A Musical About The Life And Times Of Celia Cruz Is Headed To NY

A live musical, honoring the life of Afro-Cuban singer Celia Cruz, is coming to New York for the very first time, just days after the celebration of what would have been her 94th birthday.

According to Remezcla, Celia Cruz – The Musical will be a two-hour multimedia show presented by Goya Foods. The show will take place at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx on November 16. The musical, which has already seen various on stages in Miami and Spain, will include performances of the late singer’s biggest hits, like “Quimbara,” “La Negra Tiene Tumbao,” “Tu Voz,” “Bemba Colorá” and “La Vida Es un Carnaval.”

Cruz, whose real name is Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso, will be played by Lucrecia Pérez Sáez. Pérez, too, was born in Havana, Cuba. The 52-year-old Grammy-nominated vocalist began singing at a young age and had the privilege of meeting Cruz nearly 20 years ago. Sources say the two were able to connect on a personal and professional level and remained friends until Cruz’s death.

“I do the show with love, without any sense of rivalry or trying to take her place,” Pérez said to Billboard in a previous interview. “I come out on stage to bring her alive.”