Sebastian Yatra Makes Broadway Debut in “Chicago”

Sebastian Yatra is taking a special stage…

The 30-year-old Colombian singer and actor made his Broadway debut this week in Chicago.

Sebastian Yatra, Chicago, BroadwayYatra delivers a solid vocal performance and demonstrates an enjoyable stage presence as the charming, corrupt lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago.

In the musical, he’s not the same singer of Latin pop chart-topping hits; he’ss a conscious cast member committed to the requirements of this type of show.

Yatra began his four-week engagement in the long-running musical on Monday (Nov. 25), where he shares leading roles with Broadway veterans Bianca Marroquín and Kimberly Marable, who play Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, respectively.

Known for No. 1 hits on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart like “Tacones Rojos,” “Un Año” (with Reik) and “Robarte un Beso” (with Carlos Vives), Yatra makes the leap to the theater mecca two years after making his acting debut in the miniseries Once Upon a Time… Happily Never After.

Although he’s younger (and sweeter) than other actors who’ve played Billy Flynn — Jerry Orbach was almost 40 in the original 1975 production, and Richard Gere was 52 in the 2002 film adaptation — on Tuesday (Nov. 26), in only his second performance, Yatra shone, showing new vocal registers and singing classics like “Razzle Dazzle” and “We Both Reached for the Gun” in English.

While dancing is not considered his forte, he followed the choreography without issue and stood out with his bearing and likability.

“Everyone in Chicago is excited and proud of him,” Marroquín, who shares several scenes with Yatra in the performance, told Billboard Español on Tuesday as she left the theater. “He has done an exceptional job. He arrived super disciplined with everything memorized, very committed, very responsible, and on top of that he is a sweetheart. Being backstage with him is divine. He is a very beautiful soul. So I love having that connection because, besides, Roxie and Billy have a lot to do with each other in the show. We have created a beautiful friendship, a bond, a very nice chemistry.”

Set in the 1920s, Chicago is a scathing satire of how show business and the media make celebrities out of criminals. While the original production debuted in 1975, the current production, which opened on Broadway in 1996, holds the record for the longest-running American musical on Broadway. With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Ebb, it includes killer songs like “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango” and “Mr. Cellophane.”

With Yatra, the role of Billy Flynn now receives some Latin and contemporary flavor. “Latinos have something special even when we are speaking English, there is a lot of love within us, a lot of passion,” Yatra told Billboard Español in September, upon the announcement of his Broadway debut. “I think I can offer a perspective from someone who is living in 2024 at almost 30, how he sees that world, also knowing that I could have perfectly been a lawyer and could be that person standing there. Thank God Billy and I don’t share the same values, because that would be messed up!” he added with a laugh.

Over the years, Chicago has invited various Latin stars to join the musical for brief runs. Yatra joins a list that includes Colombian actress Sofia Vergara, who in 2009 played Matron “Mama” Morton, and Mexican singer and actor Jaime Camil, who in 2016 portrayed Billy Flynn. 

Chicago is presented at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.) For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Broadway musical’s site.

Sebastián Yatra Earns 7th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “TBT,” Featuring Rauw Alejandro & Manuel Turizo

Sebastián Yatra reigns supreme…

The 25-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter’s “TBT” single with Rauw Alejandro and Manuel Turizo has risen to the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart dated July 4, dethroning the  Black Eyed PeasOzuna and J. Rey Soul’s from their one-week reign with “Mamacita.”

Sebastian Yatra

“I wrote this song over a year ago with Sech in Miami,” says Yatra. “We started writing a story based on personal situations we were both going through over a guitar riff. It’s a reggaetóntune with strong pop elements co-produced by the XAXO brothers with Andrés Torres and Mauricio Rengifo. It also has its romantic touch, which is something I vibrate with strongly.”

Yatra, Alejandro and Turizo reach the summit in the song’s 14th week thanks to its 12.42 million in audience impressions (up 7 percent) earned in the week ending June 28, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

“Its journey to the top is a reflection of how the song has been getting into people little by little,” Yatra continues. “It’s also a reflection of the perseverance of my team at Universal. Nowadays it is very easy to release a song and get lost in so many things — the news, our daily routines. We’ve done a nice job with ‘TBT.’”

It’s the first No. 1 for Alejandro, who began his Latin Airplaycareer a little over a year ago when he secured his first chart entry with “Luz Apaga,” with Ozuna and Lyanno (No. 48 peak, Feb. 16, 2019-dated survey).

“I was super happy to work with Manuel Turizo and Rauw Alejandro, who are both on fire these days,” Yatra adds. “They are not only extremely talented, but both have big hearts. So happy to be next to Rauw as he gets his first No. 1 on Latin Airplay. Without a doubt he’s one of the few newcomers who will leave a mark. I’m such a fan of him, his versatility and ability to create.”

As “TBT” hits No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart, Yatra nabs his seventh leader. His first No. 1 dates back to when “Robarte Un Beso,” with Carlos Vives, ruled for one week in January 2018. 

Turizo, meanwhile secures his second No. 1.

Elsewhere on the Latin charts, “TBT” remains atop the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart for a second week, and moves into the top 20 on Hot Latin Songs, which blends airplay, digital sales and streaming data.

Alejandro joins a group of other eight acts who have claimed their first No. 1 in 2020:

Artist, Song Title, Date Reached No. 1
Black Eyed Peas, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life),” with J Balvin, Feb. 8
Nicki Minaj, “Tusa,” with Karol G, Feb. 15
Static & Ben El, “Súbelo (Further Up),” with Pitbull and Chesca, March 28
Chesca, “Súbelo (Further Up),” with Static & Ben El and Pitbull, March 28
Ne-Yo, “Me Quedaré Contigo,” with Pitbull, featuring Lenier and El Micha, April 18
Lenier, “Me Quedaré Contigo,” with Pitbull, Ne-Yo, also featuring El Micha, April 18
El Micha, “Me Quedaré Contigo,” with Pitbull, Ne-Yo, also featuring Lenier, April 18
J.Rey Soul, “Mamacita,” with Black Eyed Peas, June 20
Camilo, “Si Me Dices Que Si,” with Reik and Farruko, June 27
Rauw Alejandro, “TBT,” with Sebastián Yatra and Manuel Turizo, July 4