ON YOUR FEET! is the story of two people who-through an unwavering dedication to one another and their pursuit of the American dream-showcased their talent, their music and their heritage to the world in a remarkable rise to global superstardom. Set to Gloria's chart-topping, smash hits such as "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You," "1-2-3," "Mi Tierra," and "Conga," in addition to new music penned by the Estefans, the show will be choreographed by four-time Drama Desk nominee Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis) with a book by two-time Drama Desk nominee Alexander Dinelaris (The Bodyguard Musical, Zanna Don't).
The recipe may be familiar, but the flavor is fresh in 'On Your Feet!,' the half-formulaic, half-original and undeniably crowd-pleasing musical about the lives of Emilio and Gloria Estefan that opened on Thursday at the Marquis Theater. To cite the most unusual element: Many a musical could be described as a car crash, but I can't think of any in which such a calamity figures as a dramatic turning point. Still, it's no spoiler to say that the show includes the accident that threatened Ms. Estefan's life and might have ended her career. Fans of hers will recall that 1990 incident, which darkens the second act and brings some gravity to this mostly flashy, salsa-splashed show.
'On Your Feet!' is uneven and occasionally long-winded. It's also sometimes inspiring and uplifting. The two lead performers, Ana Villafañe and Josh Segarra, are charismatic, in different ways. Numerous jukebox musical tropes are at work in 'On Your Feet!'...What the musical does best, though, is illustrate the sacrifices it took for the Estefans to succeed...Villafañe, also a Cuban immigrant from Miami, looks and sounds like Estefan...As Grammy-winning producer Emilio Estefan, Segarra ('Lysistrata Jones') sings in a subdued way. His acting is more engaging, and his entrance, in a pair of only-in-Miami shorts, is charming. Dinelaris's book does some unnecessary pandering...'On Your Feet!' isn't quite 'Jersey Boys,' but in places, the rhythm is gonna get you.
| 2015 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 2017 | US Tour |
First National Tour US Tour |
| 2019 | West End |
Original West End Production West End |
| 2022 | US Tour |
US Tour US Tour |
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Ana Villafane |
| 2016 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | On Your Feet |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Ana Villafane |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or off-Broadway) | Alexander Dinelaris |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Sergio Trujillo |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) | ESosa |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Andrea Burns |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Kenneth Posner |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | On Your Feet! |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Sergio Trujillo |
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