Jennifer Lopez, also known as the woman who hasn’t aged since dial-up internet, took her 17-year-old mini-me, Emme, out for a lil’ Broadway culture sesh this weekend. But of course, Jenny from the Block doesn’t just attend musicals—no, no—she steals the spotlight after the curtain call.
The duo hit up the Buena Vista Social Club musical on Saturday night (April 5) at the Schoenfeld Theatre in NYC, and spoiler alert: it slapped. Based on the Grammy-winning album that made people Google “What is Afro-Cuban jazz?”, the show is a swanky, rhythmic rollercoaster full of passion, percussion, and plot twists that make The Bachelor look tame.
After soaking in the theatrical magic (and probably some high notes that defied physics), J.Lo waltzed backstage like the fabulous Broadway fairy godmother she is, and immediately turned into everyone’s favorite motivational speaker. Like, imagine giving the performance of your life and then Jennifer Lopez shows up to personally hype you up? I’d retire on the spot.
She praised the stars—including Natalie Venecia Belcon and Isa Antonetti, who both play Cuban music legend Omara Portuondo at different ages (because even legends age… unless you’re J.Lo). Her speech? Pure Oscar-worthy inspo.
“You guys did such an amazing job tonight,” she gushed, radiating diva-meets-dance-mom energy. “The show was so beautiful. I’ve seen a lot of shows on Broadway the past couple weeks since I’ve been here and honestly I just wanted to dance in the aisles. It was so amazing. You are all so amazing. I was so proud to be Latina tonight.”
Pause for group tears and standing ovation backstage.
Honestly, the whole cast probably floated home on a cloud made of compliments and conga beats.
Oh, and if you’re not already refreshing Telecharge like it’s Beyoncé ticket day—what are you even doing? Buena Vista Social Club is officially the show to see before it wins all the Tonys and becomes impossible to get into without selling a kidney.
Catch it now—before J.Lo adopts the whole cast.
