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PEOPLE & ARTSTuesday 13 October 2015

Gloria and Emilio Estefan celebrate immigrants in musical

MARK KENNEDY music but was told he was
too old. “I won 19 Gram-
AP Drama Writer mys. So don’t let anybody
change your life. Do what
NEW YORK (AP) — With you think is best for you,”
he said, laughing.
some U.S. presidential The team they’ve assem-
bled is impressive, includ-
candidates on the cam- ing “Kinky Boots” director
Jerry Mitchell, “Memphis”
paign trail demonizing im- choreographer Sergio Tru-
jillo and book writer Alex-
migrants, a powerhouse ander Dinelaris, who wrote
the “Birdman” screenplay.
husband-and-wife team, (“I’m glad we got him be-
fore he won the Oscar or
who both happen to be else we wouldn’t have
been able to afford him,”
immigrants themselves, jokes Gloria Estefan.)
Finding the actor to play
hope they can offer some Emilio was easy. Josh
Segarra, on Broadway in
balance — and some pop “Lysistrata Jones,” won the
role at the initial readings.
songs. (“He’s so good-looking
that Emilio didn’t want to
Gloria Estefan and her look anywhere else,” Glo-
ria Estefan said.)
husband, Emilio, are shep- Landing the right actress to
play Gloria was harder and
herding their musical bi- it came down to the wire.
The winner was Ana Vil-
ography “On Your Feet!” lafane, who appeared in
the film “Magic City Mem-
to Broadway this fall. It’s oirs” and who initially audi-
tioned via video.
a show that celebrates “Ultimately, what it came
down to was not some-
two Cuban-Americans body who was going to be
my clone at all. I wanted
who embraced the Ameri- somebody who could in-
terpret my life,” said Gloria
can Dream and now own Estefan, who is a seven-
time Grammy winner.
enough Grammy Awards “It was one of those mo-
ments. She walked in and
to fill a swimming pool. there was just something.
Then she sang. She didn’t
“We’ve been around long particularly sound like me
but it didn’t matter be-
enough already to have In this June 8, 2014, file photo, Gloria Estefan, left, and Emilio Estefan pose for photos at the 68th cause we were drawn in.”
gone through several elec- It was only after Villafane
tion cycles. Every single annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Associated Press got the job that Gloria
learned the young woman
time, fear gets brought into Beat Around” and “Con- ria’s life. gration for a nation of im- was half-Cuban, raised in
Miami and even attended
the equation,” said Gloria ga” to tell the story of how It’s the specific story of two migrants. her high school, Our Lady
of Lourdes Academy. “She
Estefan. “This is a great bal- the budding singer and people who fled the coun- “It doesn’t matter where knew culturally where I
come from,” Estefan said,
ance because we need producer met, battled for try of their birth, made a you come from. Unless The musical, which will
have seven members of
to remind people, ‘Hey, crossover success, han- new life in Miami and rose you’re a Native American Miami Sound Machine in
the orchestra, will also fea-
we’re just people.’” dled interfamily squabbles to the top of the music Indian, you’re not from ture an original song with
lyrics by Gloria and music
The musical uses the Este- and overcame a bus crash world. But the Estefans say here. Somewhere down by their daughter, Emily.
Emily Estefan, who will be
fan hits “1-2-3,” ‘’Turn the that nearly claimed Glo- it’s a celebration of immi- the road, you came from 21 in December, is a dead-
ringer for her mom and at-
somewhere else,” said Glo- tends the Berklee College
of Music.q
Jimi Hendrix family suing ria Estefan, who has sold
over 100 million albums.

Tucson shop owner for guitar “It’s always the last person
in that gets bashed.”
“On Your Feet!” comes as
some Republican candi-
In this 1970 file photo, Jimi Hendrix performs on the Isle of Wight and $1 million. The lawsuit dates for the White House
is also seeking damages. have slammed Mexican
in England. Associated Press Moltz says he purchased and Muslim immigrants.
the guitar in June 2014 from “One thing those people
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The perior Court judge to order someone who bought it don’t realize is that we
estate of Jimi Hendrix is the guitar returned. from Sheldon Reynolds, ex- don’t take this country for
suing a Tucson man for a According to the Oct. 2, husband of Hendrix’s ad- granted. We want to make
guitar once owned by the complaint, the estate says opted sister, Janie Hendrix. a contribution,” said Emilio
McPherson says Reynolds, Estefan, who has guided
a former member of Earth, the careers of such lumi-
Wind, and Fire, stole it. naries as Shakira, Ricky
“The guitar is priceless to Martin and Jennifer Lopez.
our family,” Janie said in While they acknowledge
an email. She is the CEO their life story hasn’t includ-
of Experience Hendrix. “It ed typical dramatic fodder
is one of the few guitars for a musical — a descent
that came home after into drugs, say, or infidelity
Jimi passed away. We just or murder — the Estefans
want our guitar returned think it will connect with
safely and back where it audiences.
belongs.” “We haven’t led contro-
Tucson-based lawyer Todd versial lives, but it’s human.
Jackson is representing

legendary guitarist. Harvey Moltz, owner of Moltz. Everybody’s going to iden-

The Arizona Daily Star in Rainbow Guitars, is not the “My client purchased the tify with somebody on that

Tucson reported Sunday rightful owner of the Acous- guitar in good faith from stage,” said Gloria Estefan.

that Experience Hendrix tic Black Widow guitar. a private seller, without Emilio Estefan hopes some

LLC, the company that Estate attorney Ed McPher- knowledge of competing of it can be inspiring. In

runs Hendrix’s estate, son says the guitar is val- claims of ownership,” he high school, he asked a

wants a Pima County Su- ued between $750,000 said.q teacher if he could learn