I'm in New York City and look who I found. José Iglesias: José Iglesias, Candelita, from Buena Vista Social Club.

I'm right here with Leslie from Young Hollywood. Follow us. Let's go. Okay, so from the baseball field to the Broadway stage. Welcome. You are now starring, soon to be, in the Buena Vista Social Club. José Iglesias: Me quemo. Me quemo. Oye, para que me quemo. Me quemo. Oye, que me estoy quemando. Me quemo. Oye, lo que rico está. Me quemo. Oye, mira mi pasillo. Me quemo. Me quemo. Me quemo. Se te quema. La quemó la mulatona. Me quemo. Breakdown the phone call. I remember specifically, I got it, and it came from nowhere. And the first place, I told they had the wrong number. And then I was like, I think, are you calling the right guy? And they're like, sure, José Iglesias. I'm like, yes. And they're like, it's you. And I'm like, oh. Okay. And then it was an automatic, yes. It's a such an honor, such an honor to actually uh, represent Buena Vista Social Club in such a stage like Broadway. It's uh, it's a dream come true, more than a dream, because I never dream of to be on stage, and now like it's, it's a privilege.

You were born and raised in Cuba, you were dreaming of playing baseball. You came here, you made it, but you still have the music in you? José Iglesias: Yeah, music always been, music always been with me. Um, I would say that along my baseball career, two magical moments had happened. One was when I did OMG, when I did that song and it charted and then it went to number one in Billboard.

You can't just say OMG and like not like that. José Iglesias: Yeah, I mean it brings so much joy.

If there was one show that was probably made for you specifically, it's this show. And the narrator especially, it's almost like it was tailor-made for you. José Iglesias: I guess. I mean, this is, you know, born and raised in Cuba. Um, you know, my dad, my family is in Buena Vista Social Club. And what they've done, what they did for the music, you know, we have a big responsibility, you know, as a group, we had Cuban music in our shoulder, representing it on the biggest stage in the world, and it's uh, it's a good responsibility. Um, it's extremely fun, and I'm extremely nervous too. But in a great way. Like I'm extremely excited to represent Buena Vista, represent Cuba and represent all Latin America.

Okay, you talked about being nervous. So here we are inside the theater and there's, you know, I don't know how many seats are here. José Iglesias: About 1070.

About 1070. Okay, just over 1000 seats. A little different than playing baseball in front of thousands of people. What are the nerves and butterflies like here? José Iglesias: In terms of capacity, this is a lot smaller than a baseball field. But in terms of energy, like, I'm gonna experience it in August 27th, that would be my first show, knock on wood if God willing. And then I'll be all the way through October 3rd. I guess I will have a calm when when that happening, but as of right now, the energy here is is is unique, as well. Differences for 5, 50,000 people, but they're far. You don't see them much, you hear them, but it's not like the theater, like they're literally in front of you. They're just neighbors. They're right there. So they're part of the show. And that's definitely a different energy that I'm excited to experience it. And then I let you know what it feels like compared to a baseball field.

So when when you're playing baseball, were the music dreams kind of buried until OMG kind of came to fruition? José Iglesias: No, just, um, you know, always music, it was a hobby at the beginning. Um, until OMG came, came alive and and then it opened a door for music. And then I'm doing music, I'm doing, um, great collabs, uh, on the way. Um, a lot of good stuff coming along with music as well. Um, and obviously now here on Broadway with Buena Vista Social Club is it's, like I said, more than a dream.

How was the first rehearsal? José Iglesias: It was fun. I haven't been able to do it with the whole group yet. But I'm imagining it would be crazy.

The stage is right here. Walk me through a little bit what we're seeing and then we're going to make it onto the stage. José Iglesias: What you're seeing right here is magic. You know, that when everybody's up there performing and sharing this great, um, story about Buena Vista, it's magical. Um, it's a lot of moving pieces in the back that I didn't know about, but uh, it's, it's, it's fun. It's super, super fun.

Okay, you gotta show me all the parts. Let's go see. Okay, let's go. Okay, I'm sorry, being on a Broadway stage never gets old. José Iglesias: It's a different feeling. It's a different feeling. This right here, is real. It's a one magical room where, where stories being told, where music is being played. It's I really don't know what it feels like yet, but I'm sure it's amazing.

These instruments are amazing. Even watching them come alive, when I saw the show, which is magic, magical, like you said. You know, the show star is is everybody. So it's energy spread all around the room and and people laughing and crying and and just living the history of Buena Vista Social Club on this magical stage, in this great theater built in 1917. Ooh. José Iglesias: Yeah. Just just a few, just a few summers ago.

You will be playing the narrator in the show. Has a lot of dialogue, not so much dancing though. But I know you have the moves. So. José Iglesias: How do you know?

Cause I, I know about you. I know you got the moves. You got the moves. So like, if if we were in a social club in Cuba, perhaps, what moves do you have? Can you show you a little move for me? José Iglesias: It's like it would be like an Guantanamera. Le cogió candela.

How am I doing? José Iglesias: Se quedó dormida y no apagó la vela. Just just simple like this.

How am I doing? You're doing great. Keep going. Keep going. This is exciting. Keep going. José Iglesias: Le cogió candela. Se quedó dormida y no apagó la vela.