Thalía to Play Gloria Estefan?
As if the prospect of hearing Miami Sound Machine classics (“Rhythm is Gonna Get You”) booming from a Broadway stage wasn’t exciting enough; we now learn that it could be singer-songwriter Thalía belting out those iconic hits. The Mexican entertainer is currently in talks to play Gloria Estefan in an autobiographical show about the Cuban-born singer and her husband, Emilio.
The Estefans have called upon the Nederlander Organization and Bernie Yuman, who produced and managed Siegfried & Roy’s show in Las Vegas, to help them create a musical based on their lives. The show’s working title is “Do That Congo,” and it’s slated to start as the Estefans leave Cuba for the United States. Both Estefans were born in Cuba and teamed up to become musical legends in Spanish and English, collecting multiple Grammy Awards with hits like “Words Get in the Way,” plus fans across the U.S.
“We are very excited to share this story, which is based on hope, determination and the belief that with hard work and passion, our dreams can become our reality. Our music has been a true reflection of who we are, where we came from and the journey that has brought us to where we are today,” Gloria and Emilio Estefan said in a statement.
Thalía, who is married to producer Tommy Mottola, has remained relatively silent about her involvement in the anticipated production. Yet, while she has never starred on Broadway, she is no novice to acting. She actually got her start by appearing in telenovelas as a teenager.
Jennifer Lopez and Colombian singer-songwriter Fanny Lú are also in the running for the role. But the rumor is that their first choice is Thalia. The men being considered to play Emilio Estefan include Puerto Rican singers Chayanne and Carlos Ponce, and Cuban-American actor William Levy.
The show is still very much in its planning stages, with no writer, director, or creative team yet in place, but the anticipation is high. ”The Estefans’ journey of success, led by raw talent and passion, is captivating as it drove them from relative obscurity to global sensations,” says Jimmy Nderlander, president of the Nederlander Organization.
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