The Tony Award-winning musical comedy Crazy for You (Loco Por Ti) will receive its Mexican premiere February 1998 at Mexico City's Teatro San Rafael.

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. She is currently casting singers and dancers for the lavish production of Loco Por Ti, which features the great songs of George and Ira Gershwin. Starring as Polly will be Lissete, a talented singer 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.

The actor who will play Bobby Child has not been cast yet. According to Fabregas, when she secured the rights for Crazy, she intended to produce it as a vehicle for Mexican comedian Eugenio Derbez, but at this time Derbez has several engagements with Televisa (a major Mexican broadcasting company), and wont be able to star the show. Fabregas told Playbill On-Line that she intends to cast someone very talented who can play a perfect Bobby, even if he is not a famous star as Derbez.

Recreating Susan Stroman's dazzling choreography is Ana Maria Collado, 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.

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, and according to Fabregas, that is one of the issues that will be solved this week.

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.

-By Claudio Carrera
Mexico Correspondent