On Your Feet,’ the great alternative

About 10 years ago, it felt like a must for visitors to New York to secure tickets to the hit Broadway show “Hamilton.” It was not easy. The seats cost a fortune, $500 or more and they were not easy to get. It felt like the best that could happen was for one to be able to stand in the theater lobby and watch the ticket holders enter with envy.

Then a disappointed group of travelers got this interesting advice. Why reach for a moon like “Hamilton” when there is another musical that was just as entertaining. Tickets were easier to find, it had lots of hit songs, fantastic dancing and an inspiring story based on real life. It would even be a better fit for those not that interested in American history. That was “On Your Feet” and every bit of that description turned out true.

“On Your Feet” is a jukebox musical featuring the lives and music of multi-Grammy winners and global stars Emilio Estefan and his wife Gloria. And when you think of Gloria Estefan, you think of songs like Conga, Rhythm is Gonna Get You, Anything for You, Get on Your Feet, Don’t Wanna Lose You, Bad Boy, Hot Summer Nights, I See You Smile, Turn the Beat Around and many others.

Emilio and Gloria are of Spanish descent but were born in Cuba, where they first made it big. They later relocated to Miami and became the band Miami Sound Machine. And when you think of Cuba and Miami, you get music and dance moves like the conga, cha-cha, mambo and others of the Afro-Cuban type. That means pulsating sounds, intricate footwork and sexy swiveling hips. And you get lots of those in “On Your Feet.”

As for the story, there is the romance between Emilio and Gloria that has grown into sustaining love, their success as immigrants in America who later conquered the world with their music and how they faced near tragedy and then emerged triumphant.

All these elements are what make up “On Your Feet” and they add up to one entertaining package. The show took a long time getting here but 9Works Theatrical has taken the initiative and it is now playing at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati on weekends until Aug. 2.

Direction is by Robbie Guevarra with musical direction by Daniel Bartolome. Molly Langley and Kayla Rivera, who both have the right pipes and the dancing skills alternate as Gloria. Watch and be ready with your conga moves.

If you are also caught up in the lively theater boom we are now enjoying, here are some shows you might not want to miss:

And “Babae sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t It’s Live sa Cheter,” a hilarious send-up of the local theater scene, starring Eugene Domingo at the PETA Theater until Aug. 16.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the musical at the Theatre in Solaire until July 26. Based on the much-loved novel by Roald Dahl, which has been the basis of two successful motion pictures. Is it as good as the book or the films? I do not know. The hit songs like Candyman and Pure Imagination should help bring in the audience.

“The Notebook the Musical” at the Samsung Theater in September. This one is also at a disadvantage because it is based on the bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks and no hit songs to speak of. Will it be as romantic, as affecting? I do not know. But it has a stellar Filipino cast that includes Celeste Legaspi, Rody Vera and Morisette, who will bring in the audience.

“Bongga Ka Day, the Annie Batungbakal Musical,” featuring the music of Hotdog at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, also in September. What this one has are songs like Pers Lab, Bongga Ka Day, Annie Batungbakal, Manila and other sure crowd pleasers in a throwback to the disco era.