Bronx, NY—-Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is proud to present ¡Bachataème New York! With LUIS VARGAS & MONCHY, on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 8 PM. Two of bachata’s pioneering innovators make their debut at Lehman Center for a highly charged and romantic evening, performing hits like “Volvió el Dolor,” “La Traicionera,”
“Se Gana y Se Pierde,” and “Fantasías.” Known for their electrifying, high-energy live performances, blending electric guitar lines with raw acoustic strings, Luis Vargas & Monchy continue to charm audiences worldwide with soul-stirring celebrations of bachata, traditional bolero, merengue fusion sound, and fast-paced Dominican rhythms.
Luis Vargas, known worldwide as “El Rey Supremo”, is credited as a propelling architect of modern bachata, with a career spanning over 4 decades and numerous timeless classics. In the late 1980s, Vargas began to incorporate acoustic electric guitars and blended traditional bolero with energetic merengue rhythms. With over 20 productions under his belt, he has built a legacy of classic hits, featuring fan favorites like “Loco de Amor” and “La Traicionera.”
Vargas pushed Bachata’s popularity to a level it had never reached with an iconic music rivalry with former group member Antony Santos. He gained immense recognition in the tropical music category at the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards for his contribution to Grandes de la Bachata Vol. IV.
Monchy, born Ramón Rijo in La Romana, Dominican Republic, is a celebrated bachata singer best known as one half of the iconic duo Monchy & Alexandra. He rose to fame in the late 1990s and helped bring romantic bachata to international audiences with memorable hits such as “Hoja en Blanco,” “Dos Locos,” and “No Es Una Novela.” His beautiful vocal harmonies helped popularize emotional, expressive styles in Bachata. Throughout his career, Monchy has earned numerous awards, including four Billboard Latin Music Awards, six Premio Lo Nuestro Awards, and recognition at the Premios Soberano.
He continued his musical journey as a solo artist, where he released his debut solo album, Primogénito, in 2020, further showcasing his enduring passion for Latin music and bachata.
Since its founding in 1980, Lehman Center for the Performing Arts has been deeply rooted in the cultural life of the Bronx. As a 501c3 charitable nonprofit organization that needs community support and the only theater of its size in the borough, with a capacity of more than 2,200 seats, Lehman Center provides Bronx residents with local, affordable access to high-quality live performances that entertain, educate, inspire, and celebrate the traditions of a multi-cultural community. Lehman Center serves the artistic needs of the community through four distinct programming series: “Punchline,”
“First Curtain,” “Bronx Music,” and “The Discovery Series,” with a specific focus on youth programming, comedy, the musical heritage of the Bronx, and exposure to wider global cultures.
Dante Albertie, Executive Director of Lehman Center, passionately creates accessible opportunities for families and young people to experience high-level performing arts. Performances and festivities that draw community members together are what inspire Albertie to organize the lineup as a means to reach out, beckoning new people into a space he hopes they’ll return to again and again.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. is supported, in part, by public funds through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and the Bronx Delegation. Additional funding is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
We are thrilled to share that Goya Foods has renewed its sponsorship for this season, helping Lehman Center expand its reach throughout the community. Additional support is provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation, Havana Café, Friends of Lehman Center, and our cherished audience members.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for BACHATEAME NEW YORK! on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 8 PM.
($95, $85, $60, $45, $40) can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center Box Office at 718-960-8833; Para Español: 718-960-8835 (Monday through Friday, 10 AM–5 PM, and beginning four hours prior to showtime on weekends), or online at https://www.lehmancenter.org/events/bachateame-new-york.
Lehman Center is accessible by the #4 or D train to Bedford Park Boulevard and is located near the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway.
VIP Reception – Guests seated in Orchestra Rows A-J are invited to an exclusive VIP reception at 6:30 PM before the performance, featuring complimentary wine, beer, beverages, and light bites in our elegant mezzanine cocktail bar.
