The music made by Gloria and Emilio Estefan during their prime is some of the most popular music of its time, and still holds a place of love for many fans. Not only were they massive successes, but they introduced the world to Latin rhythms and culture.
There simply wouldn’t be the enormous success of artists like Shakira, Maluma and Bad Bunny without them.
The story of the Estefans is coming to the stage as “On Your Feet!” at Littleton’s Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 Main St., from Friday, May 23 through Sunday, June 22. Most performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a special fundraiser performance for the Denver Actors Fund on Monday, June 9. One hundered percent of the money raised during that performance will go to the fund.
“As a Latina and a person who did grow up hearing Gloria Estefan’s music, this show and story meant a lot to me, because it hits so close to home,” wrote Iliana Lucero Barron, assistant director of the production, in an email interview. “I connect with the cultural aspect, I connect to the familial dynamic, to the dynamic of being an artist, and of course, the joy and celebration of the music and impact it had on the music industry.”
With a book written by Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and score built around the Estefan’s music, the show follows the arc of Gloria and Emilio’s careers, from their beginnings in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami and as members of the Miami Sound Machine, to Gloria’s triumphant return to the stage in 1991. Along the way, the pair encounter plenty of challenges and joys as they navigate the music world.
Taking on the role of Gloria is Andrea Camacho, and she said she immersed herself in several different facets of history to get the character right.
“My approach to her has been studying a lot of her history, Cuban history and the American history of the time she grew up in. I want to be as authentic as I can be, and with all of those factors, I feel as I am able to find her in my own life,” Camacho wrote in an email interview. “As a Venezuelan, I am proud of our abilities as Latines to go above and beyond, to find a better life for the people around us and to chase our dreams.”
Music and dance were a huge part of the Estefans’ lives, and both art forms are among the highlights of the show. To get the dancing right, choreographer Chelley Canales tapped into previous performances from concerts and videos.
“I crafted these numbers by using a blend of resources, most prominently the source material,” Canales wrote in an email interview. “I grew up loving Gloria and dancing to her videos, and it was so fun these past few months to rewatch them and view concert footage with the Miami Sound Machine. The energy they had on stage was incredible. I hope to bring that nostalgia and sense of fun to our stage as well.”
With so much going on in the world, “On Your Feet!” is a great opportunity for people to get carried away by the music and a story that celebrates its empowering ability.
“I hope that people leave with a smile on their face and a rhythm in their step,” wrote director Matthew Americo Zambrano in an email interview. “I hope that for the two hours they are in the theater, they can forget about all the things outside of Town Hall and let themselves be swept up in the celebration of cultura, family, community, music and dance.”
Tickets are available at https://townhallartscenter.org/event/on-your-feet/.
This coverage comes courtesy of a grant from the Littleton Arts and Culture Program. As a matter of policy, funders exercise no control over editorial decisions.
June 18th tickets to this performance will help Nourish Meals on Wheels raise money for their cause of helping the elderly in Littleton, Englewood, Sheridan and parts of Jefferson and Douglas counties get a nutritious meal and maintain their independence.