(music.)
Good morning everybody.
Welcome to The Balancing Act, I'm Amber Milt.
And I'm Olga Villaverde.
And I am so looking forward to today's
show because this really is near and dear to my heart, and
everybody's heart really.
We got to meet true music royalty,
especially for those who grew up in Miami, that would be me!
And meet Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
Their story is now a broadway musical.
It's so fantastic!
Oh yes and "On Your Feet" is
not only a testament to their love story to one another,
it's also a love story to their music.
Yes!
The best.
Great fun!
And so by the way is traveling, we're going to
switch gears from Broadway fabulous music and traveling.
All of that combined.
We have some good tips to help you
travel in style.
Well I love to travel and you know what else I
love?
You love to dance!
I love to dance!
It's time to get on our feet!
Because The Balancing Act starts right now.
(music.)
Broadway Balances America brought to you by
Broadway Across America.
Brining the best of Broadway to a city
near you.
Time now for Broadway Balances America our series that
takes you behind the scenes of some of the most beloved
broadway musicals as they appear across the country and in your
local theaters so today get ready to Conga!
Hmmm baby that's right Olga!
We're talking about "On Your Feet"
the musical.
It was so fantastic, good.
My girls loved it, my mom cried.
Oh me and my hubby were dancing in the
aisles.
It's the story of international music sensations
Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
Their love story, their music, their
marriage.
They really are just an amazing couple.
Yes, we got to spend some time with them
plus, we toured Miami with the young lady who' taking on the
role of Gloria for the national tour.
You wanna check this out.
(music.)
Her voice, his vision, their story.
"On Your Feet", will have you dancing in your
seat!
As the true story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan is
played out in all its magical, musical moments.
(music.)
I don' know if a lot of people
out there know this, but obviously this story could not
have been done without both of you.
The love, almost 40 years of marriage.
That's right.
Yeah.
It doesn't feel like 40 years.
It feels like a split second honestly.
Maybe because of the life that we lived has
been so fast.
I mean we've traveled so much.
We love each other - that's the whole
thing.
Well that too.
I mean time, I can't believe it.
It feels like yesterday to me still
that I met him.
I was 17 when I met him, and I joined the band
after that so it's a lifetime but it's been fantastic and
beautiful and we grow more together I think as we've gone
through so many difficult things.
There's a lot of love and respect.
We fell in love before the craziness.
When you're able to have the career
and you're able to inspire people and it's a Latino story
but it's really minorities, it's about dreams.
We live in a time where people have to have
dreams, and they know that we live in a country where anything
you want it can happen.
It's not only about music, but what
Gloria says, it's about love, to be able to inspire a whole
generation, it's a beautiful thing.
Beautiful.
(music.)
And their broadway musical, is now
on the road.
It's very exciting and reason the show is
called "On Your Feet" is not
because of the song Get On Your Feet, although, you know, yeah
that helps.
When we came to this country, you start a whole new
life every time we had a battle for our music, and stand by what
we wanted, they would knock us down and say this isn't gonna
happen, no, and we would just fight and get back up on our
feet and then literally after my accident, there's so many
layers of story: the family story, the love story - the love
story to music, the love story to our country and also our
native Cuba because the music is very much alive in us.
It was, it's still, I watch and every
time I say okay I'm not going to cry this time, I know
what's going to happen, but forget it, they, there's just
a lot of emotional things.
Like Gloria said, it's a story
about so many things but everything is positive, even
through hard times, we call it On Your Feet, many people have
to get on your feet many times in life.
Get ready to get on your feet.
Yes absolutely!
I can't wait to see the Miami
audience, because they're going to get.
Well that you
know!
Well, The 305.
The 305 is going to be crying, Crying, I
know when there are Miami people in the audience, there's
little nuances from Miami like, uhh.
Y100, Power96, Casanovas.
Casanovas!
I'll know their ages too, depending,
because I know their reactions to everything.
(music.)
The young lady who is playing Gloria
on the national tour is Miami native Christie Prades.
I'm very happy that both of Mauricio
whose starring as Emilio and Christy have been on Broadway
multiple times.
She's vivacious she's an amazing dancer, because
that's her forte.
She's got a lot of energy!
Yes, oh yes, definitely.
I just think that she's going to bring her each
Gloria's brought their own nuance I loved her choices would
that I saw her make in the acting side and I think she's
going to be phenomenal I think she's going to represent
wonderfully and Mauricio as well so we're really thrilled.
I think both of them bring a
little bit of pride, they're from Miami, their family knows
the story, fantastic she has such a beautiful voice, a lot of
great energy a lot of chemistry between her and Mauricio, which
it tells a lot.
That's going to be very important.
Because it's a marriage on stage.
Yes.
If you think about it.
Absolutely.
(music.)
Coming up, Amber sits down with Christie at
the Estefan kitchen and learns about her Miami.
(music.)
Well we're here at the Estefan Kitchen doing two of my favorite
things: we're having girl talk and eating food.
So Christine what was it like when Gloria
told you, you were going to be playing her, on this national
tour?
It was an indescribable feeling, so much so I didn't
even answer her right away and it's all recorded so people
can go back and see that moment.
How would you like to head up the tour?
Is this real?
Yes!
If you want that tour, you will be
staring in On Your Feet, in your home town of Miami.
And that's when I kind of broke out and was
just nervous and then kind of shocked in front of all these
people after promoting the tour and doing a performance for her.
So I couldn't believe it, I though it was just like her
playing around and to be asked in front of everyone there.
I was in complete shock.
I mean she is, she is royalty.
So I mean we're here, kicking off
the tour in Miami, her hometown, your hometown, what does that
feel like?
It feels like an enormous amount of pressure, to
be, to be totally honest, it's exciting, so there's a
tremendous amount of responsibility that I feel as
far as honoring her work, her personality, how she is as an
artist and human being.
You know, personify this icon, is a
tremendously proud moment for them, for myself, and honored to
be part of that.
This looks amazing by the way.
Yes!
Avocado is basically my life.
Me too.
I can have it every day.
You're a Miami girl though and you were
on On Your Feet on broadway, so you've returned to Miami, how
does it feel to be home?
It feels amazing.
I'm obsessed with the beach.
I um, I love the water.
I love the Cuban culture and to be around it once again
and to refuel for the show, and for the road, it's an
incredible feeling.
It's nice to come here, take a step back
and be reminded you know of where I started and my roots and
my family.
What's really important.
As you go out on tour, as you're playing this
role, what sort of things are you doing to prepare yourself.
Then gym is my best friend, so, working out, staying with that
cardio, and staying fresh, body, soul and mind - like all of
that.
Your body is your machine.
I remember especially doing 8 shows a week and having that
experience under my belt, I've really learned that you need to
take care of yourself mentally before anything.
So, did you actually grow up eating like
this, because I gotta say, the Cuban food is amazing.
It's amazing.
Amazing.
Yes.
I did.
These are all traditional Cuban recipes.
My mom makes this almost everyday.
And she still does.
When I come home she makes it from scratch.
And she makes them bomb, I don't think
anyone can compete with her.
Do you have in your contract that
you have to eat every meal from here.
I think I should, I mean I will.
I'm feeling I should put that in there, just to you know
keep the essence and keep the method acting alive.
Maintain the roots.
(music.)
I feel like everything has been placed at
the right time, it all stemmed from when I was younger, so I
feel like without us realizing my mom was like prepping me, for
this and I believe everyone has a destiny, it's just a meant
to be sort of thing.
So when audiences come to see the show,
what do you want them to feel when they walk away?
So many goosebumps and so many emotions
of like this is a story of me, this is a story of possibility
of fulfilling that American dream, whatever it is it may be
in your life, and I see the audiences and I see the
transformation from the beginning of the show to the end
and I feel that they connect like that in the same way.
I know, it's not hoping, I know
taking it round the nation, it needs to be on the road, it
needs to be shared around the world like she did when she
shared her music.
Well I think we need to cheers to the Estefan
Kitchen.
Yes, I'l do it with my mojito.
Ohh.
Your fancy mojito.
Cheers!
You know what?
I wanna take a little bit of a
roll, I want to see your Miami.
Absolutely, let's do it.
Let's go.
(music.)
This would not be a girls trip without a
little bit of music.
Okay.
(singing) 1, 2, 3, 4 Come on baby say you love me.
5, 6, 7, times!
Oh yeah!
They tell me you're shy boy.
But I want you just the same.
Don't play innocent with me.
You know it's just not fun and games.
Sing it girl!
When I look into your eyes.
So much passion burns inside.
But if you need some coaxing I will do it.
Step by step there's nothing to it.
1-2-3-4 come on baby say you love me.
5-6-7 times.
8-9-10-11 I'm just gonna keep on counting.
Until you're mine.
Okay, what does it feel like to be in your
hometown, playing Miami royalty?
Um, it is absolutely thrilling.
It is exciting, everyone knows Gloria here.
She is a Latin Pop Princess, she is, her and Emilio
are like the presidents' of Miami.
Yeah.
So it feels incredible to be able to have
the opportunity to portray her and bring her story to life once
again in Miami.
I do want to show you a quick video.
Oh I'd love to see.
Christie did with my cohost Amber.
Oh!!
Come on, shake your body baby, do the
conga.
I know you can't control yourself any longer Come on,
shake your body baby, do the conga.
I know you can't control yourself any longer Is she
auditioning too?
Amber did pretty good.
Yes!
This is like all the parties.
(music.)
Come on, shake your body baby, do the
conga.
It's like such high energy!
It's literally breathing, holding your breath
until the song finishes.
And it's working those
syncopations.
Lon our musical director and then Clay our
assistant musical director they were very, very strict about
really breaking down the words and you have to have those
little breaks in between because Gloria is so good at that and
she's known for that you it has to be Come, on, shake, your,
body, baby, do, the, conga.
I, know, you, can't, control,
yourself, like all of that we had to, even the ensemble
numbers everybody - it was like a training camp just for Conga.
(music.)
Time for a quick drive by to say Holla, to Christie's
Abuela.
(music.)
This is my grandmother, she's gonna
(speaks Spanish) Thank you guys!
I'm happy now.
(music.)
This is your neighborhood.
Yes.
I mean being back her here in
front of your school, being back in your hometown, how does it
make you feel?
I feel like, ready to sing!
I feel like singing right now.
(music.)
It's for Southwest, for Southwest.
Gloria: Ha!
Southwest.
You say I know it's a waste of time.
There's no use trying.
So scared that life's gonna pass you by.
Your spirit dying.
Not long ago.
I could feel your strength and your
devotion What was so clear, is now overcast.
Gloria: You know what's incredible?
This song has made a comeback!
Deep in your heart is the answer.
Find it, I know it will pull you
through.
Get on your feet.
Get up and make it happen.
Get on your feet.
A huge thank you to Gloria and Emilio.
I mean what a great time!I mean I always have
a great time when I'm with them.
They're fabulous!
Oh my God.
And for that food that was a meal, mmmm.
(speaking Spanish) Translate.
Um avocado and pork.
She was in the 305!
It was a meal I won't forget.
And if you want to go check out the
show on On Your Feet - it is magical!
The North American tour is coming to a theater near you.
It is truly a be there.
Go to Broadway Across America
Broadway Balances America or you can just go to our
website The Balancing Act Dot Com for all the show
information, tour dates, and more.
You will have a blast, getting on your feet!
Oh yes!
We'l be right back.
(music.)
She is getting down!
But wait a minute we they're good but
you're the queen of conga.
Will you conga for a few seconds with me?
You sure?
Yeah come on, come on!
I'l follow you!
(music.)