We currently have two amazing Latin Musicals on Broadway, and to top it off they are two amazing Latin Musicals, so they deserve a little happy dance from me, its own post, and me asking you to go see them so they sell lots of tickets and they stay on Broadway. I however differed a bit with Tony Voters, I liked Real Women have Curves more than Buena Vista Social Club, but I think its absolutely personal, both are great and a good time will be had at both, it just comes down to personal preferences and what is more up your alley, which I will go in further detail below!
Real Women Have Curves
Official Blurb: Ana García dreams of flying away. But when her family’s East Los Angeles 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. Based on the play by Josefina López that inspired the iconic hit HBO film, with music by Grammy® Award-winning composer Joy Huerta and directed by Tony Award® winner Sergio Trujillo, REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES: THE MUSICAL “makes us feel we can all soar!” (WBUR)
My take: This musical made me happy. Its like a warm emotional hug that keeps you happy for a while after.The show just has so much heart. The biggest thing for me see in art is being moved. It doesn’t have to be perfect but if they get to my heartstrings and make me have all the feelings, that is great art for me, and here it happened. I was moved, I cried, I laughed and I left a happy camper. The colors throughout the show are rich and lively, and you will be getting some stellar performances from Tatianna Cordoba and Justina Machado (5 second divergence to say how much I still hate that they canceled One day at a time and how fabulous Justina was in it, but that you can catch her now in Pulse which is also really good). . I think what surprised me the most was the music, I am still humming some of the songs, especially Real Women have Curves. And that numbers is beautifully staged and warranted a well deserved standing ovation after it the day I saw it. My only qualm, for a Sergio Trujillo show I wanted more dance! I do have a question, of course the book/ movie everything was set in the 1980s (and the throwback fashion make them great fun) but couldn’t a great adaptation would have been moving it to today? I feel the ICE/ Immigration storyline is as relevant as ever and it would have made it even more relevant to modern audiences?
Buena Vista Social Club
Official Blurb: Step into the heart of Cuba, beyond the glitz of the Tropicana, to a place where blazing trumpets and sizzling guitars set the dance floor on fire. Here, the real sound of Havana is born—and one woman discovers the music that will change her life forever. Inspired by true events, the new Broadway musical BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB™ brings the GRAMMY® Award-winning album to thrilling life—and tells the story of the legends who lived it. A world-class band joins a sensational cast of musicians, actors, and dancers from across the globe, for an authentic experience unlike any you’ve seen or heard before. Don’t miss this captivating tale of big dreams, second chances, and the unbreakable bonds of making music together.
My take: This is a beautiful staged show. I will give this one caveat, I am not the biggest fan of Son Cubano, so Instead of being a huge fan of this musical I am just a big fan, however I still love the whole concept of it. I love that they kept the songs in Spanish, it is so authentic and a beauty to see. I do feel like the emotion is captured, and they really don’t advance the story so it doesn’t really matter if you dont understand the lyrics (although that is a little bit of a strike against, the songs are very much performance style and not so much to advance the plot, like for example Jersey boys and Just in Time). I would be interested to see what a non spanish speaker thinks of it, if they feel there is any loss from it, but given all its nominations I would venture to guess that no. I think my favorite part of the show are the musicians, they are all so talented and such a part of the story. I absolutely adored that they are getting a special tony and its so well deserved. The dancing was so good, I just wanted more of it, not in enough songs for me, as it was just captivating when you had all the elements together. The two timelines worked well, even though I was more engaged with the 60s timeline more that the “current” timelime.
Tati's Tidbits 