New York -- Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has announced that the chorus of the Broadway musical Buena Vista Social Club will receive the 2025 ACCA Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus.
Presented by Equity’s Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs, the ACCA Award is the only industry accolade of its kind to honor the distinctive talents and contributions made by the original chorus members of a Broadway musical.
The eight individual recipients of the 2025 ACCA Award – all of whom were part of Buena Vista Social Club’s chorus on the musical’s March 19, 2025, Broadway opening night – are Angelica Maria Beliard, Carlos E. Gonzalez, Hector Maisonet, Ilda Mason, Marielys Molina, Carlos Sanchez Falú, Anthony Santos and Tanairi Sade Vazquez.
"This season is an incredibly special one for the chorus. Equity has designated 2025 as A Chorus Year, and the ACCA Award is just one milestone event in our yearlong celebration," said Actors’ Equity Association 2nd Vice President Al Bundonis, chair of the ACCA. "There is extraordinary work being done by chorus members across Broadway, but at the Schoenfeld, this chorus transports us with their energy, versatility and creativity.
“They bring to life the distinct personality of Buena Vista Social Club. They use their voices, their bodies and their incredible artistic skills to make audiences feel the heat of Cuba, the heart of its people and the soul of the period. Their contributions are essential to the storytelling of this production."
Tony-nominated co-choreographers Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck said the following:
“Congratulations to the cast of The Buena Vista Social Club, an exceptional group of artists with undeniable talent, courage, and passion who have inspired us deeply and are bringing this powerful story to life time and time again with so much honesty, care and warmth. We love you all!”
Voters for this award were Equity chorus councilors, members of the ACCA and previous recipients of Equity’s Legacy Robe, which is awarded to the member of the chorus in each show who has the most Broadway chorus credits. In reviewing each nominated chorus, voters considered the chorus requirements made by each production’s director, choreographer and musical director; the caliber of technical skill used to execute those requirements; and the unique contributions made by the entire chorus to the overall production.
The chorus members of Buena Vista Social Club will receive their award at this year’s Actors’ Equity Foundation Awards Ceremony on June 23 in New York City. Members of the public can tune in to the event via a livestream. (details forthcoming).
Previous recipients of the ACCA Award are the original chorus members of Legally Blonde (2007), In the Heights (2008), West Side Story (2009), Fela! (2010), The Scottsboro Boys (2011), Newsies (2012), Pippin (2013), Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (2014), An American in Paris (2015), Shuffle Along, Or The Making Of The Musical Sensation Of 1921 And All That Followed (2016), Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (2017), Once on This Island (2018), Hadestown (2019), New York, New York (2023) and The Heart of Rock and Roll (2024). In 2022, the ACCA issued two special awards, one to all the Broadway choruses working on the 2019–2020 season disrupted by the pandemic, and one for the choruses of the 2021–2022 season that brought Broadway back.
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks
June 5, 2025
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