Some people are born to sing, dance and entertain. Gloria Estefan is one of those people.
Now her story, which was in town on tour a few years ago, has been licensed for local theaters to produce. First in line is Vista’s Moonlight Stage Productions, which presents “On Your Feet!” at its outdoor theater through October 2. James Vásquez directs a huge cast that lists 38 characters and an ensemble of 18.
This salsa-laden songfest is a toe-tapper that boasts a fine 10-member orchestra (conducted by Lyndon Pugeda) to keep the music coming while relating the story of Estefan’s rise from a little girl in Cuba to one of the most-awarded pop singers in the world.
Gloria (Ariella Kvashny) loved to sing, but was busy studying psychology in college when her grandma Consuelo (Catalina Maynard) pushed her to audition for a band she knows in Miami. There she meets Emilio (Eduardo Enrikez) and the rest is history.
But of course, it didn’t just happen. It took energy, even pushiness to finally get a record producer to notice them. They make it big in the Latin market, but when Emilio tells his producer he wants to move into other markets – even record in English – the answer is “no” (actually, “hell no” is more like it).
So they take another tack, offering to perform free if a club or radio show will play their song just once. That leads to a gig at a Shriners convention in Vegas (they are quite a sight with those distinctive red caps).
But Emilio’s pushiness works, and finally they get well enough known that they can name their dates, places and prices.
Kvashny and Enrikez are likable, even cute together as Gloria and Emilio, and they know how to belt out those songs. It does seem, though, that Kvashny is overmiked to the extent that when she starts belting those really high notes, it sounds a bit screechy.
Crissy Guerrero and Catalina Maynard are fun to watch as Gloria’s mom Gloria Fajardo and grandmother Consuelo.
Vásquez does an excellent job of keeping the show moving (and grooving). Kudos also go to Carlos Mendoza for the fine, athletic choreography. Some of those dance scenes are reminiscent of Moonlight’s excellent recently-produced “A Chorus Line.”
Blake McCarty does a fine job with often-needed projections for this show, as locales and atmosphere frequently change. The rented sets, costumes and wigs are also fine.
If you’re in the mood to shake a leg (they do invite you to dance, a little difficult under these circumstances, but a charming idea), take in Moonlight’s “On Your Feet!”
“On Your Feet!” runs through October 2, 2021 at Moonlight Amphitheatre.
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