Theater Review: “On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan"

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

The touring company of “On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan” has taken to the stage of Waterbury’s Palace Theater, celebrating its 100th anniversary, for three performances.

Opening night brought out many Palace patrons for the third show in their 2023-2024 Broadway Series. CEO Frank Tavera calls the show “not just a story of two people’s journey to stardom but is also the story of a family’s search for their place in the ‘American Dream’ while celebrating their traditions, heritage, and community.”

“On Your Feet” offers a book written by Alexander Dinelaris, and features music produced and recorded by the husband and wife team of Emilio and Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine that sets out to get audiences on their feet dancing. Most of us would never be able to keep up with the Latin dancing that is performed upon the stage (and at one point in the aisles) but we would certainly be inspired to join in. One opening night patron did just that during the first act closer “Conga.”

The fantastic score of the mostly Cuban-fusion pop music includes most of the hits we expect, including “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “I-2-3,” “Here We Are,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Don’t Wanna Lose You,” and “Coming Out of the Dark.” There is also the original song "If I Never Got to Tell You” in the second act, with lyrics by Gloria Estefan and music by her daughter Emily Estefan. The show ends with a fun Megamix.

The touring company is directed and beautifully choreographed by Luis Calgado and is led by Gaby Albo as Gloria and Samuel Garnica as Emilio. With the help of the ensemble, the pair tell the true and heartfelt story of the couple whose belief in each other never wavered. The story includes many details of their life story, including the serious bus accident in which Gloria breaks her back and her long recovery.

Albo, a “Proud Mexican” who was a semifinalist on television’s “La Voz,” is a convincing Gloria, with a strong stage presence and a fabulous singing voice for the vast majority of the musical numbers in the score. Garnica, a Venezuelan actor and singer, takes on the role of her eventual husband and also sings well for “Here We Are” and “If I Never Got To Tell You.” Both performers were part of the world premiere of the show’s Spanish version, “On Your Feet! En Espanol.”

Kristen Tarrago, a Miami native who notes that she feels right at home in this Cuban-American story, plays the role of Gloria Fajardo, the stubborn mother of Gloria who has an instant dislike of Emilio. A former performer, Gloria’s mother steps back in time to perform “Mi Tierra.” Tarrago does well with the acting requirements of the role and serves as the understudy for the daughter Gloria.

Max Cervantes, the Emilio understudy, plays Gloria’s father Jose Fajardo and also gets to sing “Cuando Sali De Cuba '' and “When Someone Comes Into Your Life” with Gloria. Cervantes notes that he is a first generation American artist who is a proud son of a Mexican immigrant.

Venezuelan actress Adela Romero slightly steals the show as Consuelo, Gloria’s abuela. She is the perceptive grandmother and brings out the comedy in her role. Cuban-American artist Emma Heistand portrays Gloria’s sister Rebecca Fajardo. Sopha Yacap makes her national tour debut in the role of Young Gloria (“Tradicion.”) Javier Ivan from Puerto Rico plays the younger version of Emilio. Jake Dylan plays Phil.

The ensemble is filled with talented singer/dancers that give life to all of the dance numbers in sparkly costumes designed by Jeannette Christensen and hair and wig design by Bobbie Zlotnik. There is plenty of excellent lighting designed by Ryan J. O’Gara that enhances the scenic design by Clifton Chadick. The two level projection design by Patrick W. Lord works well to help tell this true story. I had trouble understanding some of the lines.

The musicians can sometimes be seen performing at the back of the set and they can always be heard performing the extensive music in the score. Daniel Gutierrez is the music director who performs on keyboard, and there is both a drumset and percussion player.

“On Your Feet” is presented with one intermission and runs almost three hours and my companion and I enjoyed the experience.

You can still experience the true story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan at the Palace Theater on Dec. 16. Get $20 off tickets with code: MITIERRA https://bit.ly/3N2G269

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.