THEATRE REVIEW: "In the Heights" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (New York, NY)

      On March 19th, 2010, a friend and I saw the evening performance of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical "In the Heights" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City.  Corbin Bleu played the role of Usnavi.  Also starring in the production was Marcy Harriell (Vanessa), David del Rio (Sonny), Christopher Jackson (Benny), Janet Dacal (Nina), Olga Merediz (Abuela Claudia), Andréa Burns (Daniela), and Priscilla Lopez (Camila).  This was the Broadway Production, and featured scenic design by Anna Luizos.  Around the time I saw the show, Marcy Harriell, Corbin Bleu, and various cast members performed the song "It Won't Be Long Now" on an episode of the Wendy Williams Show.

     "In the Heights" had been running on Broadway since March 9th, 2008.  So, by the time saw it, some of the Original Broadway Cast had left the show (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Karen Olivo, Mandy Gonzalez, Robin de Jesús), some had left the show and returned (Christopher Jackson, Andréa Burns), and some had never left the show.  The set was three stories high in some places, and while my friend and I had great seats,  I had trouble seeing the actors during the song "Sunrise," which took place on a third story balcony.  That was because the overhanging balcony level of seats blocked that part of the set.  

     Looking back, I guess my only complaint is that Washington Heights was represented in a somewhat unrealistic fashion, where everyone was fine as long as the token old lady had bread crumbs, everyone got coffee, and the worst problem in the neighborhood is graffiti.  Its possible I forgot the part of the musical about gentrification and paying the rent, but those themes were already covered in other plays and musicals (operas too).  One thing I remember clearly is that I had a horrible stomach ache while seeing this musical. 

   

     My favorite songs from "In the Heights" include "Paciencia y Fe,"  "96,000," "Alabanza," "Everything I Know," "Champagne," and the "Finale."  I forgot there are a few songs not on the Original Broadway Cast Recording--mostly reprises in the second act.  Those are usually the prettiest songs.  I was critical of the representation of Washington Heights in the musical, but I've never even been to the neighborhood myself.  I saw one news report about the neighborhood having trouble with the drug K2, but that was several years after seeing the musical (and another few years before seeing the movie).  But I liked "In the Heights."  It's a shame the Broadway Production closed only a year after I saw it.

     The film version of "In the Heights" was ok, in my opinion.  But the Broadway Production was my favorite.  Six years after seeing "In the Heights" on Broadway, Kathryn and I would see a regional production of the musical in Chicago.  A year after that, we would see "Hamilton."  To be honest, I like "In the Heights" more than "Hamilton."  "In the Heights" wasn't about history of any kind, therefore it was less depressing than "Hamilton."   I'm surprised I didn't like "Hamilton."  I love "Les Misérables," and that is a depressing show.  I read somewhere that was the first musical that Lin-Manuel Miranda ever saw.  I must have read that on my blog.  "Les Misérables" was the first musical I ever saw too.  

Scenic design of the Broadway Production of "In the Heights" by Anna Luizos.

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     In 2016, Kathryn and I saw the Porchlight Theatre Production of "In the Heights" at Stage 773 in Chicago, IL.  The production starred Jack DeCesare as Usnavi, and featured Missy Aguilar (Daniela), Stephen Allen (Benny), Frankie Leo Bennett (Sonny), Leah Davis (Carla), Lucia Godinez (Nina), Michelle Lauto (Vanessa), and Isabel Quinfero (Abuela Claudia).  Right before seeing the show, the second block of tickets for the Chicago Production of "Hamilton" went on sale.  So I bought two tickets for a performance for the following April.  

       This production was performed in a theatre-in-the-round setting.  I liked seeing the show again, because I didn't remember any of the spoken dialogue between the songs.  I later saw Stephen Allen in a production of "The Scottsboro Boys."  I think I saw Michelle Lauto in a production of "Rent" in 2009.  Whether I did or not, both she and Stephen Allen were members of a strong cast of "In the Heights."   Before the show began, a mixed-race couple walked into the theatre.  I looked at Kathryn, nodded, and said "progress."  I think I'm a bad influence on myself.  Oh well.  ¡Paciencia y Fe!