The Theatre Under the Stars revival of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights could have easily–though figuratively–crashed into the orchestra pit under the weight of its behind-the-scenes-drama and audience expectations. Fortunately, with assured direction from Nick DeGruccio and a triple-threat-talented cast, this show about one 4th of July weekend in one small neighborhood in New York, instead lights up the Hobby Center like a round of holiday fireworks, or at least a bunch of roman candles set off to scare away looters. With a reputation now laden with multiple Tony, Emmy and Grammy Awards and a couple of Pulitzers, Miranda went from musical theater prodigy with the Broadway debut of In the
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 The setup: If you heard a collective "oh, thank goodness" exhale a few weeks ago, chances are it was on the day TUTS announced its cast list for In the Heights. Not because some big name had been secured to star in Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes’s 2008 Tony Award-winning musical about life in the predominantly Latino Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City. But because in casting Anthony Lee Medina in the lead role, they avoided a rollicking controversy loudly and publicly plaguing other theaters in the United States. Medina describes himself as an “Actor. Singer. Puerto Rican. Cuban. Goofball.” on his website, but in this production, it’s the
Houston Chronicle "In the Heights" is the most relatable and universal musical to come along in modern times. The story, told to the rhythm of clave and old-school hip-hop, is about first- and second-generation Hispanic immigrants with big dreams in New York's Washington Heights neighborhood -but none of the privilege to match. It's about money, family, young love, gentrification and dancing salsa at a nightclub. It's as American as apple pie. Or you could say it's as American as piragua - Puerto Rican icy succulence landed in Manhattan and sold on the corner of hope and 181st Street. Theatre Under The Stars' current production of "In the Heights," which includes several actors from the orig
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