Lehman Center Spring 2024 season includes wide variety

The Lehman Center for Performing Arts continues its 2024 Spring season with merengue music this weekend followed by a variety of performances, including jazz and hip hop, that will last until May.

Sponsored by GOYA Foods, the Lehman Center plans on widening the audience that comes to see the different acts at its theater.

“We strive to reach a wider audience,” said Eva Bornstein, Lehman Center executive director. “We like to get famous and entertain talent for the audience. We tried to add as much variety as possible to reach the widest possible audience.”

In its 44th year of bringing world-famous talent to the Bronx, the Lehman Center happens to be the largest performing arts center in the Bronx, with more than 2,000 seats, and over 100 performances a year.

“I’m recommending that (the Riverdale community) go and check out our website so they can pick and choose if they can afford them for the rest of the season,” Bornstein said. “But every performance is different. You know, so we, they have a good reason to select at least one performance.”

The next performance at the Lehman Center for Performing Arts will be “Merengue Con Amor 2” on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. It will feature romantic music with some of the biggest names in the genre.

The performance will feature, Alex Bueno, Monchy Capricho, Bonny y Richie Cepeda, Carlos David, Pablo Martinez and Peter Cruz. These performers will present a night of beloved romantic hits, perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day. Merengue Con Amor 2 blends the lively melodies and passionate tempos of the vibrant genre of today’s merengue with classic hits from the 1980s and 1990s.

Tickets prices vary: they are $100, $85, $65, $40, $35. Tickets are purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at (718) 960-8833.

Later in the month, the venue will host “Jazz at The Lincoln Center: Sing and Swing.” The performance will have talented trumpeters as well as top-notch vocalists.

The event will be Sunday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. and feature Bria Skonberg, Benny Benack III, and special guest, Jimmy Bosch. “Sing and Swing” celebrates the Great American Songbook in all of its playful and sophisticated glory, according to a news release.

Each armed with trumpet talent and vocal charm, Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III will relive and re-imagine some of the classic partners in jazz and popular songs. This celebration promises a journey through the rich tapestry of jazz music. Tickets to this event include VIP and vary: VIP: $55, $45, $35.

The rest of the season includes:

ANDY MONTAÑEZ

Featuring: Tito Puente Jr., El Trío Ideal, Johnny Olivio, and Herencia de Plena

Saturday, March 2, 2024, 8 p.m.

Tickets: VIP $125, $95, $75, $60, $50

This features the return of legendary Puerto Rican salsa singer Andy Montañez. Montañez first saw success as a member of El Gran Combo where he stayed for 15 years, producing 37 LPs. After leaving El Gran Combo, he enjoyed considerable success on an international scale with his own orchestra, touring Latin America and the United States several times. He will be joined at Lehman Center by special guests Tito Puente Jr. performing a tribute to Tito Puente, El Trío Ideal, Johnny Olivio, and Herencia de Plena.

EDDY HERRERA

Saturday, March 9, 2024, 8 p.m.

Tickets: VIP $100, $85, $65, $40, $35

After successful international presentations, such as a presentation to a full house at the Gran Teatro del Cibao in the Dominican Republic, singer-songwriter Eddy Herrera will present his show “Agradecido” exclusively for Lehman Center. Accompanied by a fantastic merengue orchestra with special guest Wilfrido Vargas, Eddy will perform the hits that have made him one of the most outstanding performers.

FOREVER FREESTYLE 16

Featuring: TKA, George Lamond, Judy Torres, Safire, Betty D Of Sweet Sensation, Cynthia, Coro, Lisette Melendez, C-Bank, Two Without Hats

Saturday, March 16, 202, 8 p.m.

Tickets:  $125, $95, $75, $60, $50

This Lehman Center tradition is NOT one to miss. Returning to Lehman Center for the 16th year, Forever Freestyle 16 will be a night of Latin-flavored Hip Hop and disco fusion.

LA SONORA PONCEÑA

70TH ANNIVERSARY

Saturday, March 30, 2024, 8 p.m.

Tickets: VIP $125, $95, $75, $60, $50

La Sonora Ponceña, founded in 1954 by Enrique “Quique” Lucca Caraballo, have been praised for their consistency and superb contributions to salsa music and have many of the most talented musicians and singers in the world of salsa on their roster. 

MASTERS OF THE 80’S

Featuring: Ray de la Paz, Roberto Blades, Raulín Rosendo, and Ray Sepúlveda

Saturday, April 27, 2024, 8 p.m.

Tickets: VIP $100, $85, $65, $40, $35

Experience the golden age of Salsa recreated for this special concert by pioneering superstars of Latin music. This historic concert features the creators of unforgettable classics such as “Solo Tu y Yo,” “Mentirosa,” “Lluvia,” “Lágrimas,” and “Ya No Regreso Contigo,” “Estuvieras Conmigo,” “Lady Laura,” and “One Heals.”

ÁNGELA CARRASCO & FAUSTO REY

Saturday, May 4, 2024, 8 p.m.

Tickets: VIP $100, $85, $65, $40, $35

For the first time on the same stage this concert brings together two Dominican icons of romantic music! The acclaimed singer, actress, and international star, Ángela Carrasco will join the king of song Fausto Rey in a glorious night full of hits. Ángela and Fausto will perform hits like “Quererte a ti,” “Now or Never,” “Quiereme,” “Yolanda,” “It’s your happy day,” “If it’s not for love,” and “Get out of here.”

LA INDIA: A MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION

Saturday, May 11, 2024, 8 p.m.

Tickets: VIP $125, $95, $75, $60, $50

La India is a Grammy-nominated and Latin Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter of salsa, house music, and Latin pop. This will be her second year performing a Mother’s Day concert at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts after a sold out show last season.

HIP HOP FEVER

Featuring: Sugar Hill Gang, Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio, Brand Nubian, Onyx, Rob Base, Black Sheep, The Fearless Four, Peter Gunz, MC Shan, Sweet G, and Grandmaster Caz Of The Cold Crush Brothers

Saturday, May 18, 2024, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $70, $65, $60, $45, $40

It will be hosted by WBLS 107.5’s Bugsy Buggs and Fever Record’s Sal Abbatiello.

Hip Hop Fever will feature Sugar Hill Gang, “Rappers Delight,” Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio, “The Message,” Brand Nubian, “One For All,” Onyx, “Slam,” Rob Base, “It Takes Two,” Black Sheep, “The Choice Is Yours,” The Fearless Four, “Rockin It,” Peter Gunz, “Déjà Vu,” MC Shan,  “The Bridge,” Sweet G, “Games People Play,” and Grandmaster Caz Of The Cold Crush Brothers.