The Clásicos en Alcalá Festival will mark its 25th anniversary with a historic edition, featuring nearly 60 shows and over 25 premieres. The festival's highest recognition, the Fuente de Castalia award, will be presented to the multifaceted artist Paloma San Basilio, a key figure in Spanish performing arts for half a century.

The award ceremony will take place on June 26th at the Teatro Salón Cervantes. The decision by the City Council of Alcalá honors a career that has masterfully blended popular success with artistic excellence, particularly in classical and musical theater. San Basilio joins a select group of personalities who have significantly contributed to preserving Spain's theatrical heritage.

Beyond her successful music career, Paloma San Basilio left an indelible mark on Spanish musical theater. Her unforgettable portrayal of Eva Perón in Evita in the 1980s was a landmark, paving the way for subsequent productions such as Man of La Mancha, My Fair Lady, Victor/Victoria, and Sunset Boulevard, where she showcased her versatility as a singer and actress.

Director Juan Carlos Rubio highlighted that the new production of Dulcinea, a role San Basilio will soon embody, will allow audiences to rediscover facets of the artist often overshadowed by her musical fame. The choice of San Basilio to play this iconic Cervantean character, shortly after receiving the award, adds symbolic weight to the edition.

The festival, running from June 12th to July 5th, will transform Alcalá de Henares into a grand open-air stage with a diverse program including theater, music, dance, and street performances. The 25th edition will feature artists from 16 countries, blending Golden Age classics with contemporary works.

In addition to San Basilio, the festival will host notable figures such as Rafael Álvarez 'El Brujo', Silvia Marsó, Joaquín Notario, and Vicente Soto 'Sordera', among others. International representation, with artists from Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and the United States, among other nations, will establish Alcalá as a transatlantic capital of classical theater for nearly a month.