Actor Omar Lopez-Cepero, Miami (Florida) ’04, made his debut as a leading man on Broadway this January when he stepped into the role of Emilio Estefan in “On Your Feet.” The show tells the story of musician and producer Emilio Estefan of the Miami Sound Machine and his life with singer Gloria Estefan. Lopez-Cepero has previously performed in Broadway shows such as “American Idiot,” “The Capeman,” “Foreverman” and “Evita.” SigEp intern Luke Jansen, SIU-Edwardsville ’18, interviewed him to learn more about his journey to the big stage.

Luke Jansen: How did you discover your passion for theater?

Omar Lopez-Cepero: I grew up an athlete playing almost every sport my parents could sign me up for. I loved competition and learned how to be a team player—I feel that has greatly helped me in my career as an actor. My parents also exposed me to many forms of art, and their influence is what created my interest. Later, my high school chorus and theater teachers, Lee Ayers and Rebecca Houser, recognized I had talent, pushed me to develop it, and inspired the pursuit of making it my career.

LJ: How did SigEp become part of your journey?

OL: I had planned on playing soccer in college. When I decided to pursue a different path, I realized the brotherhood of a team was a major part of my life I was going to be missing. SigEp filled that void, and most of my greatest memories from college are a result of the Fraternity.

LJ: Any top moments from college?

OL: One of my favorite memories is singing our school’s alma mater with three SigEp brothers who were also in the music school. We put together an original arrangement in four-part harmony and got to sing it in front of 80,000 people at our homecoming game in the legendary Orange Bowl.

LJ: Of the shows you have been in, which was your favorite?

OL: I truly love my current show, “On Your Feet.” It’s such a blessing to be a part of an original show and tell a story that represents my Latin culture and the pursuit of the American Dream. The other show that had a huge impact on me is “Les Misérables.” It’s the first show I saw on Broadway, and it changed the way I viewed musical theater. I later had the privilege of playing Marius, and it is certainly a highlight of my career.

LJ: If you could be in any Broadway show, what would it be?

OL: I feel I am exactly where I am supposed to be. It’s a great honor and privilege to tell this story. Another favorite show and role I would love to play is Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys.” Beyond that, I’m hoping to be a part of another original show and, if I’m lucky, create a careerdefining role.

You can see Lopez-Cepero in “On Your Feet” until November 2016.