There is no way to reference Celia Cruz without superlatives; la Reina de la Salsa — the Queen of Salsa — was incredibly, indisputably larger than life.

Now that life, including a fifty-year career that spanned days of winning cakes in Havana radio contests to days of winning lifetime achievement awards, is the subject of an off-Broadway production. Celia: A Musical Journey opens at New World Stages in New York City on Sept. 12. The show is directed by Jaime Azpilicueta and stars another Cuban singer, Xiomara Laugart, formerly of New York–based Latin funk band Yerba Buena. … continue reading