“Basura” will take a world premiere bow in summer 2026. The new musical, which features a score by Gloria Estefan and Emily Estefan and a book by Karen Zacarías, will run May 30, 2026 through July 12 at the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael Greif will direct the musical, which was previously reported in development under the title “Five Notes.”
Based on the documentary “Landfill Harmonic” and inspired by the true story of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra (Orquesta de Reciclados de Cateura), “Basura” follows a music teacher who guides their students in forming an orchestra using found objects.
Rounding out the creative team for “Basura” are choreographer Patricia Delgado, musical supervisor, orchestrator and arranger Alex Lacamoire and dramaturg Ken Cerniglia.
“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,” said Gloria Estefan in a statement. “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.”
“Basura” is being produced in partnership with Michael Shulman and Colin Callender and Daniel Unitas. Wendy Orshan and Jeffrey Wilson of 101 Productions will serve as the production’s general managers.
Alliance’s 2025-2026 season will also include a mounting of “Fiddler on the Roof” (Sept. 4-Oct. 5), as well as “Covenant” (Oct. 8-Nov. 9), “Fires, Ohio” (Feb. 4-March 8, 2026) and “Duel Reality” (Feb. 5-March 1).
