There are few shows where the source material carries this much history. The Buena Vista Social Club started as a 1997 recording session in Havana — a chance collaboration between producer Ry Cooder and a group of Cuban musicians who had largely disappeared from public life. The album sold more than a million copies, a Wim Wenders documentary followed, and suddenly a generation of fans had a new entry point into a sound they had never heard before. The Broadway musical built from that story is coming to Sacramento. Buena Vista Social Club, which won both the Tony and the Grammy Award, runs at SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center from February 23 through February 28, 2027.
What the Show Is
The musical centers on Omara Portuondo, a Cuban singer known as the “Queen of Feeling,” who had stepped away from recording. An ambitious young record producer offers her a chance to return to the studio, and what follows is a journey through music and memory into the heart of Havana. The show draws from the original Buena Vista Social Club album and the rich Cuban musical tradition that surrounded it — son, bolero, mambo, and more — played and sung live on stage.
The production won the Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical in its Broadway run, a recognition that gestures at what distinguishes it from more conventional Broadway fare: this is a show where the music itself is the architecture. Running time is two hours and ten minutes, including a twenty-minute intermission.
The Sacramento Run
Six performances are scheduled over six days:
- Tuesday, February 23: 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, February 24: 7:30 pm
- Thursday, February 25: 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm
- Friday, February 26: 7:30 pm (Open Captioned Performance)
- Saturday, February 27: 1:30 pm (Audio Described Performance) and 7:30 pm
- Sunday, February 28: 1:30 pm (Sign Interpreted Performance)
The Wednesday matinee on February 25 (1:30 pm) is the quietest option in the run — midweek afternoon shows tend to attract a more relaxed crowd and offer the best shot at good seats for those who haven’t booked early. The Friday and Sunday matinee accessibility performances are the right call for anyone who benefits from captioning or audio description.
Getting Tickets
Tickets are on sale now through Broadway Sacramento’s website. The box office at (916) 557-1999 can also help with orders. Group sales are available for parties of ten or more. The Broadway Sacramento website advises buying only from official channels to avoid scalper pricing on this show.
Season subscribers to Broadway Sacramento’s 2026–2027 series will have their seats automatically held for this production. Anyone on the fence about subscribing should know that the series also includes The Outsiders, which opened the season’s main run in Sacramento earlier this year.
Venue and Parking
SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center is at 1301 L Street in downtown Sacramento, 95814. There is no dedicated parking structure at the venue. The most practical approach for evening shows is to reserve a spot in advance at sacpark.org, which lists available city-managed parking garages. The L Street garage at 1020 L Street and the Q Street structure at 1117 Q Street are both within a short walk. Light rail is a reasonable alternative — the 7th & Capitol Gold Line station is one block from the front entrance, and February weather in Sacramento is mild enough that a short walk from the station is not a burden.
The Details
- What: Buena Vista Social Club, Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway musical
- When: February 23–28, 2027 (see full schedule above)
- Where: SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, 1301 L St., Sacramento, CA 95814
- Running time: Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission
- Tickets: broadwaysacramento.com
- Box office phone: (916) 557-1999
- Parking: No on-site parking; reserve in advance at sacpark.org
- Accessibility: Open captioned Feb 26, audio described Feb 27 matinee, sign interpreted Feb 28 matinee
Bottom Line
This is a show with a distinct identity in a Broadway season that tends toward spectacle. Buena Vista Social Club is quieter, warmer, and rooted in a specific musical world that most Sacramento audiences will find either familiar or revelatory. The six-night run is tight, and this kind of show tends to sell fast once word spreads past the core fan base. Anyone planning to go should book before December. It fits well alongside the broader Sacramento performing arts season for anyone building a calendar of live events through winter and spring.
