Musical Aims To Put Cruz's Name Back In Lights

Musical Aims To Put Cruz's Name Back In Lights (by Leila Cobo, Reuters - 7.8.07)

Latin-themed musicals are a rare commodity in the theater business.

But an upcoming production based on the life of Cuban music queen Celia Cruz has potential to reach Latin and mainstream audiences in a major way.

The biggest draw of "Celia: A Musical Journey," set to open September 12 off-Broadway at New World Stages, is the artist's name.

Cruz, who died in July 2003 at 77, was one of the most universally beloved figures in Latin music. Since her death, she has been remembered with a handful of biographies, TV specials, greatest-hits albums and her very own traveling Smithsonian exhibit.

A musical would undoubtedly draw Cruz fans, but it could also grow from there.

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