Sebastián Yatra to Make Broadway Debut in 'Chicago': 'It's Time'

Two years after his acting debut in the miniseries Once upon a time… But not anymoreSebastián Yatra makes a jump to Broadway, where he will close 2024 starring in the musical Chicago. The Colombian star will spend four weeks playing charmingly corrupt lawyer Billy Flynn, from Monday 25 November to Sunday 22 December.

“It's news I've been looking forward to sharing for a long time,” says Yatra Billboard Español on Wednesday (Sept. 4) from Medellin. “This is not only big for me, but for Colombia, big for Latinos to keep doing things like this.”

Set in the 1920s, Chicago —the longest-running American musical on Broadway at nearly three decades—is a scathing satire of how show business and the media make celebrities out of criminals. With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Ebb, it features killer songs like “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango” and “Mr. Cellophane.”

The role of Billy Flynn – famously played by Richard Gere in the 2002 film adaptation – will be given the Latin treatment by Yatra, who hopes to bring some of his modern and tropical flair.

“Latinos have something special even when we speak English, there's a lot of love in us, a lot of passion,” says the singer-songwriter, known for his No. 1 hits Bulletin board Latin Airplay charts like “Tacones Rojos”, “Un Año” with Reik and “Robarte un Beso” with Carlos Vives. “I think I can offer a perspective from someone living in 2024 at almost 30, how they see this world, also knowing that I could perfectly well be a lawyer and I could be that person standing there. Thank God Billy and I don't share the same values, because that would be confusing!' he adds with a laugh.

Over the years, Chicago has invited various Latin stars to join the musical for short seasons. The list includes Colombian actress Sofia Vergara, who in 2009 played Matron “Mama” Morton, and Mexican singer and actor Jaime Camil, who in 2016 played Billy Flynn.

Yatra says he received the invitation to join the cast about six months ago via email and although he was very surprised, he did not hesitate to accept this new challenge immediately.

“A lot of times you're given an offer like that and it's easy to get scared and say, 'Oh no, I'm not an actor, better leave it for another time, in a few years.' But opportunities come when they come in life, and if you don't dare to take them, you don't know if they'll come again,” he says, adding that now, “it's the right time,” as he's just getting started. working on his fourth studio album, whose first single, “Los Domingos,” was released last week.

The artist, who said he was captivated 12 years ago when he saw Ricky Martin perform as Che in the Broadway musical Evitaalready has the approval of his Puerto Rican friend and colleague, who commented Wednesday on Yatra's Post on Instagram on his foray into New York's Mecca Theater: “That's it 🙌 We'll be there bro. Absolutely. Congratulations.”

Prepping remotely, learning his lines and taking acting classes, Yatra is set to arrive in New York to begin rehearsals in person a month before his debut. It's an experience he's really looking forward to.

“Living in New York in December, with the snow, doing Broadway, it's something I really want to live very much in the present, enjoy, learn from,” she said. “There are a million things to learn from all these people – the actors, the crew, the directors, the production. It's flawless. I saw the work in New York recently and it really works like clockwork, so to be able to adapt to be another part of that clock will be beautiful.”

Chicago presented at the Ambassador Theater (219 W. 49th St.) For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com.