Gloria Estefan at the 40th American Music Awards Arrivals, Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA 11-18-12
NEW YORK — Eight-time GRAMMY winner Gloria Estefan and her daughter, singer-songwriter Emily Estefan, will supply the music and lyrics for BASURA, a new stage musical chronicling the real-life rise of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra of Cateura. Announced on April 24, the project pairs the Estefans with Tony-winning director Michael Greif and an A-list creative roster.
Inspired by the award-winning documentary Landfill Harmonic, BASURA (Spanish for “garbage”) follows young Paraguayans who transform landfill debris into handcrafted instruments—and, against the odds, turn those instruments into global concert careers. Producers describe the show as a “heart-swelling reminder that beauty can flourish in the most unlikely places.”
The musical will debut on the Coca-Cola Stage at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, running May 30–July 12, 2026, before transferring to Broadway. The Alliance has become a powerhouse incubator for Main Stem titles, having nurtured shows such as The Color Purple and The Prom in recent seasons.
Director: Michael Greif (Rent, Dear Evan Hansen)
Book: Karen Zacarías (Native Gardens, Destiny of Desire)
Music Supervision/Orchestrations: Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, In the Heights)
Choreography: Patricia Delgado (Buena Vista Social Club)
Dramaturgy: Ken Cerniglia (Hadestown, Newsies)
Producers include Michael Shulman of Sand and Snow Entertainment alongside Colin Callender and Daniel Unitas of Playground. Wendy Orshan and Jeffrey Wilson of 101 Productions will serve as general managers.
BASURA marks Gloria Estefan’s return to Broadway after 2015’s bio-jukebox hit On Your Feet!, which traced her own journey from Havana to international stardom. For Emily Estefan, the musical represents a Main Stem debut—extending the family’s creative legacy into new theatrical territory.
Additional design appointments and casting will be announced closer to the Atlanta run. With its blend of Latin rhythms, recycled instrumentation and an underdog true story, BASURA already looks like an early contender for the 2027 Tony season once it reaches New York.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
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