ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 2

Cast (in order of appearance)

KENNY

Kenny Ortega

Band’s Choreographer

KIKI

Enrique “Kiki” Garcia Founding Member of

The Miami Sound Machine

ELENA

Elena Stracuzzi Background Singer

MARQUITO

Juan Marcos “Marquito” Avila

Bass Player

PHIL

Record Executive

BIG PAQUITO

Radio DJ

CHRIS

Club Promoter

WARREN

New York Record Executive

Phil’s Boss

GLORIA

Gloria Estefan

Singer/Songwriter

EMILIO

Emilio Estefan

Musician/Producer

NAYIB

Son of Gloria & Emilio Estefan

LITTLE GLORIA

a young Gloria Estefan

JOSE FAJARDO

Gloria’s father

Cuban soldier before Castro

became ill with multiple sclerosis

GLORIA FAJARDO

Gloria’s mother

Fled to U.S. from Cuba after

Cuban Revolution

CONSUELO

Gloria’s abuela (grandmother)

REBECCA

Gloria’s younger sister

DID YOU KNOW?

The band performing on stage

during the show is the actual

Miami Sound Machine.

Including members who

performed at the various

concerts they are

reproducing in

the show.

In fact, Clay Ostwald

(band member since

1986) serves as the

show’s Musical

Director.

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 3

On Your Feet! is a jukebox musical based on the lives and music of 26-time Grammy Award-winning husband-and-wife team Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The score is built around the Cuban-fusion pop music made famous by Gloria Estefan.

“ON YOUR FEET” is a figure of speech (also known as an idiom) that means:

1. Literally, a command to stand upright. Get on your feet soldier!

2. In a healthy or stable condition, usually after a period of illness or misfortune. After the nasty cold you had last week, it’s good to see you back on your feet.

3. Quickly and extemporaneously. This job requires you to think on your feet and make decisions at the drop of a hat.

THE SYNOPSIS — ACT ONE The story begins during a 1990 concert. Gloria is backstage with husband Emilio and son Nayib. She walks onstage and the narrative immediately flashes back to a scene of Gloria's father in the Vietnam War. This leads into the song "Tradición," which introduces us to Gloria Estefan's childhood in a barrio of Miami. During the song, we flash forward. Gloria is now a young woman.

Emilio’s band the Miami Latin Boys have been playing local gigs throughout Miami. Looking to add talent to the band, Emilio pays a visit to Gloria’s home having heard she is a great singer and songwriter. Gloria is reluctant to play her music for the band, but her Grandmother insists. At a band rehearsal, Gloria plays her song “Anything For You” and is invited to join the band. With Gloria officially in the band they change their name from the Miami Latin Boys to the Miami Sound Machine.

Gloria Fajardo, Gloria’s mother, is frustrated that Gloria’s time with the band is keeping her away from home and from helping her aging and disabled father. Gloria’s Grandmother tells Gloria that when her mother (Gloria Fajardo) was a young girl she was offered the job of being Shirley Temple’s Spanish voice in movies, but her father forbid it and she lost her dream to go to Hollywood. We flashback to see Gloria Fajardo performing in Cuba, until her family had to flee in exile.

With the success of the Miami Sound Machine, Emilio and Gloria speak with Phil (executive for the record label) about making an English album. Phil dismisses this idea and Emilio vows to do it without the record label.

Emilio and Gloria go to dinner to strategize after the meeting with the record label. Emilio lies and says it’s his birthday to get a kiss. After the kiss Emilio comes clean about his lie, Gloria is not upset. She sings “Here We Are” and Emilio joins her. They are in love.

Back to the business of promoting their music. The band starts sharing the music with every DJ in town. They invite Phil to the various small gigs, he finally joins them at an event in Las Vegas. The song “Conga” is clearly going to a huge success.

The Show’s title has many meanings. It is inspired by the chart-topping song “GET ON YOUR FEET,” it also refers to the feeling of getting back on your feet (see idiom definition above).

When Gloria and Emilio came to the U.S. at a young age, they had to start a whole new life. Every time they had to battle for their music, and stand by what they wanted, the industry at the time would knock them down saying their sound was too Latin for Americans and too American for Latin audiences, they would have to fight and get back up on their feet.

There is also the literal meaning of Gloria’s comeback from a horrific accident that broke her back and almost left her paralyzed and her struggle to get back on her feet.

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 4

THE SYNOPSIS — ACT TWO Emilio, Gloria and Phil are in an executive’s office in New York City asking for more money to support a new album. The record label tells them they will not “throw a pile of money” at what could “a one hit wonder.” Emilio is not deterred by the lack of support from the record label. The band puts Gloria as the lead of the band and renames the band “Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine.”

There is a montage of concerts with Gloria Estefan concerts featuring “Get On Your Feet” and “Live For Loving You.” Emilio, Gloria and Phil are back in the executive’s New York office requesting $50 million in the new contract. The executive calls the contract “ludicrous,” but when Emilio doesn’t back down the executive realizes Emilio and Gloria have the power in this negotiation and storms off.

After another concert montage, we are back at the Fajardo’s kitchen. Gloria’s sister, Rebecca, has been missing classes and is struggling. Gloria wants to take her sister with the band on the road to give her more structure. Gloria Fajardo is furious. She tells Gloria that she will not speak with her if she takes her sister. Gloria knows it will upset her mother, but she does what is best for her sister and takes Rebecca with them on the road.

The band is on a world-tour. They perform in London and before they head to Washington D.C. they are in the airport in Madrid. A flashback scene shows a young Emilio saying goodbye to his mother and grandfather before traveling with his father to Miami. This is the same airport.

Gloria and the band perform “Cuba Libre” in Washington, D.C., after the performance Emilio and Gloria are in the dressing room reflecting on the honor of being in the nation’s capitol. Gloria is still sad, she has not spoken to her mother since she took her sister with her on the road. She calls home and leaves her mother a voicemail.

Gloria, Emilio, and their son Nayib are on the tour bus when a semi-truck crashes into them. A piercing high-pitch ring. Eerie music plays and the 9-1-1 Emergency phone call reporting the crash is heard.

The following scene is at Gloria’s hospital bed. The doctor tells Emilio of the risk of permanent paralysis for the spine surgery she has scheduled for the following day. Emilio is distraught with almost losing Gloria. When Gloria Fajardo walks into the room. Fighting to keep her composure, Gloria Fajardo tells Emilio she saw the headline on the news. Gloria Fajardo and Emilio sing “If I Never Got To Tell You” to Gloria in her hospital bed.

Gloria is taken into surgery and she dreams of her younger self, her father, and grandmother. Emilio joins the dream and Gloria and Emilio embrace. Emilio and Gloria are left alone in the dream scene.

Post surgery Gloria is in a wheelchair. She begins intensive physical therapy. Gloria is frustrated her recovery is a long hard process. Emilio tells Gloria that Dick Clark called and wants her to perform at the American Music Awards. Gloria does not believe she will be ready and she is afraid she will look weak and the audience will pity her. She storms out on Emilio. A devasted Emilio sings “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” and gets the idea to bring all of Gloria’s fan mail to inspire her to push through her recovery.

It works, Gloria is moved by the love and support of her fans and sings at the American Music Awards with a beautiful comeback performance “Coming Out Of The Dark.”

The show ends with a Megamix of the Estefan’s hits.

FUN FACTS about ON YOUR FEET:

The fan letters read on stage are the words written by Gloria Estefan’s fans after her accident

Gloria and Emilio’s daughter Emily Estefan wrote the music for the song “If I Never Got To Tell You” which Emilio and Gloria Fajardo sing in the hospital scene

Both leads who have played Gloria Estefan are Cuban-American actors from Miami Ana Villafañe (Broadway) and Christie Prades (Touring Show)

Ana even went to same high school as Gloria Estefan

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 5

One of the main themes of the show On Your Feet! is the

blending of Cuban and American cultures. This theme can

be seen in all aspects of the show.

Gloria & Emilio Estefan are proud Cuban-Americans. It

was only logical that they would want to highlight both

cultures that they blended together in their music and their

lives.

Writing the Show

Academy Award Winner and Golden Globe winner

Alexander Dinelaris spent countless hours with Gloria and

Emilio trying to understand their voices to write the book

for the musical.

Dinelaris truly sees the story of On Your Feet! as a story of

the American Dream. There are many aspects to the story

of the Estefans: immigration, the many barriers in the

entertainment industry, racism, family, love, “there’s a

million stories to be told” Dinelaris says. “[The Estefans]

prove that to this day in America you can dream big and if

you’re willing to sacrifice it all there’s a chance. There’s a

chance. And I’m living proof.”

Directing the Show

Tony Award®-winning director Jerry Mitchell had been a

big fan of Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine

before becoming part of the show. His goal was to bring

the colors, music, and lives that “have inspired millions

around the globe” to the stage in a fun and energetic way.

The choice to put the band front and center accentuates

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

the fusion of the music. The music of the Miami Sound

Machine personifies the blending of cultures, hard-hitting

Cuban rhythm and the playful American pop sound.

Choreographing the Show

Oliver Award winner Sergio Trujillo along with his

associates Maria Torres and Marcos Santana bring

genuine Latin fervor to the choreography. To ensure

authenticity Trujillo made a pilgrimage to Cuba. He shares

his experience working on the show:

“I grew up dancing, listening, watching Gloria, videos and

music, so I knew subconsciously how she moved and she

performed.” Trujillo took Gloria’s moves and put his own

stamp on it. He took pride in infusing the choreography

with authentic latin dance and movement. “[T]hat I can

actually throw the history of my culture into, it’s just

beautiful.’”

“To choreograph this show, I didn’t have to dig in very

deep [for the steps], but what I did have to do was really

get in touch with the essence of who I am,’

Writer Alexander Dinelaris talks

with Gloria Estefan during a

rehearsal.

PHOTO: MARK ABRAMSON FOR

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Broadway cast of

ON YOUR FEET! dancing the

musical number “Tradición”

(from left to right) Gloria

Estefan, director Jerry

Mitchell, & Emilio Estefan pose

for a photo at the pre-

Broadway World Premier of

ON YOUR FEET! in Chicago

Summer 2015

During the concert scene in Washington D.C. in ACT II, if you pay close attention you

can see the American flag and the Cuban flag blend together in the background.

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 6

Imagine that you are writing a jukebox

musical about your life. What songs

would you choose.

What songs would be about you?

What song would be about your

family?

What song would be about your

friends?

A jukebox musical is the term for a

stage presentation featuring popular

music songs. Songs are incorporated

into a formal musical score and

accompanied by choreography. The

songs in jukebox musicals are

contextualized into the storyline.

Costuming the Show

Emilio Sosa, a southern Floridian native, did a lot of research

before developing his costume designs. Sosa rifled through

hundreds of family photos of Gloria's mother and father and of her

when she was a child. It gave Sosa insight into how important the

family aspect is in their story.

He also drew inspiration from a lot of album art in the 70s and 80s

and what Miami fashions looked like at that time.

For the musical number “Tradición” Sosa was inspired by 1950s

Havana. Many of the women in the 1950s wore dresses and got

their fashions straight from Europe. Because the music and dance

is an essential part of the story, Sosa ensured the dresses were

pretty yet able to move to accommodate the choreography.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER (continued)

ON YOUR FEET! costume (left) inspired by what the real

Gloria Estefan wore (right) during her Get On Your Feet

World Tour in 1989

Photos like these of Havana, Cuba in the 1950s

inspired the dresses Emilio Sosa designed. You can

see this inspiration in the costumes during the

musical number “Tradición”

ON YOUR FEET! costume (left) inspired by what the

real Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine

wore (right) in 1988 performing “1-2-3”

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 7

PHIL (a New York Record Executive) Listen to me, because I am looking out for you here. I am. Your numbers are terrific in the Latin Markets. Terrific. But there’s still room to grow. Plenty of new markets. New money. Why would we get off that train right now? It wouldn’t make any sense.

EMILIO We can cross over.

PHIL Oh, God. There it is. The phrase. No. You can’t cross over. Because nobody crosses over. It doesn’t happen. It’s an illusion. A Latin band can’t compete in the US market. You play 5,000 seats in Lima. You’re playing clubs and beach parties here. Look, you guys are big with the Latin Crowd. And, with our help, you’re just gonna get bigger. So why don’t we just keep our eyes on the prize, okay?

GLORIA It’s in our contract.

EMILIO Gloria...

PHIL Excuse me?

GLORIA We reserve the right to record an album in English. It’s in our contract.

PHIL Gloria, I’m gonna give you a piece of advice, friend to friend. For the rest of your life in this business, if you ever decide to use a phrase like that in a meeting like this again, you make sure you have an attorney nearby. Now me, I have about ten of them, just upstairs.

EMILIO It’s our group. Our sound.

PHIL Listen to me, you’re not back home anymore. So you don’t make the rules.

EMILIO Back home...

PHIL Come on Emilio, you know what I’m talking about --

GLORIA We have a contract.

PHIL (Losing patience.) Sweetie, I don’t give a sh** about your contract!

EMILIO Hey, Hey

PHIL While you’re dominating the Latin markets, the next single is gonna be in Spanish! It’s that simple. You really wanna cross over? Fine. Get rid of the horns, simplify the percussion, change your name. Then we’ll talk. Until then, you want to release in English, you’re gonna have to do it on your own. (Dismissing them.) Now, I have another meeting to get to, so thank you so much for dropping by.

EMILIO When I first got to Miami there was a sign in front of the apartment building next to ours. It said, “No Pets. No Cubans.” Change my name? It’s not my name to change. It’s my father’s name. It was my grandfather’s name. My grandfather, who we left behind in Cuba to come here and build a new life. Now, for 15 years I’ve worked my ass off and paid my taxes. So, I’m not sure where you think I live... but this is my home. And you should look very closely at my face, because whether you know it or not... this is what an American looks like.

We’ll do it on our own.

What are Emilio’s goal in this scene?

What are Phil’s goals?

When someone around you didn’t believe

in you, how did you react?

What do you think of Emilio’s reaction?

Remember that an idiom is a figure of speech.

QUESTION: Can you find the two idioms that Phil uses in this scene?

ANSWER: 1) “get off that train”, and 2) “eyes on the prize”

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 8

IN THE SHOW:

• What does the show tell you about “The American Dream”?

• What are some obstacles to achieving “The American Dream” that Gloria and Emilio Estefan faced in the show?

IN PRACTICE:

• Historically (and currently), what groups of people have had limited access to “The American Dream”?

• What are some of the obstacles to achieving “The American Dream”?

• Despite these obstacles, what makes “The American Dream” appealing?

• What is your dream for the future?

AN AMERICAN

DREAM Emilio and Gloria Estefan, as well as critics, have said that On Your Feet! is at its heart a story about the American Dream.

The concept of the American Dream is that the U.S. is a “Land of Opportunity.” A place where you can achieve your dreams if you are willing to work hard.

What comes to mind when you think about

“The American Dream”?

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 9

After the story depicted in the musical ON YOUR FEET!, Gloria Estefan went on be a multi -million dollar recording artist, known worldwide. She has won seven Grammy Awards. In 2015, she was granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barak Obama for her contributions to American music. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has received multiple Billboard Awards. She is also on the list of VH1 top 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and in Billboard's Top 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time.

Gloria and Emilio Estefan live in Miami and have two grown children both active in the entertainment industry.

The jukebox musical, On Your Feet!, about the life of Gloria and Emilio Estefan first premiered on Broadway November 5, 2015.

THE REAL

GLORIA & EMILIO ESTEFAN

The timeline of the show

ON YOUR FEET!

Emilio Estefan born in Cuba (1953)

1950

Gloria Estefan born (Gloria Fajardo Garcia) in Cuba (1957)

Gloria arrives with her family in Miami and joined the growing community of exiles escaping

Castro’s revolution (1961)

Emilio Estefan and his father relocate to Miami (1968)

Emilio Estefan forms the “Miami Latin Boys” band (1975)

Emilio Estefan meets Gloria Fajardo Garcia (1975)

“Miami Latin Boys” change their name to “Miami Sound Machine “

(1977)

“Dr. Beat” released (1984), hits #1 in the UK and most European countries

Emilio and Gloria get married (1978)

Fidel Castro takes control of Cuba following the Cuban Revolution (1959)

“Conga” landed in Billboard’s Dance, R&B, and Hot 100 charts

at the same time (1985)

“Get on your Feet” (1989)

“Words Get in the Way” (1987)

Gloria breaks her back in her tour bus accident (1990) Comeback performance during the

American Music Awards (1991)

Show Ends

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 10

¿Dónde está mi gente?

(don-deh es-tah me hen-teh)

Where my people at?

Learn

with

Corazón

(’ko-rah-zone)

Heart / My Love

Guanguanco

(wah-wan-’ko)

A type of Cuban rumba

Oye Mi Canto

(’o-yeh me kan-toe)

Hear my song

Mi Tierra

(Me Tea-erra)

My homeland

Tradición

(trah-di-see-own)

Tradition

Abuela

(ah-boo-ela)

Grandma

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 11

Additional Resources:

The official website ON YOUR FEET! musical

https://onyourfeetmusical.com/

The life & music of the Estefans

https://onyourfeetmusical.com/behind-the-musical/

The Gloria Estefan Foundation

http://www.gloriaestefan.com/

Videos:

Episode 1: "Here We Are" | ON YOUR FEET! "The Journey to Broadway"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50PY8O5W0DM

Episode 2: “Writing the Show” | ON YOUR FEET! "The Journey to Broadway"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22C8KfGhXcE

Episode 3: "Casting the Story" | ON YOUR FEET! "The Journey to Broadway"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D84jIZAp8Uo

Episode 4: "Directing The Musical" | On Your Feet "The Journey to Broadway"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ZAkAY9vLI&t=92s

Episode 5: "Being the Estefans" | ON YOUR FEET! "The Journey to Broadway"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FolgnkrI8co

Choreographing The Musical | ON YOUR FEET!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JiijJi5XEQ

Designing Broadway: ON YOUR FEET! Costume Designer Emilio Sosa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYF5Hqk5Kko

Chicago Tribune interview with Gloria & Emilio Estefan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkxRrrrFFnU&t=

Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan & Alex Dinelaris On "On Your Feet" | AOL BUILD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyi_hLXrY7Y

Cuban Revolution—3 minute history

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duk_paBBTwE

ON YOUR FEET! Performance Guide 12

• Arrive early. Seeing a show is a special experience and you don’t want to

miss any of it.

• Look at your ticket and be sure to sit in your assigned seat.

• Turn off all cell phones.

• No texting.

• No taking pictures or recording during the performance.

• Keep in mind that the actors on stage can hear you if you talk, so always be

courteous to the actors and other audience members around you by paying

attention during the performance and not talking or texting.

• Remember not to bring any food, beverages or gum into the theatre or where

you’re seeing the show unless you’re told it’s okay.

• Be sure to laugh and applaud when appropriate and remember to have fun!

ENJOY THE SHOW!

This performance guide was created and developed by the

Education & Outreach Department of Broadway Sacramento

Betsaida LeBron

blebron@broadwaysacramento.com

This guide was made possible by the generous support

of our family of Broadway Sacramento donors.

www.broadwaysacramento.com/support

We want your students to have the best experience when they see a

performance live so below is a list of reminders of how to behave when they see

the show.

PLEASE: