Menudo Members Reunite for 50th Anniversary Tour

Seven former members of the Puerto Rican pop group Menudo will perform together in New York City on Saturday at the United Palace. The event is part of a six-city tour that launched in Los Angeles on October 10 and will conclude in Puerto Rico on December 12. Tickets for the New York show are available through Ticketmaster, with performances scheduled for 8 p.m.

The lineup includes Rene Farrait, a member of the group’s original era, and Roy Rosello, who replaced original member Miguel Cancel. The remaining performers are Raymond Acevedo, Sergio Blass, Ralphy Rodriguez, Ruben Gomez, and Robert Avellanet. These seven musicians represent four different stages of the band's history. The group originally disbanded in 1996.

Roy Rosello and Robert Avellanet discussed their decision to rejoin the project in a virtual conversation. Rosello, 56, said he lost more than 20 kilograms since beginning rehearsals. He described the tour as an opportunity to heal past experiences and reconnect with audiences. "I wanted to heal the things I did not have the chance to do when I was a child," Rosello said. "I wanted to live it again."

Rosello gained public attention in 2023 through the three-part docuseries Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed, available on Peacock. In the series, he detailed allegations of abuse by former manager Edgardo Diaz and record executive Jose Menendez. Following his time in the band, Rosello moved to Brazil and became a Christian pastor and missionary. He now lives in Orlando but maintains business ties in Brazil.

Robert Avellanet, based in Los Angeles, works as an actor and owns Viva la Earth, a skin care product brand. Although the two men never performed together in the original group, they described a strong artistic connection formed during rehearsals. Avellanet stated that the mission was to prepare both emotionally and physically. "To relive the experience, you cannot say no," Avellanet said. "The chance to connect face-to-face with the public on stage.. there is no way to say no."

After the tour ends, Rosello and Avellanet plan to return to their individual careers. Rosello will begin promoting his autobiographical book, which details his time in Menudo. It is not yet determined if the group will record a new album or video from the tour. That decision rests with Paul Tarnopol, the owner of the group's rights. Rosello expressed interest in recording new songs, stating, "That would be fabulous."

The tour marks the group's 50th anniversary since its founding. The band performed for audiences across Latin America and the United States before its initial breakup in 1996. The current tour is the latest in a series of reunions organized since the group's disbandment.