Buena Vista Social Club’ the Musical Provides Cuban Seasoning for the Soul — And a Heartfelt Nostalgia for the Island’s Music of Yesteryear

The new Broadway musical strikes a universal chord of excitement, joy, and love-loss among theater patrons.

Ensemble and band from the Buena Vista Social Club musical; Photo: Matthew Murphy/Polk&Co.

Move over MSG and Radio City Music Hall; this new Broadway musical recently brought the house down to a packed 1,080-seat smaller venue. The clapping, head-bopping, and toe-tapping continued throughout the performance from theatergoers, young and old. It was an electrifying musical shock to the senses, reverberating well after the curtain call and the lights went dark.

The story, inspired by true events, follows producer Juan de Marcos González (Justin Cunningham, King LearSuccession) attempting to reunite acclaimed Cuban performers from a pre-revolution era of the Buena Vista Social Club from Marianoa, Cuba, where infectious live music filled the hearts and tickled the feet of Black Cubans banned from playing in white clubs on the island for one last record. An album compilation that would win a Latin Grammy and see worldwide success much later. De Marcos is determined to collaborate with Omara Portuondo (Natalie Venetia Belcon, MatildaAvenue Q), one of the most talented vocalists since the 50s. Omara reproaches De Marcos’ offer. She’s standoffish. Distant. And unwilling to disclose her reluctance to the reunion.

Renesito Avich as Eliades and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Omara in the Buena Vista Social Club musical; Photo: Matthew Murphy/Polk&Co.

Until…

We flashback to her younger self at age 19, when she was part of a singing group with her older sister, Haydee. The duo performs regularly in Cuba’s infamous Tropicana Club and has an opportunity to sign with Capital Records in America. However, young Omara (Isa Antonetti) is conflicted about moving to America, and her desire for singing soars after an encounter with a young Afro-Cuban musician, Ibrahim Ferrer (Wesley Wray), who doubles as a busboy at The Buena Vista Social Club. It’s at this club that Omara awakens the capacity of her vocal instrument and sings from her heart with Ibrahim and other talented musicians like Compay Segundo, played wonderfully by Julio Monge (On Your FeetWet Brain), and Eliades (Renesito Avich, Cuban Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter), that breaks out into a jaw-dropping guitar solo that will blow your mind.

It’s a musical tale rife with upended familial bonds and new friendships formed and disintegrated with music at the center. As young Omara, Isa Antonetti makes her Broadway debut with a multi-ranged voice primed for the stage. Belcon, as the older Omara, steps the solemn singer’s role with ease and conviction. Wesley Wray also makes his Broadway debut as young Ibrahim Ferrer, a charmer who masterfully sings through his character’s turmoil. The set and costume design transports viewers into a pre-revolution Cuba with beautiful orange/red sunsets, shimmering outfits, and intoxicating Cuban music that can’t be quelled and activates every cell in your body.

Isa Antonetti as Young Omara in the Buena Vista Social Club musical; Photo: Matthew Murphy/Polk&Co.

The Buena Vista Social Club musical, written by Marco Ramirez (Orange is the New Black, Daredevil), developed and directed by Saheem Ali (Goddess, Fat Ham), choreographed by Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, and music by Buena Vista Social Club™, is running at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. To learn more about this phenomenal musical and get tickets, click here.

Entire CastProduction, and Band Credits.

Sequels Generally Suck — But the Fourth Installment of ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ Debunks my Theory with an Action-packed Comedy-laced Comeback

The familiar scoring and characters will take you towards a welcomed trip down movie memory lane.

Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F; Photo: Netflix.

Eddie Murphy reprises his role as Axel Foley, the Detroit street-smart former con-turned-cop who, in the first film, went to Beverly Hills to figure out who killed his friend Mikey, ends up tracking down the killers, and befriends officers Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Stripes) and John Taggart (John Ashton, Gone Baby GoneMidnight Run), who initially took him into custody for trespassing the would-be killer’s businesses.

John Ashton as John Taggart, Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, and Judge Reinhold as Billy Rosewood in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F; Photo; Netflix.

Flash-forward to forty years later, and Axel Foley is still fighting crime and chasing criminals, especially early in the film. He suspects a robbery is about to go down at a Detroit Red Wings game he’s attending with a fellow cop. Foley’s policeman’s intuition pays off. After confronting the robbers at the stadium, a chase ensues. In true Foley fashion, he barrels down Detroit streets in a snow plow, eventually apprehending the criminals, but not without a slew of destroyed cars, traffic signs, poles, and terrified pedestrians in the midst. Foley’s now captain, formerly a detective in the original Beverly Hills Cop, is semi-furious and tired, played by funnyman Paul Reiser (Mad About YouStranger Things); he’s over Foley’s antics and is ready to retire. Axel is about to challenge his captain when he receives a call from Billy Rosewood saying his daughter is in trouble. Foley’s daughter (Taylour Paige, ZolaBoogie), Jane Saundersis a defense attorney in Beverly Hills and may be defending the “wrong” guy, according to the Beverly Hills Police Department.

Kevin Bacon as Captain Grant in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F; Photo: Netflix.

Axel Foley finds himself again in Beverly Hills, ready to expedite the wheels of justice, cunningly and entertainingly. Upon entering the Beverly Hills precinct, we learn Taggart is now chief, and Officer Rosewood has become a private investigator — on the heels of exposing crooked Los Angeles cops. Enter Kevin Bacon’s character, Captain Grant. Oozing enough smarm and finesse, he can make playing a crooked cop an Olympic sport. And Kevin Bacon always seems to add a layer of depth to any film he’s in. Debate me if you’d like.

Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley and Taylor Paige as Jane Saunders in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F; Photo: Netflix.

But Foley’s return isn’t smooth sailing. His daughter wants nothing to do with him since they are estranged. Foley’s daughter, Jane, works for a prestigious firm defending criminals; this time, it seems to be a cop-killer. There’s a big conflict of interest between father and daughter.

Bronson Pinchot as Serge in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F; Photo: Netflix.

Although Foley and his daughter are at odds, they team up with other favorite characters like Bronson Pinchot’s (Perfect Strangers, Risky Business) Serge, who’s still as funny and eccentric as ever. And newcomer to the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Don JonLooper). He’s ditched his clean-shaven, boyish look for a bearded mid-thirties millennial cop with daddy issues. Then there’s Axel Foley’s theme song that will be permanently etched in your brain as it was for me since childhood when I played it on my synthesizer.

According to Eddie Murphy, his loved ones can play the infamous Harold Faltermeyer-composed theme song at his funeral to make people smile, although his loved ones know he doesn’t want a funeral.

Watch this fun, action-packed Eddie Murphy flick, which is just as enjoyable as the first film forty years later. Don’t believe me? Rotten Tomatoes audience members gave it a higher rating than the original! Stream it now on Netflix!