Marco Ramirez on Bringing Cuban Fire to Broadway with Buena Vista Social Club [Podcast]

Marco’s journey from the passion and perseverance of his early days hustling in Miami to the Broadway stage

I consider myself one of the lucky audience members to have enjoyed opening week of the new musical, “Buena Vista Social Club” on Broadway. It was an incredible fusion of music and storytelling that captured the spirit of Cuba’s “golden age” and transported the audience to the vibrant streets of Havana.

I had a chance to interview Marco Ramirez, the visionary writer behind Buena Vista Social Club and find out about his early career, the process of writing spoken word for the musical, his personal connection to the musical, and advice for other aspiring creative entrepreneurs.

Early Career & Inspiration: From Miami Hustle to Artistic Calling

Marco’s path to Broadway wasn’t a traditional one. He described growing up in Miami, where he says, “party promotion was becoming a big thing.” His early exposure to live events, combined with his love for storytelling, shaped his artistic journey. “Even before I identified as a playwright, I knew I liked party planning and getting people in a room. We were just hustling to get people to come watch our stories.”

Marco also emphasized the importance of arts education: “I am entirely a product of the public school system.” He credits his drama teachers and English teachers with nurturing his passion and providing him with the foundation to pursue his dreams. He highlighted his high school drama teacher, Anna Medeiros, who gave him the freedom to explore his creativity.

The Creation Process: Weaving a Tapestry of Music and Story

The Buena Vista Social Club musical presented a unique challenge for Marco, adapting a beloved musical legacy for the stage. Marco spoke of his deep connection to the music, recalling how Buena Vista Social Club, the album that was recorded in Havana’s EGREM studios in March of 1996 was the first time he brought music to his grandparents, rather than the other way around.

“The story of making that record was the most exciting part of it to me,” he explained. His research involved trips to Cuba and meetings with the real-life musicians, including Eliades Ochoa. “It was a lot of conversations and spending time with them, getting a sense of their rhythms, also getting a sense of what this music means to them.”

Balancing historical accuracy with dramatic license was crucial. As one of the initial lines of the musical that he wrote says, “some of this is true and some of this only feels true.” While the romantic elements in the show were a creative liberty, they were inspired by the romantic nature of the music itself.

Latin Culture & Personal Connection: Celebrating Our Heritage

Marco’s passion for sharing Latin culture is evident when he says “It means the world to me” emphasizing the importance of seeing diverse stories, particularly those from Latin cultures, represented on Broadway.

“Spanish is my first language. English is my second language,” he shared, highlighting the significance of hearing Spanish sung on a Broadway stage. It’s the first time a Broadway musical has performed the lyrics totally in Spanish. He knew there was no other way to create this show but to keep the lyrics as originally written. He spoke of the joy in seeing both Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers connect with the music on an emotional level.

“There are moments in the show that are basically me talking,” he said, referring to the character Juan de Marcos’s dedication to preserving Cuban music. “It feels wonderful,” he said, “It feels very validating.”

Marco’s work truly represents the importance of preserving our cultural legacies. “If the Buena Vista brand had some kind of thing at its core,” he said, “I think it’s ultimately about preserving legacies and honoring what came before.”

Creative Entrepreneurship Advice: “Plan Your Own Party”

Marco’s advice to young writers and playwrights, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, was both simple and sincere, harkening to his youth when he was busy planning other people’s parties and events, “Plan your own party.”

“Make the thing only you can make because only you can make it,” he emphasized. He encouraged aspiring artists to embrace their unique voices and not be afraid to create the art that only they can create. “Don’t write the one-person play somebody else should have written. Write the one that’s you,” he said. He also spoke of the importance of audience experience: “Audience experience is the most important thing.” He stressed the importance of connecting with the audience and finding the right audience for your work.

Marco also touched on the future of storytelling and the role of AI, expressing the importance of “the human touch” suggesting that it’s a quality that AI cannot easily replicate. He sees value in the genuine human connection that occurs through artistic expression. He says that AI should not be a replacement for “your own thoughts or creativity or your own process.” Marco’s passion and perseverance from his early days hustling in Miami to the grand stage of Broadway is a reminder that following your unique voice can lead to extraordinary places.

For the full interview with Marco Ramirez, where he delves deeper into his creative process and shares invaluable advice for aspiring artists, you can check out the full podcast, Cafecito with Latin Biz Today interview, Marco Ramirez: Storyteller of Buena Vista Social Club on Spotify .

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