The story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan comes to life on Broadway in the new musical "On Your Feet!" Here's Roma Torre with her review.
There are times when critical opinion is irrelevant. Shows like "On Your Feet!," so joyfully exuberant, manage to find that sweet spot for audiences and it is pointless to even try to pick it apart. So even if it's a formulaic jukebox musical that would be right at home in Vegas, "On Your Feet!" is doing exactly what it promises, and fans are up on their feet and cheering.
Subtitled "The Story Of Emilio & Gloria Estefan," it treads familiar territory, much like "Beautiful" and "Jersey Boys." It follows the protagonists from struggling artists to superstars, encountering numerous obstacles along the way.
Director Jerry Mitchell, who helmed "Kinky Boots," does it again, exploiting the show's feel-good vibe. There's just enough heartfelt emotion to draw us in; and Sergio Trujillo's heart-pounding salsa dances keep us hooked.
And of course there's that music. The Miami Sound Machine is extremely popular and so the show shrewdly opens with a burst of rhythm and percussion featuring a 13-piece orchestra surrounded by those phenomenal dancers that just don't seem to quit.
The lead performers are another huge asset. Stage veterans Andrea Burns as Gloria's mother and Alma Cuervo as her adoring grandmother add plenty of spice.
Josh Segarra as Cuban born Emilio nails the accent and charisma, sending sparks flying in his scenes with Gloria.
And Ana Villafane, making her New York debut, not only looks and sounds like Gloria Estefan, she has that ineffable quality that sets the stage on fire proclaiming the arrival of a new star.
The Estefans are famed in part for their business acumen establishing Gloria as the most successful Latin crossover performer in the history of pop music. Well, they conquered the music charts, and now they're extending that success to the Broadway stage. Roma Torre, NY1.