Former Mets Player José ‘Candelita’ Iglesias Will Make Broadway Debut in Buena Vista Social Club
Cuban pro-baseball player and Latin pop star José “Candelita” Igelsias will make his Broadway debut in Buena Vista Social Club. Iglesias will join the company as the Narrator beginning August 27 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.
Iglesias began his MLB career with the Boston Red Sox in 2011, later playing with the Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, and San Diego Padres before becoming a free agent. But Iglesias is also a musician and songwriter. His 2023 debut single “Tambor” has more than 200,000 views on YouTube alone, and his 2024 single “OMG” reached number one on the iTunes Latin Pop Charts.
“It is an incredible privilege to be part of such a historic band,” says Iglesias in a statement. “Anyone who truly knows Cuba understands the journey we have endured, so for me, this is a dream come true. To represent Buena Vista Social Club—and to do it on Broadway—is something deeply meaningful and truly special. This musical is unique, powerful, and unlike anything else. On a personal level, it is a tremendous blessing to be part of this production. It is also overwhelming in the best possible way because I will be the first Latino MLB player ever to perform on Broadway. To make that debut in New York City, one of my favorite cities in the world, makes this opportunity even more extraordinary. I cannot wait to experience the energy of that theatre and create unforgettable memories with the cast, the musicians, baseball fans and the theatre audience. I feel incredibly grateful, honored, and excited for what is ahead. New York, here we come. Buena Vista Social Club, here we come.”
“One of the joys of creating theatre is discovering talent in unexpected places,” adds director Saheem Ali. “From the moment we met José Iglesias, it was clear that he brought a charisma that was unique and authentic. And he’s proving to us that extraordinary performers often come from the most surprising backgrounds. I look forward to audiences experiencing how deeply his personal affinity for Buena’s Vista’s Cuban heritage, and his love for the music, shines through. Welcome José!”
Buena Vista Social Club, a 2025 Tony nominee for Best Musical, began performances February 21, 2025, and opened March 19. See what critics had to say about the show here.
Inspired by the Grammy-winning 1997 album of the same name, Buena Vista Social Club features a book by Marco Ramirez (The Royale). The musical brings the album to life and tells the story of the legends who lived it. Director Ali returned after staging the musical’s 2023 world premiere Off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company. Choreographers Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck won a 2025 Tony Award for their work on the show, also back from the Off-Broadway premiere.
The Broadway cast features 2025 Tony winner Natalie Venetia Belcon as Omara, Julio Monge as Compay, Mel Semé as Ibrahim, Jainardo Batista Sterling as Rubén, Isa Antonetti as Young Omara, Da’von T. Moody as Young Compay, Wesley Wray as Young Ibrahim, Leonardo Reyna as Young Rubén, Renesito Avich as Eliades, Ashley De La Rosa as Young Haydee, and Justin Cunningham as Juan de Marcos. Casting is by The TRC Company.
READ: Natalie Venetia Belcon and Isa Antonetti Invite You to ‘Feel the Music’ in Buena Vista Social Club
The Buena Vista Social Club band features music supervision by Dean Sharenow; orchestrations, arrangements, and music direction by Marco Paguia; additional arrangements by Javier Diaz and David Oquendo; music consultation by Juan de Marcos; and creative consultation by David Yazbek. Comprising the band are Paguia, Oquendo, Gustavo Schartz, Hery Paz, Eddie Venegas, Jesus Ricardo, Díaz, Mauricio Herrera, and Román Diaz.
The production also features scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado; costume design by Dede Ayite; lighting design by Tyler Micoleau; sound design by Jonathan Deans; and wig, hair, and makeup design by J. Jared Janas. Arabella Powell serves as production stage manager.
Buena Vista Social Club is both the name given to this extraordinary group of musicians and the album, recorded in just seven days in 1996. The trio of Cuban bandleader Juan de Marcos González, American producer and guitarist Ry Cooder, and British producer and label owner Nick Gold assembled an impromptu group of Cuban musicians in Havana’s 1950s vintage EGREM studios. The album would become a worldwide phenomenon: awarded a Grammy in 1997 and, at over eight million copies, outselling any other record in the same genre. The acclaim of the album has elevated the artists (including Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González, and Omara Portuondo) to superstar status and inspired an award-winning film by Wim Wenders.
The producing team is led by Wolf, John Styles, Jr., Barbara Broccoli, Atlantic Theater Company, Viajes Miranda, LaChanze, Yazbek, and John Leguizamo. Allan Williams is executive producer.
Visit BuenaVistaMusical.com.
