Manuel Landeta (Joseph and the Amazing..., Cats) will star as Bobby Child in the Mexican premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Crazy for You (Loco Por Ti), which is scheduled to open late March at Mexico City's Teatro San Rafael.
Starring as Polly will be Lissete, a talented singer who was part of the 42nd Street chorus and who recently recorded the hit theme song for the highly successful Mexican soap opera "Nada Personal".Crazy For You will mark Lissete's theatrical debut as a leading lady.
Loco por Ti is produced by Producciones Fabregas, a major theatrical company which was founded by the late Mexican actor/director/impresario Manolo Fabregas, who achieved the title of "El Senor Teatro" (Mr. Theater) for his countless contributions to the Mexican theatre industry.
Manolo Fabregas starred in many hits like Mi Bella Dama (My Fair Lady), Violinista en el Tejado (Fiddler on the Roof), La Pareja Dispareja (The Odd Couple), and produced hundreds of shows including Barnum, Man of La Mancha, Hello Dolly! and the long running Italian musical El Diluvio que Viene.
Fela Fabregas (Mr. Fabregas widow), the great woman behind the great man, is now the president of Producciones Fabregas, which owns eight legitimate theatres in Mexico City, including the Teatro Manolo Fabregas. Mrs. Fabregas told Playbill On-Line how happy she is to bring a family musical to Mexico, and hopes that this international hit will bring audiences of all ages back to the theatre.
Recreating Susan Stroman's dazzling choreography are Ana Maria Collado and Jose Posados, while Rocio Martinez and Juan Rojas will reproduce Robin Wagner's spectacular sets, Mitzy and Gilberto Granillo will recreate William Ivey Long's glamorous costume designs and Manolo Sanchez Navarro will base the lighting design on Paul Gallo's original designs.
Crazy for You features the great songs of George and Ira Gershwin, and according to Fabregas a cast recording of the Mexican version is planned, although no recording date has been set yet. Willy Gutierrez is in charge of the musical direction, and Alejandro Orive has translated Ken Ludwig's book and Ira Gershwin's lyrics into Spanish.
The director has not been hired, but according to Fabregas, she is in the process of selecting the director and the rest of the leads, whose names will be announced shortly. The chorus members have already been selected and they are now rehearsing the choreography.
Producciones Fabregas current productions are Salvese Quien Pueda! (Run for Your Wife!) and Los Musicales, which is a musical revue that satirizes Mexican musical theatre stars in the style of Forbidden Broadway. Fela Fabregas also holds the rights for Damn Yankees, which may be her next production once Loco Por Ti is up and running.
--By Claudio Carrera
Mexico Correspondent
