On Your Feet!
| On Your Feet! | |
|---|---|
| The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan | |
 Playbill cover of original Broadway production | |
| Music | Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, Miami Sound Machine |
| Book | Alexander Dinelaris |
| Premiere | June 2, 2015: Oriental Theatre, Chicago, Illinois |
| Productions |
2015 Chicago 2015 Broadway |
On Your Feet! is a jukebox musical on Broadway, based on the lives and music of 26-time Grammy Award-winning husband-and-wife team Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan. The musical has a book written by Alexander Dinelaris and a score built around the Cuban-fusion dance songs made famous by Gloria Estefan, such as "Get on Your Feet", "Conga", "1-2-3" and "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You." It also features an original song called "If I Never Got to Tell You," with lyrics by Gloria Estefan and music by her daughter, Emily Estefan.[1]
After a pre-Broadway engagement in Chicago in Summer 2015, On Your Feet! began previews on Broadway in October 2015 and opened officially on November 5, 2015.[2] It opened to positive reviews and tremendous box office success, as well as seven Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, three Drama League Award nominations, and a Tony Award nomination for Best Choreography.
Production history
Chicago
The musical had its world premiere at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago from June 2, 2015 — July 5, 2015,[2] directed by Jerry Mitchell and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo. The cast featured Ana Villafañe as Gloria and Josh Segarra as Emilio.[3][4]
Broadway
Previews began on October 5, 2015 at the Marquis Theatre, with Mitchell and Trujillo directing and choreographing.[5] The musical officially opened on November 5, 2015.[2] The opening cast of 31 performers was led by Villafañe as Gloria, Segarra as Emilio, Andréa Burns as Gloria's mother, Alma Cuervo as Gloria's grandmother, Alexandria Suarez as Little Gloria and Eduardo Hernandez as Young Emilio. Designers include David Rockwell (sets), Emilio "Esosa" Sosa (costumes) and Kenneth Posner (lighting).[6][7] In July 2016, Puerto Rican singer and actor Ektor Rivera replaced Segarra as Emilio.
Synopsis
Act I
Act I opens at a Gloria Estefan concert in 1990. What follows is a flashback, where we see Gloria growing up in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. As time progresses, Gloria is introduced to Emilio Estefan by her abuela (grandmother), who is the leader of the (then-called) Miami Latin Boys. Gloria, who is studying to be a psychologist and spends most of her extra time caring for her father through his battle with Multiple Sclerosis, is initially resistant to the idea of performing. But her abuela persuades her to follow her passion for music.
Despite Gloria's reluctance to be fully in the public spotlight, she and Emilio work to achieve success with an innovative commercial crossover style of Cuban and American dance styles, both in Spanish and English. They still struggle against the pre-conceived notions of their record label and the radio stations, who doubt the appeal of their music to the general American public. They have a major hit with the infectious "Conga".
Act II
Gloria and Emilio hit the top of the music charts and launch a worldwide tour. Yet Gloria struggles with the exhausting schedule, and the fact that she and her mother have become estranged due to her disapproval (and suggested jealousy) of Gloria's fame. The Estefans' tour bus collides with a semi truck during a snowstorm, during which Gloria breaks her back and is therefore flown to NYC for emergency spinal surgery. She reconciles with her mother, and fights through recuperation in hopes she'll be able to perform on stage again. Thousands of fan letters, and Emilio's steadfast determination provide her the encouragement she needs to stage a comeback. Gloria and Emilio enjoy a triumphant return at the 1991 American Music Awards.
Musical numbers
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† Not included in the cast recording.
‡ Original song written for the show by Gloria Estefan (lyrics) and Emily Estefan (music).
Principal roles and original cast
| Character | Original Broadway Cast (2015)[8] | Current Broadway Cast (2016)[9] |
|---|---|---|
| Gloria Estefan | Ana Villafañe | |
| Emilio Estefan | Josh Segarra | Ektor Rivera |
| Gloria Fajardo | Andréa Burns | |
| Consuelo García | Alma Cuervo | |
| José Fajardo | Eliseo Roman | |
| Rebecca Fajardo | Genny Lis Padilla | |
| Little Gloria | Alexandria Suarez | |
| Little Emilio / Nayib | Eduardo Hernandez | |
Critical response
Charles Isherwood, in his review for The New York Times wrote: "The musical, which stars a vibrant Ana Villafañe as Ms. Estefan and a commanding Josh Segarra as her husband and musical collaborator, neatly showcases the boppy dance-floor hits and swoony ballads that made Ms. Estefan and the band Miami Sound Machine a radio and MTV staple in the 1980s. But with an often mechanical book, moving through its rags-to-riches paces as if to a rigid percussive beat, 'On Your Feet!' ultimately falls somewhere in the middle of the hefty pack of jukebox musicals that have plugged in to Broadway’s power strip."[10]
Marilyn Stasio, in her review for Variety called the musical "a surefire audience pleaser" with "the sheer exuberance of the score (much of it from the songbook of Emilio and Gloria Estefan) and the soaring energy of helmer Jerry Mitchell’s razzle-dazzle production..." [11]
Peter Marks, in his review for The Washington Post wrote "The buoyant Estefan songs... are rolled out with carbonated flair by director Jerry Mitchell and choreographer Sergio Trujillo. In the guise, too, of actor-singers Ana Villafañe and Josh Segarra, the redoubtable Estefans are evoked here with the requisite sexiness and effervescence; the book by Alexander Dinelaris...conveys vivaciously that theirs is a partnership in every sense....takes its place in the upper echelons of the jukebox genre..."[12]
Box Office
Playbill noted, in the musical's first week in November 2015, " 'On Your Feet!' which won good reviews last week, saw a leap of $123,518 and played to houses that were at 96% capacity..."[13]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Tony Award[14] | Best Choreography | Sergio Trujillo | Nominated |
| Outer Critics Circle Award[15] | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Book of a Musical | Alexander Dinelaris | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Ana Villafañe | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Andrea Burns | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreographer | Sergio Trujillo | Won | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Esosa | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Kenneth Posner | Nominated | ||
| Drama League Award[16] | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | Nominated | ||
| Distinguished Performance | Ana Villafañe | Nominated | ||
| Theatre World Award[17] | Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance | Ana Villafañe | Won | |
| Fred and Adele Astaire Award[18] | Best Choreographer | Sergio Trujillo | Won | |
| Best Female Dancer | Ana Villafañe | Nominated | ||
| Best Male Dancer | Carlos E. Gonzalez | Nominated | ||
| Luis Salgado | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show | David Baida, Henry Gainza, Linedy Genao, Carlos E. Gonzalez, Nina Lafarga, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Marielys Molina, Doreen Montalvo, Genny Lis Padilla, Liz Ramos, Eliseo Roman, Luis Salgado, Jennifer Sanchez, Marco Santana, Brett Sturgus, Eric Ulloa, Tanairi Sade Vazquez, Lee Zarrett | Nominated | ||
References
- ↑ Dominguez, Robert (November 5, 2015). "Gloria and Emilio Estefan's triumphs and trials are told in new Broadway show". NY Daily News. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Official Site". Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ↑ Oxman, Steven. "Pre-Broadway Review: Estefan Musical ‘On Your Feet!’ " Variety, June 18, 2015
- ↑ Gioia, Michael. "Gloria Estefan's 'On Your Feet!' Packs Up Its Chicago Shoes; Broadway Is Next!" Playbill, July 5, 2015
- ↑ "'On Your Feet!' Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed November 2, 2015
- ↑ Gioia, Michael. "'Get On Your Feet!' Gloria Estefan's Musical Hits Broadway Tonight" Playbill, October 5, 2015
- ↑ Staff. "The Verdict: Read Reviews for Gloria Estefan's 'On Your Feet!' on Broadway" Playbill, November 5, 2015
- ↑ Gioia, Michael (July 5, 2015). "Gloria Estefan's On Your Feet! Packs Up Its Chicago Shoes; Broadway Is Next!". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ↑ Gans, Andrew (July 12, 2016). "Ektor Rivera Makes Broadway Debut in On Your Feet! Tonight". Playbill. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
- ↑ Isherwood, Charles. "Review: ‘On Your Feet!’ Rides the Rhythm of the Estefans" New York Times, November 5, 2015
- ↑ Stasio, Marilyn. "Broadway Review: Estefan Musical ‘On Your Feet!’" Variety, November 5, 2015
- ↑ Marks, Peters. "Emilio and Gloria Estefan musical 'On Your Feet!' is fleet and fun" The Washington Post, November 5, 2015
- ↑ Simonson, Robert. "Broadway Box-Office Analysis: Good Reviews Fill On Your Feet's Seats" Playbill, November 9, 2015
- ↑ Viagas, Robert (June 12, 2016). "Hamilton Tops Tony Awards With 11 Wins". Playbill. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ↑ Viagas, Robert (May 9, 2016). "Bright Star and The Humans Win Top 2016 NY Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ↑ Gans, Andrew (May 20, 2016). "Zachary Levi and Megan Hilty Host 82nd Annual Drama League Awards Today". Playbill. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ↑ Gans, Andrew (May 2, 2016). "Theatre World Awards Announce 2016 Winners". Playbill. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ↑ Viagas, Robert; Clement, Olivia (May 16, 2016). "Savion Glover and Jane Krakowski Among 2016 Astaire Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved June 15, 2016.