Vero Beach patrons who had tickets to last Friday night’s Riverside Theater performance of “On Your Feet!,” the musical about the life and career of Gloria Estefan, got a special treat – at the end of the show, Gloria and Emilio Estefan themselves made a surprise appearance.

The Estefans have a home on the barrier island, and own the Costa d’Este Hotel in Central Beach, which had been the main local sponsor of the musical about her life and was well represented in Friday night’s audience with a large contingent of hotel staff, who cheered wildly when she was introduced.

Some of the hotel staff in the audience seemed to have an inkling that the Estefans might come out on stage at the end of the show, but the rest of the audience did not. Neither did the cast or the theater ushers, who all erupted in wild applause when the Estefans came out of the wings and were introduced.

Gloria congratulated all members of the cast and gave a special hug to the show’s star, Iliana Marie Garcia, the actress who did a fabulous job playing Gloria in the show, dancing and performing her most popular songs.

In brief remarks to the audience after the crowd’s standing ovation, Gloria Estefan said she had seen the show about her life, which debuted in New York on Broadway several years ago, numerous times, but the Riverside performance on Friday night was as good as any.

“Broadway doesn’t have anything over you,” Estefan declared to another huge round of applause.
The “On Your Feet!” musical is running to full houses at the Riverside Theatre as the last show of the season between April 9 and May 5. Last Friday night’s in-person appearance by the Estefans was believed to be the only time they are scheduled to attend.