The multi-talented Mexican-born, NYC-based husband-and-wife team Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano returned to 54 Below this Hispanic Heritage Month with Broadway en Spanglish, a one-night-only concert and livestream to celebrate the upcoming release of her titular album, four years in the making, by Concord Theatricals Recordings on September 27 (which also happens to be the birthday of their young son Alonzo, who was in the audience). The song list, with lyrics by Cuenca in a personalized bilingual fusion of Spanish and English (“Spanglish”) that reflects the dual cultures of the couple and the common struggle of immigrants to learn a new language, featured rich orchestrations by music director Lozano and Jesús Altamira, and original arrangements by Lozano and Pavel Cal, which masterfully blend two of their favorite things: Broadway show tunes (which, Lozano joked, he wanted “to honor – or destroy!) with authentic mariachi stylings. They most definitely did the former, not the latter (though the remark was a good indication of his irresistible sense of humor, which never fails to keep me laughing). Accompanied by Mariachi Real de México de Ramon Ponce, with a special guest appearance by rising star Mayelah Barrera, the music was interspersed with the artists’ characteristic open and honest, sensitive and funny repartee about their background, relationship, challenges, and joys, their ongoing mission to create work that means something to them, embraces their true selves, and connects with the Latiné community, and expressions of their sincere gratitude for their chosen “familia” of collaborators and colleagues, friends and fans, who have shown them love and support over the nearly nine years they’ve been in NYC and filled the house that night with ebullient cheers, applause, and enthusiastic participation, singing and clapping along to the numbers and responding spiritedly to their direct-address comments. Jaime Lozano and Mariachi Real de México. Photo by Ray Costello. Jaime Lozano, Ramon Ponte, and members of Mariachi Real de México. Photo by Ray Costello. Jaime Lozano. Photo by Deb Miller. Opening the evening was an upbeat mood-setting pre-show performance of the traditional Mexican folk song “Cielito Lindo” by the band and Lozano, dressed in mariachi attire, singing and playing guitar, and inviting everyone to join in on the chorus. We did, and the shared experience was immediately successful in making us all feel united and an integral part of the happy occasion. Cuenca then entered the room and took to the stage, bringing her blockbuster voice, amazing range, outstanding breath control, storytelling skills, and profound passion to nine well-chosen hits from Broadway (and Off-Broadway) musicals, with her own Mexican twist. From her childhood dream of being “On Broadway” to a life in “New York, New York” (changing the line of “these vagabond shoes” to “these Mexican shoes” and then throwing in a moment of jazz hands), Cuenca shared anecdotes about what each selection meant to her, moved to the lively mariachi beat, and brought the house down with her spectacular long notes, in-character deliveries, and affecting empathy. Also clear was the mutual respect and abiding love between Cuencas and Lozano, who remained by her side, on guitar, and offered his ever humorous and moving observations between songs. Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano, with Mariachi Real de México. Photo by Ray Costello. Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano. Photo by Ray Costello. Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano, with Mariachi Real de México. Photo by Ray Costello. Between the effervescent homages to NYC, Cuenca brought a uniquely expressive perspective to such iconic show tunes as “Let It Go” from Frozen and “She Use to Be Mine” from Waitress, an intense telenovela-style approach to “Being Alive” from Company, all the pain and devastation of Hamilton’s “Burn” (the first mariachi arrangement Lozano did, which featured stellar instrumental solos by the band), and “I Miss the Mountains” from Next to Normal (Lozano’s own favorite from a show he saw multiple times, which epitomizes how much they miss their homeland). There was also a stirring rendition of “No Podemos Regresar” (“We Can’t Go Back”) from Lozano’s Off-Broadway musical El Otro Oz – a Latiné re-envisioning of The Wizard of Oz, to honor all immigrants who come to this country for a better life (which, they noted, Alonzo doesn’t like them to perform, since it makes him and his father cry, just as it had many people at the show wiping away their tears), and a dazzling harmonious duet on “Seasons of Love” from Rent with the impressive Barrera (who starred in El Otro Oz and appeared in other works and concerts by Lozano and Cuenca), in their first time performing it before a live audience, which once again had everyone clapping along. Florencia Cuenca, Mayelah Barrera, and Jaime Lozano. Photo by Ray Costello. Florencia Cuenca, Mayelah Barrera, and Jaime Lozano. Photo by Ray Costello. The sensational show ended with not one, but two encore numbers, after the crowd chanted “Otra” and the artists happily obliged with mariachi favorites “Si Nos Dejan” (“If They Let Us”) and “El Rey” (“The King”) by Mexican singer-songwriter José Alfredo Jiménez. Cuenca sang the lead vocal on the first after inviting the Latiné kitchen staff out to enjoy the song and to be acknowledged for their work, and Lozano led the finale, with Ramon Ponce and his band, which left the house singing and closing the night with a well-deserved standing ovation. If you missed the concert, be sure to order the album now and continue the celebration of Hispanic Heritage month, musical theater, the journey of immigrants, and these supremely engaging and gifted artists. Running Time: Approximately one hour and 45 minutes, without intermission. Broadway en Spanglish played on Monday, September 22, 2024, at 54 Below, 254 West 54th Street, NYC, and was livestreamed.