The Argyle Theatre is kicking off its next production season with the music and story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
“On Your Feet!,” the high-energy jukebox musical inspired by the Estefans and Miami Sound Machine, opens Sept. 17 at the Babylon theater.
Greater Babylon spoke with the production’s director, Vincent Ortega, and the Argyle’s creative director, Evan Pappas, about the inspirations, vision and personal connections behind this production of “On Your Feet!”
The musical follows Grammy-winning musicians and real-life couple Gloria and Emilio Estefan on their journey to global stardom, including Gloria’s devastating back injury following a tour bus crash and her eventual return to the stage at the 1991 American Music Awards.
“The story captures the joy, humor, and laughter, that never ends and we take that into the production to make it a goal for people to want to come to work,” said Ortega.
Featuring hits including “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Get on Your Feet,” “Turn the Beat Around,” “Don’t Wanna Lose You” and “Conga,” the production continues the Argyle’s recent run of jukebox-style musicals following its staging of Carole King’s “Beautiful.”
Ortega is no stranger to “On Your Feet!”
He has directed five productions of the musical, including runs at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport. Before becoming a director, Ortega was also part of the cast of the national tour of “On Your Feet!” following the show’s Broadway run.
While directing the musical at Riverside Theatre, Ortega even had Gloria and Emilio Estefan themselves in the audience.
“Everyone knew Gloria because she was the first Latina singer to make the cross-over into English. We [in the Latino community] had known her for years but this was the first time hearing her in English, so it was like, ‘What’s happening now?’” said Ortega.
Ortega described meeting the Estefans as being akin to getting together with family, saying he was pleasantly surprised by their warmth and down-to-earth nature. Gloria Estefan expressed her happiness with the production and how moving it was to see her story brought to life.
Pappas said the Argyle’s upcoming season features stories and music connected to several iconic performers and characters, including Estefan, Cher, Jimmy Buffett and Mary Poppins.
“…are all iconic legends, all positive influences from strong, talented people,” Pappas said.
Choosing Ortega to direct “On Your Feet!” was an “obvious” decision, Pappas said, calling him a “legend.”
Sneak peek
In developing his own vision for the musical, Ortega said he wanted to explore elements of the story he felt were less prominent in the original production, including the political atmosphere surrounding the Estefans’ rise.
Ortega also has a personal connection to one of the musical’s central themes: overcoming a serious injury.
He had recently undergone reconstructive knee surgery for a torn ACL at the time of the interview, giving him another perspective on Gloria Estefan’s comeback after suffering a near-career-ending back injury when a tractor-trailer crashed into her tour bus.
“When it [my injury] happened I thought my year was going to be bed-ridden, you know, ‘poor me,’ crying every day but it’s given me more opportunities to be a creative. The biggest thing is that when Gloria was hurt, she didn’t let it get her down. Her story isn’t of fame and stardom, it’s a story of strength and courage. She got injured and of course she doubted herself but she trained hard for 6 months to come back on-stage for the American Music Awards,” said Ortega.
Estefan’s rehabilitation included extensive exercise and training, something depicted in the show.
“There’s a scene in the show where they’re working out and someone says, ‘we’re done for the day,’ and Gloria responds with ‘I wanna do more reps, I’m going to get better, I’m going to get stronger,’” said Ortega.
“Vince is one of the most resilient people I know, so this parallel is pretty amazing to me,” said Pappas.
The production also slows things down to explore Gloria and Emilio’s relationship through Estefan’s ballads.
“They use her ballads to develop, in really smart ways, the character and Gloria and Emilio’s relationship. Iconic songs like ‘Anything For You,’ create beautiful moments to sit still and listen to the lyrics. Such beautifully written, storytelling songs,” said Ortega.
Another theme, Ortega said, is the “resilience and strength [Gloria had] as a female in the 80s music industry.”
Before “Conga” became one of Estefan’s biggest hits, the group performed at weddings, bar mitzvahs and other events — sometimes for free — simply to get the music in front of audiences.
And when the curtain rises in Babylon, Ortega hopes theatergoers will have a hard time staying in their seats.
“You don’t have to be a dancer you just have feel it, enjoy it, and move. We want to get the audience up on their feet,” Ortega said.
“On Your Feet!” runs Sept. 17 through Oct. 25.
Full season
The rest of the Argyle Theatre’s season includes “Mary Poppins,” Nov. 12 through Jan. 3; “All Shook Up,” Jan. 28 through March 14; “The Cher Show,” April 8 through May 30; and “Escape to Margaritaville,” July 1 through Sept. 25.
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