More than 1,000 public school students from the five boroughs of New York lived on Thursday, January 29, an experience they will never forget: a visit backstage at the Schoenfeld Theater to discover how a Broadway musical is put together.
The event was with Buena Vista Social Club The Musical, winner of the Tony and Grammy, thanks to the Creating the Magic program of Inside Broadway, a non-profit organization that has brought young people closer to the world of professional theater for more than 40 years.
Michael Presser, president and CEO of Inside Broadway, explained the purpose of the experience:
“Many times, children and adults do not realize that there is a large team working in the theater that is not seen. We only see the actors, and they are important, but there is a whole army behind the scenes that makes it possible for the actors to do their work. The idea is that children see the theater not only as entertainment, but also as a place of work and an important part of the New York economy.”
The musical revives the history of the Buena Vista Social Club, the musical project that in the 90s brought together legends of Cuban music and brought rhythms such as son, bolero and son montuno to the entire world.
On Broadway, that story is transformed into a show filled with live music, dance and emotion, transporting viewers to the “Tula Room,” where the characters’ dreams and stories come to life.
Students explored lighting, costumes, effects and choreography. They learned how more than 200 pieces of costumes must be cared for daily and how the actors perform “quick changes” in less than a minute to follow the rhythm of the story.
Music and dance marked the day. From trombone, cuatro and piano to congas, bass and guitar, young people discovered the sounds that give life to the musical.
David Oquendo, Cuban guitarist of the musical, summarized the experience:
“We are carrying a flag, which is the flag of all our cultures. The show is in English, but all the songs are in Spanish, and many of them were singing; I saw them, and that is exciting. This type of program needs to be intensified even more. We are in the capital of the world; if this were done in every city, we would be sowing a tremendous seed.”
The students also saw how the dancers maintain energy and rhythm in each performance and witnessed a demonstration of how they perform “Chan Chan,” transmitting emotions and telling stories, such as when the young Amara, in the plot, plans to leave Cuba to pursue her dream of being a singer.
Pablo Ventura, one of the participants, recounted his experience:
“It was beautiful. The dances seemed to require a lot of training, months or years. The music reminded me of salsa, merengue and bachata from the Dominican Republic.”
The actors came out to share their experience on Broadway, explaining how they interpret their roles and what it means to build a career in professional theater: discipline, constant practice and effort.
Yadi Estrella, who accompanied her sister Alaina, commented:
“I think it’s a great opportunity for kids to learn, see a future in the arts, be inspired, have a passion for something, and be able to put into practice what they learn in school.”
Alaina Estrella added:
“It makes me feel happy that there are different cultures on Broadway, plus the music is completely in Spanish.”
With Creating the Magic, Inside Broadway not only brings children closer to a musical, but teaches them that Broadway is a space of work, creativity and passion, where music, dance and technique combine to tell stories that inspire.
