El Mundo de Cri-Cri (Cri-Cri's World), a new musical revue featuring the most popular children songs by Francisco Gabilondo Soler (who was better known as Cri-Cri), will open March 20 at Mexico City's Teatro de Los Insurgentes for an open run, offering matinee performances on Saturdays and Sundays.

Alejandro Orive wrote the book and is directing the revue, which stars Cesar Arias, Silvia Suarez, kids Mayte Iturralde, Alejandro Guevara, Ilse Escobedo, Sergio Guerrero and a cast of 10 singers and dancers. Fabiola La Rue (Anything Goes, Nunsense) is choreographing.

Orive is probably best known for translating and adapting American musicals for the Mexican stage. His works as translator and adapter include Sweet Charity, Barnum, Anything Goes, Kiss Of the Spider Woman and Crazy For You.

El Mundo de Cri-Cri will feature 16 musical numbers written by the late Cri-Cri, including "Di Por Que," "La Muñeca Fea," "El Rey Bon Bon I," "El Ratón Vaquero," "El Negrito Bailarín," "El Comal y la Olla," "Caminito de la Escuela," "Las Brujas" and "Juan Pestañas."

Francisco Gabilondo Soler's children songs were popularized outside Mexico in the mid 80's, when Placido Domingo, French singer Mireille Mathieu and Mexican singer Emmanuel recorded for RCA Victor a tribute to whom is considered one of the most prolific children song writers in the world. Designing El Mundo de Cri-Cri are Marco Palma (sets), Patricia Romero (costumes and puppets) and Angel Ancona (lights).

For information and tickets call the Teatro de los Insurgentes at 011-52-5-611-4253.

--By Claudio Carrera
Mexico Correspondent