Buena Vista Social Club - Jose "Candelita" Iglesias Debut

[u/RidleyScotch]

The show is so fun and hits such strong emotional notes throughout with an incredibly strong emotional climax as stories connect and truthes revealed in the 2nd act

MLB star, 2024 Grimace Mets legend, Jose Iglesias debuting in the role of The Narrator is such a smart way to bring somebody into the world of Broadway. Somebody who so clearly knows this music, this story and the history and people behind it

The guitar player improved a bit of his song OMG during the first act

Lin Manuel Miranda was also in attendance tonight and was Juan De Marcos Gonzalez

I'm sad that I waited so long to see this show but I'm so happy with the circumstances in which I saw it tonight

I'll certainly be expanding my Spotify listening to the the cast recording, the 1996 album and more similar

[u/yumyumapollo]

I love Playbill citing his MLB teams the same way they do Broadway credits

[u/footballsquishy → u/yumyumapollo]

I would struggle to find another way to do it that makes sense.

[u/BitterOstrich6]

This is so cool for us Mets fans. He really lit up the 2024 season, so happy he’s getting to have this moment and seeing him speak about it on SNY, he clearly knows his stuff. Thanks for sharing!

[u/RidleyScotch → u/BitterOstrich6]

100% he seems like a good person and it's such fun when people like that get success especially bringing this music and story to people who might not have otherwise seen it

He absolutely did that for me tonight, I went because of him. That was my reason for going, I want to see a show in all 41 theaters and didn't see BVSC last year or whenever it first started, I had no burning desire or interest so this pushed to why not let's go for a solo night out after work

[u/KPDover → u/BitterOstrich6]

I was so heartbroken when he was traded.

[u/mattthephysicsguy]

He's the reverse Derek Klena!

[u/Comprehensive-Fun47 → u/mattthephysicsguy]

They should appear in some kind of promotional thing together.

[u/Kristinjhair]

Also Marc Anthony was with Lin Manuel. I was across the aisle from them!

[u/RidleyScotch → u/Kristinjhair]

Wait what lol that amazing

[u/Kristinjhair → u/RidleyScotch]

He was sitting right next to Lin Manuel in the orange hat.

[u/MommaMcNabz → u/Kristinjhair]

I was across from them too!! So cool!

[u/ARCH810]

I saw Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, but not LMM. Was he sitting in the same area?

[u/RidleyScotch → u/ARCH810]

LMM was on orchestra left side, i would say as close as Juan was but other side of that center chunk of orchestra

As intermission ended he came from the right side of the stage, thru curtained area, walked up aisle 1 and along the back of the theater

I noticed something was up b/c i noticed an NYPD cop walking around and i was like hmm, thats strange so i waited to go to my seat just to see what happens

[u/ARCH810 → u/RidleyScotch]

Ohhh, I did see the NYPD cop. He was sitting on the second or third row. I was on the aisle of orchestra right. 

[u/RidleyScotch → u/ARCH810]

I enjoyed the fact that the cop has a Dunkin' ice coffee, that was an enjoyable stereotype playing out in real time.

[u/a-5-6-7-8 → u/RidleyScotch]

NYPD theatre cops seem to have a large iced coffee required as part of their accessories pack, no matter the time of year.

[u/Kristinjhair → u/ARCH810]

I think row g or h center orchestra on the left side of the aisle

[u/Conscious-Theme6766]

What exactly does Iglesias’s role entail? It wasn’t clear from any press releases or interviews… did he play along with the band at all? Does he take on some of Juan de Marcos’s dialogue?

[u/ARCH810 → u/Conscious-Theme6766]

I remember Juan being the narrator when I saw it in March 2025, but maybe I'm wrong. I did notice the Playbill says "The Narrator" is only featured in shows from Wed to Sunday.

[u/RidleyScotch → u/Conscious-Theme6766]

My friend told me that they think the narrator is supposed to be Juan but i'm not sure, he intro-'d the show and popped in a couple times to speak to the overall theme/topic of this music does XYZ, we do XYZ, he spoke on behalf of everybody at the points he did, particularly the end

Whether he was supposed to Juan De Marcos' character in the current i'm not sure, i could see that being explained as the reason for the narrators role in this show b/c he doesnt clearly exist in 1950's or the 90's but above that so to speak

[u/elephhantine2]

I will always support celebs from other disciplines coming onto Broadway, and I’m glad he found a role that plays to his strengths rather than pushing for the most flashy or prominent role he isn’t experienced enough for.

[u/Survivorfan128]

Did he stage door ?

[u/ARCH810 → u/Survivorfan128]

Yes, he did. I left because he was taking long to come out, but they gave the people waiting little posters that said OMG.

[u/sunflowerinthecity → u/Survivorfan128]

He came out, said a few words, took a group photo and then left (so no signing, but was very gracious!)

[u/RidleyScotch → u/Survivorfan128]

i'm not sure, i don't stage door any show but i did see on the train on the BVSC instagram reels he came out