musical

Real Women Have Curves: The Musical

Opening 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: TBD

West Side Story

West Side Story

Opening 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)

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