Can Fabra square will once again transform this Saturday at 9 PM into a large stage under the stars. La Lírica de Sant Andreu and the Escola Municipal de Música de Sant Andreu (EMMSA) will present the second edition of the Night of Musicals, a production that will bring together more than 140 people including musicians, singers, and technical staff in one of the most ambitious cultural shows of the summer in the neighborhood.
The initiative comes after the unexpected success of the first edition, held last year. "The success was such that we did not expect the amount of public that was there," recalls the assistant director of the show, Toni Calvo. "You could barely see the square," he adds. The proposal was born almost as an experiment. After years collaborating with EMMSA in different productions, La Lírica was looking for a formula to leave the theaters and get closer to the neighborhood. "We had been thinking for a long time about doing an outdoor and free show," explains Calvo. The initial idea was not clear: "We didn't know whether to do a zarzuela because we also come from the world of lyrical music, but finally we opted for musicals."
The result convinced both the public and the institutions involved and opened the door to a second edition. However, the entity prefers not to commit to future calls. "We go year by year," admits Calvo. "We have a very busy schedule and I cannot assure that it will be done again next year."
A show built practically from scratch
Unlike other productions that recycle repertoire, the Night of Musicals 2026 arrives with an almost total renewal of the program. "Only two songs are repeated from last year," explains the assistant director. "Everything else is new production." This has involved months of preparation for both musicians and singers. "The orchestra has had to take it from scratch, us too, rehearse it and prepare everything," he points out. Precisely, the repertoire will include fragments of great international titles such as The Greatest Showman, Miss Saigon, Mary Poppins, Sister Act or The Lion King, but also emblematic Catalan productions such as Mar i Cel, Flor de Nit, Nit de Sant Joan or Germans de sang.
The logistics of a small big festival
Mounting a show of these dimensions is not simple. Two large formations from the Municipal School of Music will pass through the stage, requiring constant coordination. "One of the formations has more than 70 musicians and the other has about 25," explains Calvo. To facilitate the change between the two, the show will incorporate a more intimate central block. "We will do a part with only piano and voice that will allow us to do the whole stage revolution while the public continues to enjoy the concert." After all, coordination involves dozens of people working behind the scenes. "We handle the production of rehearsals, the stage, sound, lights, infrastructure... all the production is from La Lírica de Sant Andreu," he emphasizes.
It should be noted that La Nit de Musicals is just one of the many initiatives promoted by La Lírica de Sant Andreu. In recent years, the entity has expanded its presence in the cultural life of the neighborhood, participating in events as diverse as the Three Kings Parade or large-format theatrical productions. "We are a bit crazy in this sense," admits Calvo. "We have initiatives and we carry them out with great enthusiasm." An energy that, according to him, ends up affecting the quality of the projects. "This makes the shows gain a lot of magnitude," he concludes.
