When Theatre Connects Us: Lessons Beyond the Curtain
Blog By: Graham Sundstrom
Two weeks of rehearsal: that’s what actor of Young Ibrahim, Jaleel Battles Jr. had before he first played the character on Broadway. I learned this at the post show talkback at Buena Vista Social Club with my fellow ambassadors, an experience that taught me two lessons that stood out to me.
The first was about the world of live theatre as a whole, and how that relates to Buena Vista Social Club, a show that breaks the mold of Broadway’s brand. For context, the show follows a young producer working to revive Cuban musical tradition and the early lives of the performers as they navigate what music means to them in a nation on the verge of revolution. When asked about the difference from a more traditional Broadway show and how that manifested in the rehearsal process, the actors described the togetherness of the cast. Sentiments of real friendships and time spent together outside of rehearsal show on stage with realistic character interactions that don’t come across like they’re being performed, but rather lived. As a high school student who indulges in the arts, I found this profound because I feel that theatre plays such a significant role in my life and relationships as well affecting my peers. It was so unifying to know that the people who have turned theatre into a career also find connections through their art.
The second big takeaway from the talkback was about what theatre can accomplish. Buena Vista Social Club is no doubt a very cultural musical based in a place with a very rich culture. When asked about their connection to Latin culture, every actor had a unique story. One said that he learned Spanish for the musical but still connected with parallels to the African American story, others talked about their cultural connection to Cuba. Stories were shared of having Cuban culture that wasn’t significant in daily life and of the musical giving a connection to that culture and a sense of belonging. One actress shared that her grandparents had left Cuba as riots began to spring up and how the musical gave her a new connection to them. Another actress shared that she had been adopted and knows only some of her bio-family’s history. She said that she is ethnically Cuban but didn’t grow up in that setting or directly around that culture. She talked about how she’s always been fascinated with hispanic culture and about the opportunity of being able to have a role in Buena Vista Social Club. These stories remind me of the power that art has. A musical as emotional and pure as Buena Vista Social Club, is bound to touch people with the unique improvised solos every night, but I learned a new side of theatre from a group of people I am so grateful to be able to speak to.
Buena Vista Social Club is a life changing experience of a musical that teaches the curious and entertains the theatre-goer. It balances history, storytelling, and music that could all stand alone, but combine to share the glories of a culture a thousand miles from its homeland.
