Gina Torres Steps Into Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway
Gina Torres returns to Broadway on October 13 as Omara Portuondo in Buena Vista Social Club. She will perform at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre through November 29 while Natalie Venetia Belcon is on leave. Torres is known for her work on Suits and its spinoff Pearson.
Torres takes over the role of Omara Portuondo at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre starting Oct. 13, with her engagement scheduled to end Nov. 29. She fills in while Natalie Venetia Belcon, a Tony winner, is away from the production.
Beyond Suits and its Pearson spinoff, where she played Jessica Pearson, Torres has stage credits including Face Value, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and Off-Broadway's Pen Pals. Her screen work also includes Alias, Firefly and 911: Lone Star. The musical draws on a Grammy-winning 1997 album and tells an Afro-Cuban story of endurance and renewed opportunity.
Torres's casting may draw television audiences to Broadway, potentially boosting ticket interest for Buena Vista Social Club during its limited run. Fans of Suits and Pearson could discover the musical's Afro-Cuban music and Cuban cultural history. The production's continued performances with a replacement may reassure ticket holders and support cast, crew, and theater district businesses. It could also highlight how star substitutions keep long-running shows stable.