Attending “Buena Vista Social Club” : (2 points) Madison Norwood (Class of 2029)

As an admirer of Broadway and an aspiring artist myself, I was so excited to see the Tony Award winning musical “Buena Vista Social Club”. The musical is an adaptation of a popular album that tells the story of Afro Cuban music and musicians. Not only is this an incredible musical with talented actors and actresses, but it is also a needed source of representation in the theatre industry. As an actress I was able to study the performers and their crafts to incorporate certain techniques into my own work. Additionally, I was able to learn more about my own culture. As an Afro Cuban woman, I do not always have the opportunity to learn as much about Cuban culture as I would like to, so the history and authenticity in the show opened my eyes to many stories that I did not know. The musical also told a story of resilience and the hardship of meeting your families standards versus choosing your own happiness and path. I believe this show reminded everyone to work as hard as you can to have peace with all, especially your family because you never know when you won’t have the chance to do so again while also demonstrating the importance of living and choosing yourself before fulfilling someone else’s wishes for your life. This musical was an important depiction of culture, family struggles, and Cuban history. I am so grateful for the opportunity to witness this masterpiece and am inspired to now dig deeper into my Cuban culture and history.

Madison Norwood