ON YOUR FEET! is the inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talent—and each other—to become an international sensation: Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
Now their story has embarked upon a national Broadway tour in an exhilarating original production that’s already won the hearts of critics and audiences alike, with the Chicago Tribune declaring “IT’S A HIT!” and The New York Times cheering, “The very air in the room seems to vibrate in this undeniably crowd-pleasing musical!” “If you aren’t humming a Gloria Estefan hit when you leave the theater, it might be time to check your pulse!” raves the Associated Press.
Alexander Dinelaris' book feels weak and ordinary, which doesn't leave director Jerry Mitchell much of a “world” to create. ...Sure, the performances of the others, particularly Prades and Martínez, are nice, the voices near enough to their real-life counterparts but also theatrical enough for this production. But no one sees this show for the acting. And probably no one came for the dancing. But thanks to Sergio Trujillo's phenomenal choreography, it's pretty spectacular, the other of this show's undisputable highlights.Cuban dances, including a wooden-sandaled chancleta for “Cuba Libre,” fill the stage with visual rhythms. In other scenes, Trujillo touches on disco and hip-hop without mimicry; his work respects and vivifies the forms yet looks completely fresh.
The National Tour of On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan is currently at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre and it will probably rank as the feel good musical of the year because the “Rhythm is Gonna Get You.”
On Your Feet, the musical now playing at the Pantages, starts at 110% and never lets up. Chronicling the life of pop superstar Gloria Estefan, the show packs infectious beats, swirling dance numbers, and passion into -- literally -- every corner of the theater.
If ever there was a story that epitomizes the fulfillment of the American Dream through hard work, dedication, and sheer determination, it is On Your Feet!
This exuberant tribute to the life and career of Gloria and Emilio Estefan is no ordinary jukebox musical. And yet — boasting a catalogue of familiar hit songs — it is also that, unabashedly so. In a larger context, On Your Feet is a triumphant celebration of the immigrant experience. At a time when immigrant rights — and by extension human rights — are under attack, this high-energy, somewhat sentimentalized yet highly entertaining musical takes on a greater importance about the ideals and values we cherish and must now fight to protect.
In many ways, On Your Feet, which ran on Broadway from 2015 to 2017, is a celebration of immigrants, and features an almost entirely Latin cast. The story is slight in comparison to the music, which is the true star of this show targeted towards tourists and casual theater fans. Moments of melodrama are intentionally milked, and act two gets bogged down with too many ballads, temporarily slowing the lively rhythm of the musical.
Fresh and fabulous, thanks to music director Clay Ostwald and his ten-man band — which includes with Ostwald four Miami Sound Machine members — hits like “1-2-3,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Mi Tierra,” and “Reach” could raise the dead and explode the living — if not your eardrums. While the show would work better in a smaller house — you know, 1,000 seats instead of 2,700 — every member of the touring company is infallibly right for their roles, notes and steps.
I can't rave enough about all 28 cast members, all of the dancers, all of the musicians, and every singer who brought all 26 songs to life, as wll as everyone behind this fantastic production.
Alexander Dinelaris' book feels weak and ordinary, which doesn't leave director Jerry Mitchell much of a “world” to create. ...Sure, the performances of the others, particularly Prades and Martínez, are nice, the voices near enough to their real-life counterparts but also theatrical enough for this production. But no one sees this show for the acting. And probably no one came for the dancing. But thanks to Sergio Trujillo's phenomenal choreography, it's pretty spectacular, the other of this show's undisputable highlights.Cuban dances, including a wooden-sandaled chancleta for “Cuba Libre,” fill the stage with visual rhythms. In other scenes, Trujillo touches on disco and hip-hop without mimicry; his work respects and vivifies the forms yet looks completely fresh.
The National Tour of On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan is currently at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre and it will probably rank as the feel good musical of the year because the “Rhythm is Gonna Get You.”
On Your Feet, the musical now playing at the Pantages, starts at 110% and never lets up. Chronicling the life of pop superstar Gloria Estefan, the show packs infectious beats, swirling dance numbers, and passion into -- literally -- every corner of the theater.
If ever there was a story that epitomizes the fulfillment of the American Dream through hard work, dedication, and sheer determination, it is On Your Feet!
This exuberant tribute to the life and career of Gloria and Emilio Estefan is no ordinary jukebox musical. And yet — boasting a catalogue of familiar hit songs — it is also that, unabashedly so. In a larger context, On Your Feet is a triumphant celebration of the immigrant experience. At a time when immigrant rights — and by extension human rights — are under attack, this high-energy, somewhat sentimentalized yet highly entertaining musical takes on a greater importance about the ideals and values we cherish and must now fight to protect.
In many ways, On Your Feet, which ran on Broadway from 2015 to 2017, is a celebration of immigrants, and features an almost entirely Latin cast. The story is slight in comparison to the music, which is the true star of this show targeted towards tourists and casual theater fans. Moments of melodrama are intentionally milked, and act two gets bogged down with too many ballads, temporarily slowing the lively rhythm of the musical.
Fresh and fabulous, thanks to music director Clay Ostwald and his ten-man band — which includes with Ostwald four Miami Sound Machine members — hits like “1-2-3,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Mi Tierra,” and “Reach” could raise the dead and explode the living — if not your eardrums. While the show would work better in a smaller house — you know, 1,000 seats instead of 2,700 — every member of the touring company is infallibly right for their roles, notes and steps.
I can't rave enough about all 28 cast members, all of the dancers, all of the musicians, and every singer who brought all 26 songs to life, as wll as everyone behind this fantastic production.
