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(Photo by Alberto Romeu)
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre has broken records with its production of On Your Feet! reviving live theater in Miami with over 13,000 tickets sold, the most in the history of the theater and 50 percent more than their last highest selling production of Les Misérables in 2009.
Following an exhilarating regional premiere in South Florida with week-after-week packed houses, the original production made the decision to extend the show for one week, offering a last chance for those who were unable to purchase tickets through the show’s initial run.
On Your Feet! is the inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talent — and each other — to become an international sensation — Miami’s own Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
The show ran in Miami 31 times during five weeks with showtimes on Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through Mar. 13. Ticket prices ranged from $55 to $85. Among sponsors were locally based companies such as AT&T, Azamara, Bacardi U.S.A and Lexus of Kendall.
“The success of On Your Feet! has proven Miami is ready for the return of theater after two years of shutdowns and restrictions. While we were aware producing a show of this magnitude would prove to be quite the challenge, our conviction in bringing this incredible production back to Miami, its hometown and the hometown of the Estefans, inspired us to take this leap of faith. Each week we were met with packed houses and are proud to report there were no COVID cases among the cast and crew throughout the five weeks of performances,” said Barbara S. Stein, executive producing director for Actors’ Playhouse at Miracle Theatre.
The musical had its world premiere in Chicago in the summer of 2015 before moving to Broadway where it played from October 2015 until August 2017 to full theaters and rave reviews and subsequently touring throughout the world.
For the return of this show to its hometown and the hometown of the Estefans, Actors’ Playhouse invested $743,000 in order to offer the best experience to theatergoers. The big return was overseen by David Arisco as artistic director, Andy Señor Jr. as director, Natalie Caruncho as associate director and choreographer, and longtime member of the Miami Sound Machine Clay Ostwald musical directing, all three of whom were part of the original Broadway production.
Ostwald was joined onstage by five other members of the Miami Sound Machine including Edwin Bonilla, Eduardo Rodriguez, Lindsey Blair, Teddy Mulet and Doug Michels.
The production’s cast was led by Claudia Yanez as Gloria, who has been touring with On Your Feet! since its first day portraying Gloria more than 80 times, and Cuban-American actor Jason Canela as Emilio.
The Miami set was based on the original set design by The Rockwell Group, costumes are based on the original costume designs of Emilio Sosa, and wigs are based on the original wig design by Chuck LaPointe, keeping the production true to its original roots and providing audiences with a Broadway-caliber experience.
Audiences beyond Miami-Dade flocked to the historic theater on Miracle Mile for the show, including those from the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Guatemala, Norway, Panama, Puerto Rico, Spain and Switzerland.
Notable attendees included Gloria and Emilio Estefan, who showed their support of the show both on opening night and on the final weekend; Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, who presented the Estefans with a key to the city on opening night; Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and former Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools Alberto Carvalho.
Additionally, Gloria and Emilio’s daughter Emily Estefan, Emilio’s niece Lili Estefan, Ana Villafañe who originated the role of Gloria in the Broadway production, and singer Jencarlos Canela whose brother portrayed Emilio, came out to the theater to show their support of the musical’s return to Miami.
On Your Feet! received rave reviews from South Florida critics, and a blessing from the Estefan family who attended the opening night. The couple praised the cast for portraying their family so perfectly and transmitting the energy and passion the Estefans have consistently delivered over the course of their career.
Up next, the theater is presenting Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. The show will run from May 18 through June 5 with showtimes Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Ticket prices range from $55 to $85 and are selling quickly. Actors’ Playhouse is offering a three-show flex subscription for $210 which includes the best prime seats, best ticket savings, and discounts to Coral Gables restaurants.
The annual Gala Auction on Apr. 30 features 32 local restaurants offering tastings, and open Bacardi Bar, and over 150 live and silent auction items including a Lexus lease, Azamara cruise and other luxury items.
Tickets for these activities are available by contacting the Actors’ Playhouse Box Office at 305-444-9293 or by visiting www.actorsplayhouse.org.
