Friday, October 2, 2026
Students in the Freeport High School Theatre Collective, which is a part of the district’s arts department, performed three productions of “On Your Feet!,” a Broadway jukebox musical, on March 26 to 28. An ensemble of over 100 students sang, danced and portrayed the loud and vibrant lives of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, the 26-time Grammy Award winning couple who become Latin music icons as a part of the music group Miami Sound Machine.
Under director Vashti Burke, who is also the music facilitator of Freeport Public Schools, and producer Renson Delos Santos, the students sang and spoke in English and Spanish throughout. “On Your Feet!” highlights the strong influence that Cuban culture had on the Estefan’s music and lives, which was portrayed well by a very diverse cast of students, many of which are Hispanic or Latino and speak fluent Spanish.
“This season, it was time to explore a contemporary musical – one that demanded stylistic range and embraced inclusive storytelling,” Burke said. “On the surface, ‘On Your Feet!’ is a vibrant, high-energy celebration… but as we dug deeper, its themes of community, perseverance and resilience became unmistakably clear. It quickly became evident that this production would not only resonate with the Freeport community but also leave a lasting impact on our cast and crew for years to come.”
Samuel Figueroa Hernandez, who portrayed Emilio Estefan, performed in his first production with Freeport High School, and said he was convinced to join by some of his friends, including Teena Zarcone, his co-star who plays Emilio’s wife, Gloria, as an adult.
“The depiction of Hispanic characters and culture led me to want to pursue being in the musical as I felt it most accurately represented me and my people,” Hernandez added.
Zarcone, who had been in two prior Freeport High School musicals, also said that the Estefan story was “captivating” and inspiring, and the music was a big draw for her.
“The ‘80s music and setting were so fun and something I hadn’t done before,” Zarcone explained. “A jukebox musical has always been a favorite genre of mine, and for the music and character to be of one of the greatest artists was a challenge I wanted to take on.”
Preparation and production of Freeport High School’s “On Your Feet!” started with an Actor’s Workshop program in November 2025, ahead of student auditions in early January 2026. Rehearsals officially began on Monday, Jan. 26, and the production’s last show on Saturday, March 28, totaled 12 weeks of consistent studying and practice to a close.
One of the unique aspects of the shows was its tall on-stage musicians pit on the back part of the stage, which Burke said was affectionately nicknamed “Mamacita Grande.” Not only did musicians perform behind the acting that happened in the front part of the stage, but several scenes also included actors singing, dancing and walking up and down Mamacita Grande’s staircase to give the Freeport High School Performing Arts Center stage an additional “arena-style” effect.
Both Zarcone and Hernandez expressed that the production process was an exciting experience to learn, practice and grow with their castmates. Being the leads of “On Your Feet!” has encouraged them to continue acting.
“Continuing to act would be a dream come true, and I truly do have a certain drive when it comes to musical theatre,” Hernandez told the Herald. “I believe it would be hard to top the connection I had with our production of ‘On Your Feet!,’ as it hit close to home and I want to have the same level of passion with anything I do in life.”
Zarcone, who is entering her senior year next school year, said, “I would hold myself back as many grades as I could if it meant I could continue being a part of these productions. When I leave Freeport High School, I am going to study musical theatre and pursue it professionally. I would have never gained the confidence to do so if I hadn’t joined Freeport Theatre Collective.”
A special yet tragic part of the final production of “On Your Feet!” was honoring Wilmer Antonio Sosa, a student who had auditioned and won the part of Jose Fajardo, Gloria’s father, before tragically dying from a brain aneurysm on Jan. 21 at the age of 15. Burke said that Sosa’s family was recognized and honored at one of the shows and a page of the program’s bulletin holds a special tribute for him.
Including “On Your Feet!,” the Freeport High School Theatre Collective has performed 15 total musicals since 2010, such as “The Wiz,” “Beauty and The Beast,” “Hairspray” and “The Addams Family.” Burke said that “it’s an honor to work alongside such talented colleagues,” and that she looks forward to continuing serving as the artistic director and assembling another production for spring 2027.
