The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Resistance is futile
The rhythm is, in fact, going to get you if Gloria Estefan-inspired ‘On Your Feet’ has anything to say about it
There’s no way around it — the rhythm is going to get you when attending the jukebox musical “On Your Feet,” which features the music of Gloria Estefan. ¶ After a nearly two-year run on Broadway, the jukebox musical is embarking on its first national tour. The KeyBank Broadway Series at Playhouse Square presents “On Your Feet” Dec. 5 through 23 at the Connor Palace.
Associate Director Andy Senor Jr. promised audiences attending “On Your Feet” will be, well, on their feet enough during the show to warrant wearing their dancing shoes.
“At the end, everybody is dancing and singing and clapping,” said Senor, calling from Holland. “Whether it’s Cleveland or Amsterdam, Gloria has a far reach with her audiences. The show really delivers something consistent with her brand.”
The musical follows the journey of Estefan and her Grammy Award-winning producer husband, Emilio, to superstardom with smash hits “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “1-2-3,” “Get on Your Feet,” “Mi Tierra,” Don’t Wanna Lose You” and “Reach.”
Long before she became a superstar artist — selling more than 100 million albums and scoring 38 No. 1 hits across the Billboard charts — Estefan was born in Cuba. She eventually relocated to Miami.
Just as Estefan’s magical story was destined for the stage, Senor was equally preordained to be involved in the project.
“Basically, I grew up with Emilio and Gloria,” Senor said. “Our relationship goes way back before I was even born. My dad was Gloria’s mother and father’s neighbor in Cuba. When Gloria’s mom’s water broke to give birth to her, my dad is the one who helped take her to the hospital.
“Then they had music careers together in Miami. I grew up around them when I was a kid.”
Talk about being meta, Senor said he had to be involved with this story he experienced firsthand. A musical-theater veteran, Senor talked to two-time Tony Award-winning director Jerry Mitchell (“Kinky Boots” and “Hairspray”) about the project.
“I said, ‘Listen, I’m Cuban, I’m from Miami, this is my relationship with Gloria and Emilio,’” Senor said. “He was like, ‘What?’ I said, ‘It’s my life. I lived the musical. What I’m watching, I was there. I saw the whole thing happen.’”
When Senor signed onto the project, he reached out to Estefan, who was ecstatic.
“My dad had passed away, like, 10 years ago, so this would have been his dream,” Senor said. “She was just like, ‘Your dad is here with us — I know it.’ I said, ‘It was like my dad was there when you were born, and now I’m here when the character of you is born.’”
As for the storyline, Senor promises its empowering narrative is very apropos in today’s political climate.
“For me, it’s that anything is possible with hard work and determination,” Senor said. “It doesn’t matter what your ethnicity is or what language you speak. Whatever it is, if you see something possible to really go and fight for it.”