CASTING

We are seeking excellent performers for the Broadway company and future productions.

ACTOR/SINGERS

OMARA, IBRAHIM, COMPAY, RUBÉN, JUAN, YOUNG OMARA, YOUNG IBRAHIM, YOUNG COMPAY, YOUNG HAYDÉE

For all actor/singer roles except JUAN, please submit your singing a cut from “Dos Gardenias.” Music and an accompaniment track in two different keys can be downloaded here.

For the role of JUAN, please submit the opening monologue, available to download here.

MUSICIANS

YOUNG RUBÉN
piano

ELIADES
**tres

PERCUSSION
congas, bongos, clave, batá (okónkolo)

PERCUSSION
bongos, bell, clave, güiro, batá (iyá)

PERCUSSION
*Timbales, maracas, bell, clave, güiro, batá (itótele)

STRING
*bass

STRING
**guitar

WOODWIND
*clarinet/flute/tenor sax

BRASS
trumpet/flugelhorn

BRASS
*trombone

* also sings background vocals
** also sings lead vocal & background vocals

For all musician roles, please submit a clip (of any length) of you playing any of the above instruments.

DANCE ENSEMBLE

For all dance roles, please submit a dance reel.

FOR ALL ROLES,
PLEASE PROVIDE:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Phone Number
  • Location
  • Role
  • Headshot/Picture
  • Resume/CV/Bio
  • Link to submission video

APPLY NOW

Submission of materials is entirely voluntary and does not guarantee an offer of employment. All casting decisions are at the sole discretion of the producers and casting team. By submitting, you grant Buena Vista Social Club, its producers, and their casting representatives permission to view and store your materials solely for casting purposes; submissions will be treated as confidential and will not be used for any other purpose without your consent. There is no fee to submit, and no compensation will be provided for participation in the submission process. Any eventual offer of employment will be subject to union agreements, applicable contracts, and proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

OMARA: 50+. Female-presenting. Actor/Singer. Mixed, Latino or Black. A powerhouse singer and presence in any room she occupies—and she knows it. She is cuttingly funny and intelligent but carries the weight of her past, despite her commercial success in music.

IBRAHIM: 50+. Male-presenting. Strong vocalist. Black. He is a man with a sweet singing voice and a deeply spiritual presence. His life has been very difficult, and his wariness shows.

COMPAY: 50+. Male-presenting. Actor/Singer. Mixed, Latino or Black. A troubadour musician with “old-world” charm. While he can be a bit flirtatious, he’s a sensitive man who has lived several deep disappointments in his lifetime.

RUBÉN: 50+. Male-presenting. Strong vocalist. Mixed, Latino or Black. The older version of Young Rubén who comes to listen to the music being recorded in the Egrem Studios. He is still, quiet, and trapped in his own mind until he hears a recording from his youth. Will understudy the role of IBRAHIM.

YOUNG OMARA: 20s. Female-presenting. Actor/Singer. Mixed, Latino or Black. A wealthy young woman dreaming of a world full of music and harmony. She’s free in spirit and strong in her convictions, but she gives in under pressure to obtain her goals.

YOUNG HAYDÉE: 20s. Female-presenting. Actor/Singer. Mixed, Latino or Black. Older sister to Young Omara and the driving engine behind the duo’s early success as performers. She’s logical, no-nonsense, and down to earth. Not one for sentiment, she faces reality head on.

YOUNG IBRAHIM: 20s. Male-presenting. Actor/Singer/Dancer. Black. A dark-skinned young singer who has relocated from a difficult life in the country to the big city. He relies on busking to make his living and faces prejudicial hurdles on the journey to musical success.

YOUNG COMPAY: 20s. Male-presenting. Actor/Singer. Mixed, Latino or Black. A stylish, brave, and charming young guitar player and singer. Though he’s a bit of a risk-taker, he’s a dedicated person—to his friends, his music, and the Buena Vista Social Club alike.

YOUNG RUBÉN: 20s. Male-presenting. Musician (piano). Mixed, Latino or Black. An energetic, careful, eager, and hopeful pianist. He came from a humble background and dreams of playing on the best instruments with the best musicians. His mind stays focused on two things: safety and music. Piano proficiency required; knowledge of Afro-Cuban styles a plus.

JUAN/MAN IN SUIT: 20s/30s. Male-presenting. Actor/non-singer. Mixed, Latino or Black.
Juan: A young music producer whose main focus is business success. He is intelligent, motivated, and a self-starter who isn’t afraid to take chances for his dreams.
Man In Suit: A former employee of Capitol Records who approaches Young Omara in the Buena Vista Social Club to attract her to his new record label. Young Omara’s hesitation is no match for his foresight and persuasion.

ELIADES: 20s-40s. Male-presenting. Musician (guitar/tres). Mixed, Latino or Black. A leader of the House Band, he’s a great friend of the producer Juan De Marcos. He plays the tres with great pizzazz and has a bit of a country streak in him. Guitar proficiency required; knowledge of Afro-Cuban styles a plus.

DANCE ENSEMBLE: 3 male-presenting and 3 female-presenting, all ages. Mixed, Latino or Black dancers to inhabit a world mostly focused on 1950s Cuba. Backgrounds and abilities in Latin-partnering, Latin dance (mambo, salsa, bolero), contemporary dance, and ballet. Strong musicality and storytelling-through-movement abilities. Must have strong partnering skills. May understudy principal roles.