Basura
Eleven-time Grammy Award® winner Gloria Estefan joins her daughter and acclaimed singer-songwriter Emily Estefan, to co-write the music and lyrics for BASURA.
Music & Lyrics by Gloria Estefan and Emily Estefan
Book by Karen Zacarías
Directed by Michael Greif
Choreography by Patricia Delgado
Music Supervision, Orchestrations & Arrangements by Alex Lacamoire
Music Direction by Cynthia Meng
Dramaturgy by Ken Cerniglia
Eleven-time Grammy Award® winner Gloria Estefan — whose music has sold over 100 million records worldwide — has shaped generations through song. Now, she joins her daughter and acclaimed singer-songwriter Emily Estefan, to co-write the music and lyrics for Basura, a powerful and bold new musical inspired by the true story of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra, where young artists turn scrap material into instruments and music into possibilities. This world premiere musical continues Estefan’s global legacy — proving that music can rise from anywhere and change everything.
What do you do when the world gives you nothing? You build something beautiful. In a community against all odds, an inspired music teacher starts an orchestra for the students, but they have no instruments. Empty paint cans, a fork, and a bent license plate become a violin, an oil drum transforms into a colorful cello, and the newly formed orchestra hits every note to the beat of something bigger. When the students' instruments become symbols of possibility, the sound is heard around the world.
Basura is directed by the Broadway stage visionary Michael Greif (Rent, Dear Evan Hansen), and written by National Latino Playwriting Award winner Karen Zacarías (Native Gardens, Destiny of Desire). Grammy Award® and Tony Award® winner Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, In the Heights) is the musical supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger. Tony Award® winner Patricia Delgado (Buena Vista Social Club) will choreograph, and Ken Cerniglia (Hadestown, Newsies) rounds out the team as dramaturg.
Based on the award-winning documentary film Landfill Harmonic, the new musical carries the sound of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra farther than anyone could have ever imagined. Basura is an unforgettable journey of rhythm, resilience, and extraordinary music — a radiant, heart-swelling reminder that even in the most unlikely places, you can build something beautiful.
Best enjoyed by audiences 8 and up.
Cast & Creative Quotes Media Venue
Presented by
Coca-Cola Stage
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Inspired by the true story of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra, where young artists turn scrap material into instruments and music into possibilities.
MAY 30 – JUL 12, 2026
Eleven-time Grammy Award® winner Gloria Estefan joins her daughter and acclaimed singer-songwriter Emily Estefan, to co-write the music and lyrics for BASURA.
Music & Lyrics by Gloria Estefan and Emily Estefan
Book by Karen Zacarías
Directed by Michael Greif
Choreography by Patricia Delgado
Music Supervision, Orchestrations & Arrangements by Alex Lacamoire
Music Direction by Cynthia Meng
Dramaturgy by Ken Cerniglia
Eleven-time Grammy Award® winner Gloria Estefan — whose music has sold over 100 million records worldwide — has shaped generations through song. Now, she joins her daughter and acclaimed singer-songwriter Emily Estefan, to co-write the music and lyrics for Basura, a powerful and bold new musical inspired by the true story of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra, where young artists turn scrap material into instruments and music into possibilities. This world premiere musical continues Estefan’s global legacy — proving that music can rise from anywhere and change everything.
What do you do when the world gives you nothing? You build something beautiful. In a community against all odds, an inspired music teacher starts an orchestra for the students, but they have no instruments. Empty paint cans, a fork, and a bent license plate become a violin, an oil drum transforms into a colorful cello, and the newly formed orchestra hits every note to the beat of something bigger. When the students’ instruments become symbols of possibility, the sound is heard around the world.
Basura is directed by the Broadway stage visionary Michael Greif (Rent, Dear Evan Hansen), and written by National Latino Playwriting Award winner Karen Zacarías (Native Gardens, Destiny of Desire). Grammy Award® and Tony Award® winner Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, In the Heights) is the musical supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger. Tony Award® winner Patricia Delgado (Buena Vista Social Club) will choreograph, and Ken Cerniglia (Hadestown, Newsies) rounds out the team as dramaturg.
Based on the award-winning documentary film Landfill Harmonic, the new musical carries the sound of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra farther than anyone could have ever imagined. Basura is an unforgettable journey of rhythm, resilience, and extraordinary music — a radiant, heart-swelling reminder that even in the most unlikely places, you can build something beautiful.
Best enjoyed by audiences 8 and up.
Cast & Creative Quotes Media Venue
Presented by
Creative Team
Creative
Cast
SPONSORED BY
“What excites us most about this cast is the thrilling blend of theatrical veterans and emerging young talent that audiences are destined to fall in love with. Michael Greif’s ability to cultivate and discover new talent is a hallmark of his career and we can’t wait for the world to see Jaci Calderon take center stage. With Mandy Gonzalez, Kevin Del Aguila, and a company of exceptional artists, we have a powerhouse cast bringing this inspiring true story to life on stage alongside a world class creative and design team.”
“This is a story that has been close to my heart for several years since I first encountered the determination and ingenuity of the young people of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra. Emily and I are thrilled for our music to be a part of telling their story in this original musical. We could not be more excited for BASURA to begin its theatrical life in a city as influential and diverse as Atlanta with a theater as consequential as the Alliance.”
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