ARTS · BABYLON VILLAGE

The Argyle Theatre opened its new season on September 17 with “On Your Feet!”, the jukebox musical built from the music and the marriage of Gloria and Emilio Estefan.

It is a bigger story than the hits suggest. The show runs through Gloria Estefan’s rise, the tour bus crash that nearly ended her career, and her return to the stage at the 1991 American Music Awards — with “Conga,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and “Turn the Beat Around” along the way.

Director Vincent Ortega has staged this musical five times, including at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport. Before he directed it, he was in the national tour.

He has also had the Estefans themselves in his audience, at Riverside Theatre.

“Everyone knew Gloria because she was the first Latina singer to make the cross-over into English,” Ortega said. “We had known her for years but this was the first time hearing her in English.”

Meeting them, he said, was like getting together with family.

There is a second parallel he did not plan. Ortega was recovering from reconstructive knee surgery for a torn ACL while preparing this production.

“When it happened I thought my year was going to be bed-ridden,” he said. “Her story isn’t of fame and stardom, it’s a story of strength and courage.”

He points to a scene where the trainers call it a day and Gloria refuses: “I wanna do more reps, I’m going to get better, I’m going to get stronger.”

“Vince is one of the most resilient people I know, so this parallel is pretty amazing to me,” said Evan Pappas, the Argyle’s creative director.

The rest of the season leans the same way — Cher, Jimmy Buffett, Mary Poppins. “All iconic legends,” Pappas said, “all positive influences from strong, talented people.”

Sources: Greater Long Island · The Argyle Theatre