Jason Canela Returns as Emilio Estefan in On Your Feet! Manila
Manila Theater News
On Your Feet! Manila now has its Emilio Estefan.
Cuban-American actor Jason Canela will reprise the role of the producer and music visionary behind the rise of Gloria Estefan when On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan opens on July 10, 2026, at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati City.
Canela joins Kayla Rivera and Molly Langley, who will alternate as Gloria Estefan, in the upcoming 9 Works Theatrical production.
The casting gives the Manila staging an Emilio with roots in the story he will be telling. Canela previously played the role in the Miami regional premiere of On Your Feet!, becoming the first Cuban actor to portray Emilio Estefan onstage.
Six years later, he returns to the musical with a deeper understanding of the man behind the music.
What to Know About On Your Feet! Manila
- Production
- On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan
- Producer
- 9 Works Theatrical
- Presented by
- Rockwell
- Venue
- The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati City
- Run
- Weekends from July 10 to August 2, 2026
- Showtimes
- 8:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays; 3:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays
- Emilio Estefan
- Jason Canela
- Gloria Estefan
- Kayla Rivera and Molly Langley, alternating in the role
- Tickets
- Available through TicketWorld and at the Power Plant Mall Cinema
Jason Canela Returns to a Role Close to Home
Raised in Miami, Canela has built a career across television, film, and theater.
His screen credits include Apple TV+’s Palm Royale, ABC’s The Rookie, FOX’s Pitch, and CBS’s The Young and the Restless. He has also appeared in Spanish-language television productions including Telemundo’s ¿Dónde Está Elisa? and Univision’s Cosita Linda.
But Emilio Estefan remains one of his most personal roles.
Canela previously portrayed Emilio in the Miami regional premiere of On Your Feet!. Returning to the musical six years later, he approaches the role with a different perspective.
Now a father, he brings a greater understanding of Emilio’s protective instincts, ambition, and refusal to allow other people to decide how far his dreams could go.
“This story isn’t something I had to search far for. It’s in my DNA. It is my story, too,” Canela shared.
That connection matters.
On Your Feet! may arrive with the irresistible energy of songs audiences already know, but the musical is not simply a playlist of Gloria Estefan hits built for the stage.
At its center is the partnership that made the music possible.
Emilio Estefan Is Not a Footnote to Gloria’s Story
The title already makes the point clear.
This is the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
Emilio is not simply the husband standing beside a global superstar. He is an essential part of the story: a producer, creative partner, and strategist who believed that their sound could reach a wider audience without losing the culture that shaped it.
That belief did not always come easily.
The musical follows Gloria and Emilio from their early years in Miami to international recognition, tracing the resistance they faced as Latin artists attempting to break into the global mainstream.
Their story is about ambition, but it is also about refusing to become smaller simply to make other people more comfortable.
For Canela, that history is personal.
“To honor Gloria and Emilio and tell the story of the most iconic Cubans to step off the island means the world to me. It’s because of their grit and vision that doors were opened to bring our sound and culture to the global mass market,” Canela shared.
Kayla Rivera and Molly Langley Alternate as Gloria Estefan
Canela joins Kayla Rivera and Molly Langley, who alternate in the role of Gloria Estefan.
The two performers give Manila audiences distinct paths into Gloria’s story.
Opposite Canela, they will need to capture more than the electricity of an artist stepping into the spotlight. The musical also asks them to show the resilience behind the music and the partnership that remained essential as Gloria’s career expanded far beyond Miami.
Read the earlier Unsaulicited feature for a closer look at Kayla Rivera and Molly Langley as the alternating Glorias of On Your Feet! Manila.
The Rhythm Is Familiar, but the Story Still Matters
The soundtrack gives On Your Feet! its immediate appeal.
“Conga.” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” “1-2-3.” “Get on Your Feet.”
The songs arrive with the kind of recognition that can change the atmosphere of a theater before the first chorus is over.
But the musical works best when it does not stop at recognition.
Behind the rhythm is a story about migration, family, cultural identity, perseverance, and the hard-earned confidence of finding your own sound.
The Estefans did not reach a global audience by sanding away the things that made their music distinct. They reached it by insisting that the specificity of their sound was precisely what made it worth hearing.
That is what gives On Your Feet! the potential to become more than an enjoyable jukebox musical.
The hits will bring audiences in.
The story behind them is what can make the production land.
From Miami to Manila
The Manila production also brings Canela to the Philippines for the first time.
Having recently arrived in the country, the actor shared that the warmth of Filipino hospitality, the culture, and the food have already made Manila feel welcoming.
His casting gives the production a useful anchor.
A personal connection to a role does not automatically guarantee a compelling performance. The chemistry between Canela, Rivera, and Langley will still need to come alive onstage.
But the Manila staging now has an Emilio who understands why this story matters beyond the familiar songs.
The rhythm may be easy to recognize.
The more interesting question is whether the production can make audiences feel the fight behind it.
On Your Feet! Manila Schedule and Tickets
On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan runs on weekends from July 10 to August 2, 2026, at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati City.
Performances are scheduled at 8:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, with 3:00 PM matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets are available through TicketWorld outlets and TicketWorld online, and at the Power Plant Mall Cinema.
On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan is a 9 Works Theatrical production presented by Rockwell, together with MAC Cosmetics as the official makeup partner.
The production is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide. Special thanks to Pitchworks Inc., Power Mac Center, PilotTV, and The People Diary PH by Myra Ho.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Emilio Estefan in On Your Feet! Manila?
Cuban-American actor Jason Canela reprises the role of Emilio Estefan in the Manila production of On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
Who plays Gloria Estefan in On Your Feet! Manila?
Kayla Rivera and Molly Langley alternate in the role of Gloria Estefan.
When is On Your Feet! running in Manila?
The musical runs on weekends from July 10 to August 2, 2026.
Where is On Your Feet! being staged?
The production will be staged at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati City.
Where can audiences buy tickets?
Tickets are available through TicketWorld outlets, TicketWorld online, and the Power Plant Mall Cinema.
Details are based on a media release shared with Unsaulicited. Hero image courtesy of 9 Works Theatrical and Rockwell.