On Your Feet At Selma Arts Center

Jun 21, 2023 | 2023 Articles, Terrance V. Mc Arthur, Theatre

If you’ve ever felt the dance fever caused by the Miami Sound Machine and Gloria Estefan, be prepared to tap your toes a lot when you go to the Selma Arts Center production of On Your Feet, the biographical jukebox musical running through July 2.

The story takes you on a journey from Gloria’s childhood to musical fame, including the bus crash that nearly ended her life. The story is interwoven with songs from Gloria and Emilio Esteban’s catalog, with one song composed by their daughter Emily Estefan.

Cast of “Off Your Feet” at Selma Arts Center

Gloria (Alina Gonzalez) helps her mother Gloria (Cady Mejias) care for her father (Eric Valencia), who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis caused by Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. Introduced to Emilio Estefan (John Piper) by her grandmother (Yvette Montijo), she overcomes her fear of performing in public and joins the group that becomes Miami Sound Machine. Popular in Latin America, the group finds resistance from a record executive (Quincy Maxwell) when they want to record with English lyrics. After a lot of hard work, “Conga” hits the airwaves, and stardom is here.

Gloria (Alina Gonzalez) and Emilio Estefan (John Piper)

Gonzalez is vibrant, electric, and many other synonyms for “really good.” Her voice is clear, her dancing is crisp, and her fears, frustrations, and passions ring true. She throws body and soul into the part. Piper smolders in his scenes with Gonzalez, and his singing with Mejia across Gloria’s hospital bed on “If I Never Get to Tell You” is a high point in the show, as the husband and the mother pour out their feelings and worries, mending the rifts between them.

Gloria Fajardo (Cady Mejias)

Mejias is powerful as the mother whose resentment of Gloria’s success stems from the performing career she was offered, but was not allowed to have. Montijo is spunky as the grandmother who always believed in Gloria. Maxwell is droll as the very Anglo record boss who doesn’t always understand the Estefans and their drive for success.

Valencia is strong in flashbacks and in a hospital dream sequence where he sings comfort to his injured daughter amid a lot of fog machine action.

Milania Mendoza and Lainey Davis alternate in the role of Little Gloria, youthful energy at its best.
After the story ends with Gloria’s comeback performance at the 1991 American Music Awards after recovering from her injuries, the stage explodes with a Mega Mix medley of her hits.

Gloria Estefan (Alina Gonzalez) and José Fajardo (Eric Valencia)

The pace keeps moving, thanks to director Juan Luis Guzman and choreographer Steven Montalvo. Dominic Grijalva’s scene design drops the audience into a warm Miami night, no matter what the outside temperature may be.

You don’t need to be a devotee of the Estefans and their music (I only recognized a few songs, like “Conga,” -2-3,” and the title tune), but the excitement and enthusiasm of the performance may find you “On Your Feet.”

Performances of On Your Feet are at the Selma Arts Center, 1935 High Street, Selma, CA. Tickets are available by calling 559-891-2238, or by visiting selmaartscenter.com/tickets or at the Selma Arts Center box office. Box office hours are Tuesday-Wednesday 1 p.m.-5 p.m. A processing fee will apply when purchasing online and at the Box Office.

Check out more theatre reviews & other local entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section. You can also find more theatre coming up on KRL’s Local Theatre event page.

Terrance V. Mc Arthur worked for the Fresno County Public Library for three decades. He is retired, but not retiring. A storyteller, puppeteer, writer, actor, magician, basketmaker, and all-around interesting person, his goal is to make life more unusual for everyone he meets.