In the age of one biographical jukebox musical after another, On Your Feet! The Musical – The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan stands out from the crowd, this time for the better. Based on the life and career of 26-time Grammy Award winner husband-and-wife team Gloria and Emilio Estefan, the musical is directed by Luis Salgado and is chock full of Estefan’s greatest hits without falling into the familiar jukebox pitfall of merely trudging through an artist’s catalog of music. 

From the beginning, On Your Feet is bright, colorful, and fun. Led by Gaby Albo as Gloria, the musical tells the story of Gloria and how she met her husband Emilio (Samuel Garnica) and his band the Miami Latin Boys. As their romantic relationship grows, so does their fame and fanbase, eventually becoming Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, known for hits like “Conga,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” and “Turn the Beat Around.” 

Albo shines as Gloria, commanding the stage with a fiery passion and vocals that fill the room. Without knocking the sweet, operatic sopranos we’ve come to expect from Broadway’s leading ladies, it is refreshing to hear such deep, rich, bold vocals from center stage. As Gloria comes into her own, so too does Albo as she easily takes on the biggest hits from the beginning of Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine’s career, giving numbers like “1-2-3” a powerful oomph. 

When paired with Garnica, their chemistry is unmatched. Together, they create flawless harmonies and have a palpable connection, particularly during their number “I See Your Smile.” Garnica holds his own next to the powerful Albo as he sings with a honey smooth voice, thanks to his ample opportunities to show off in numbers such as “Here We Are” and “Don’t Wanna Lose You.” But his “This is what an American looks like” speech is truly his defining moment. Faced with ignorant and racist comments from the music industry, Emilio proudly discusses his family’s Cuban heritage and the struggles he has faced and overcome before he boldly, loudly, and triumphantly declares “Look at my face. Whether you know it or not, this is what an American looks like.” Met with a moment of silence followed by thunderous applause, this speech is perhaps even more relevant today than it was when On Your Feet first premiered on Broadway in 2015. 

Not to be outdone, Gloria Fajardo (Gloria’s mother, played by Kristen Tarragó) gets her own moment to shine. Stubborn and unsupportive of Gloria’s music career, Gloria Fajardo’s backstory is explained in the upbeat number “Mi Tierra.” This night of celebration is marked by Tarragó’s gorgeous vocals and a party onstage as dancers in fabulous dresses and slicked back hair and elaborate head pieces swirl around the stage in a flurry of colors and sparkles. 

But it is Gloria’s grandmother Consuelo (Adela Romero) who steals the show. With enough snark, sass, and one liners to power the stage herself (thanks to book writer Alexander Dinelaris), Romero proves herself to be a crowd favorite. Her sweet relationship with Gloria is wholesome and pure as she gives her unwavering support of Gloria’s musical dreams. Her moments with Young Gloria (Sophia Yacap) are particularly endearing as she meets and flirts with the handsome Emilio for the first time. 

As expected, the dancing and choreography in such a show is paramount to its success. Thankfully, director and choreographer Luis Salgado was up for the challenge. Flawlessly executed by the ensemble (as they are decked out head to toe in only the best fringes and studs and sparkles from costume designer Jeannette Christensen), the many, many dance numbers in this show become a character of their own with the pop and Latin beats of Estefan’s and the Sound Machine’s greatest hits filling the room. 

The combination of styles and seemingly effortless talent from the dancers is a delectable visual feast and a masterclass in showmanship, particularly during the Act I finale “Conga.” This underrated dance number deserves to be mentioned when discussing the great dance sequences of Broadway as people quite literally got on their feet in celebration as dancers flipped, twirled, and salsa-ed their way through the number. 

On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan ran at the Durham Performing Arts Center from January 17-18, 2024.

Additional production photos can be found below. Feature photo credit to DJ Corey